NOINO delegation meets Chairman

A NOINO delegation led by NOINO President Shri Prakash Javadekar, MP, Rajyasabha met Chairman Shri S K Roy today, i.e. 21^st August 2013. The delegation consisted of Shri Dattaraj Prabhukhanolkar, Resident Secretary; Shri Manish Patankar, President, Mumbai unit; Smt Neeta Prabhavalkar, Shri Surendra Chitnavis, Smt Vedanti Gadkar, Shri Suryakant Gawade, Shri Mahendra Vaze, Smt Saroj Kurdukar (all NOINO Mumbai activists) & Shri Ganesh Kamath, Chief Advisor, NOINO.

It was a brief visit & the first by Shri Javadekar since Shri Roy took charge. The following issues were raised / discussed:-

1.    One more pension option:- Shri Javadekar said that a time-frame should be fixed for settling this issue as this was pending since long. The delegation also stressed that this issue should be settled before & outside wage-revision. Shri Roy agreed to the same & said that the management was working on the proposal to be sent to the government. Shri Javadekarji also assured that he would use his good offices in the Finance ministry to push this issue.

2.    Wage-revision:- Shri Javadekar said that it was time that the negotiations start immediately. Shri Roy said that efforts would be made to settle the issue of pension option first & then the wage-revision would follow. The delegation pointed out that though NOINO was not in favour of linking our wage-revision with that of Banking industry, already three rounds of talks had taken place, though the wage-revision in Banking industry was due three months after our wage-revision.

3.    Upgradation of pension:- The delegation once again raised the issue of automatic upgradation of pension. Shri Roy was not positive on this issue & said that the matter was sub-judice.

4.    5 days week:- The delegation also once again raised this demand. Chairman assured to look into the matter.

5.    Sabbatical leave/Child care leave for women employees:- The delegation once again raised this demand. Chairman assured to look into the matter.

NOINO will continue to follow-up the pending issues of the employees.

WAGE REVISION: NOINO PRESIDENT MEETS FINANCE MINISTER

NOINO President Prakash Javadekar met the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram yesterday i.e. on 7^th August 2013 and reminded him about the pending wage-revision issue in LIC. He pointed out that the wage negotiations in LIC had not commenced though the wage-revision became due on 1st August 2012, i.e. more than 1 year back. He demanded immediate negotiations in LIC without any further delay.

Shri Chidambaram assured to look into the matter immediately.

NOINO will continue to fight for an early & satisfactory wage-revision for LIC employees.

NOINO WRITES TO ED(OS) ON PENDING ISSUES

NOINO submitted a letter to ED(OS-SBU-ESTATES) on 5^th August 2013 drawing attention to various pending issues. The letter is reproduced below:

5.8.2013.

The Executive Director(OS-SBU-Estate),

L.I.C. of India.

Respected Sir,

Re: Issues concerning Class I Officers

           Our Corporation has, in the recent past, taken certain welcome initiatives like Preventive Health Check-up scheme; Mobile call charges re-imbursement; Mobile handset re-imbursement etc. These initiatives have been welcomed by the Class I Officers. However, there are some areas where improvements are needed. Kindly consider the following:-

1. Preventive Health Check-up scheme :- A) There is a dearth of hospitals at many places. Hence the condition of compulsory tie-up with hospitals should be reviewed. B) The administrative instructions were issued on 4^th April 2013. Nearly 4 months have elapsed since then. However, many divisions have not entered into tie-up with hospitals, there-by depriving many employees of availing the facility. C) The health hazards have increased manifold due to the stressful life nowadays. Hence the lowering of age criteria should also be considered.
2. Mobile handset reimbursement :- A) the benefit should be available to officers on deputation to other organizations. B) It should be available to officers on probation. An undertaking of proportionate recovery in case, the officer opts for reversion to Class III can be obtained. C) The gaps between the amounts of re-imbursement in the three categories seem to be large. The limit for reimbursement can start from Rs 10000/-. D) There is no clarification as to who is the competent authority to sanction the handset reimbursement at various levels. We are raising this query because, in some branches, the officers are being told that only Divisional Office is the competent authority. A clarification on this issue is required.
3. Transfer incidentals :- have not been revised for 27 years. These should be revised immediately & substantially.
4. Transfer TE/Packing/Loading/Unloading charges:- have not been revised for last 16 years.
5. Limit for ex-gratia re-imbursement for High cost/Protracted treatment for major diseases:- have not been revised for last 10 years.
6. Lease accommodation rent:- The limits were revised on 30.7.2012 after 4 years. We had written a letter to your good self on 10.8.2012 demanding an increase in the limits by at least 100% as compared to the ceilings in the year 2008. This is because a mere 20% increase in limits (after 4 years, meaning only 5% per year) does not match the spiralling prices of land & real estate.
7. Security at Yogakshem & other offices: - A) After the introduction of the cubicle system, it has been observed that inadequate & unequal space has been allotted to some departments in Yogakshem which is clearly a security hazard. This is because, in case of a fire, it would be difficult for the employees of some departments to make good their safe escape. The wooden panels of these cubicles would help spreading the fire. Hence a solution should be immediately found in this matter. B) It is good that we have a security system in place for Yogakshem. But there is absolutely no security for many other offices. The offices, where we have more than 2/3 branches & situated in a fairly large building should also be provided security to prevent a possible terror attack. E.g. Jeevan-Prakash building in Fort has 4 branches as well as LIC HFL office. At least 300 employees work here, not to speak of the general public who visit these offices. There is no guarantee that in the future these buildings will not be vulnerable to terror attacks.

We request you to immediately look into the above demands/grievances & take steps to redress them.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

Anagha Sant

GS, NOINO