Page 1 of 16 Private Circulation for LIC Pensioners only

( A monthly e - Magazine of LIC Retired Class I Officers’ Association, Kolkata ) MARCH, 2018 Chief Editor : Sudarsan Basu Editorial Board : Dilip Kr Ghosh Subir Kr Mazumder Amar Kr Goswami Subrata Kr Ghosh

Happy Holi Holi is the festival of Colours celebrated all over India & Nepal on the Full Moon Day to welcome the spring! It signifies the end of evil. IN THIS ISSUE: Editorial………………....2 Federation Matter….3 Association News…..3 Of Interest : ……….…..4 Humour…..…...........6 Tourism………………….6 The River…………….….8 Health Guide……… ..10 Pensioners’ Tour…..13 Price index ……………14 Readers’ Feedback..14 .

53RD Issue

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MARCH,2018

53RD

Issue

EDITORIAL : The origin of Holi is not known but two Hindu mythological stories are found. In Bengal and eastern India "Dolyatra" popularizes the tale of Radha and her lover, Krishna. Krishna, as a boy would drench girls with water and colours as a sport. Soon, other boys in his village started participating and somehow, it became a tradition to throw colours and water on each other on this special day. As Krishna grew, the game came to signify the colourful and eventful love story of Radha and Krishna. This tradition has transpired through ages to signify the festival of colours across the globe. It is also known as "Dol Purnima" and Rabindranath Tagore popularized the festival at Santiniketan as "Bashanta Utsav" for all communities. Holi is being celebrated through centuries. Another mythological story goes like this; Lord Vishnu had assassinated the younger brother of the demon lord, Hiranyakashipu who planned to rule the heaven, the earth and the underworld by defeating Vishnu. On his orders, his whole state started to worship Hiranyakashipu, dismissing the Gods. But his son, Prahalad, maintained his deity to be none but Vishnu. Angered, the tyrant king decided to kill Prahalad with the help of Holika, Hiranyakashipu’s sister, who was immune to fire. A pyre was lit and Holika sat on it, clutching Prahalad. But with the blessings of Vishnu Prahalad emerged out of the fire unscathed, whereas Holika burned to ashes. Hiranyakashipu, too was eventually killed by Vishnu. Even today the story of Holika is remembered one day before Holi and Bonfires are lit up to celebrate the burning away of the evil spirits. Holi is the celebration of Life itself. Holi accolades life, love, its vitality, its passion. The essence of colour compels us to shun our logical minds in the hope of a dreamy world full of rainbows. In the sunset days of our life also we have to defeat the preventive entities to make our lives colourful and live with rainbows.

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Federation News: SLP No 21206 of 2017 The legal Committee members of the Federation met at Chennai on 23rd February 2018 to draft the rejoinder to the second respondent LICs counter affidavit received. According to computer generated list, our SLP is scheduled to be taken up on 12th March’18. Sad Demise [The eastern News is pained to receive the following message from our Federation and express respectful condolences to the family of AV Atmani of Coimbatore. May his soul rest in peace.] Friends, With deep regret I have to report the passing away of Shri AV Atmani in the early hours of Feb 16 2018, at Coimbatore Though Shri Ramani was ailing for the past one year he chose to attend our GC meeting at Mumbai on 8th Dec.2017. From inception he associated himself with our Federation. He was the President of the Coimbatore unit. His pleasing manners won him lot of friends and admirers. It is a great loss for our organisation. We pay our respectful homage to the dear departed and convey our condolences to his family . May his soul rest in peace --D.Krishnan, General Secretary

ASSOCIATION NEWS: That the falling interest rate in Banks is pinching our members is reflected in good attendance in both the Seminars on alternative investment opportunity organized on 7th Februsry, 2018 with the help of ICICI MUTUAL FUND AUTHORITIES and also on 21st February, 2018 with the help of LIC, KMD-I officials. The members who attended, listened to the speakers attentively, asked for various clarifications to understand the matter correctly. We trust now they can take suitable investment decision themselves. Another matter of concern of our members is Mediclaim rules and procedures. A Seminar will be organized in March 2018 involving both the TPA Officials and the LIC Officials to remove doubts on various issues and to discuss the ground realities. The date will be intimated to members soon.

It is our immense pleasure to heartily welcome our friends Smt Chitra Guha, Sri Ashoke Kumar Ganguly, Sri Tirthankar Dutta and Sri Bishnu Prasad Das as members of our Association. We heartily welcome them. They joined our Association in the month of February 2018.

