This looks strange but is true that the two sets of Uttar Pradesh Government employees launched a massive agitational programme with one of them doing it to oppose the reservation bill under discussion in Parliament, and the other one doing it in support of the move. It happens often that different unions in an organisation don’t have unanimity on certain industrial issues and accordingly their modes of agitation are different, but a situation like unions fighting against each other on the same issue with divergent views is just so peculiar. One group even worked four hours extra expressing their support to pro reservation in promotions bill. It was a different matter that their strength was only negligible. The group opposing the reservation was virtually able to paralyse the work in different offices of the U.P. Government. Even senior officers of the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) rank joined the move. Situation, as reported by the media, appears to be the same in other states of the country also offering stiff resistance against the additionally proposed reservation in promotions too besides the one that already is in existence on job reservation.
Showing posts with label union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label union. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Monday, 15 October 2012
Indian nurses still an exploited lot: Study - Indian Express
Indian nurses still an exploited lot: Study - Indian Express
There can't be any two opinions on the fact that nurses in India are most suffering a lot. Their union(s) have been agitating on various issues they are confronted with but nothing like any remedial measures are there as yet at the level of the Government. They have to spend a lot on their training before they join the service, and what they get as their salary is too meagre an amount to meet their sustentation needs. The conditions, as per necessary study conducted for the purpose, are worse in New Delhi. Why New Delhi alone, the conditions are much worse in different towns of the country particularly for those who are working in private hospitals/ nursing homes. They are exploited on all counts. As per study, even their co-workers, mainly males, ill treat them. It is actually the responsibility of the government(s) both at the level of the Centre as well as the States concerned. This is a burning problem. An immediate remedial a measure, sooner the better, is the need of the day.
There can't be any two opinions on the fact that nurses in India are most suffering a lot. Their union(s) have been agitating on various issues they are confronted with but nothing like any remedial measures are there as yet at the level of the Government. They have to spend a lot on their training before they join the service, and what they get as their salary is too meagre an amount to meet their sustentation needs. The conditions, as per necessary study conducted for the purpose, are worse in New Delhi. Why New Delhi alone, the conditions are much worse in different towns of the country particularly for those who are working in private hospitals/ nursing homes. They are exploited on all counts. As per study, even their co-workers, mainly males, ill treat them. It is actually the responsibility of the government(s) both at the level of the Centre as well as the States concerned. This is a burning problem. An immediate remedial a measure, sooner the better, is the need of the day.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
My book ‘Beyond the barriers’–a note on queries
My book named earlier as ‘Phoenix’ has since been changed to ‘Beyond the barriers’. The book is in publication stage by my publishers at Varanasi duly monitored by Gyanendra. Certain anxieties have been expressed from many quarters in respect of the material the book contains which of course can’t be elaborated at this stage. May be I am able to partly share the contents by way of a synopsis shortly in days to come. Features wise, however, the salient areas so covered in the book, which is some what of an autobiographical nature, are more or less like this –At the outset, At a glance, Evolution of Banking system in India, Emergence of Trade Union(s) in Banking Industry, Trade Unions: Concepts and convictions, Trade Unions and Politics, Relevance of Trade Unions in the context of modern age, Price of leadership, On a personal note, Last page. I respect the queries and the requisitions so made by different people not only in the banking sector but also others from various quarters and I make a note to ensure that they are not deluded in their expectations. I also make a note that the book ‘Beyond the barriers’ comes out of the press as soon as possible to reach those who have already subscribed to it in advance and also the ones who have otherwise been expressing their keen interest in it.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
A brief chronology of events in Banking Industry/State Bank of India
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Link:Evolution of Banking system in India
A cursory look on pension in State Bank
http://gallery-neelkanth.blogspot.in/2012/04/my-book-beyond-barriersa-note-on.html
