L.I.C of India is in a race with Rip Van Winkle

 Dear friends,

 I had written to the Prime Minister of India, regarding my lone crusade to get my wage revision arrears and difference in retirement benefits; on wage revision. The Corporation had illegally, arbitrarily and unjustly repudiated it in 2010, though I was in service in 2oo7 from which the arrears were to be paid to me. So from 1st August, 2007 till 2nd July, 2010, my wages' arrears have not been paid. 

 The same injustice has been going on from 1st August, 1997 till date. The Corporation keeps pasing the buck to the Government which has ratified the Charter of Wage Revision and brought out a Gazette for the same. The management takes this illegal decision, charter after charter and the Government keeps toeing its line by ratifying it, and bringing out a Gazette; without considering the Supreme Court's ruling on this issue. Scores of resigning ex-employees are in the same boat as me and I'm crusading for all of them as well. The Corporation refused to share their particulars as well as the amounts totally repudiated, since 1997; for obvious reasons! 

 In the words of the CPIO, WZO of LIC of India, "LIC will never give you any information as it will open a Pandora's Box. Your Appeal will be closed within a month. You are banging your head against a brick wall. You will surely lose the case even if you go to court." He was flustered as I had asked the CIC to impose a penalty on the concerned officials, (including him) for not giving me the information within the stipulated days' time. He had conveniently forgotten about our similar sinking feeling on the Corporation's repudiation of our hard earned, wage revision's arrears. 

 My RTI appeals and re-appeals have fallen on deaf ears. SO TOO, MY APPEALS TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND FINANCE MINISTER OF INDIA!

 Consider the latest reply by the Corporation, which is the same as given to me in 2010. Kndly note that my crusade has completed 13 years! Do peruse my other blog at uberrimafides.licindia.com which has all the details and scanned images of my RTI appeals and correspondence with the Corporation and the Government. 

I believe in total transparency, unlike LIC of India which was reprimanded by the CIC in my RTI appeal's hearing through videconferencing; in which she told the Coporation's CPIO in no uncertain terms: "Please be transparent (in your dealings) in future" when I pointed out that he was lying. Well, some things and people don't change ever! 

Need I repeat the popular Hindi adage? 

 Do peruse this email sent by LIC of India, to me, which was undoubtedly sent on a prod from the PMO's office and the Finance Ministry; who conveniently evaded replying to me or even taking any action against the wrongdoers. Now we know where the problem lies! (In fact, I had expected them to set things right, not put the ball again in the bad player's court!) So things are back to square one now! 

 For the record, the Government owns LIC of India and the other national non-life insurers. This injustice plagues all these companies. The Government can't just wash its hands off this important issue of a Company listed on the Stock Exchange. Our nation's reputation and credibility is at stake. (INTERESTINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED ANY OF MY CORRESPONDENCE! SO MUCH FOR DIGITAL INDIA!) 

 We can wake up a person who is sleeping but not someone who is pretending to sleep. Especially the Corporation's Managing Board of Directors who will put even the legendary Rip Van Winkle to shame!

 Only, I repeat, only the Honorable Prime Minister can awaken them. For that, he has to take matters in his own hands, with the help of the Government’s legal advisors. Please stem the rot, we say! 

 My suggestions:

 1. Ask the Management to revise their illegal decision, the records of which are not even there with LIC (as revealed through my RTI appeal) in a Board Meeting's MINUTES. Neither has the reason been revealed. The concerned official, CPAIO, CO, Ms. Saroj Dikhale had stated that there is no reason on record for the repudiation. Which means that the decision itself is arbitrary! 

 2. Place that revised decision by LIC of India to pay us all our dues with immediate effect with compound interest; in the Parliament, ratify it and bring out a Gazette after due amendments in the requisite clauses of The Insurance Act. This can be done alongwith the current Charter due in 2023. 

 3. Ask the Corporation to pay up. Rest assured, dear friends, my crusade for justice will continue, nevertheless.... 

 

There's always light at the end of the tunnel! AND Where there is a will, there is definitely a way! (Out of the tunnel!) 

 Hoping for some very good and long-awaited news in the coming New Year 2024 for all of us. I'm a die-hard optimist who always believes in 'Satyameva Jayate'. Priya

 (The next blog contains my latest letter, sent as an email, to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Do read it and post your comments here. Thanks.) 

 LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA PUNE DIVISIONAL OFFICE 1 "JEEVAN PRAKASH" UNIVERSITY ROAD PUNE-411005 

 Ref:OS/PUNE-1/23-24 Date: 13.12.2023 

 To, Mrs. Priya.R.Swaminathan 

 Ref. :Payment of wage revision arrears and difference in terminal benefit(CPRGRAMS complaint)

 Respected Madam, 

 With reference to above we would like to inform you that you had resigned from Corporation on 2nd July 2010 and as per Wage revision Notification 2007 which is applicable to you "Circular no. ZD/1159/ASP/2010 Dt. 11th October, 2010 chapter no, 3(i) Eligibility Class - 1 officer whose resignation had been accepted on or before notification irrespective of whether they are relieved or not during the period between 01.08.2007 to 08.10.2010 shall not be eligible for the arrears on account of this revision". Please note as per abover chapter 3(i) you are not eligible for any wage revision arrears payment and difference of retirement benefits and other allied dues. 

 Manager (OS) 

 My reply to LIC of India 15.12.2023

 To, The HOD, Pension Cell LIC of India, Pune D.O. 1 

 Respected Sir/Madam, 

 It's astonishing that you have sent the same reply to me even after 13 years! LIC of India needs a reality check. Kindly walk the talk when it comes to dealing fairly and justly with everyone. 

With regards, 

 Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan 

 pension.pune1 Attachments Fri, Dec 15, 12:31 PM (2 days ago)