SAIL Ex-Employees Association
SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/MC/0912
Jan.27, 2012
To
Director (Personnel),
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: Inconvenience due to delayed communication of SAIL Mediclaim Policy and Guidelines
Ref: Circular issued on 4th Jan 2012 after expiry of the last date of validity.
Dear Sir,
It has come to our notice that since last few years the circular issued for renewal of the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme is made after a gap of few days/ weeks which created difficulties in getting medical attention. Some of the Hospitals/Nursing Homes recognised for Cashless treatment refused treatment to the Ex-Employees / our members because our membership was discontinued, according to them, during that period. In fact in 2011 our membership was discontinued for a few months. Though SAIL kept on assuring us of continuity of membership yet the recognised/ listed Hospitals did not honour them. It is quite natural that the delay in SAIL, from SAIL to Insurance Co. to TPA to Hospitals is a long chain. So such delays are expected to create problem which they did.
Therefore, during finalization of a new Health Care Scheme for Ex-Employees as suggested in our letter to SAIL Chairman No. SEEA/RB/0212 dt. Jan.24, 2012 and to Director (P) No. SEEA/MC/0312 dt 27.01.2012 we request you, Sir, to finalise the scheme and circulate the Policy earlier so that the formalities of renewal can be completed by early January. This can be possible if communications are made through authentic electronic systems like Online transfer of money and use of e-mail and Internet between SAIL, Insurance Company, TPA and the Hospitals. Alternatively, the Hospitals may be advised to honour the mediclaim identification card as valid until and unless they are communicated otherwise.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
President
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SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/MC/0812
Jan.27, 2012
To
Director (Personnel),
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: Request to amend the clauses related to OPD claims
Ref: No.RD/PER(IR)/WEL-215 Mediclaim-2012 Dated: 04-01-2012 for Renewal under SAIL Mediclaim Scheme – 2012
Dear Sir,
It has come to our notice that the following clauses have been introduced this time with respect to OPD claims. Page 1 of the above referred Circular reads as
vi) OPD Claims to be submitted to the TPA, only when the expenses exceed Rs.1000/- per person per policy period or within 30 days from the date of treatment, whichever is earlier.
Similarly sub para 6.5 of the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme -2012 reads as
6.5 OPD Claims to be submitted by the Mediclaim member, to the TPA only when the expenses exceed Rs. 1000 per person per policy period or within 30 days from the date of completion of the treatment, whichever is earlier.
Both of them have the same meaning and none of them seemed to be based on sound logic nor are they desirable by any length of imagination. What the ‘whichever is earlier’ mean in practice is that a member will be required to send Medical bills to TPA at least 4/ 8 times a year in place of one at the end of the year. If the member and the spouse have different frequency of treatment the number of dispatching/ posting may be doubled to 8/16 times per year.
We would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that extra expenses need to be incurred for dispatching the Bills as many times as a member does-maximum of 16 times per year. Ever increasing cost and risk of travel get added without commensurate benefit accruing from the OPD claims.
In view of this and during finalization of a new Health Care Scheme for Ex-Employees as suggested in our letter to SAIL Chairman No. SEEA/RB/0212 dt. Jan.24, 2012 and to Director (P) No. SEEA/MC/0312 dt 27.01.2012 we request you to kindly delete ‘whichever is earlier’ from both the references made.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
Preside
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SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/MC/0712
Jan.27, 2012
To
Director (Personnel),
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: To permit payment of Mediclaim Insurance renewal fees at SAIL Unit where settled
Dear Sir,
The Annual General Meeting of our Association held on 22nd January in Shyamali Nursery, Ranchi took note of the fact that a good number of our members are settled outside their place of last posting. Because of this a situation of uncertainty with postal services gets created while sending the cheque/ draft for renewal of Mediclaim Insurance from the place where settled to the Office of last posting. It has also been reported that in some cases such a delay caused discontinuation of membership. This, in turn, can become dangerous for the individual concerned.
In view of this we suggest three alternatives in order of preference:
1. Online transfer of money is the best option.
2. Until online transfer is accepted and made functional; the payment for renewal may please be permitted at the nearest SAIL Unit/Plant/Office CMO Branch Office/ Stockyard of CMO.
