VOF FACILITY TO OFFICERS - LETTER FROM GS TO MD

NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

C/O NABARD, HO, BANDRA-KURLA COMPLEX , MUMBAI

Managing Director                                                                                          13/04/2011

NABARD

Head Office

Mumbai

Dear Sir,

VOF Facility to Officers

We draw your kind attention to Circular No.49/PPD-15/2011 dated 18/03/2011 on the captioned subject. In this connection we submit as follows-

1. The essence of providing VOF facility to officers falls under ‘Staff Welfare Measures’, a fact which can be corroborated in the original Circulars issued at the advent of the VOF facility and has been accepted on various occasions by the Bank during the discussions with NBOA on the issue.

2. The Circular under reference, issued on 18/03/2011, has clearly shifted the essence of VOF facility from ‘Staff Welfare Measures’ to ‘Corporate Welfare Measure’ and in to a great measure the facility has been almost converted for the benefit of Official tours and for personal use of Chairman, MD, EDs-both present and formers-and for their family members and guests .

3. We were astonished to note that though all the earlier circulars have indicated that VOF allotment shall be strictly as per ‘First come First Serve’ basis, the master circular under reference has conveniently undermined this aspect and has indicated that priority shall be given to Officers on tours and transfers and also to the official guests and thereafter if accommodation is available then only to officers on personal visit. (please refer to para 5.3 of the circular). It tantamount to saying that now VOFs shall be primarily used as ‘Revenue saving/generating’ devices.

4. Moreover the VOF charges , in case of personal visits , have been increased 200% from Rs. 5.00 to Rs.100.00 per day. This inspite of the fact that RBI continues to charge only Rs.5.00 per day and also the fact that the bank , before taking such drastic decision has not deemed fit to even consult NBOA. We are at loss of wits to note that when NBOA is not even consulted on such issues then why is a copy of the circular being marked to us?

5. While the rates for all the lesser mortals (officers upto grade ‘F’) have been hiked from Rs.5.00 to Rs.100.00, the facility to Chairman, MD, EDs and their kith and kin, as also the guests, shall be provided free of cost along with free foods and other facility for as many days as they may wish. Incidentally, for all other officers an embargo of 7 days at a stretch has been fixed for staying in VOF on personal visits.

In light of the above , we earnestly request you to-

1. Roll back the rental charges from Rs.100.00 per day to Rs. 5.00 per day for officers and their family members who are allotted VOF on personal visits.

2. The VOF may be normally allotted for 7 days on personal visit but discretion may be granted to OICs to extend the allotment in deserving cases such as Illness or examinations of Kids etc.

3. VOFs may be allotted on ‘First cum First Serve basis’ with priority to be given to personal visits over official visits, so that the true essence of VOFs as Staff welfare Measure remains in place as hither to.

Yours Sincerely,

(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)

General Secretary (NBOA)