SBOP Retired Officers Association PROFILE

Our Bank was established by His Highness Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in the year 1917 on Dipawali Day. Initially, the number of retirees was very small but by the 1980s, good number of officers who had joined the then Patiala State Bank or Bank of Patiala superannuated. It was the time when necessity of bringing the officers together and forming an association was felt. With this noble aim of taking care of interests of the retired officers, the State Bank of Patiala Retired Officers’ Association was formed on the 16th March 1986. The followings were the first office bearers:-

2. Realizing the usefulness of the maxim ‘All for one, one for all’, number of retired officers came forward and enrolled themselves as members. Resultantly, the number of members which was less than 20 at the time of formation, reached around 200 by the year 2002. On four posts of office bearers, the following seniors worked for different terms, till June, 2003 :-

3. In the Foundation Day Meet held in March 2003, two more posts of office bearers were created; one for Assistant Secretary and another for Organising Secretary. The team consisting of Shri P.S. Bakshi (President), Shri T.C. Bansal (Vice-President), Shri G.S. Rekhi (Secretary), Shri J.K. Jindal (Assistant Secretary), Shri M.S. Sahni (Treasurer) and Shri S.K. Malhotra (Organising Secretary) continued for a term of two years from June 2003 to June 2005.

4. In general body meeting of June 2005 , the House elected new team led by Shri S. S. Pandey as President with Shri L.D. Gupta (Vice-president), Shri Rameshwar Gupta (Secretary), Shri M.S. Bindra (Assistant Secretary), Shri J.K. Jindal (Treasurer) and Shri S.K. Malhotra (Organising Secretary). The new team started the work with enthusiasm. A number of steps were taken to strengthen the Association. Respect of senior was kept fore-most by exempting all seniors of eighty years and above from annual subscription payment. Age for honouring seniors at 75 years was lowered to 70 years. Further, the fortunate octogenarians earned another chance of special honour at reaching the age of 85 years. The constitution was given a re-look and re-written. Some designations were changed i.e. Secretary to General Secretary, Assistant Secretary to Joint Secretary and Treasurer to Finance Secretary. The team completed their term and continued upto March, 2008. After contributing a lot towards the cause of the Association, certain members left for reasons beyond their control in the next term. Shri. L.D. Gupta also departed on 21.01.2010, in harness after serving the Association as Vice-president very actively for about 5 years. In the month of September 2010, the general house approved addition of two more posts of office bearers namely Senior Vice-president and Organizing Secretary with purpose of carrying on the work smoothly. Two posts that is of the Vice-president and Organising Secretary are ear-marked for out-stations. The office bearers, who remained at your service for the period from 19-03-2008 (or from the date of creation of posts) to 25-09-2011, were:-

5. The team completed their term of three years in the year 2011. They were allowed to serve further for another term unanimously in the yearly general body meeting on 25th September, 2011. On completion of the tenure and in the annual general body meeting on the 5th October, 2014, the House once again showed unanimity in electing the entire team for the next term in line with important provision of the Constitution that ‘efforts be made to hold the elections unanimously and avoid contests. On health grounds, Shri Parkash Chand, however, could not continue for full term on account of major heart surgery and Shri Ashok Kumar Ashu took over as Finance Secretary in January, 2016, as per decision of the Executive Committee meeting held on 20th December, 2015. The work done by Shri Parkash Chand as Finance Secretary and by other predecessors from time to time is acknowledged with gratitude by the team in office. The following office bearers served till 30-09-2017.

The new office bearers wef 01-10-2017 are as under:

6. To cope with the increased workload and enrollment, the number of management committee members has since been allowed to be increased from 8 to 10 and of the executive committee members from 25 to maximum of 35. The tenure of office bearers has been restricted to two terms only, as per decisions of the general house in annual meeting held on 15-11-2015.

