SECOND ALL INDIA WORKING WOMEN CONVENTION AT MYSORE - A GRAND SUCCESS

ALL INDIA INSURANCE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

LIC BUILDING  SECRETARIAT ROAD  HYDERABAD  500 063

Cir. No. 12 /2012                                                                           27^th July, 2012

To

All the Zonal /Divisional/State/Regional Units,

Dear Comrades,

SECOND ALL INDIA WORKING WOMEN CONVENTION AT MYSORE

-  A GRAND SUCCESS

The second All India Working Women Convention was held at the historic city of Mysore on 15^th July 2012 as per the decision of the AIIEA.

Since the first Working Women Convention held at Kolkata in July 2007, there is a definite increase in the participation of women comrades in the second Convention.  Women across the country traveling for more than 38 hours attended the Convention.  More than 325 women comrades participated in the Convention. Working Committee members of AIIEA were also present in the Convention apart from the entire Secretariat of AIIEA. 

The Presidium for the Convention consisted of Com. M.Girija, Joint Secretary of SZIEF, Com. M. Kameshwari, Zonal Working Women Joint Convener, SCZIEF, Com. Geeta Pandit, Divisional Convener, CZIEA, Com. S. Shobhana, Regional Convener, CRGIEA.

The Convention was inaugurated by Com. Amanulla Khan, President, AIIEA. In his address, he said that the decision of AIIEA in its General Conference of AIIEA held at Jaipur in 1988 to organize women in the trade union activities was absolutely right and the participation of women in this Convention reflects the same.  While congratulating all the women comrades for their magnificent response to the calls of AIIEA he appealed that there should be further consolidation of activities of women in a more organized way which will certainly strengthen the AIIEA.  He criticized the neo-liberal economic policies which is causing an enormous sufferings to the women who are already been exploited by this male dominated society.  However, he said that AIIEA’s struggle is not to create wedge between men and women but to unify them in the struggle against the society of inequity. He also beckoned women comrades along with men to expand their work to unorganized sectors also and help the oppressed sections of working class to build unity among the working class to fight this capitalist exploitative system on the basis of class struggle to achieve a better society.

Com. K. Venu Gopal, General Secretary, AIIEA placed a discussion paper which exposed social injustices and problems of women.  He also expressed satisfaction that since the first Convention, all the zones in LIC and SZGIEA in general sector formed their Zonal Women Coordination Committees. He acknowledged that the women participation in our trade union activities has increased and there is still scope for improvement in the future.  He also stressed on the need to defeat feudal society and its values in India to emancipate women from exploitation and make them equitable citizens in the society. He also appealed to all the women employees to strengthen AIIEA and assured that AIIEA always strives to protect the rights of women comrades.

In the discussion, 27 women comrades participated. Com. R.Sarva Mangala, C.H. Sapna, R.S.Chenbagam, G.Sudha, S.Sridevi from South Zone; Com. Anupama Sachdev, Neeta Singhal, Rajni Gupta from North Zone; Com. Gita Pegu from East Zone; Coms. Usha Parganiha, Anjana Babar, Sareena Kher from Central Zone; Coms. Smriti Rekha Sahoo, Manorama Mohanty from East Central Zone; Coms. M.Kameshwari, B.Lalita, S. Jagadeeshwari, Nirmala, V.Lata from South Central Zone; Coms. Geeta Shant, Madhu Tiwari from North Central Zone; Coms Falguni Mehta, Neha Mote from West Zone; Com. Jayasudha Rajan, Sikha Chadda, N.S.Shailaja, Rina Bhair from General sector  spoke on varied topics including political and social issues confronting women.

Summing up the entire discussion, Com. K. Venu Gopal, set the following tasks before the second Women Convention :-

i)              to conduct special trade union classes / work shops on gender issues

ii)             to organize family get –to-gethers, trade union picnics and other such innovative programmes to instill confidence among family members about trade union and its activities.

The Convention adopted these proposals unanimously.

The second Working Women Convention successfully concluded with a pledge to strengthen AIIEA by involving more women in the activities of trade union in the future.

With greetings,

Comradely yours,

V.Ramesh

p. GENEAL SECRETARY.

