NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION
NABARD
Head Office
Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
Appeal to intervene- Status of NBOA
We very humbly would like to bring to your kind notice the following aspects of utmost and urgent importance pertaining to the existence of NBOA as a constitutionally backed and management recognised body.
1. That the NABARD management had accorded recognition to NBOA as a sole representative body of officers of NABARD since 1983. That , the recognition to the NBOA is accorded as per the ‘ The right to associate and form association as enshrined in the article 19 (1) of the Indian Constitution ‘ and is based on the instructions issued by GoI from time to time on the subject matter.
2. As a process to get this recognition the NBOA had submitted to NABARD its Constitution & Rules and the recognition to NBOA has been accorded by the bank only after duly considering and accepting various and all the covenants of the NBOA bye-laws.Whenever any ammendment is carried out in the said Constitution & Rules,it is mandatory for NBOA to submit the same to the Bank for approval.The Constitution & Rules of NBOA ,as ammended up to date,has been approved by the management.
3. Of the many facilities and rights extended to NBOA, as a recognised body (for that matter to any recognised Association/Union) , by the bank - the one pertains to the ‘check-off’ facility i.e. The bank will deduct the subscriptions towards the NBOA from the salary of its members and remit the same to NBOA’s account.
4.
‘ EVERY MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION SHALL PAY TO HIS/HER RESPECTIVE UNIT , AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION AS MAY BE FIXED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FROM TIME TO TIME , EITHER ANNUALLY OR ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE ONE TIME AUTHORISATION FOR DEDUCTION OF MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FROM THE SALARY OF THE MEMBER WILL BE VALID FOR DEDUCTION OF MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION AT ENHANCED RATE , IF ANY , SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND NO FURTHER AUTHORISATION SHALL BE REQUIRED.’
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C/O NABARD, HO, BANDRA-KURLA COMPLEX , MUMBAI
WE REPRODUCE BELOW THE CLAUSE 6.1 OF CONSTITUTION & RULES OF NBOA PERTAINING TO THE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION TO BE PAID BY ITS MEMBERS:5. Under the ambit of its current bye-laws the National Council of NBOA at its meeting held on 30/03/2011 at Bhopal has unanimously decided to enhance its monthly subscription from Rs.20/= to Rs.100/= and accordingly passed a resolution. The Mumbai unit has at its GB meetings held on 08.04.2011 and 05.10.2011 have also decided unanimously to abide by the NC directives. Based on these legalities the Mumbai units has approached the GAD at HO to accordingly deduct and remit the monthly subscription to NBOA.67. The stoppage of Check-Off facility to NBOA by the bank for the last 2 months as explained above implies virtual derecognition of NBOA and tantamount to weaken and undermine the status and very existence of NBOA and is unwarranted and unconstitutional in nature. NBOA considers this step of the bank as undue interference in its internal affairs and lodges its strong protest over the matter.
8. We believe that your good self have not been apprised of this act of GAD or else this state of affairs would not have occurred in the very first place. WE , THEREFORE REQUEST YOU VERY EARNESTLY TO FAVOURABLY INTERVENE IN THE MATTER AND DIRECT THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES TO DEDUCT AND REMIT THE NBOA SUBSCRIPTION AT ITS CURRENT RATE i.e. @ Rs. 100.00 PER MONTH WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.
9. We are ready to provide and discuss any clarifications on the issue , if you so desire. Needless to say that this act of yours shall go a long way in fostering healthy relationship between Management and NBOA and shall ensure an enduring industrial harmony in the bank.
Yours Sincerely,
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
The Chairman 03/11/2011
NABARD
Head Office
Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
Sanction of EOL to Officers
We have been apprised by some of our units as also the individual members that the bank has recently taken a decision to convert already sanctioned Sick Leaves and Ordinary Leaves to EOLs in case of more than a dozen of officers. In this regard we bring to your kind notice the following-
1. The NABARD Staff Rules , 1982 , by which the service conditions of our officers are governed are clear and explicit on the issue as per the following-
A) It indicates that EOL can be sanctioned
2. That in all the cases the respective competent authorities while initially sanctioning the SL & OL were convinced that the officers concerned were genuinely sick and/or were not able to attend to their duties due to reasons beyond their control. As such treatingthe already sanctioned OL/sick leave to EOL is gross injustice to them.