3. The last alternative can be that the person in charge of handling receipt of renewal forms and payment looks into every - received - envelope on day to day basis rather than all the envelopes to accumulate upto 31st January, and confirms receipt of the documents by Mobile/ Phone, SMS or e-mail within 24 hours taking help of the communication details provided in the renewal forms. This is not difficult to achieve.
Therefore, during finalization of a new Health Care Scheme for Ex-Employees as suggested in our letter to SAIL Chairman No. SEEA/RB/0212 dt. Jan.24, 2012 and to Director (P) No. SEEA/MC/0312 dt 27.01.2012 we request you to kindly advise the SAIL Units/ Offices to accept renewal forms and cheque/DD of the Ex-Employees in place of their post – superannuation permanent settlement.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
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(V.N.Sharma)
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SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/MC/0612
Jan.27, 2012
To
Director (Personnel),
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: Fresh enrolment/ Renewal in Mediclaim Insurance for those who missed it
Dear Sir,
The Annual General Meeting of our Association held on 22nd January in Shyamali Nursery, Ranchi took note of the fact that a good number of our members could not become member of the SAIL Mediclaim Insurance Scheme or could not renew their membership due to various reasons like uncertainty during separation from the company, late information, absence from place of permanent residence, delayed postal delivery or some disturbing happening in the family. The current examples are our members like Sri R.P. Singh, ex-MD, BSP; Sri H.N.Singh, ex-ED, SAIL’s Growth Division and Dr.Suresh Jha Aji,ex-Director, National Institute of Foundry & Forge Technology, Ranchi, earlier GM MTI/SAIL. I do not think bad intentions can be assigned to any of them. The first two are settled in Ranchi but do not have their medical cards to avail the medical facilities in Ispat Hospital, Ranchi. It was noted that such chance failures have led to costly sacrifices in some cases. It was also observed that such stubborn policy leads to unintentional punishment – sometime by life – and creation of inequality between different Ex-Employees in distribution of social security benefits because of mistakes, mostly unintentional. SAIL will not be at a loss for providing this to the erring Ex-Employees.
In the light of this and during finalization of a new Health Care Scheme for Ex-Employees as suggested in our letter to SAIL Chairman No. SEEA/RB/0212 dt. Jan.24, 2012 and to Director (P) no. SEEA/MC/0312 dt 27.01.2012 it has been resolved to request you to please include regularization of such ‘erring’ Ex-Employees with nominal charges in the Policy/ Scheme. I propose to you Sir, to finalise their inclusion in Mediclaim Scheme by next month and oblige us.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
President
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SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/MC/0512
Jan.27, 2012
To
Director (Personnel),
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: Request to formulate new Health Care Policy for SAIL’s Ex-Employees- to be in force by the year-end.
Ref: Our letter No. SEEA/RB/0212 dated Jan.24, 2012 addressed to Chairman, SAIL (copy attached).
Dear Sir,
I would like to draw your kind attention to our members’ opinion during the recent AGM on ‘not very effective output of the current SAIL Mediclaim Policy’ and fundamental changes required in the same. As per the current policy in existence for SAIL Ex-Employees, they have an option to join SAIL Mediclaim Insurance scheme with facilities of Cash less treatment in listed hospitals/ nursing homes through an Insurance Company and Third Party Administrator. With passage of time the policy is becoming less and less attractive. It is not meeting the objective of good healthcare. In case of hospitalization the increased cost of Healthcare and medicines, reduction in testing and treatment facilities, ever increasing cost of treatment and interface problems between the Hospitals and the TPA or the Insurance companies are the reasons of decay and degeneration of Health care for the Ex-Employees. On an average an ex-employee spends more than the prescribed limit of Rs. 4000/- (<70 years) and Rs. 8000/- (>70 years) per head on OPD treatment.
Compared to SAIL’s equivalent Maharatna and Navratna Companies like those belonging to Oil Sector our Health care scheme for Ex-Employees is quite inferior, not meeting the objectives of good quality Healthcare of the Ex-Employees. Once they get hospitalized they are forced to be almost on the begging spree.