AIIEA WORKING COMMITTEE DECISIONS

ALL INDIA INSURANCE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

LIC BUILDING  SECRETARIAT ROAD  HYDERABAD

500063

Cir. No.11/2012                                                                                             24^th July 2012

To all the Zonal/Divisional/Regional Units

Dear Comrades,

AIIEA WORKING COMMITTEE

FINALISES THE CHARTER OF DEMANDS

DEMANDS 40 PERCENT WAGE HIKE

DECIDES INTENSIFIED CAMPAIN ON INSURANCE LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL

The Working Committee of AIIEA met at Mysore from 15^th July to 17^th July 2012 to finalise the Charter of Demands and also to intensify our campaign against Insurance Laws (amendment) Bill 2008 to protect public sector insurance industry.  The Working Committee was hosted by ICEU, Mysore and BRGIEA successfully.

Wage Revision: The wage revision to employees falls due from 1^st August, 2012.  A sub-committee on charter was constituted by AIIEA in its Secretariat meeting held at Delhi on 19.11.2011.  The sub-committee met on 26^th and 27^th April, 2012 at Hyderabad to formulate the charter of demands.  The sub-committee recommended a wage hike of 40% across board to public sector insurance employees with effect from 1.8.2012.  Subsequently, AIIEA sent the draft charter of demands to all its branch/division/region/state/zonal units for a thorough discussion among the employees to help finalise our demands.  The AIIEA working committee in its meeting at Mysore discussed this proposal and the suggestions received and unanimously finalised the demand for 40% wage hike to the insurance employees.  The meeting reiterated that the employees deserve this wage rise in the background of a very good performance of public sector insurance industry in spite of a sluggish national economy.

The public sector industry recorded remarkable progress since the last wage revision. The LIC increased its market share to 71.35% by earning a new business premium of Rs.81,514 crores for the year 2011-12.  It also dominated the market with 81% share by selling 3.54 crore policies in the last financial year.  Similarly, the four public sector general insurance companies performed exceptionally well during this period to procure the GDPI of Rs.39,531.61 crores with a growth rate of 21.39%.  It also continued its market domination with a share of 58.46%.  Apart from this, the employees in these industries have given their best service to satisfy the customers’ aspirations, despite a reduction in staff.  Therefore, the Working Committee finalised the Charter of Demands with a 40% wage hike across the board to insurance employees which fell due from 1.8.2012.  The meeting also decided to submit the Charter to the Chairman GIPSA on 1^st August, 2012 and Chairman LIC on 2^nd August, 2012.  Signifying the submission of Charter of Demands to the managements, the Working Committee of AIIEA called upon the employees to hold gate meetings during lunch hour across the country and prepare employees for the impending struggle to realize the justified wage hike to the public sector insurance employees.

INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY

Along with Charter, the Working Committee also unanimously decided to raise the issue of Recognition of AIIEA.  The meeting resolved that industrial democracy demands that LIC must immediately take steps to recognize the AIIEA which enjoys the majority support of Class III & IV employees.  Further, the Working Committee also felt that there is a need for a representative from AIIEA to be on the Board of Directors of LIC in the background of the employees’ enormous contribution to the growth and prosperity of LIC.  The employees have been extending their invaluable cooperation to LIC management to meet challenges of the competitive environment. The interests and future of employees is entwined with those of the Corporation.  Therefore, the Working Committee of AIIEA also decided to demand LIC management that it must frame a policy of workers participation in management.  The majority union of Class III & IV employees should have a representative on the Board of Directors of LIC.

Defend public sector insurance industry: The Working Committee meeting noted with concern that the Indian ruling classes continue to push the failed neo-liberal agenda of the capitalist world across the world.  The meeting discussed the crises that began in 2007 in USA has now assumed global dimension because of financialization of capital.  The recession after the crises in advanced countries had its effect on developing countries too. The common people across the world have become the victims of the capitalist system and its greed for profit.  In the process the bailout packages to the Corporates have substantially increased the Corporates’ profits and it exposed the common man to the vulnerability of poverty.  The bailout packages to rich have become now government’s debts.  To emerge out of this sovereign debt, countries today are imposing burdens on people and working class in the name of austerity measures and trimming fiscal deficits to attack the social welfare measures. But, unfortunately, this austerity measures further deepen the crisis by reducing the purchasing power of the vast majority of the people due to job losses, wage cuts.  This in turn impact the manufacturing sector depressing the production level and thus leading to inflation affecting the economic system globally. Thus, the Working Committee came to a conclusion that the capitalism and financialisation of capital is the cause for common man’s misery and the people across the world are waging a heroic struggle to confront the market driven economic system.