3. That the NBOA , vide its CEC resolution and also as per the discussions held at JCC meeting has requested the CGM (HRMD) to favourably consider the appeals in respect of two officers who were not sanctioned legitimate leaves in the nature of SL/OL by the CGM’s of J&K and Gujrat Ros in violation of NABARD Staff Rules. CGM (HRMD ) has assured us to look into these two cases , however to our dismay and anguish , the bank in order to legitimize two wrong decisions pointed by us has decided to extend the irregularity to another dozens of officers. More so an impression is sought to be created as if the present action of the Bank is as per NBOA’s demand , which is far from truth and a gross misrepresentation of facts and is highly uncalled for too.
We , therefore request you to instruct the HRMD to sanction legitimate leaves to all the officers concerned at the earliest. Thanking You.
Yours Sincerely
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
TheChairman 03/11/2011
NABARD
Head Office , Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
Please refer to the various requests and correspondence resting with your office on the captioned subject as also the appeals made to you by the affected officers on the subject matter. Though a considerable time period has elapsed the issue of effecting recoveries and imposing of penal provisions on the officers towards the availing of eligible LTC facility is yet to be favourably resolved. In this regards we again bring to your kind notice the following facts-
1. To construe that an officer has received financial kickbacks , without having any documentary evidence , merely on the basis of sector rates quoted by airlines on their web sites being in variance with those charged by the IATA approved traveling agents or the travel agents has charged more on the tickets than what has been passed on to the airlines by him is not fair and is volitive of the natural justice too.
2. Furthermore , the officers concerned have submitted all the required documents at the time of settlement of their LTC bills and have provided to the bank additional documents as called for the bank too. That the bank has found all these documents to be valid and authentic too.
3. Sir , with a clear analogy in view , the day is not far when some one can charge the management of receiving the kickbacks because the airline tickets being provided by our authorised travel agents i.e. Balmer & Lawrie too are invariably overpriced if compared to the rates quoted by the respective airlines at their web sites on the day of booking.we have got documentary evidence with us that the registered travel agengy/agencies now shortlisted by HO for booking LTC tickets also charges more from the passenger than what is being passed on to the airlines by them. In this era of ever fluctuating rates , the quotes at the web sites cannot be construed as benchmark for arriving at a decision of such nature. More so if the agents concerned have provided the officers with a legitimate bill/invoice and a receipt of payment received then how officers can be held guilty even if the agent concerned has overcharged him for the ticket ?
WE , THEREFORE REQUEST YOU TO FAVOURABLY CONSIDER THE APPEALS FORWARDED BY THE OFFICERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH NECESSARY RELIEF ON THE ISSUE.If you so desire we are ready to put forth our view points on the issue in person and also submit necessary documents to buttress our assertions on the issue. Thanking you
Yours Sincerely,
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
TheChairman 03/11/2011
NABARD
Head Office
Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
The New Appraisal SystemPlease refer to the various correspondence resting with your office on the captioned subject and also the meeting NBOA representatives had with CGM(HRMD) on the subject matter on 17/10/2011. In this regards we once again draw your kind attention to the following-
1. It was a relief to hear from the CGM (HRMD) that the present exercise is just a one time affair initiated to have a feedback on its utility and to make officers well versed in finalising their KPAs at the time of annual appraisal.
2. However , NBOA’s contention that the Key parameters being finalised/already finalised for appraising the performance of officers for the year 2011-12 (both mid term and annual) is not designed to adequately and truly reflect the performance of our officers still remains unresolved.
3. Our contention that in the absence of any specific job profiles and also the nature of operations a DFI organisation like NABARD undertakes its next to impossible to truly and objectively appraise an officer on the basis of current KPA format in vogue.
4. That we are continuously in receipt of adverse feedback from our units as also a number of individual officers on the new appraisal system has further strengthened our view points. In fact introducing sweeping changes in the format of PAR without even discussing the same with the NBOA was in itself a avoidable feature.
WE THEREFORE ONCE AGAIN REQUEST YOU TO PUT ON HOLD THE PRESENT EXERCISE OF PAR AND FINALSE THE PARAMETERS AND OTHER DETAILS PERTAINING TO THE NEW APPRAISAL SYSTEM BEING PUT IN PLACE IN CONSULTATION WITH NBOA.
We are sure that your favourable decision on the issue shall diffuse the current situation of a widespread dissatisfaction and confusion over the clarity of the exercise amongst the officers and things will be amicably resolved before Bank embarks upon the Annual PAR exercise.
Yours Sincerely
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
TheChairman 03/11/2011
NABARD
Head Office
Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
Upgradation of Pension and Family Pension
Please refer to the Part- C of our Charter of Demands submitted to the bank in November’2007 and numerous correspondences addressed to your office on the captioned subject matter.