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OF INTEREST:

(A) List of Deduction Not Allowed If Return is not Filed on Time: EXISTING PROVISION – Section 80AC. Deduction not to be allowed unless return furnished.—Where in computing the total income of an assessee of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2006 or any subsequent assessment year, any deduction is admissible under section 80-IA or section 80-IAB or section 80-IB or section 80-IC, no such deduction shall be allowed to him unless he furnishes a return of his income for such assessment year on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139.". Online GST Certification Course by Taxguru & GST Professionals- Last Day to Register 2018 BUDGET AMENDMENT To have one principle in respect of certain incomes, it is now proposed that the scope of section 80AC shall be extended to all similar deductions which are covered in heading "C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes" in Chapter VIA After this amendment deduction will be available only if return is filed on or before due date .In other words below deduction is not allowed if return is not filed on or before due date Deductions which are covered in heading "C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes" in Chapter VIA are – Part C. – Deductions in respect of certain incomes Section 80H Deduction in case of new industrial undertakings employing displaced persons, etc. Section 80HH Deduction in respect of profits and gains from newly established industrial undertakings or hotel business in backward areas Section 80HHA Deduction in respect of profits and gains from newly established smallscale industrial undertakings in certain areas Section 80HHB Deduction in respect of profits and gains from projects outside India Section 80HHBA Deduction in respect of profits and gains from housing projects in certain cases Section 80HHC Deduction in respect of profits retained for export business Section 80HHD Deduction in respect of earnings in convertible foreign exchange Section 80HHE Deduction in respect of profits from export of computer software, etc. Section 80HHF Deduction in respect of profits and gains from export or transfer of film software, etc. Section 80I Deduction in respect of profits and gains from industrial undertakings after a certain date, etc. Section 80IA Deductions in respect of profits and gains from industrial undertakings or enterprises engaged in infrastructure development, etc. Section 80IAB Deductions in respect of profits and gains by an undertaking or enterprise engaged in development of Special Economic Zone Section 80IAC Special provision in respect of specified business. Section 80IB Deduction in respect of profits and gains from certain industrial undertakings other than infrastructure development undertakings Section 80IBA Deductions in respect of profits and gains from housing projects.

Page 5 of 16 Section 80IC Section 80ID Section 80IE Section 80JJA Section 80JJAA Section 80LA Section 80O Section 80P Section 80Q Section 80QQA Section 80QQB Section 80R Section 80RR Section 80RRA Section 80RRB

Special provisions in respect of certain undertakings or enterprises in certain special category States Deduction in respect of profits and gains from business of hotels and convention centres in specified area Special provisions in respect of certain undertakings in North-Eastern States Deduction in respect of profits and gains from business of collecting and processing of bio-degradable waste Deduction in respect of employment of new employees Deductions in respect of certain incomes of Offshore Banking Units and International Financial Services Centre Deduction in respect of royalties, etc., from certain foreign enterprises Deduction in respect of income of co-operative societies Deduction in respect of profits and gains from the business of publication of books Deduction in respect of professional income of authors of text books in Indian languages Deduction in respect of royalty income, etc., of authors of certain books other than text-books Deduction in respect of remuneration from certain foreign sources in the case of professors, teachers, etc. Deduction in respect of professional income from foreign sources in certain cases Deduction in respect of remuneration received for services rendered outside India Deduction in respect of royalty on patents

In Respect of above Sections deductions will not be permitted if Income Tax Return is not filed within the time permitted U/s. 139(1) of Income Tax Act,1961 for Assessment Year 2018-19 and Onwards.

(B) REVISED PROVISIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN INCOME TAX: •

Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000 [in place of present exemption for transport allowance and reimbursement of miscellaneous medical expenses applicable to serving employees only]. 2.5 crore salaried employees and pensioners to benefit.

•

Exemption of interest income on deposits with banks and post offices to be increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000.

•

TDS not required to be deducted under section 194A. Benefit also available for interest from all fixed deposit schemes and recurring deposit schemes.

•

Hike in deduction limit for health insurance premium and/ or medical expenditure from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 under section 80D.

•

Increase in deduction limit for medical expenditure for certain critical illness from Rs. 60,000 (in case of senior citizens) and from Rs. 80,000 (in case of very senior citizens) to Rs. 1 lakh for all senior citizens, under section 80DDB.