However, the Indian ruling classes continue to place their faith in neo-liberalism. Instead of focusing on real reforms to empower the people the government continues to pursue the failed neo-liberal economic policies. Under the dictates of finance capital and its articulators, the Indian government is inviting 100% FDI in retail trade.  This will ruin the lives of four crore families.  The prime minister after taking over the portfolio of finance ministry stated that reforms in financial sector are the priority of his government. There is also an indication that the government would seriously pursue the legislative agenda to privatise pension, Banking reforms and the Insurance Laws amendment Bill etc., in the monsoon session of parliament.

The Insurance Laws (amendment) Bill 2008 enables the FDI to be raised to 49% from present 26% in the insurance sector.  The passing of this bill will enable the foreign capital to gain greater control over the domestic savings. The bill also contains a provision to privatise the four public sector general insurance companies and allow them to go to stock market to raise their capital.  The Working Committee strongly condemned this move of government to throw open public sector general insurance industries to both private and foreign capital and felt that this is a surrender of economic sovereignty of the country.  The meeting decided to unleash a campaign to protect public sector insurance industry till the monsoon session of Parliament. 

The Working Committee called upon the insurance employees irrespective of their political and trade union affiliation to join this struggle by way of press meets, seminars, conventions, articles to print media, meeting people’s representatives in defense of public sector insurance industry.    Despite all this campaign, if government passes the Bill, insurance employees across the country will go on ONE DAY strike the following day.  Apart from the above issues Working Committee also decided to demand One More Option for Pension.

Finally, the meeting also noted that on 4.9.2012 a national convention of all central trade unions is being held at Delhi to further the working class struggle against neo-liberal policies of the government.  The meeting unanimously decided that the call from the convention including the decision on strike if taken shall be observed by the insurance employees across the country.

The Working Committee of AIIEA finally resolved to realize a good wage revision to employees and protect public sector insurance industries.  AIIEA is confident that the decisions of the Working Committee will be successfully implemented by all its Units.

With greetings,

Comradely yours,

Sd.  V.Ramesh

p.General Secretary.

Captain Lakshmi in AIIEA Conference

The Snap given below was taken during
the 21 st General Conference of A.I.I.E.A
At Kanpur in 2007

A life of struggle

“The fight will go on,” said Captain Lakshmi Sehgal one day in 2006, sitting in her crowded Kanpur clinic where, at 92, she still saw patients every morning. She was speaking on camera to Singeli Agnew, a young filmmaker from the Graduate School of Journalism, Berkeley, who was making a documentary on her life.

Each stage of the life of this extraordinary Indian represented a new stage of her political evolution – as a young medical student drawn to the freedom struggle; as the leader of the all-woman Rani of Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army; as a doctor, immediately after Independence, who restarted her medical practice in Kanpur amongst refugees and the most marginalised sections of society; and finally, in post-Independence India, her life as a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), years that saw her in campaigns for political, economic and social justice.

“Freedom comes in three forms,” the diminutive doctor goes on to say on camera in her unadorned and direct manner. “The first is political emancipation from the conqueror, the second is economic [emancipation] and the third is social… India has only achieved the first.”

With Captain Lakshmi’s passing, India has lost an indefatigable fighter for the emancipations of which she spoke.

First rebellion

Lakshmi Sehgal was born Lakshmi Swaminadhan on October 24, 1914 in Madras to S. Swaminadhan, a talented lawyer, and A.V. Ammukutty, a social worker and freedom fighter (and who would later be a member of independent India’s Constituent Assembly).