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Paper less banking:
As a result of an enormous technological development in the country there are every now and then changes taking place in all fields and so is the case in the area of banking where many a banks including State Bank of India are talking so loud about paper less banking quoting their ATMs as their major component in the direction. True, concept of paper less banking is laudable as it helps customers in transacting necessary business without waiting for their turn standing in the big queues but such queues are still there in front of ATMs and the like. Queues even in different branches of the banks are hardly reduced as a result of different banking institutions earlier decision of drastically reducing staff strength in their offices. There is certainly a rationale behind the concept of paper less banking but this can work better only when there is adequate staff strength duly provided by taking the respective unions into confidence
.Saturday, 21 January 2012
Pensioners in State Bank of India
Of all the public sector organisations in India State Bank is the oldest one where pension to the employees was introduced right during the days it used to be called Bank of Calcutta established on 2nd June in 1806 which was later renamed as Bank of Bengal on 2nd January’ 1809 to form Imperial Bank of India subsequently on 27th January’1921. Employees in this Bank had the triple advantage of Pension, Provident Fund and gratuity. Now such benefits are a general feature in almost all the banks throughout the country. Work force in State Bank now lags behind several other organisations including non commercial ones like Central Government employees. There are undertakings like Life Insurance Corporation of India which are much better placed with a liberalised calculation of pension to suit its retirees. Such a calculation is not allowed to be applied to State Bank employees despite persistent demands raised on that count by the respective unions. Besides the currently serving employees union namely All India State Bank of India Staff Federation and All India State Bank of India Officers Federation there is another union exclusively for the retired employees/ officers to look after the interests of the retirees. None is able to deliver necessary goods and the retirees from State Bank are left in a lurch compelled to lead a miserable life in every day growing prices of essential commodities and they find themselves just helpless to manage necessary sustentation for themselves and their families with the meagre amount they get by way of pension. In fact the retirees are themselves to blame in many ways on this count as they lack much behind in the matter of necessary efforts in this context and they merely look to their respective unions as silent spectators.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Veterans in a meet
The leaders, nay the past leaders, of All India State Bank of India Staff Federaton met at Kolkata on 7th and 8th January. In a way it was the galaxy of stalwarts who turned up to the venue from nook and corner of the country. The participants jubilantly bubbled with a glow of enthusiasm like they were not the ones who called it a day to hectic organisational activities much earlier but younsters knowing no fatigue. Thanks to Sankareswar Dutta joined by Prafulla Patnaik who successfully harnessed themselves to the gigantic task of organising the event like they maidenly did in arranging its predecessor meet in November'2010 at Puri. Dexterously monitored by the joint convenors Sankareswar Dutta and Prafullo Kumar Patnaik, the event was hosted by State Bank of India Staff Association, Bengal Circle, and most pivotal a role in the matter was played by its General Secretary Siddhartha Khan, a man of down to earth simplicity sans any kind of reservations. Sankareswar Dutta introduced him to the gathering as the one in the offing as a potential leader of the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation some day. Replying to a question by one of the participants, Siddhartha Khan replied '...no son is supposed to forget his father and so are we to always adore our fore fathers in the leadership'. Deliberations wise, number of speakers participated notably Venugopal Reddy, SP Raman, Shiv Janam Pandey, KK Bandlish and also Siddhartha Khan representing his local team of SBISA. Chapal Ghosh introduced to the gathering his locally formed forum meant for retirees from State Bank which however could not be entertained as it was something in generality and not compatible to the purpose of the forum in session. It was resolved to name the forum as United Forum of Former Council Members of All India SBI Staff Federation.
The event ofcourse lacked in establishing a definite direction in the matter of cogently identifiable a purpose and goal to determine whether this congregation of the retiree leaders had to remain confined to an ashirvad goshthi or they could secure more meaningful a capability to still play a tangibly viewable role contributing their might towards some service to the workers.
