Amalgamated AP Gramin Bank Pensioners Association Holds Foundational Conference

Strong Participation
Pensioners from across Andhra Pradesh attended the conference. They represented all four NFRRRBS units of the erstwhile RRBs affiliated to All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA):

• Andhra Pradesh Gramin Vikas Bank
• Andhra Pragathi Gramin Bank
• Saptagiri Gramin Bank
• Chaithanya Godavari Gramin Bank (host unit)
  

• Sri Venkateshwar Reddy, Secretary General, AIRRBEA
• Sri Pramod Kumar Reddy, Chairman, APGB
• Sri P. S. M. Rao, veteran leader
• Sri Ravikanth, President, APTRRBEA
• Sri K.V. Subba Reddy, Assistant Secretary, NFRRRBS
• Sri K. Venkat Reddy, General Secretary, Telangana Gramin Bank Unit

Presidents, General Secretaries, and office-bearers of all four erstwhile units were also present. The session was presided over by Sri Subramanya Kumar, long-time President of Andhra Federation, while Sri Kennedy anchored the proceedings.

Image - The dignitaries on stage
Issues Discussed
In his keynote, Sri Venkateshwar Reddy highlighted the history of the RRB system, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, and recalled the struggles and achievements of AIRRBEA. He also pointed to the future tasks ahead as RRBs move closer to their final goal of NRBI.

The deliberations emphasised on the issues faced by retirees, including:

• Achieving full pension parity
• Pension for DRT cases
• Revised commutation value
• Consequential benefits of the computer increment
• Gratuity with DA and special allowance
• Pension revision and updation
• Reducing the restoration period of commutation
• Health insurance, including joint policies with working employees, GST concerns, and cost-sharing by banks

Consensus Body Formed
After detailed deliberations, a Consensus Body was formed for the association:

• Sri P.L. Anand Reddy (eSGB) – Honorary President
• Sri K.T. Raju (eAPGVB) – President
• Sri Kennedy (eCGGB) – Working President
• Sri T. Rami Reddy (APGB) – General Secretary
• Sri T. Sridhar Reddy (APGB) – Treasurer
• Sri Subramanya Kumar (eCGGB) & Sri Narendra Reddy (eAPGVB) – Chief Advisers

Concluding Remarks
The organisers, while concluding the session, claimed that the conference was a resounding success. They are confident that the new committee will carry the responsibility of taking forward the welfare of retirees and addressing long-pending issues with renewed unity.