MYBANK is a nationalized bank. Its outlook and operational goals should reflect the overall policies of the Government of India. It therefore has a definite and distinct role and responsibility to respond and concern towards the welfare of its former employees. As far as the Bank is concerned the former employees represent a knowledge reserve. Should the Bank ignore this pool of expertise or should it try to integrate this knowledge reservoir with its own operational framework as a second line or outer line of support. If any job or work is to be outsourced, this pool is the most ideal option. Several ad-hoc jobs involving study and documentation functions can be assigned to the retired employees. In the coming days of global competitiveness a good quantum of work has to be outsourced, as a measure of prudent operational policy, without obstructing the working of the existing employees, but supporting and supplementing them.

• Documenting, updating and revising Manuals, Books of Instructions, Job guidance digests etc.

• Training kits for different categories of employees

• Concurrent audit and inspection of branches

• Acting as surveillance officers of big borrowal accounts

• Monitoring of implementation in respect of projects financed or taken up for revival.

• Acting as field agents for promoting/marketing different products of the Bank

• Project appraisal

• Acting as Presenting officers, Enquiry Officers for Departmental Enquiries

• Conducting Investigations and submitting reports. Etc.

Retired employees on account of their rich experience and vast knowledge will eminently suit the coaching or training avocation. They can also organize coaching classes for CAIIB and other professional institutes independently through their own efforts. Many of them can serve as guest faculty in the training centres of the Bank. They can contribute articles to the professional journals on matters of current interest in the field and participate in workshops and seminars to analyze and discuss the current problems of the industry.

Ideally it should be a voluntary association organised as welfare Society, registered under the Societies Act. It is not a trade union. It should have bylaws for its smooth working. Members will subscribe to a code of conduct confirming their continued loyalty and devotion to the Organization and to the ethics of the profession they represent. It should include all employees without discrimination from the lowest to the topmost under one shelter. The Association of MYBANK employees will have diverse programs to cover the different stature of its members. It will be affiliated vertically to the All India Retired Bank employees Association, as also to eligible Senior Citizens Association of India.

The association need not duplicate and provide all the needs or cater to all requirements of its members. But it can act primarily as a clearing house, an information provider, and as a source for dissemination of latest developments and news of the industry. The association can pool and publish leaflets pointing out activities of different forums of senior citizens all over the world and benefits available therein. It can spread information about the newly defined policy of the Government of India regarding senior citizens. (Draft national policy for the welfare of the Elderly, 1993, is an effort in this direction.)

Subsequently the subject has further been studied by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment resulting in special care being taken for the welfare of the aged. Accordingly the Government of India announced a National Policy on Older Persons in January 1999. This policy, as stated earlier, provides a broad framework for inter sectoral collaboration and cooperation both within the government as well as between government and non-governmental agencies. Presently several Public and Private Sector Organizations are extending benefits and concessions to aged persons. Brief details of these are provided in Chapter-4 .Facilities and Concessions Presently Available to the Senior Citizens in India.

Constitution of India has placed a specific responsibility on the Central and State Governments with reference to the well being of persons of the old age. In the Constitution of India, entry 24 in list III of schedule VII deals with the "Welfare of Labour, including conditions of work, provident funds, liability for workmen's compensation, invalidity and old age pension and maternity benefits. Further, Article 41 of Directive Principles of State Policy has particular relevance to Old Age Social Security. Item No. 9 of the State List and item 20, 23 and 24 of Concurrent List relates to old age pension, social security and social insurance, and economic and social planning. Article 41 of Indian Constitution deals with the State's role in providing social security to the aged. According to this article, "the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in case of unemployment, OLD AGE, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want". Various benefits provided by Government agencies to retired persons (also called senior citizens) are provided in Chapter-5. - Measures Implemented by Governments in India for Providing Welfare and Social Security to the Senior Citizens.

The United Nations General Assembly has recognized that

• in all countries, individuals are reaching an advanced age in greater numbers and in better health than ever before

• the tremendous diversity in the situation of older persons, not only between countries but within countries and between individuals, which requires a variety of policy responses,

• the contribution that older persons make to their societies,

The UN General Assembly has further Recognised that in the Charter of the United Nations, the peoples of the United Nations declare, inter alia, their determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

the General Assembly of the United Nations has further noted that the elaboration of those rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other declarations to ensure the application of universal standards to particular groups. In pursuance of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the World Assembly on Ageing was endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/51 of 3 December 1982. The full text of the resolution passed by the U.N.General Assembly is given in Chapter-6

Various non-government agencies are in the forefront in catering to the diverse needs of the aged. Government of India as per its policy guidelines has recognized the benevolent role of NGOs in providing user friendly affordable services to complement the endeavours of the State in this direction. Information about reputed International Non-government Organizations currently operating in India, viz. "Indian federation on Ageing" (InFA), and "HelpAge India" are given in Chapter-7. - Non-government Agencies Providing Service to Senior Citizens. This Annexure also includes information about a purely Indian Initiative called the Dignity Foundation. It is a Bombay-based venture started in April 1995. This organisation was set up to cater to the needs of the elderly, starting with the publication of the magazine Dignity Dialogue. In a year's time this social enterprise grew to comprise services along with the magazine and came to be called Dignity Foundation. The Foundation is premised upon scientific developments in the fields of Geriatry and Gerontology. It offers Structural opportunities to exercise the choice of how to live young in chronologically advancing years.