Lakshmi would later recall her first rebellion as a child against the demeaning institution of caste in Kerala. From her grandmother’s house, she would often hear the calls and hollers from the surrounding jungles and hills, of the people who in her grandmother’s words were those “whose very shadows are polluting.” The young Lakshmi one day walked up to a young tribal girl, held her hand and led her to play. Lakshmi and her grandmother were furious with each other, but Lakshmi was the one triumphant.

After high school in Madras, she studied at the Madras Medical College, from where she took her MBBS in 1938. The intervening years saw Lakshmi and her family drawn into the ongoing freedom struggle. She saw the transformation of her mother from a Madras socialite to an ardent Congress supporter, who one day walked into her daughter’s room and took away all the child’s pretty dresses to burn in a bonfire of foreign goods. Looking back years later, Lakshmi would observe how in the South, the fight for political freedom was fought alongside the struggle for social reform. Campaigns for political independence were waged together with struggles for temple entry for Dalits and against child marriage and dowry. Her first introduction to communism was through Suhasini Nambiar, Sarojini Naidu’s sister, a radical who had spent many years in Germany. Another early influence was the first book on the communist movement she read, Edgar Snow’s Red Star over China.

Meeting Netaji

As a young doctor of 26, Lakshmi left for Singapore in 1940. Three years later she would meet Subhash Chandra Bose, a meeting that would change the course of her life. “In Singapore,” Lakshmi remembered, “there were a lot of nationalist Indians like K. P. Kesava Menon, S. C. Guha, N. Raghavan, and others, who formed a Council of Action. The Japanese, however, would not give any firm commitment to the Indian National Army, nor would they say how the movement was to be expanded, how they would go into Burma, or how the fighting would take place. People naturally got fed up.” Bose’s arrival broke this logjam.

Lakshmi, who had thus far been on the fringes of the INA, had heard that Bose was keen to draft women into the organisation. She requested a meeting with him when he arrived in Singapore, and emerged from a five-hour interview with a mandate to set up a women’s regiment, which was to be called the Rani of Jhansi regiment. There was a tremendous response from women to join the all-women brigade. Dr. Lakshmi Swaminadhan became Captain Lakshmi, a name and identity that would stay with her for life.

The march to Burma began in December 1944 and, by March 1945, the decision to retreat was taken by the INA leadership, just before the entry of their armies into Imphal. Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British army in May 1945. She remained under house arrest in the jungles of Burma until March 1946, when she was sent to India – at a time when the INA trials in Delhi were intensifying the popular hatred of colonial rule.

Captain Lakshmi married Col. Prem Kumar Sehgal, a leading figure of the INA, in March 1947. The couple moved from Lahore to Kanpur, where she plunged into her medical practice, working among the flood of refugees who had come from Pakistan, and earning the trust and gratitude of both Hindus and Muslims.

CPI(M) activist

By the early 1970s, Lakshmi’s daughter Subhashini had joined the CPI(M). She brought to her mother’s attention an appeal from Jyoti Basu for doctors and medical supplies for Bangladeshi refugee camps. Captain Lakshmi left for Calcutta, carrying clothes and medicines, to work for the next five weeks in the border areas. After her return she applied for membership in the CPI(M). For the 57-year old doctor, joining the Communist Party was “like coming home.” “My way of thinking was already communist, and I never wanted to earn a lot of money, or acquire a lot of property or wealth,” she said.

Captain Lakshmi was one of the founding members of AIDWA, formed in 1981. She subsequently led many of its activities and campaigns. After the Bhopal gas tragedy in December 1984, she led a medical team to the city; years later she wrote a report on the long-term effects of the gas on pregnant women. During the anti-Sikh riots that followed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984, she was out on the streets in Kanpur, confronting anti-Sikh mobs and ensuring that no Sikh or Sikh establishment in the crowded area near her clinic was attacked. She was arrested for her participation in a campaign by AIDWA against the Miss World competition held in Bangalore in 1996.

Presidential candidate

Captain Lakshmi was the presidential candidate for the Left in 2002, an election that A. P. J. Abdul Kalam would win. She ran a whirlwind campaign across the country, addressing packed public meetings. While frankly admitting that she did not stand a chance of winning, she used her platform to publicly scrutinise a political system that allowed poverty and injustice to grow, and fed new irrational and divisive ideologies.