•

Proposed to extend Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana up to March, 2020. Current investment limit proposed to be increased to Rs. 15 lakh from the existing limit of Rs. 7.5 lakh per senior citizen.

•

More concessions for International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), to promote trade in stock exchanges located in IFSC.

•

Tax on Long Term Capital Gains exceeding Rs. 1 lakh at the rate of 10 percent, without allowing any indexation benefit. However, all gains up to 31st January, 2018 will be grandfathered.

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Proposal to introduce tax on distributed income by equity oriented mutual funds at the rate of 10 percent.

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Proposal to increase cess on personal income tax and corporation tax to 4 percent from present 3 percent.

•

Proposal to roll out E-assessment across the country to almost eliminate person to person contact leading to greater efficiency and transparency in direct tax collection.

HUMOUR:

TOURISM :

NETARHAT, the QUEEN OF Chotanagpur Netarhat is popularly known as the Queen of Chotanagpur, The place can be the ideal weekend getaway in the midst of serene hills and lush nature. The hilltop hamlet is located in Jharkhand’s Latehar district at an altitude of 1,071 meters above the sea level, which is around 156 km to the West of the state capital Ranchi. This region of Chotanagpur Plateau that remains covered with verdant greenery and tranquility charm the tourists. The highest point of the plateau is 3,696 feet. The place is enriched with crystalline rocks and sandstone as well as laterite. The plateau is four miles in length and two and a half miles in breadth. The stillness of the jungle and the cool and refreshing air brings relief from the dust and heat of the plains. Netarhat has a game sanctuary amidst pine forest. Netarhat has a wonderful climate and in the July and August it does not become moist. In summer Netarhat has a very cool climate. The plateau is ringed by forest and the rainfall usually does not exceed 60 inches per year. There are patches of pines and cypresses grown by the Forest Department and both the species have taken to the soil very kindly. The beautiful hamlet on the Chotanagpur plateau awe-inspire the tourists because of its pristine nature, peaceful aura and, of course, the picturesque view of sunrise and sunset. The temperature of Netarhat is cooler than Ranchi all the year on round. It can be said that this place is the coolest in the whole of Jharkhand State. Netarhat is one of the most preferred tourist hotspots for the weekenders and for those looking forward to an affordable yet amazing tourist destination. The nature and calmness of Netarhat are enchanting. The beauty of Netarhat is that it has the quiet aura of a meditative mountain retreat, minus the touristy trappings of a hill station.

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Besides enjoying the tranquil nature, Netarhat has some wonderful sightseeing to explore. Here are the top listing ones- There is one important beauty spot in Netarhat. The sight of the sunrise near the Palamu dak bungalow from where the crimson red SUN is seen rising from the lap of the hills in the east. This is the place where the river koel can be seen flowing quietly through the valley below in abundance of nature. On moonlit nights the Koel is transformed into a magical silvery stream. Magnolia Point It is said that those who haven’t seen the sunset at Netarhat have simply missed out one of the most awe-inspiring experiences. Magnolia Point, around 10 km from Netarhat is that location from where tourists can witness the heavenly sunset. This will remain in the mind of the tourists for the rest of their lives. While enjoying the sunset, tourists can take a sip to the tea or take a bite of the pakoras sold by the local tribal people wrapped in the fresh and green Sal leaves. Upper Ghagri Waterfall At a distance of 4 Km from Netarhat, the cascading Upper Ghagri Water Fall is located. The panoramic surrounding of the fall has created a perfect picnic spot for the tourists. The overflowing waters from the Netarhat Dam make the place more beautiful. Besides, the valley is already surrounded by lush green, scenic beauty, and tranquility. Lower Ghagri Waterfall Like the Upper Ghagri Waterfall, the Lower Ghagri Waterfall allures tourists. It purges deep down the dense forest where the sunlights find it difficult to intrude. Usually, the Upper Ghagri Waterfall and the Lower Ghagri Waterfall are the twin falls that visitors can explore at the same time along with the package tour.