The event ofcourse lacked in establishing a definite direction in the matter of cogently identifiable a purpose and goal to determine whether this congregation of the retiree leaders had to remain confined to an ashirvad goshthi or they could secure more meaningful a capability to still play a tangibly viewable role contributing their might towards some service to the workers.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Awareness friendly communication tools
Modern era rightly claims that communicative system was never that easy as it obtains presently. The mode of communication used long back was confined to postal mail as against now when it is harvest of tools like email and mobile phones equipped with instant chatting facility available at the whims and fancy of their users. Besides these direct tools there are also working methods that contribute much in this direction towards spreading a message. Something done does not itself percolate downward to the root level unless it is monitored well in a right direction and this applies to all modes of communications including the one which emerges out of work culture. Lucknow headquarters of SBISA (State Bank of India Staff Association, Lucknow Circle) released some of their communications for the use and information of its office bearers/ members which included duty allocation of its functionaries. Not a big matter nor pertinently so significant an event but interaction wise it sends a sound message on communicational contact between the leadership and the membership in general. It tremendously inculcates a feeling of confidence in mass following that their access to the functionaries is not just ceremonial but tangibly real. Office bearers knowing their duties and responsibilities and the members being in the know of it, it makes taking up the task easy and smooth with full compatibility in total work process. There is nothing much new in the news as the practice is the one that was quite in vogue in the past but it certainly forms a message that it is meaningfully revived both to the advantage of SBISA and its membership. Hopefully the step proves capable of eliciting the desired results.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Question mark on integrity
Integrity may not be a feature available inbuilt, one has to try and see that it is acquired through necessary behavioural pattern. Organisations or individuals all have to work in that direction. Collective will on the part of individuals belonging to an organisation brings and keeps it above board. The latest news on date(3/6/08) of a CBI raid on the office and residence of a senior level office bearer belonging to State Bank of India Staff Association at Patna raises several questions -whether there could be any truth in the allegations that he acquired wealth including property much disproportionate to his normal income or it is just a witch hunting at the instance of interested quarters or some other game plan shot up by his rivals with concocted stories. Whatever it is, the damage to the image of State Bank of India Staff Association is already caused image wise and also to the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation to which it is affiliated at the apex level. It equally sounds as a slur on the image and integrity of State Bank of India itself as the concerned unions belong to it with their representatives serving as its employees. Hopefully the representative concerned comes out clean with his acceptable explanations in the matter saving prestige and status of both the union and the bank but there is no reason for them to ignore it just as a triviality as it is nothing short of an alarm signal for many.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Pensionery benefits in Banking Industry
There was a time when there was nothing like any provision for pension to employees serving in Banking Industry during British rule in the country. The initiative on this count was taken during the three Presidency Banks -Bank of Bengal, Bank of Bombay, Bank of Madras later implemented in the shape of contributory pension where employees, like in the case of Provident Fund, had to contribute towards their pension which used to get supplemented by the bankers forming pension fund. Unions taking up the matter strongly, it became a full fledged Pension Fund without employees contributing any thing and this measure was first of all adopted by State Bank of India (then Imperial Bank of India as it emerged after merger of the three presidency banks). All India State Bank of India Staff Federation, the single important most union in State Bank took further lead and several finishing touches were given to improve pension benefits. A demand was later made by other unions operating in other commercial banks to claiming parity with State Bank on pension. State Bank employees infact had in all three benefits together -Pension including Family Pension, Provident Fund and also Gratuity. As it operates now, the benefits more or less on this count are the same in all commercial banks with minor variations. Certain glaring anomalies in the system are a matter of dispute which includes demand for a more liberalised rate of pension for the retired employees. The issue however has till date failed elicit any tangible results. Talks, meetings,negotiations and then nothing like any result. The strike(s) that took place on this issue also failed to bring any outcome for the reason that it is not being followed up with an earnest seriousness the issue demands. Raising issue and then not following it in a required direction hardly succeeds and that is how it continues hanging in the balance.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Relevance of agitations
Psychologically human mind is bound to react with agitation the moment there is some thing that doesn't suit a person. It is a phenomenon most used to register violent protests. Agitational approach being most common for the trade unions the world over,they go for it as a normal tool to secure redressal of their grievances or say the grievances of the workmen whom they represent.Initially this sort of approach started on a positive note but assumed entirely a different shape with passage of time.Now that entire atmosphere is fully politicalised, there are instances reported every now and then that agitations are resorted to pressure the government or say the managements with some hidden agenda or the other. Mahatma Gandhi was of the opinion that workers must have right and capacity to agitate and even resort to strike mode of it but this should not be necessary for them to use these tools as this is more important to possess a weapon without going for it just as a matter of fun.Role of unions is supposed to have its orientation in the welfare of the people they represent and using this platform for purposes other than workers interest should infact be not permissible.Agitations and protests for a genuine cause relating to the employees are many a times a dire need and this need need not be diverted to some other directions.Managements discourage agitations for their own reasons without in any way caring for the workforce. This role has infact tobe played by the unions and if they too, like it is happening in many cases, start behaving the way managements do, they virtually lose their right to exist as such.Convictionally, agitations are most powerful a tool towards redressal of grievance but quite vulnerably it loses its sanctity the moment it is misused.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
A note on Trade Unions!
