STATE NEWS - TAMILNADU
14.01.2019:
GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, CHENNAI BRANCH HELD:
The General body meeting of AIBSNLREA Chennai was held on 9th Jan 2019 at Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Ashok pillar, Chennai-600083. The meeting commenced with prayer by Com.Nirmala Subramanain. Then, the house observed one minute silence as a mark of respect to the recent Gaja Cyclone victims in Tamilnadu.Com V. Dakshinamoorthy President in his welcome address conveyed his New Year 2019 and Pongal greetings to one and all. In his address, he highlighted the difficulties being faced by the members in getting payment of medical reimbursement and explained about the details of the interaction took place in SAMPANN meeting organized by the CCA TN on 29th Dec, 2018. He also suggested that CHQ may try to get recognition of retired forums like Aibsnlrea, as is being done in the case of serving employees / Executives in BSNL.
Com L. Sundararaman, Secretary submitted a brief report about the activities of the branch since last GB on 14-8-2018. His report mainly dealt with the increase of membership (6nos), 3rd PRC, present status of Pay/Pension revision, legal case and CPMS. After few corrections, the report was accepted by the members.
Com V. Chinnapappiah, CHQ President in his address appreciated the efforts taken by the Secretary and his team of office bearers in strengthening the branch by increasing the membership and highlighted the efforts taken by CHQ in getting settlement of our medical allowance / reimbursement and said that it is an important issue concerning the pensioners. He said that as on date no retired forum is having recognition and at the same time informed the members about the attention of DOT/BSNL being given to our AIBSNLREA CHQ’s letters.
Com S.Rathnasubramanaian AGS, spoke on the issue of delinking of Pension revision before pay revision based on 3rd PRC and also about pension revision based on 7th CPC recommendations, to BSNL pensioners. He requested members to go through various articles written by him on the pension revision, available in our website. There was lively interaction on the above issue in the GB.
Sri C. Pradhan, CCA TN was invited as special invitee and he attended the meeting and addressed the members. He appreciated the office bearers’ involvement in taking up the issues of members with him and also offered to do his best to solve issues. He spoke at length about SAMPANN and CPMS and assured that the pensioners will not face any issue because of SAMPANN. He also said that for DOT/BSNL pensioners, it will take some more time to migrate to SAMPANN. There is no proposal to migrate pensioners who get pension now from Post Offices. He was honoured with a shawl by Com.V.Dakshinamoorthy and with a memento by Com.V.Chinnapapiah.
As was done in earlier GB meetings, 5 senior comrades namely, N.Palanisamy, M,SankaraSubbu, K.Ramarathnam, S.Balaiah and N.Devadoss were honoured with shawls in the GB. As suggested by members present in the meeting, it was decided to raise funds to Gaja Cyclone victims and the amount collected will be sent to TN CM Public Relief fund.
The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Com D.T. Sambandam followed by lunch.
View the Photographs
18.08.2018:
GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, CHENNAI BRANCH HELD:
A General Body meeting of AIBSNLREA, Chennai Branch was held on 14.08.2018 at Hotel B.R.Mathsaya,T.Nagar Chennai at 10.30 A.M which was presided over by Shri V.Dakshinamoorthy, President of the Branch. The meeting started with a prayer song by Shri G.Vijayendran followed by observance of one minute silence to mourn the demise of few BSNL retired staff, former Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr. Kalaingar M. Karunanidhi and former Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterji. President welcomed all the members who assembled in large numbers. He informed the house about the present status of the move of the DOT to take over the existing pension payment arrangement through banks and post offices, by the respective CCAs of territorial circles and collection of data from pensioners in KYP form and discussed the pros and cons of the proposed arrangement and requested the members to express their opinion about KYP form submission. He also suggested that the number of years for the restoration of commuted pension must be reduced from the present 15 years to 12 years. He expressed his happiness in the growth of the membership of the branch. After self introduction of members, Secretary Shri L. Sundararaman readout a brief report about the activities of the association after the last GB and informed the house, the increase of membership by 15 more members, collection of donation and sending to CHQ, the court case for getting 78.2 % benefits from 1.1.2007 and also about 3rd PRC. He also thanked all office bearers and the members for bringing more and more new members to the branch. In the meeting, 2 more new members joined the branch.Shri V. Chinnapappiah, President, CHQ in his address, appreciated the efforts taken by the branch, in increasing the membership and welcomed all the new members who joined on that day in the meeting. He also spoke about the efforts put forth by CHQ in filing the case in the supreme court of India / High court at New Delhi and now in CAT at New Delhi, and appealed to all the comrades to give additional donation to ease the financial position of the CHQ, to defend the court case. He also explained as to why the CHQ has protested against the pension processing and disbursement by CCAs. He said even in respect of one time work of pension revision arrears at 78.2%, the CCA TN has taken more than a year and how it would be possible by the CCAs, with less strength of staff and infrastructure, to ensure processing and payment of monthly pension and other related pensionery benefit to the pensioners. More importantly, submission of annual life certificate by the pensioners/family pensioners residing at far-off places will be a big problem and it has not been decided how CCAs will issue Form-16 and ensure its receipt by the pensioners paying income tax. He too wanted discussion on KYP.