As you are aware that the long pending unresolved issue of Revision of Pension & Family Pension upgradation is now fueling a deep resentment in the minds of both serving and retired officers of NABARD. In fact , the officers under the aegis of NBOA , along with the active support of NABARD Retired Officers Association have already launched themselves into an agitation mode on this issue of utmost importance.
We have now come to understand that RBI has suitably got its Pension Rules amended at its Board meeting and the same has been forwarded for ratification to GoI. Once this happens it would pave the way for amicable resolving of the issue at our referral institution i.e. RBI.
WE , THEREFORE EARNESTLY CALL UPON YOU , TO GET NABARD’S PENSION RULES SUITABLY AMENDED EXACTLY ON THE LINES OF AMENDED RBI PENSION RULES , AT THE EARLIEST AND FORWARD IT TO GoI FOR RATIFICATION , IF REQUIRED.
We are sure that under your able leadership this long pending unresolved issue will be favourably resolved , much to the relief of retired as well as serving officers. Needless to say that in case so required , NBOA shall use its all available resources and move along side by side with management in achieving the desired results.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely,
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
TheChairman 03/11/2011
NABARD
Head Office , Mumbai
Dear Sir ,
Providing a Conducive & fearless working AtmosphereNABARD since its inception has achieved many a milestones and has grown from strength to strength , primarily due to the able leadership it was/is bestowed with as also due to sheer hardwork and dedication of its officers and employees.
This fact has been invariably acknowledged by your good-self too. Your expectations from the officers of NABARD are many fold , and rightly too, and we are also sure that our fraternity shall never let down its organisation or its leader in so far as corporate goals and culture is concerned.
However to our utter dismay a plethora of punitive and coercive measures have been initiated against the officers reportedly on the grounds of trivial and small unintentional operational deviations which may naturally occur in a normal course of discharge of ones duties. This has led to a large scale demoralization of the officers and an era of Suspensions , Memos , Displeasure letters , Financial recoveries have been let loose, which is unprecedented in the history of this August Organisation. In fact , even the media too has gleefully reported the ‘CRACKING OF WHIP...TO AMEND THE OFFICERS OF NABARD’ , painting a very undignified status of officers community working in NABARD, which in any case is contrary to the actual sincerity and dedication displayed by all of us over the years.
We are afraid this practice of unleashing a fear psychosis among the officers and employees of the organisation would lead to drop in efficiency and morale of officers would adversely impact long term corporate interests of the organisation.
There is a very thin line between implementing a culture of corporate discipline (to which all the officers at NABARD otherwise too subscribe) and creating an atmosphere of fear in the name of discipline.
As a responsible representative body we have initially restrained ourselves to a great extent by avoiding to directly indulge in disciplinary matters , but now that these incidences have become a regular feature of our day to day working and our entire membership is directly or indirectly affected by these avoidable and non-conducive acts, it becomes our duty to request you to ensure that a conducive , healthy and trust worthy working atmosphere is provided to all the officers and employees. We assure to you that officers shall not be found wanting in achieving more than 100% of the assigned corporate goals. Thanking You
Yours Sincerely ,
(Dr.D.S.Chauhan)
General Secretary
. The bank , however , instead of honoring its corporate commitment towards a recognised body , has without giving any credence to the above cited rule has stopped deducting and remitting the NBOA’s subscription altogether for the Mumbai unit at HO and GAD vide its letter No. NB. GAD. SALARY.2539.Misc..2011-12 Dated 21/10/2011 has indicated to NBOA to collect individual authorisation for deduction of enhanced subscription. Incidentally , the Legal Dept of the bank in 2008 had opined on a reference from a RO , that bank should deduct the membership subscription amount from the salary of officers at enhanced rate and remot the same to NBOA as per its Constitution provision without fresh authorisation. However,the bank may not deduct the subscription towards NBOA of only those officers who have given in writing to the bank that their subscription may not be deducted. This view had been duly communicated to the RO vide HRMD letter No.HRMD. PPD.1337 /U1(Misc)/2007-08 dated 28 March 2008 (copy available with NBOA).only in case the officer concerned doesn’t have to its credit any OL AND/OR only in case when the officer concerned can not be sanctioned SL or special leave due to its non availability on grounds of the length of service of the officer. Furthermore it says that EOL cannot be normally sanctioned for a period of more than 3 months.Recovery towards LTC (NBOA)
