In pre-pension era, in Banking Industry, a retiree on his receiving retiral dues such as Provident Fund – self and Bank’s contribution – Gratuity, Leave Encashment, Additional Retirement Benefit was forgotten by the Bank as also trade union to which he was attached for over three decades, during service period. His bonds with organization, colleagues were snapped overnight and he felt totally cut off and grappled to adjust to the void created by sudden cessation of linkages with the institutions, colleagues and friends. It was a sort of “corporate death” for a retiree.

In such an environment closely observing the efforts of such retiree to come to terms with changed situations at home and society, Shri V. T. Makwana mooted and placed before few like minded friends the idea/proposal of forming an organization to provide a platform to continue the snapped linkages and foster the spirit of fraternity and fellowship among the retirees. Sarva Shri (Late) A. A. Raval, K. R. Patel, B. N. Patel, C. J. Pancholi whole heartedly accepted the proposal and after establishing contacts with retiree colleagues in Gujarat, a meeting was convened at Ahmedabad on 17th March 1990 to give final shape to the idea.

President :	(Late) Shri A. A. Raval - Retired DGM - Vadodara
Vice-President :	Shri B. S. Sheth - Vadodara
General Secretary :	Shri V. T. Makwana - Ahmedabad
Asstt. Secretary :	Shri C. J. Pancholi - Ahmedabad
Treasurer :	Shri N. S. Shah - Ahmedabad
Members :	Shri J. N. Dholakia - Rajkot Shri B. N. Patel - Ahmedabad Shri R. M. Mehta - Mumbai Shri S. N. Nadkarni - Mumbai

A circular was issued on the same day and mailed to retired colleagues known and also to others after obtaining a list of retirees from Head Office, Baroda.

A communication was also addressed to the Chairman & Managing Director advising formation of the organization and its office-bearers. In that first communication, the following requests were made:

• Extending Holiday Home facility
• Extending Medical Assistance
• Introduction of Pension Schem

The formation of "Bank of Baroda Retired Officers’ Association" (BOBROA) on all India basis was whole heartedly accepted by retired colleagues and within a period of six months, more than 100 retired officers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh were enrolled. After introduction of pension, the enrollment of members got further momentum and today, after its over -32- years’ glorious existence, its Membership  has crossed the mark of 13800+. BOBROA has membership from all cadre of officers, from Chairman & Managing Directors, Executive Directors, General Manager and up to officers in junior level.

With the merger of erstwhile 'DENA Bank' and erstwhile 'VIJAYA Bank' with Bank of Baroda. BOBROA has been welcoming the Retiree Offcers of erstwhile 'DENA Bank' and erstwhile 'VIJAYA Bank'  as its Members. Many Retiree Officers from these -2- earstwhile Banks have joined BOBROA.  

It order to have proper and efficiaent  administration, BOBROA has set up  -12- Zones with an elected Zonal Team consisting of Zonal President, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Treasurer and other Office Bearers  to look after various Zonal Functions  Besides these,

BOBROA has its Central Management Team consiting  of Chairman, National President, Executive President, General Secretary, -12- Natonal Vice President (1 each from each Zone), -12- Assistant General Secreatry (1 from each Zone) and Govening Council Members. It has a separate aTeam named as "Central Legal Group" to look after all Legal Issues pertaing to Retirees. All the Fuctionaries and Zonal Teams are Elected every -4- years. 

 The present distrubtion of -12- Zones has been as under:

 

ZONE	AREA
Ahmedabad	Ahmedabad, North Gujarat & Saurashtra
Baroda	Central & South Gujarat, Kheda & Panchmahals
Greater Mumbai & Goa Zone - Mumbai	Greater Mumbai & Thane
Maharastra & Goa Zone - Pune	Maharashtra & Goa
Northern Zone -  Delhi	Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh
Rajsthan Zone - Jaipur	Rajsthan
Eastern U. P. Zone -Lucknow	Eastern Uttar Pradesh
Western U. P. Zone - Bareilly	Westrn Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand
Southern Zone, Chennai	Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry
Eastern Zone, Kolkata	West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam & North-Eastern States

At present, Bank of Baroda Retired Officers’ Association is the largest cadre-based organization in Public Sector and Private Sector Banks. Even though BOBROA is cadre-based organization of Officers, it has always espoused and promoted the cause/interest of entire retiree community of “Barodians” irrespective of cadre. The Association purchased its own office premises in the year 2004.