Shri S. Ratnasubramanian, AGS, CHQ, in his address about 3rd PRC, informed that the Cabinet note is yet to be prepared by DOT and assured the members that if the pay of executives of BSNL is revised, then the Pension of BSNL pensioners also will be revised. He informed the house about BSNL’s interest in implementation of 3rd PRC and reiterated that the possibility of demanding and getting pension based on 7th CPC recommendations, to BSNL pensioners is impracticable and against the basic concept of pension revision.
The members participated in the KYP discussion, expressed their opinion that the present arrangement of pension disbursement through Banks/Post office should continue. They even suggested that if DOT/BSNL is incurring any amount for the present arrangement for disbursement of pensioners can be borne by us, considering the difficulties now being experienced by the pensioners with the CCA, even for small work like address change and bank account number change of pensioners. The house after much discussion unanimously decided NOT TO SUBMIT KYP form for the present.
Shri C. Pradhan CCA TamilNadu Circle, who was invited as Special Invitee to our GB meeting could not attend the GB due to his official work at Bengaluru and had deputed Shri N. Mohan, Jt.CCA. The Secretary introduced and welcomed the Jt.CCA and the President presented a shawl to him. Shri N. Mohan in his address expressed his happiness to address the seniors and in a lighter vein told he too would join in the group next year after retirement. He explained in detail the working of CCA unit with regard pension process and disbursement.
In his address he dealt in detail about the KYP. Some of the points are:
DOT has proposed to and initiated process for Disbursement of pension through CCAs.
A CPMS (Central Pension Monitoring System) is to be launched shortly and CCAs will take the role of Pension processing and disbursing Authority.
It is being introduced on trial Basis in about ten circles initially and CCA Tamilnadu in one of the circles.
So, collection of data in KYP (know your pensioner) is started. It takes basic details along with Aadhar, PAN and mobile numbers.
SUBMISSION OF KYP IS NOT MANDATORY.
THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT FOR SUBMISSION OF KYP.
When an RTI is filed to know about KYP we have replied as above.
Completed KYP forms can be given in person or sent by post to CCA unit.
Change of address or bank accounts can be easily changed through CPMS.
Initially it is going to be implemented for future retirees.
For existing pensioners it will be introduced in a phased manner and Bank By Bank.
The staff strength is not full now but it is likely to get additional hands.
Once initial data is fed to CPMS, much manual work may not be there, we feel.
For DOT there would be some expenditure reduction as we now pay about Rs 50-60 for each disbursement.
In future, Life certificate has to be given to CCA office once CPMS is introduced. There are plans to install Kiosk for this purpose.
Even in CCA TN the implementation may take upto March 2019.
Any doubt about KYP or Pension related matters PRM (Pension Relations Manager) in CCA TN office at Ethiraj Salai office can be contacted or met in person.
After his address, there was lively interaction also.
The issues relating to undue delay in payment of medical allowance, reduction in the quantum of medical allowance and submission of option were discussed by the members. It was informed by the President that the 3rd quarter (2017-18) Medical allowance payment is being made by Chennai Telephones and when funds received, the 4th quarter and for the current year will be paid. It was also informed that only those who wish to change their option already submitted (from with voucher to without voucher and vice versa) have to submit their revised options and others need not submit any options.
As was done in the last GB, five senior comrades present in the GB, namely S/Shri K.G.K. Menon, M.R. Murali, S. Upakaram, A. Hariharan and R. Sridharan were honoured in the meeting.
Overall, the participants expressed their happiness in attending the meeting and the manner in which issues were discussed and highlighted in our website and assured to offer their continued support to the association.