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Lodh Fall At a distance of 61 km from Netarhat, the River Burha is diving onto the dense forests at a height of 468 feet height. This is known to be the highest waterfall in Jharkhand. From a distance of 10 km, the thunderous noise of the fall is heard. Alongside the spectacular view, tourists can witness the grandeur of Mother Nature in Netarhat. Sadani Water Fall Surrounded by hills, wilderness, this is another beautiful waterfall located at a distance of 35 Km from Netarhat. Koel View Point Vacationers at Netarhat shouldn’t miss out the mesmerizing view of the Koel River. The surroundings, lush green forests and the murmuring water flowing beneath create an enticing environment altogether. Getting there: Netarhat is 155 km from Ranchi and a 4 1/2 hr journey. Get onto Ratu road and drive down via Mandar to Kuru, where you leave the NH-75 and head to Lohardaga, Ghaghra and Banari, from where a 22 km ascent takes you to Netarhat. At Dumberpat, or Netarhat Mod, it’s just a 7 km ride to the right through the archway while the left takes you to Mahuadanr and Betla. Also, there are regular State Transport Bus services from borth Ranchi and Daltonganj. Where to Stay Prabhat Vihar : The JTDC-run hotel is the most popular place in town and offers the best view of the fabled Netarhat sunrise. There are two complexes at different elevations, with the cafeteria in between. The older structure on higher ground affords a view from the comfort of your room. Palamau Dak Dungalow : For bookings, contact DDC (District Development Commissioner), Latehar or Administrator, District Board, Daltonganj Palamau Forest Rest House : For bookings, contact DFO, Ranchi (West) Forest Division PWD Inspection Bungalow : For bookings, contact Executive Engineer, PWD, Doranda, Ranchi Besides above, there are Private hotels near the bus stand.

OUR RIVERS : The Sutlej River The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. The Sutlej River is also known as Satadree. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, and are mostly diverted to irrigation canals in India.[3] There are several major hydroelectric projects on the Sutlej, including the 1,000 MW Bhakra Dam, the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant, and the 1,530 MW Nathpa Jhakri Dam. The river basin area in India is located in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Haryana states.

Page 9 of 16 Today, the Sutlej Valley is inhabited by nomadic descendants of the Zhangzhung, who live in tiny villages of yakherders. The Sutlej was the main medium of transportation for the kings at their time. In the early 18th century, it was used to transport devdar woods for Bilaspur district, Hamirpur district, and other places along the Sutlej's banks. The source of the Sutlej is west of Lake Rakshastal in Tibet, as springs in an ephemeral stream channel descending from this lake. Rakshastal in turn is ephemerally connected by Ganga Chhu to sacred Lake Manasarovar about 4 km further east. The nascent river flows at first west-northwest for about 260 kilometres under the Tibetan name Langqên Zangbo to the Shipki La pass, entering India in Himachal Pradesh state. It then turns slightly, heading west-southwest for about 360 kilometres to meet the Beas River near Makhu, Firozpur district, Punjab state. Ropar Wetland in Punjab state is located on the Sutlej river basin, evidence suggest Indus Valley Civilisation also flourished here. Ungti Chu and Pare Chu rivers which drain south eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir state are tributaries of Sutlej river. Continuing west-southwest, the Sutlej enters Pakistan about 15 kilometres east of Bhedian Kalan, Kasur District, Punjab province, continuing southwest to water the ancient and historical former Bahawalpur princely state. About 17 kilometres north of Uch Sharif, the Sutlej unites with the Chenab River, forming the Panjnad River, which finally flows into the Indus river about 100 kilometres west of the city of Bahawalpur. The area to the southeast on the Pakistani side of the Indian border is called the Cholistan Desert and, on the Indian side, the Thar Desert. The Indus then flows through a gorge near Sukkur and the fertile plains region of Sindh, forming a large delta region between the border of Gujarat, India and Pakistan, finally terminating in the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi, Pakistan. During floods, Indus river water flows in to Indian part of Great Rann of Kutch. Thus Gujarat state of India is also a riparian state of Indus river as Rann of Kutch area lying west of Kori Creek in the state is part of the Indus River Delta. Sutlej-Yamuna Link There has been a proposal to build a 214-kilometre long heavy freight and irrigation canal, to be known as the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. The project is intended to connect the Ganges, which flows to the east coast of the subcontinent, with points west, via Pakistan. When completed, the SYL would enable inland shipping from India's east coast to its west coast (on the Arabian sea) without having to round the southern tip of India by sea, vastly shortening shipping distances, alleviating pressures on seaports, avoiding sea hazards, creating business opportunities along the route, raising real estate values, raising tax revenue, and establishing important commercial links and providing jobs for north-central India's large population. However, the proposal has met with obstacles and has been referred to the Supreme Court of India.