7. The objects laid down in the constitution are clear and we are committed to follow them religiously. The teams have performed / tried to perform in the laid down areas as under:-

i) Bringing together the officers :
Much labour has been put in this area. A nice system is in place now whereby the General Secretary personally ensures that every retiring officer is approached before he/she leaves the last place of posting. The list of non-members is reviewed periodically and they are approached repeatedly to enroll. Officers have been brought to the ambit even at the age of 80 plus. It is not per chance that all the retired Managing Directors and Chief General Managers of our Bank are life members of the Association. Also we have all retired Chairmen, General Secretaries and office bearers of the ABOA (Patiala Unit)as our life members. In pursuance of this important object, number of units have been established at outstations like Panchkula, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Jallandhar, Faridabad, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Yamunanagar, Khanna and Ambala. To facilitate joining together of maximum members, regular meetings at Patiala and the above noted centres are held every month. Annual general body meeting of all members across the country is held in fine season of September/October. The Association stands strengthened a lot numerically and enrollment number is touching 1980 by now. Every member is sent birthday greetings on his/her birthday and spouse of the member also sents a beautiful greeting card on her/his birthday, from the Association. Similarly, grief hours on departure of a member are shared with the family by placing a shawl on the departed and his/her last rites are attended. The spouse of the departed member is assisted in completing Bank formalities of the deceased member and is enrolled as lifetime member in his/her stead, without any annual subscription or fund from her/him.

ii) Keeping up and continuing relations with the Bank :
Sincere efforts are made in this direction. We call on the Managing Director and concerned Bank Management functionaries, from time to time, who have been responsive and helpful towards our requirements. The Bank allowed us to hold our monthly meetings at Patiala in its Staff Training Centre/Infotech Academy, Patiala and is continuing the gesture of meeting expenses of Rs.2,500/- every month towards entertainment, even after shifting of venue of meeting to our own building. Further, the Bank is providing space to our units at outstations to hold monthly meetings at Zonal/Regional Office/Staff Training College with tea/snacks to the participants. Very often, we are given funds towards meeting expenses on lunch to participants on our annual general body meetings. The facilities of providing Holiday Homes and concessional rate of interest on deposits as given to the serving staff are being extended to the retired officers, as well. Relief to the legal heirs of the deceased to meet funeral expenses of an officer upto Rs. 5,000/- is being extended. Good looking Identity Cards and Pension Payment Orders ( PPOs ) with all relevant details are now issued to the retirees by PPFG department without delay. The PPFG Department is now sending Pension Slips with all details, to the retirees by e-mail. Otherwise also, the work of the retired officers in general is being looked after well by the PPFG department. We are thankful to the Bank for providing diaries/ calendars to the retired officers which surely is a gesture of goodwill. The cordiality of the Bank in providing magazines/newspapers at our office library is welcome. The Bank has also helped us by releasing advertisements for our souvenir/directories.

iii) To strive for financial betterment of retired officers/ family pension beneficiaries:
We remain in touch with developments in the Bank and Banking Industry and keep our members abreast thereof. At the time of offer of another option for pension, maximum number of officers/ concerned families were got covered by constant follow up. We have been able to get several officers re-employed in the Bank as Channel Management Facilitators (CMFs), Counselors for the Financial Literacy & Credit Counselling (FLCCs) in our Bank and Malwa Gramin Bank and Asset Management Consultants (AMCs) for recovery of dues etc. Number of retired officers are employed as consultants in SBI Life, CMAs and senior CMAs in SBI as also with well run companies for which the Association extended a helping hand. We ensure to send details of the scheme received, its terms/conditions, remuneration and prescribed application form to all eligible officers in time and at times by telephone/SMSs. We are satisfied that efforts made in this behalf have been fruitful. Arrangements have been made with certain labs / chemists for concession in diagnostic tests / medicines to the retired officers. Medical check-up camps and talks by eminent and specialist doctors have been arranged periodically. To facilitate expeditious reimbursement of bills, more hospitals have been got approved. The revised Retired Employees’ Medical Benefit Scheme (REMBS-II) was widely publicised and got implemented to the benefit of maximum number of officers by joining it or upgradation from REMBS-I to REMBS-II. To enlarge the scope and usefulness of the Scheme (REMBS II) , specially for the retired top executives , the matter was taken up through the Bank with Central Office and provisions thereof got implemented properly. The new medical insurance scheme was also publicized and got opted by good number of retired officers.