Sixty two (62) members attended the GB meeting and it ended with vote of thanks resented by Shri D. T. Sambandam, Asst. Fin. Secretary and followed by Lunch. View the Photographs
05.01.2018:
GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, CHENNAI BRANCH HELD:
A General Body Meeting of AIBSNLREA, Chennai Branch was held on 21-12-2017 at Hotel B.R.Mathsaya, Chennai. The meeting started at 10.30 AM with Shri V. Dakshinamoorthy, President in the Chair. He welcomed all the members present in the meeting. 56 members attended the meeting. He informed the house about the proposed move of the DOT to shift the existing pension payment arrangement by banks and post offices, to the respective CCAs of territorial circle and requested the senior members to discuss the pros and cons of the same. He also added a few more issues relating to Medical reimbursement without voucher, medical reimbursement of in-patient treatment, extended stay in hospital for pensioners etc, which needs improvement. He also expressed his happiness in the growth of the membership of the branch. After self-introduction of the members, Secretary Shri L. Sundararaman readout a detailed report about the activities of the association after the last AGB and informed the house that revision of pension with fitment benefit by merger of 78.2% IDA is almost complete except a few cases (service book missing cases). He also reported about increase of membership by 25 more members, collection of contribution for court case and remitting the same to CHQ and also the efforts taken in getting the ‘Vakalatnama’ signed by senior members and also about 3rd PRC. He also thanked all office bearers and the members for bringing more and more new members to the branch. In the meeting 7 more new members joined the branch, raising the membership above 200.Shri V. Chinnapappiah, President CHQ , in his address, appreciated the efforts taken by the branch in increasing the membership and welcomed all the new members who joined on that day in the meeting. He also spoke about the efforts put forth by G.S in filing the case in Supreme Court and appealed to all comrades to give additional donation to ease the financial constraint of the CHQ to defend the court case. Shri S.Ratnasubramanian, AGS, CHQ, in his address explained about how pension revision is evolved over last 2 decades and assured the members that if the pay of executives of BSNL is revised, then the Pension of BSNL pensioners also will be revised. He informed the house about BSNL’s interest in implementation of 3rd PRC and categorically ruled out the possibility of revision of pension based on 7th CPC to BSNL pensioners since this is against the law of the land as laid down by the Supreme Court.
In the interactive session, the members raised some doubts about the increment denial for officiating period and consequent reduction of pension during 78.2% pension revision. For retired executives whether BSNL is making any pension contribution to DOT etc. Few members have given additional donation in response to CHQ President’s appeal. Five senior comrades namely S/Shri B. Shanmugam, S. Veerabahu, S. Rajagopal, Indrakumar and G.Raghunathan were honoured in the meeting and it was decided to honour other senior members also in future meetings. The participants expressed their happiness in attending the meeting and the manner in which issues are discussed and highlighted in our website and assured to offer their continued support to the association. The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Shri R.R. Balasubramanaian, Asst Branch Secretary followed by Lunch. View the Photographs
25.08.2017:
COIMBATORE BRANCH OF AIBSNLREA HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING:
A special meeting organized by the All India BSNL Retired Executives Association of Coimbatore, Tamilnadu was held under the Presidentship of Shri M. Ponnuswami, DGM (Retired) on 19th August, 2017. In his Presidential address, Shri M. Ponnuswami spoke about the inauguration of AIBSNLREA at Coimbatore and its necessity and welcomed Sri. S. Ratnasubramanian, DGM (Retired) & Asst. General Secretary of AIBSNLREA and Shri R. R. Balasubramanian from Chennai.Shri R. Damodaran, Branch Secretary welcomed the gathering. He listed the issues relating to the retired executives of Coimbatore viz. Pay protection for the local officiating prior to the notification of Executive Promotion Policy on 18-1-2007, 3% increment cases of 58 executives and their pension revision, Refund of wrongful/excess recovery and the orders of DoT rescinding the provision in EPP for one increment on Regular promotion in the same scale and its effect on retired executives.
Shri R.R.Balasubramanian, in his speech lauded the activities of Coimbatore AIBSNLREA branch and explained the present status of issues like, refund of excess/wrong recovery, protection of pay of those who were officiating prior to issue of EPP, cases of enhancement of DCRG and restoration of without voucher facility. He explained as to how the orders issued by the DOT rescinding a para in EPP is defective and unwarranted. He said that DoT was still issuing orders of promotion from Sr.AO to ACAO, both carrying same scale of pay, allowing the benefit of second pay fixation. He said that BSNL has so far not endorsed the DoT orders and we expect that BSNL will request DoT to review its orders.
In his elaborate speech Shri S. Ratnasubramanian AGS, covered all issues related to BSNL Pensioners, which included 78.2 fitment benefit, the basics for pension revision and implementation of 3rd PRC. He explained that BSNL cannot be denied pay revision with 15% fitment benefit as the loss making MTNL got 30% fitment benefit in the 2nd PRC. He explained how 78.2%, the benefit of 50% DA merger came to light and there is no justification to deny the arrears from 1-1-2007 treating it as notional. AIBSNLREA is in the process of filing a case to get the arrears with fixation on actual basis. He appealed to all Executives to contribute towards the legal expenses to be incurred. He explained why pension revision with VII CPC fitment formula is not practicable since according to Supreme Court judgment in famous D S Nakara case, there cannot be disparity in pension between present and future pensioners. He then replied to the doubts raised by the participants.
The meeting started at 1545 hours and ended at 1830 hours with vote of thanks by Shri K. Sivakumaran, Asst. Branch Secretary. 17 Out of 27 members of Coimbatore Branch and 7 other retired executives participated in the meeting.
