BPS Secy general’s Inaugural address to NFRP Palghat General Body on 28.09.2013

 BPS  Secy general’s Inaugural address to NFRP Palghat  General Body on 28.09.2013

Hounouarble dignitaries , respected, President, Secy Genl , office bearers of  NFRP Palghat,  Leaders of fraternal organizations,  delegates,  ladies and gentlemen,

I congratulate NFRP Palghat, its management, affiliates & members for having completed 32 year in the service of pensioners and wish NFRP all the success in their mission in the coming years.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Ours is socialistic state and as such   gap between have not’s & haves should go on reducing progressively. But here we are in the reverse gear, the gap between have not & haves is increasing progressively. Speaking about pensioners, Pay Commission after Pay Commission has shredded this basic fiber of a socialistic State. After every pay commission the gap between poorer & richer pensioners has increased either due to the recommendations of pay commissions or by the Govt. action thereafter. Abondoning Vth CPC modified parity principle, introducing pay bands for some &Pay Scale for some has instead of reducing, introduced more disparities. Through modified parity our fate is tied up with working employees any disparity in or irrationale    fixation of minimum of Pay Band /Pay Scale or Pay in Pay Band directly affects pensioners’ community

If you analyze you will find the minimum of PBI i.e. Rs 5200 has been fixed by multiplying the minimum of pre revised 5^th CPC S4 of Rs2750 by 1.86 similarly Minimum of PB2 i.e 9300/ has been fixed by multiplying minimum of VCPC Scale 5000-8000 by 1.86 i.e. 5000x1.86=9300. Further the minimum of PB4  37400/ is a multiplication of minimum Rs14300 of pre revised S24 14300-18300  by 2.61 instead of 1.86.STake the case of  pre revised Scale 31 whose last minimum was Rs 22400 in the scale 22400-26000  but got  revised minimum as Rs75500 HAG+ Scale i.e. a jump of more than 3.37 times over the pre-revised minimum which resulted in minimum guaranteed revised pension for pre 2006 retirees of S31 also going up to Rs 37750/ that is over 3.37times rise in pre revised minimum guaranteed pension. Whereas, all others in pre revised Scales S4 to S23 got a raise much less than this, in their minimum pension. The adoption of different &higher multiplication factor w/o any rationale or logic for PB4 & above to arrive at minimum of pay in pay band/pay scales is a clear disparity.  Not only this. Govt; will now bear expenses of Bureaucrats, ex Bureaucrats and their dependent family members’ f0r medical treatment abroad &also the air fare-As if other employees/ex employees & their dependents are not human beings.

We want this British days’ special treatment for Bureaucrats to end immediately.

During our productive years accepting lower salaries, foregoing matching contribution by the employer to our PF plus the interest on it, we worked hard for decades & gave productive years of our lives for the development of this country. Now we rightly expect fare deal from ex employer (i.e the GOI) in our sunset years.

In- fact, so far every CPC has done partiality between Direct & Departmental cadre creating a deep divide & discontentment.  But enough is enough. Let us now take a pledge, not to let it happen anymore.

We want uniformly equal percentage rise over minimum of pre revised Scales in arriving at minimum of all Pay Bands/Pay Scales , a common multiplication factor  for revision of Pension of all pensioners so that everyone  irrespective of pre-retirement status  gets equal percentage rise in minimum guaranteed Pension as well as in  normal consolidation  to arrive at revised  pension. And also cashless, super specialty Medical facilities,  at par with IAS, for all pensioners.

Ladies & gentlemen, ‘We cannot predict the future but we can definitely build it’

 With the announcement of constitution of 7^th CPC, mobilization to build sufficient pressure has become very essential to ensure that this time no injustice is done to exiting pensioners and that all pensioners irrespective of pre retirement status get equal % rise in Pension. Remember unless we show our strength &determination we will suffer again.

Ladies & gentlemen, there is un-bridled inflation in the country’s economy for the past several years.  Prices of essential commodities have been sky-rocketing.  It is becoming increasingly difficult for the pensioners to make their both ends meet within their meager pensions.  Pensions and family pension’s revised w.e.f., 1.1.2006, as per VI CPC’s recommendations have become irrelevant with steep erosion in their real values due to continuous inflationary spiral. Dearness relief paid is not adequate  only 90% as against over 180% of actual inflation is granted as DR.  The government has not taken necessary steps to protect the pensioners against unprecedented rise in cost of living & health care.

After a tough struggle by both employees & the Pensioners VII CPC has been announced but without declaring suitable interim relief. The government has also been stonewalling many of our genuine demands such as full parity between pre & post 2006 pensioners, enhancement of fixed medical allowance to Rs 2000/, restoration of commuted pension after 12 years, age related–additional pension from 65 years of age onwards etc. . Health care,  at par with IAS, immediate implementation of Smart cards for cashless medical aid to Rly Pensioners all over the country , companion in the same class without any additional payment , Time bound system of grievance redress with punitive clause & monitoring at every stage , up-gradation of SCOVA to JCM level.

 The rate of pension & family pension remains static since long & needs upward revision to 60% &40 % respectively.  The ex-gratia rates for CPF, SRPF retirees &Pension of EPS 95 retirees and their families remain very low and need upward revision . 12% interim relief  for all pensioners need to  declared immediately.We demand that 7^th CPC Ist review and setright the disparities &inequalities created by 6^th CPC & the  Govt. thereafter.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Next few years are going to be of struggle  for pensioners   and as  the struggle is not going to be easy, organizations will have to determine whether co-operation is a better model or conflict is. We will need mass support, favorable public opinion and media’s backing. In this age of Globalization going alone does not help. That is why we do not talk about only 12lakhs of Rly pensioners or 22.5 lacs defense pensioners or 8 lacs of CG pensioners. As  issues & problems  are same we talk about 1,3900000 pensioners  who constitute over 17% of  intelligent voters among 12 crores of Sr Citizens of the country,  who in turn have almost 20% of actual vote share in Indian elections. The contingent of 13900000 pensioners if work as opinion former can very easily mould two more voters to their view point & thus pensioners are capable of turning the tides.

When ‘I’ is replaced by we even ‘illness’ becomes wellness!

Keeping together is progress but working together is success that is why BPS , AIFPA, NFRP & AICCPA have come together to struggle jointly & severally for our main demands as enumerated

To make Govt. & the 7^th Central pay commission understand that no injustice &discrimination will be tolerated and to press our demands. It is proposed to launch a country vide joint movement to organize Rallies & Dharnas.

To make these rallies & dharnas a success I call upon all my pensioners’ brothers &sisters,  “Defeating your age disease &disabilities come out of your houses to join the struggle for your rights”

Bharat Pensioners Samaj is holding its 58^th Annual Conference on 17.11.2013 at  Keyes High School, Secunderabad .

Friends, this conference will be taking place at a very crucial juncture in the history of pensioners’ movement, in the country.  It acquires added significance in view of announcement of 7^th CPC &the general elections being around the corner. 

This Conference will not only deal with all the above mentioned and other issues but will also endeavor to bring together more & more pensioners’ organizations in the country to launch a country wide joint movement for the achievement of our just demands and to ensure that no injustice is done to existing pensioners  by the 7^th CPC.

I therefore, appeal to one and all to rise to the occasion and extend full and unstinted co-operation and support to make 58th conference of BPS a great success by way of your physical participation. ---- Jai hind---Pensioners unity –jiandabad,jindabad.

S.C.Maheshwari                         

Secy. Genl. BPS.