The Association has taken a lead in organizing bank retirees at apex level. In 1994, BOBROA along with other organizations of retirees in Bank of India, Central Bank, UCO Bank, Dena Bank convened an all India convention of Bank retirees organizations at Ahmedabad and formed All India Bank Retirees Federation. Shri V. T. Makwana, General Secretary of BOBROA was elected as Secretary of Gujarat unit of AIBRF. Here also BOBROA was largest single affiliate of AIBRF.

In year 2003, due to policy level differences, BOBROA withdrew its affiliation with AIBRF and established Retired Bank Officers’ National Confederation (RBONC) an apex level body with H.Q. at Bangalore, At present Shri Subhash Chand Ahuja is its  Executive President, and Shri D. K. Nadiger is its General Secretary.

Feeling the need of having a united body of retirees’ organization, United Forum of Bank Retirees’ Organisation was formed on the lines of United Forum of Bank Unions.

BOBROA is important member of UFBRO.

BOBROA has also been instrumental in creation of a "United Front of Bank of Baroda Retirees' Associatons' (UFOBOBRA)by bringing the following -4- Retiees' Associations on a common platform:

• Bank of Baroda Retired Officers Association (BOBROA)
• Vijaya Bank Retirees Association (VBRA)
• All India Bank of Baroda Retirees Association (AIBOBRA)
• All India Dena Bank Retirees Federation (AIDBRF)

This common platform will falicitate the discussions with the 'Bank of Baroda' and it will be easier for the Bank as well
as for the Retirees’ Organizations to have an effective channel of communication for mutual benefit.

Achievements

With the policy of conducting affairs with consultation and not confrontations, BOBROA has been successful in getting the following benefits to its members in particular and other retired colleagues in general.

• Issue relating to "Addition of Notional Years (up to 5 Yeras to "Retiree Specialist Officers" under Regulation 26 ofBank of 'Baroda Employyes' Pension Regulations, 1995'.
• Payment of Subsidy towards the Premium paid by Retirees for Group Health Insurance Schme.
• Payment of Arrears for the "Short-Payment of Gratuity" to certain groups of Retirees
• Holiday Home facility to all and Holiday Home reservation procedure for the Retirees
• Providing Option for Pension to the 'Compulsarily Retirees',
• Restoration of ½% more interest on term deposits of retirees who are senior citizens over and above 1% allowed to in-service staff 
• Issue of pension payment order books.
• Issue of Identity Cards

Bank of Baroda Contributory Scheme of Medical Assistance to retired employees, one of the best among public sector banks for superannuated employees. We are actively following up extension of the scheme to VRS-2001 pensions.

BOBROA has achieved acceptability as matured responsible organization with the Bank. The former and Present Chairman & Managing Directors have graced the functions arranged by BOBROA as Chief Guests at Baroda and Mumbai on quite a number of occasions. Other executives at Central and Zonal level also respond to our invitation to participate in functions. The representations by BOBROA to the Bank receive due attention and response.

TASK AHEAD

BOBROA is actively engaged in bringing the following benefits to Retirees:

• Updation of Pension (on the lines of Updation of Pension given by RBI to its Retirees) 
• 100% neutralization of D.A. for Pre 2012 Retirees 
• Uniform Medical Scheme.and Payment of Premium for the Retirees by the Bank
• Increase the Share in allocation of Staff Welfare Fund for the Retirees 
• Removal of discrimination to officers Voluntarily Retired Officers  under Bank of Baroda Officers' Service Regulations, 1979 in extending II option for Pension.
• Restoration of Commuted Value of Pension after 12 years instead of 15 years as at present.
• Increase in family pension to uniform 30% instead of slab rates. 
• Increase in Ccommutation of Pension from 33% to 40%.
• Grant of Pension option to retirees of erstwhile Bareilly Corporation Bank and Banaras Bank, taken over by our Bank.

BOBROA has also initiated/ to initiate judicial interventions in following areas.

• Updation of Pension (on the lines of Updation of Pension given by RBI to its Retirees) ( a case hasbeen filed at Gujarat High Court since long and now it has come to 'Argumant' stage - being followed up vigourously) 
• 100% neutralization of D.A. for pre- 1998 Retirees.
• Payment of arrears of pension revision to post 1-4-98 Pensions 
• Denial of Pension option to VRS (under ORS) group of retirees

With its dedicated and loyal large membership and over 150 active Governing Council and Zonal Committee Members, BOBROA is poised to extend better service to its Members as also to the retiree community in the Banking Industry.