12.07.2017:
ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, CHENNAI HELD:
The AGB of AIBSNLREA, Chennai, was held on 07.07.2017 which commenced with prayer song by.Smt.Lalitha.G. 58 members have attended the meeting. One minute silence was observed in memory of S/Shri V.Sivasamy and S.V.Krishnamoorthy recalling their services to the association. After welcome address by President Shri V. Dakshshinamoorthy, and self-introduction of the members, Secretary Shri L.Sundararaman placed the annual report for the year 2016-17, which was passed after discussions. Secretary appealed for donation of minimum of Rs.1000/- (Rs. 500/- to CHQ and Rs. 500 to the Branch.) and the response from the members was positive. Finance Secretary Shri C.R.Rajasekaran placed the audited accounts for 2016-17 and the same was passed after discussions.CHQ president Shri V. Chinna pappiah addressed the gathering giving brief account of the evolution of the association for retired executives and the long journey and achievements under the leadership of Shri S.Basu, G.S..He also appreciated the efforts taken by the office bearers of the Chennai branch in increasing the life member-ship of the Branch to a sizable number. Shri S. Rathnasubramanian,AGS,CHQ spoke on 3rd PRC and informed that BSNL will implement the 3rd PRC after the approval of the proposal submitted by the BSNL management by the Government. Shri V.Dakshinamoorthy suggested computerization of service book to facilitate easy revision of pension in future.
S/Shri V. Chinnapappiah and S.Periasamy conducted the election of the new office bearers of the Branch for the year 2017-18, and following were elected unanimously as office bearers for the next term.
President.: Shri Dakshinamoorthy.
Vice presidents.: Shri M. Kamsundher and Smt R.Stanislaus Mary.
Secretary: Shri L. Sundararaman
Asst.Secretary: Shri R.R. Balasubramanian
Finance Secretary: Shri C.R. Rajasekaran.
Asst.Fin.Secretary: Shri D.T.Sambandan
Org.Secretary: Shri C.S. Devika.
Auditor. Shri T.S. Kannan (nominated).
After vote of thanks by Shri R.R. Balasubramanian, Asst. Secretary, lunch was served. View the photographs of the meeting
12.09.2016:
GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, CHENNAI HELD:
A General Body meeting of AIBSNLREA, Chennai was held on 7-9-2016 at Hotel Kanchi. The meeting started at 10 AM and was presided over by Sri. V. Dakshinamoorthy, President. After formal prayer, in his welcome address, he welcomed all the comrades and congratulated comrades S/Sri V.Chinna pappiah and S.Rathnasubramanian on their election as CHQ president and Assistant General Secretary, CHQ, respectively. He also expressed his happiness in the growth of the membership of the branch. After self introduction of members, Secretary Shri L. Sundararaman read out a very detailed report about the AIC held at Bhubaneswar, 78.2% Fixation and revision of pension, adding 3% of the existing pay for fixation on promotion of executives after 1.1.2007 and constitution of 3rd PRC. He also informed the members about the meeting with CGMs / GMs (Fin) of Chennai Telephones and Tamilnadu circle, Joint CCA and CCA and the discussions held on fitment benefit by merger of 78.2 % IDA, 3% fixation on promotion, rounding off fraction to next higher rupee for fixation of pension and full pension for those retired without completing 33 years of qualifying service etc. He also thanked all office bearers and the members for bringing more and more new members to the branch.S/Shri V. Chinna pappiah and S.Rathnasubramanian were honoured by President V. Dakshinamurthy and Vice President Smt Ramluckshmi. Shri V.Chinna pappiah in his address appreciated the efforts taken by the branch in increasing the membership and welcomed the five new members who joined on that day in the meeting. Shri S. Ratnasubramanian in his address touched the salient features of 7th pay commission report and AIBSNLREA’s effort through its Memorandum in getting an increase of Gratuity to 20 lakhs and also its periodical increase based on 50% rise in DA. He also spoke on the expectations from the 3rd PRC. Com R.R. Balasubramanaian, Asst. Branch Secretary explained about the development of the Excel sheet calculation of 78.2% fixation and revision of pension. He also stressed the need of formation of State Branch at the earliest after formation of few more branches in Tamilnadu
. In the interactive session, the members raised various doubts about the revision of pension for pre and post 1-1-2007 pensioners, 3% fixation on promotion, whether 3rd PRC of CPSU executives pay revision is applicable for BSNL Executives and BSNL pensioners etc and the same was answered to the satisfaction of members. Overall the participants expressed their happiness in attending the meeting and the manner in which issues were discussed and highlighted in our website and assured to offer their continued support to the association. Large number of members attended the GB meeting and it ended with vote of thanks by Shri R.R.Balasubramanaian, followed by Lunch.