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HEALTH GUIDE: Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression, or your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications may markedly improve your symptoms. In occasional cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms. Symptoms Parkinson's disease symptoms and signs may vary from person to person. Early signs may be mild and may go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of your body and usually remain worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides. Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include: Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may notice a back-and-forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as a pill-rolling tremor. One characteristic of Parkinson's disease is a tremor of your hand when it is relaxed (at rest). Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson's disease may reduce your ability to move and slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk, or you may find it difficult to get out of a chair. Also, you may drag your feet as you try to walk, making it difficult to move. Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can limit your range of motion and cause you pain. Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease. Loss of automatic movements. In Parkinson's disease, you may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk. Speech changes. You may have speech problems as a result of Parkinson's disease. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections. Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.

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When to see a doctor See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease — not only to diagnose your condition but also to rule out other causes for your symptoms. Causes In Parkinson's disease, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to signs of Parkinson's disease. The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including: Your genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease, but these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's disease. However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers. Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but the risk is relatively small. Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, although it's not clear why these changes occur. These changes include: The presence of Lewy bodies. Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson's disease. These are called Lewy bodies, and researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson's disease. Alpha-synuclein is found within Lewy bodies. Although many substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread protein called alphasynuclein (A-synuclein). It's found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped form that cells can't break down. This is currently an important focus among Parkinson's disease researchers. Risk factors Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include: Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older. Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances that you'll develop the disease. However, your risks are still small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease. Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women. Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may put you at a slightly increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

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Complications Parkinson's disease is often accompanied by these additional problems, which may be treatable: Thinking difficulties. You may experience cognitive problems (dementia) and thinking difficulties, which usually occur in the later stages of Parkinson's disease. Such cognitive problems aren't very responsive to medications. Depression and emotional changes. People with Parkinson's disease may experience depression. Receiving treatment for depression can make it easier to handle the other challenges of Parkinson's disease. You may also experience other emotional changes, such as fear, anxiety or loss of motivation. Doctors may give you medications to treat these symptoms. Swallowing problems. You may develop difficulties with swallowing as your condition progresses. Saliva may accumulate in your mouth due to slowed swallowing, leading to drooling. Sleep problems and sleep disorders. People with Parkinson's disease often have sleep problems, including waking up frequently throughout the night, waking up early or falling asleep during the day. People may also experience rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which involves acting out your dreams. Medications may help your sleep problems. Bladder problems. Parkinson's disease may cause bladder problems, including being unable to control urine or having difficulty urinating. Constipation. Many people with Parkinson's disease develop constipation, mainly due to a slower digestive tract. One may also experience: Blood pressure changes. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded when you stand due to a sudden drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). Smell dysfunction. You may experience problems with your sense of smell. You may have difficulty identifying certain odors or the difference between odors. Fatigue. Many people with Parkinson's disease lose energy and experience fatigue, and the cause isn't always known. Pain. Many people with Parkinson's disease experience pain, either in specific areas of their bodies or throughout their bodies. Sexual dysfunction. Some people with Parkinson's disease notice a decrease in sexual desire or performance. Prevention Because the cause of Parkinson's is unknown, proven ways to prevent the disease also remain a mystery. However, some research has shown that caffeine — which is found in coffee, tea and

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cola — may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Green tea also may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

PENSIONERS’ TOUR

LIC PENSIONERS’ TOURING TEAM

TOUR THIS MONTH [ Pictures by Sri Subir Kr Mazumder]

The tour of the month was a different from other tours that are undertaken by the pensioner friends in general. One of our friends and member-pensioner, Sri Dipankar Samanta (a resident of Kolaghat) invited a few of us to visit Kolaghat. We are familiar with Kolaghat as an important place for fishing the mouth watering HILSHA. The place is situated on the river bank of Rupnarayan, bordering the districts of Howrah and East Midnapore. The other side of Rupnarayan is Deulti in Howrah District. Deulti reminds us of a romantic creation "NODIR PARE KHELA" by Late Sunil Gangopadhyay, one of the great contributors to the Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore. Sri Samanta arranged a boat for us. To our surprise, when we reached we found that cooking was being done on the boat itself. We enjoyed the day on the boat sailing through the river and enjoying the beauty of nature. Spectacular sight of the boats sailing through the river to reach the catch point of Hilsha added joy and value to our enjoyment. Wonderful breakfast on the boat, sumptuous lunch in the river bank Casurina plantation forest with Hilsha and chicken, afternoon coffee at Sri Samanta's house. It was a memorable experience and no amount of gratitude conveyed to Sri Samanta for hosting the grand picnic and boat journey for us will be sufficient.