In view of this it was resolved by our members in the AGM held on 22nd January 2012 that SAIL be requested to please work out an alternative Health care policy for Ex-Employees, to be in force by the year-end, on the lines of those available in Oil Sector Companies keeping in mind that
1. the SAIL’s Health Care Policy for Ex-Employees to be reformulated to be at par with the regular employees of SAIL
2. no Ex-Employees be asked to pay renewal charges but only to fill out a form annually, and submit ‘Life certificate’ as proof of his existence and
3. full cost of treatment to be borne by SAIL in the SAIL’s recognized Hospitals/ Nursing Homes.
We hope that the new scheme will be finalized by the year-end.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
President
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SPEEDPOST
No. SEEA/RB/0212
Jan.24, 2012
To
Chairman,
Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Ispat Bhawan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
Sub: Implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for retirement benefits to pre-2007 retirees of SAIL and extension of healthcare facilities at par with regular employees.
Dear Sir,
Kindly accept our congratulation and best wishes on completing, this day, another successful year of retaining the leadership in production and marketing of Steel in the domestic as well as foreign markets, and remaining a Maharatna Company for yet another year. We wish SAIL a successful and eventful future under your leadership and guidance.
The Annual General Meeting of our Association held on 22nd January in Shyamali Nursery, Ranchi took note of the BPL conditions in which some of our members - pre-1997 SAIL retirees to be specific - have landed into and decided to draw your kind attention to implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee in this regard. The condition of those retired between 1997 and 2007 is no better. They all put in over 30 years of service in erstwhile Hindustan Steel Ltd since its formative years in early fifties and SAIL when major industries were established in remote locations and in undeveloped areas as a part of the 1st Industrial revolution which was the dream of the country’s post-independence leadership and are now 70 years and above - some of them above 80. They all worked under adverse conditions of no infrastructure or facility for work or life. The commitment and contribution made and the strong foundation laid by early retirees have undoubtedly contributed to make the company now the pride of the nation. But for their contribution SAIL would not have been a Maharatna today. They retired with a maximum of Rs.3 lakh which is very meager amount for sustenance. Most of them (pre-1997 retirees) do not have pension benefits or pension under EPS-95 for 1997-2007 retirees is in hundreds, not even thousands.
That means, they have no income other than from investment of retirement benefits as above. But this return is meager because the cost of living has gone up by more than 250% and is going up and up with uncontrolled price rise of essential commodities. At the same time the return from investment have come down by 33% and is falling on regular basis. Interest rates remain in the range 8-9% (which after tax deduction amounts to 5.5-6%) and inflation (Compounded) is 15-20%. For a respectable leaving one has to either earn additional money through self-employment/service or depend fully on one’s offspring. For sheer reasons of age and social complexities these are almost impossible solution. The expenditure on medical due to old age-related ailments is also huge compared to limited reimbursements being given under SAIL Mediclaim insurance policy. These adverse conditions are putting pre-2007 retirees into hardship to live with dignity after serving in Public Sector for 30 years & above as builder of the Nation in real terms. They are slowly being pushed to the actual BPL of the society. Therefore, the retirees, are in emergency need of monthly support to over come their hardship at twilight of their life.
Considering the plight of retirees of PSUs, the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for PSUs recommended for creation of corpus out of profit of these PSUs for retirement benefits of those persons retired before 1.1.2007 and Department of Public Enterprises had also issued number of OMs dt 26.11.2008, dt 08.07.2009, dt. 25.04.2011 & dt. 20.07.2011. This group of persons are withering away being 70 years & above. SAIL had total cash reserve of Rs.32,939 crores till 31st March 2011. The Profit before Tax (PBT) of SAIL from 1.1.2007 to 31.03.2011 is about Rs.40,000 crores. As per 2nd PRC, maximum 1.5% of the PBT is to be invested in a corpus & the return from this corpus is to be used for the retirement benefit of these retirees. Thus for the present finance is not a constraint for SAIL to give this benefit. We are sorry to say that SAIL has not implemented the scheme in spite of number of OMs issued by the Department of Public Enterprises and individual representations.