Part 2:
They are the type in no way really interested in the welfare of their organization which they belong to –their one point programme is to cling to the post to the last unless kicked out and thrown in the streets in which event their all out endeavour is to drag the organization to shambles without being prepared to realize that this parting gift of theirs to their followers only leads them to a situation where one ignominiously mingles into dust unwept,unsung and unhonoured. It forms an interesting instance to quote one study about a trade union leader of national level in Banking Industry. Drastic measures as a result of National Emergency in the country in the year 1975 were there at their worst. He convened an emergency meeting of National Executive at New Delhi. This was the day when Bang Bandhu Mujibur Rahman of Bangla Desh was killed. The atmosphere in the country. The atmosphere in the capital was already so tense. The line of action adopted by the Government of India in curbing and crushing the trade union activities in the Country was no more a secret to any body. Definite instructions were issued to various Heads of different departments in the administration and other organizations both in public and private sectors that the union leaders be pinned to desk obviously with an idea to cause them biggest possible handicap in carrying out the union activities. The instructions so issued were meticulously implemented with some relaxation in regard to those belonging to INTUC. The proposal mooted out by another leader that all leaders should in the changed circumstances resign from from whatever post/position they were occupying as employees in the industry to serve the union exclusively didn’t find favoour with the top leaders who whipped their veto suggesting an alternative –the alternative that the coercive instructions of the Government be defied without leaders abandoning their jobs as employees. The key man who in his capacity as the top man in the executive in the union piloted the discussion was the one, nay the first one, to report for duty - he and the other one second in command rushed to their place of work for the purpose to every body’s amazement. They were wise enough to save their wages as against others who had to remain on leave without pay for a long time obeying the advice to defy the Government directives.
In yet another instance, the big leader practically started weaping to win over the sentiments of membership in general in a largely attended conference. After the session was over, he confided to a close associate of his telling that his tears were only a matter of strategy exercised to overcome a situation but for which he had to get embarrassed.
Tears are serene and sublime –only a hypocrite of first order can use them, nay misuse them, as a matter of trick and dodge. (tobe continued)
They are the type in no way really interested in the welfare of their organization which they belong to –their one point programme is to cling to the post to the last unless kicked out and thrown in the streets in which event their all out endeavour is to drag the organization to shambles without being prepared to realize that this parting gift of theirs to their followers only leads them to a situation where one ignominiously mingles into dust unwept,unsung and unhonoured. It forms an interesting instance to quote one study about a trade union leader of national level in Banking Industry. Drastic measures as a result of National Emergency in the country in the year 1975 were there at their worst. He convened an emergency meeting of National Executive at New Delhi. This was the day when Bang Bandhu Mujibur Rahman of Bangla Desh was killed. The atmosphere in the country. The atmosphere in the capital was already so tense. The line of action adopted by the Government of India in curbing and crushing the trade union activities in the Country was no more a secret to any body. Definite instructions were issued to various Heads of different departments in the administration and other organizations both in public and private sectors that the union leaders be pinned to desk obviously with an idea to cause them biggest possible handicap in carrying out the union activities. The instructions so issued were meticulously implemented with some relaxation in regard to those belonging to INTUC. The proposal mooted out by another leader that all leaders should in the changed circumstances resign from from whatever post/position they were occupying as employees in the industry to serve the union exclusively didn’t find favoour with the top leaders who whipped their veto suggesting an alternative –the alternative that the coercive instructions of the Government be defied without leaders abandoning their jobs as employees. The key man who in his capacity as the top man in the executive in the union piloted the discussion was the one, nay the first one, to report for duty - he and the other one second in command rushed to their place of work for the purpose to every body’s amazement. They were wise enough to save their wages as against others who had to remain on leave without pay for a long time obeying the advice to defy the Government directives.
In yet another instance, the big leader practically started weaping to win over the sentiments of membership in general in a largely attended conference. After the session was over, he confided to a close associate of his telling that his tears were only a matter of strategy exercised to overcome a situation but for which he had to get embarrassed.
Tears are serene and sublime –only a hypocrite of first order can use them, nay misuse them, as a matter of trick and dodge. (tobe continued)
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