ONGC PRBS-1995 WAS NEW SCHEME: FOR UNIONISED CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEES

ONGC PRBS-1995 WAS NEW SCHEME: FOR UNIONISED CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEES
by Narayan Singh Rathore on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 6:55am

ONGC PRBS – 1995 WAS A NEW SCHEME ALTOGETHER

Consequent upon Govt. Notification for compulsory implementation of Statutory EPS-1995 w.e.f. 16.11.1995 (an extended version of erstwhile EFPS – 1971), the ONGC Management commenced negotiations with Recognised Unions. Rather, the Unions were persuaded to accept existing ONGC PRBS (Executives) with certain Modifications. This process started from JCM held on 26-27 March, 1996 at Hyderabad. It is an established fact that ONGC PRBS-1995 was altogether a new Scheme, exclusively for Unionised categories of ONGC Employees. The Recital to the Memorandum of Understanding dated 19.07.1998, inter alias clearly stated that:

“Short recital of the case: - The Post Retirement Benefit Scheme has already been in operation in ONGC since 1.4.1990. The Scheme is being managed by a duly constituted Board of Trustees and the benefits there under are being extended to the Members as per the Scheme. The issue regarding joining PRBS by Unionised category of employees of ONGC in lieu of the Employees Pension Scheme 1995 has been under discussion for some time in the past. In the JCM held on 26-27 March, 1996 at Hyderabad the Unions expressed their views in favour of PRBS proposed by ONGC, as applicable for the Executives of ONGC, with certain modifications. The decision to implement PRBS for unionised category of employees of ONGC was taken in a meeting of the General Secretaries of the recognised Unions with the Management held on 21-23 April, 1996 at New Delhi. The modalities and the follow up actions were discussed in various meetings held with the recognised Unions on 15-16 May, 1996 at new Delhi, 13th July, 1996 at Chennai, 10th September, 1996 at Calcutta, 29-30 April, 1997 at New Delhi, JCM held on 14-15 November,1997 at New Delhi, on 2-3 March,1998 and 29th April, 1998 at Dehradun.”

NOTE: - Scheme was mismanaged by an Unruly Board of Trustees & Pension was also not extended as per Scheme which was accepted by Executives. False Statement.

2. Para 3 & 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding dated 19.07.1998: -

“3. This Memorandum of Understanding is being signed by the unions and the Management to implement the Scheme (annexed herewith) w.e.f. 16.11.1995 in lieu of EPS-1995.”

“4. It is also agreed that this Memorandum of Understanding may be used for seeking exemption from the operation of EPS 1995.”

3. Some important aspects of “ONGC PRBS-1995 for Unionised Category of Employees” are stated here under: -

“In order to take care of post retirement needs of unionised categories of employees of ONGC, a Scheme effective from 16.11.1995 has been approved which would be self financing and will provide post retirement benefits.”

“Effective Date of Scheme: - The Scheme shall come in force from 16.11.1995.”

4. Scheme was circulated under O. O. No.11 (23)/97-EP (O.O. 27/98) dt. 6.8.1998.

5. It is abundantly clear that this Draft new PRB Scheme-1995 was unduly super imposed on ONGC PRBS-1990 for Executives, with lot of derogatory, unfair, unreasonable and prejudicial modifications. Innocent Employees of unionised category were equally duped under the guise of ‘existing Scheme’ i.e. PRBS-1990 (which was modified to the extent of lost identity under Cir. No. 40 of 18.6.1998). ONGC suppressed the fact that Revised PRBS-1998 drastically reduced Pension. Cheating & Cheating.