We would also like to bring to your kind attention the fact that the benefits/ output of our hard work in the conditions as prevailed in early days of setting up of the Steel plants under Hindustan Steel Ltd. and SAIL in the Greenfield areas are being reaped today by the present generation of employees, the Government and also by the people. Therefore, our humble suggestion is that the least SAIL can do is i) to implement the recommendations of 2nd PRC and the directions contained in the OMs issued by Dept. of Public Enterprises immediately so that retirees spend rest of their days with honour and (ii) to start adhoc payment to those who have crossed 70 years of age by 29th February 2012. In the event of any shortfall, the Ministry of Finance may please be requested to transfer additionally 1% of Dividend and/or Disinvestment amounts from SAIL to the corpus. The SAIL may kindly consider this as a Social security benefit of their own retirees.
Our AGM also decided to have basic changes in Health Care Schemes for Ex-Emplyees. As per the current policy in existence for SAIL Ex-Employees, they have an option to join SAIL Mediclaim Insurance scheme with facilities of Cash less treatment in listed hospitals/ nursing homes through an Insurance Company and Third Party Administrator. With passage of time the policy is becoming less and less attractive. It is not meeting the objective of good healthcare even after SAIL and Ex-Employees are spending a good amount of money. On an average an employee spends more than the prescribed limit of Rs. 4000/- (<70 years) and Rs. 8000/- (>70 years) per head on OPD treatment. In case of hospitalization the increased cost of Healthcare and medicines, reduction in testing and treatment facilities and ever increasing cost of treatment due to the increased greed of Hospital Managements for more and more profits are the reasons of decay and degeneration of Health care for the Ex-Employees.
In view of this we propose to work out an alternative policy to provide the Health Care facilities to SAIL Ex-Employees at par with the regular employees on roll of the Company. This will help utilize the existing infrastructural facilities for Health care of SAIL better. We hope we have explained everything well. Yet if clarifications are required please call us for a discussion as per your convenience.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
President
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To:-
THE COUNCIL OF STATES (RAJYA SABHA)
The petition of Shri ……………………..aged ……. years, residing within the limits of the Municipal Corporation of ……………..
The petition of Shri ……………………..aged ……. years, residing within the limits of the Municipal Corporation of ……………..
Sheweth
I am one of the retired Executive of Steel Authority of India Ltd.(SAIL) a PSU under the Ministry of Steel. I retired in 2002 under VRS after putting in more than 22 years of service only in SAIL. I joined SAIL/ RDCIS (earlier it was Hindustan Steel Ltd) in 1979. I along with others worked under adverse conditions of no infrastructure or facility for R&D work or life in Ranchi. There were no quarters, no office building, no laboratories and instruments and equipments for carrying out Basic or Applied Industrial R&D programmes. The city was underdeveloped so much so that many who came from foreign countries to work in RDCIS left within a year or two. The commitment and contribution made and the strong foundation laid by retirees like me & others who had joined PSUs in the formative years have also contributed to make the company now the pride of the nation. SAIL now is a Maharatna under the Ministry of Steel of the Central Government. I and others like me had retired with meager gratuity of Rs. 1 lakh & PF of Rs...... only and I am in receipt of Rs. ………./-per month as pension benefits under EPS-95. Further, income from investment of retirement benefits as above is meager because the cost of living has gone up by more than 250% and the return from investment out of my above retirement Benefits have come down by 33% since I retired in 2002. Interest rates remain in the range 8-9% (which after tax deduction amounts to 5.5-6%) and inflation (Compounded) is 15-20%. If someone earns additional money through self-employment /service then that additional income alone should be taxable. The expenditure on medical due to old age-related ailments is also huge compared to limited reimbursements being given under SAIL Mediclaim insurance policy. These adverse conditions are putting me & others like me to lot of hardship to live with dignity after serving in Public Sector for 30 years & above as builder of the Nation in real terms. We are slowly being pushed to the actual BPL of the society. I along with others like me are in emergency need of monthly support to over come our hardship at twilight of our life. Considering the plight of retirees of PSUs, the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for PSUs had recommended for creation of corpus out of profit of these PSUs for retirement benefits of those persons retired before 1.1.2007 and Department of Public Enterprises had also issued number of OMs dt 26.11.2008, dt 08.07.2009, dt. 25.04.2011 & dt. 20.07.2011. This group of persons are withering away being 70 years & above and the corpus is not required perennially and it can be slowly withdrawn in stages.