Captain Lakshmi had the quality of awakening a sense of joy and possibility in all who met her – her co-workers, activists of her organisation, her patients, family and friends. Her life was an inextricable part of 20th and early 21st century India -- of the struggle against colonial rule, the attainment of freedom, and nation-building over 65 tumultuous years. In this great historical transition, Captain Lakshmi always positioned herself firmly on the side of the poor and unempowered. Freedom fighter, dedicated medical practitioner, and an outstanding leader of the women's movement in India, Captain Lakshmi leaves the country and its people a fine and enduring legacy.

Lakshmi Sehgal is survived by her daughters Subhashini Ali and Anisa Puri; her grandchildren Shaad Ali, Neha and Nishant Puri; and by her sister Mrinalini Sarabhai. (parvathi.menon@thehindu.co.in)

Thanks  to  The Hindu

RED SALUTE CAPTAIN LAKSHMI

Capt Lakshmi Sahgal - Condolence Resolution

23 July 2012

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Capt Lakshmi Sahgal, inspiring and courageous freedom fighter, dedicated and compassionate doctor in the service of the poor, fighter for women’s rights and a senior and greatly respected member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

 She passed away at the age of 98 in Kanpur. At the time of her death she was a patron of the All India Democratic Women’s Association which she had helped to found.


Capt Lakshmi who was born into an illustrious family from Kerala. was brought up in Madras where she excelled in her studies as a brilliant student. Her parents were freedom fighters dedicated to the nation, her father a brilliant lawyer and her mother a social worker and campaigner for women’s rights. From her childhood, Capt Lakshmi was brought up with values which cherished India’s freedom. This dedication remained with her through her life. Her parents marriage was inter caste one and Lakshmi as a young student fought against caste prejudice often clashing with the ideas held by her contemporaries in school and college.


She completed her MBBS degree in 1938 and then in 1940 decided to travel to Singapore. It was while she was working there as a doctor that she became actively involved in the work of the India Independence League which contributed greatly to India’s freedom struggle. She was introduced to Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943 and was invited by him to set up the Rani of Jhansi women’s brigade under his overall command. She became the leader of this legendary brigade and was inducted by him into the provisional cabinet of Azad Hind as the only woman member.


She played a heroic role and saved many lives by her courage as leader of the INA. She was captured by the British and brought to India in 1946 where he was given a heroine’s welcome.


She married Prem Sehgal who was also a leader of the INA working with Subhash Chandra Bose.


After independence, Capt Lakshmi set up her practice in Kanpur. She became the beloved health saviour of lakhs of poor women of Kanpur whom she would provide medical services without any charge. She was devoted to her patients and there was hardly a day when she did not work in her modest clinic. Even on the day before her heart attack, regardless of her frail health she was at the clinic meeting patients, such was her dedication.


In 1971 when huge numbers of refugees came from what was then East Pakistan, the Peoples relief Committee in West Bengal gave a call for doctors to help. Com. Jyoti Basu also issued a call. Capt Lakshmi answered his appeal and spent several months working with the refugees providing them medical relief.


It was after this experience that Capt Lakshmi decided to join the CPI(M). She became a member of the Kanpur and later the UP State Committee of the Party. She was a champion for women’s rights and shouldered the responsibility along with other great communist women leaders of mobilizing women for their rights. She was a founder member of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, travelling the length and breadth of the country as the organisation’s Vice-President.


She believed strongly in the need for a Socialist revolution and she lived her ideals. She was extremely modest about her many achievements, always encouraging young people into leadership roles. She was the beloved role model of young people throughout country.
The CPI(M) pays its deep homage and dips the red flag in honour of Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, courageous and dedicated communist leader and freedom fighter. Her life and work will continue to inspire generations of young people.


The Party extends its condolences to her daughters Subhashini Ali and Anisa Puri, and her grandchildren and other family members.
Long Live Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal.

LIC withdraws circular asking staff to sign in Hindi

Employees were instructed to sign all letters in Hindi at least on Mondays

A circular of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) asking its employees to sign all letters and communication in Hindi, at least on Mondays, was withdrawn following a protest from trade unions.