iv) To raise money from members/ other persons/ agencies for furtherance of objects:
Raising of money is mainly from members and it has never been a problem. The new members are required to pay life membership subscription and annual fund at the time of their joining. The annual fund is received mostly in time. No such fund is recoverable from the spouse of a departed and she/he becomes an honourable honorary member in place of deceased member. Similarly, a member of 80 years of age and above is exempted from paying the annual fund. No levy or any other recovery is recovered from any member on receipt of his/her getting arrears on account of revision of scales etc. At the time of printing of new directories, advertisements from our well wishers are accepted through our members against rates laid down. This has been done on a limited scale in case of directories dated 09-09-09, March, 2011 and as on 31-10-2015. The accounts are audited by the auditors elected by the House as per constitution and also by the Chartered Accountants, who further ensure safety and proper utilisation of the funds received and submission of income tax return to concerned authorities.

v) To coordinate / affiliate with organizations having similar objects :
The State Bank of Patiala Retired Officers’ Association, Patiala is registered under the Societies Registerarion Act with the Registrar of Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh under Registerarion No. 122 of 2009-10 on 15-09-2009. We are enjoying close and cordial relations with the Associate Banks Officers’ Association- Unit Patiala. They help us in getting our just demands met by the Bank and contribute funds for our cause from time to time. At the national level, we are affiliated to the All India Bank Retirees’ Federation (AIBRF) and Associate Banks’ Retired Officers’ Association. We are maintaining close liaison with them for the solution of our problems of Industry level. We are in touch with their future programmes especially about pending demands of retirees after signing of 10th wage settlement. After the decision of the Govt of India to merge five Associate Banks with SBI, we have activated ABROA and have held a joint meeting of retired staff of all the seven units at Hyderabad on 6th July, 2016. Decision taken are being pursued.

vi) To acquire any movable/ immovable property in line with objects of the Association
Acquiring of immovable property for use of the Association was, of course, the most difficult object to achieve, but this too has been successfully done by the Association, with the exclusive help, support and cooperation of our membership. The retired fraternity, was actively supported by serving officers through ABOA- Patiala Unit. Outstanding support also came from Shri B C Bassi, Smt. Manjusha Gupta, Shri Devinder Singh, Shri SubhashSingla, Shri Manjit Singh Anand and Bathinda Unit,. We express our gratitude to all of them for their help in a unique and noble task of pride, which places the State Bank of Patiala Retired Officers’ Association atop the Banking Industry of the country. Walking down the memory lane, we find a proposal by Shri S S Sidhu made in March, 2009 yearly meeting, accepting and funds contribution started there and then, forming Building Committee involving all, purchase of plot, starting construction in March, 2011 after municipal clearance and completion of building by March, 2012, as distinct mile-stones. Two rooms on the first floor and a block of another two rooms by Sept., 2012, completes the journey. Now, the Association has its own spacious double storeyed building constructed on 217 sq. yards corner plot, with spacious hall, office, kitchen, caretaker’s room and wash rooms on ground floor and four rooms with attached bathrooms on Ist floor for stay of out-stationed member officers. All the rooms and hall are provided with air conditioners. A dream project, realised in record time, is an achievement of pride and sagacity of us all.

vii) Engaging in public welfare activities
The Association is fully alive to its philanthropic obligations. Therefore, whenever there was a call for help to natural calamity victims, adequate funds have been sent by us and units to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Medical check-up and medical treatment camps with necessary tests for members and public are arranged. Awareness camps with talks by specialized doctors from reputed hospitals are arranged. The facility of library ( which has more than 500 valuable books in different languages ) has been extended to public. Daily newspapers in Hindi, Punjabi and English are available to public visiting the library. Similarly indoor games facilities like carom board, chess, cards are also being provided to public in our office. Fixing of Guide Map Boards, cleanliness of locality/area, help of poor students are the other activities being undertaken by us. A water cooler has been installed in this summer season, which is exclusively for the public.

An Appeal
An earnest and honest appeal to our membership is necessary. More than three decades back, our visionary seniors planted a sapling for us and brought it up with labour. The same is now a grown-up tree and is flourishing. Its continued care is our sacred duty. A well-knit body of 2000 officers throughout the country, all seasoned and mature, is really a force to reckon with. The forum provides a ready platform to every retiring officer of State Bank of Patiala to join the retired fraternity and seek, solicit and struggle for his/her genuine rights. Unity is strength every where, it is all the more necessary in our case. Under no circumstances, politics be played in any manner whatsoever. Here, it is sin. The benevolence and repute of the Association earned with labour over years must be maintained. If we remain united and continue to serve selflessly abiding by the laid down objects religiously, the Association now equipped with all necessary resources, is surely capable of facing effectively various challenges coming before our future generation, now in service.