I am one of the retired Executive of Steel Authority of India Ltd.(SAIL) a PSU under the Ministry of Steel. I retired in 2002 under VRS after putting in more than 22 years of service only in SAIL. I joined SAIL/ RDCIS (earlier it was Hindustan Steel Ltd) in 1979. I along with others worked under adverse conditions of no infrastructure or facility for R&D work or life in Ranchi. There were no quarters, no office building, no laboratories and instruments and equipments for carrying out Basic or Applied Industrial R&D programmes. The city was underdeveloped so much so that many who came from foreign countries to work in RDCIS left within a year or two. The commitment and contribution made and the strong foundation laid by retirees like me & others who had joined PSUs in the formative years have also contributed to make the company now the pride of the nation. SAIL now is a Maharatna under the Ministry of Steel of the Central Government. I and others like me had retired with meager gratuity of Rs. 1 lakh & PF of Rs...... only and I am in receipt of Rs. ………./-per month as pension benefits under EPS-95. Further, income from investment of retirement benefits as above is meager because the cost of living has gone up by more than 250% and the return from investment out of my above retirement Benefits have come down by 33% since I retired in 2002. Interest rates remain in the range 8-9% (which after tax deduction amounts to 5.5-6%) and inflation (Compounded) is 15-20%. If someone earns additional money through self-employment /service then that additional income alone should be taxable. The expenditure on medical due to old age-related ailments is also huge compared to limited reimbursements being given under SAIL Mediclaim insurance policy. These adverse conditions are putting me & others like me to lot of hardship to live with dignity after serving in Public Sector for 30 years & above as builder of the Nation in real terms. We are slowly being pushed to the actual BPL of the society. I along with others like me are in emergency need of monthly support to over come our hardship at twilight of our life. Considering the plight of retirees of PSUs, the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for PSUs had recommended for creation of corpus out of profit of these PSUs for retirement benefits of those persons retired before 1.1.2007 and Department of Public Enterprises had also issued number of OMs dt 26.11.2008, dt 08.07.2009, dt. 25.04.2011 & dt. 20.07.2011. This group of persons are withering away being 70 years & above and the corpus is not required perennially and it can be slowly withdrawn in stages.
SAIL had total cash reserve of Rs.32,939 crores till 31st March 2011. The Profit before Tax (PBT) of SAIL from 1.1.2007 to 31.03.2011 is about Rs.40,000 crores. As per 2nd PRC, maximum 1.5% of the PBT is to be invested in a corpus & the return from this corpus is to be used for the retirement benefit of these retirees. Thus for the present finance is not a constraint for SAIL to give this benefit. SAIL has not implemented the scheme in spite of number of OMs issued by the Department of Public Enterprises and individual representations.
I would also like to bring to your kind attention the fact that the benefits/ output of my hard work in the conditions as prevailed in early days of setting up of the Hindustan Steel Ltd. and the R&D Centre for Iron & Steel in the Greenfield areas of the PSU have also gone to the Government and the people of this country. Therefore, my humble suggestion is that the least our Government can do as a first step in this direction is to make our interest income 100% tax free.
And accordingly your petitioner pray that the Ministry of Steel & Ministry of Finance may kindly be advised i) to implement the recommendations of 2nd PRC and the directions contained in the OMs issued by Dept. of Public Enterprises immediately so that I and others like me at twilight of our life and (ii) to advise SAIL to start adhoc payment to those who have crossed 70 years of age before 29th February 2012. In the event of any shortfall, the Ministry of Finance may please be advised to transfer additionally 1% of Dividend and/or Disinvestment amounts from my PSU to the corpus. The PSU may kindly consider this as a Social security benefit of their own retirees.
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