“The instruction ran as a scroll on the intranet of LIC on July 9. We immediately expressed our protest and it was withdrawn,” K. Swaminathan, general secretary of the All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA), South Zone, told The Hindu.

According to Mr. Swaminathan, the advisory said, “Under the instruction of the Zonal Manager, employees are requested to sign the letters in Hindi at least on Mondays.”

“When we took up the issue with the management, we were told it was only a request. Then we asked if it was just a request why should they say that it was under the Zonal Manager’s instruction. The circular was withdrawn and the management has not pursued it after that,” Mr Swaminathan said. The union has conveyed this to its employees.

He said learning Hindi was not an issue and many employees did so out of interest. “But you cannot compel anyone on the issue of language. We are going through a time when there is much competition in the insurance sector. Instead of concentrating on that, the management raked up an unnecessary controversy,” he said.

Nehru’s promise

The issue was flagged by DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Friday. He objected to the circular, accusing the Centre of imposing Hindi and throwing to the winds the promise of Jawaharlal Nehru that the language would not be imposed on non-Hindi communities. 

Mr. Karunanidhi claimed the decision to issue a circular was taken at a meeting of the Official Language Implementation Committee on June 29 and that the Zonal Manager (Human Resources) had sought the employees’ cooperation for its implementation.

“Similar actions in the past had led to the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu. The question before us is whether Nehru’s promise is just a bubble,” he asked. 

- The Hindu  21.07.2012

Bank Strike Postponed

UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS

(AIBEA-AIBOC-NCBE-AIBOA-BEFI-INBEF-INBOC-NOBW-NOBO)

Central Office: No.15, India Exchange Place, Kolkata – 700 001.

Tel. No. : 033-22305788, Fax: 033-22305788

   Email:  aiubof@gmail.com          Mobile 09830075940

CIRCULAR NO. 17                                                                             July 18^th, 2012

TO ALL CONSTITUENT UNIONS & MEMBERS:

Dear Comrades,

·        UFBU’s STRIKE CALL

·        GOVT. INTERVENES – CONCILIATION MEETING HELD TODAY

·        IBA AGREES TO HOLD BIPARTITE MEETING ON OUR ISSUES

·        HENCE STRIKE ON 25/26 JULY TEMPORARILY POSTPONED

Further to the UFBU’s strike notice served on IBA, today on the intervention of the Government, a conciliation meeting was held by the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner.  Mr. S.K. Chand, Dy. Chief Labour Commissioner conducted the conciliation proceedings.  All constituents of UFBU and IBA representatives took part in the conciliation meeting.

From the UFBU we brought to the attention of the Dy CLC the circumstances that forced the UFBU to give the call for strike.  We informed that on the one hand the Government was going ahead with their reforms agenda and on the other hand, the IBA is not coming forward to resolve the various issues raised by UFBU.  The situation is being aggravated by various unilateral guidelines from the Government on HR issues affecting bilateralism in the banking industry.  Further, in violation of the existing settlement and provisions, regular and permanent jobs are being outsourced.  We also complained that IBA was not even acknowledging our Notice or taking initiative for finding amicable solutions to our demands.  Hence the agitation and strike has been forced on the UFBU.

In reply, IBA submitted their written explanation virtually negating all our demands.  However, the Dy. CLC emphasised that since the issues raised by the UFBU have to be addressed by the IBA, mutual discussions should be held on the demands of the UFBU to find possible solutions.  He also appealed to the UFBU to explore solutions by discussions.

Consequently IBA came forward to hold bipartite discussions with UFBU within a week on the issues and demands raised by UFBU.  In view of this development, UFBU decided and agreed to temporarily postpone/defer the two days strike action on 25^th/26^th July, 2012.

It has also been decided in the UFBU meeting that if IBA is not seriously coming forward to resolve our issues during the forthcoming discussions, the UFBU would revive the agitation and also give a call for strike on 22^nd and 23^rd August, 2012.  In view of the above, our units are requested to defer the strike action on 25^th/26^th July and the connected demonstrative programmes and await further developments.

We congratulate all our unions and members for the massive preparation for the strike and exhort them to be in readiness for further struggles, if warranted.

With greetings,

 

P.K. SARKAR

 CONVENOR