Kolaghat Rail Bridge

PG Saha, Subir Mazumder, RB Mondal

D Samanta, our host supervising cooking

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Fishing Boat

The Grand Feast

On the bank of Rupnarayan river.

PRICE INDEX: Consumer Price Index for NOVEMBER’17 declared on 29.12.2017 was 288 (6573.86) Consumer Price Index for DECEMBER’17 declared on 30.01.2018 was 286 (6528.21) Consumer Price Index for JANUARY’18 declared on 28.02.2018 was 288 (6573.86)

READER’S FEEDBACK:

FEED BACK on February’18 issue. 1.From: Samiran Banerjee:   m e m  !",  # s i&!'( e )-+я -   c o a+# 1 c | ei +я 2 a#n informative | e! я -'! '! 4 5 a'(" 67 яi | -  'я 5o contribute !'#  ! '8 -  9 # |
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-'! p # ' e''! B  '# 'C B' 'c #'# -!  >n  -= 5=o 5o 'n1 ='E, # e | -'! Eastern Zone-e! s Pension Cell-e! whole team 5 -  e! я a' a' @ я c 5; o!  # F  @'! -'! ei 5 ' G'8'E | u'd( t ei 5;, -! 5; 5( 2  c 52 K' calculate 1'c 52, -! an# я'# i'c '!  | #i, -    m e m  !" 5 ' я c 5;, uk m? 2! 2 a=?t, !2!'':!  e #t># DR increase  decrease 1o!  5( 2  K' calculate 1 o #! formula/factor it  ;  -'! e-magazine EASTERN NEWS-e e2 ;+  #1'8 -! i uO # 1 |  '!, ei 2! 2 5'Q? -'8G '!  7? 5o 1'8 -' ;', e! я -'! i' @ | Samiran Banerjee 2. Sir, The editorial appears thought-provoking, sincere and represents the true feelings of the veteran pensioners, in particular and their juniors in regular. And why not? There goes a saying " Justice delayed is justice denied " and the marathon time taken by the court vis- a-vis LIC management in disposing of this long pending issue displays a strong belief of the eternal sufferings, the pensioners are likely to endure before providence comes to their aid. In between, a relentless procession of death will follow, with the cries of the disconsolate souls ranting the air. All know, people in this country have scant belief on the speed at which the court cases reach their end and so an effort may be taken by those in the union having an imposing relationship with our top management as well as the FMO so that a tangible outcome evinces speedily instead of leaving the entire issue to the dispensation of the court. Else, in the words of Lord Tennyson " Men may come and men may go, but I( the case will ) go on forever ". Regards Kanak Kumar Das 3. Thanks a ton Sir for your kind sending of EZ- February issue.

Hearty congratulations for bringing out an interesting and educative copy. The Notes on Cracked Heels are very useful. With regards R Venugopal Retired Executive Director LIC Bangalore. 4. Thanks for sending the magazine and arranging the seminars by ICI pru and LICI. The condition of old retires and family pensioners is really distressing. Thanks for highlighting the same. Regards. S K Kapahi.

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NOTE TO OUR READERS The News Magazine Eastern News is published every month and we get the regular contribution from our readers/members. Photographs of beautiful objects and places which will be of interest to our readers may please be sent to us for publication. Articles of general interest, not more than 5 pages, may be sent clearly mentioning the source of the article if it is not written by the reader/member. Matters sent through e-mail only will be received and acknowledged. Draft for an issue is generally finalised on the 25th of the previous month. Acceptance or rejection of the article/photograph is the sole discretion of the Editorial Board and no correspondence on the matter will be entertained. Partial modification of the Article/Photograph may be done to accommodate within the available space or to remove errors. No payment is made to the author of an article or a photograph. However, the name of the Author will be mentioned. ANY BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT/SUCCESS IN ANY FRONT IN THE FAMILY OF LIC PENSIONERS AND GOOD PHOTOGRAPH MAY BE SENT TO US FOR PUBLICATION THROUGH OUR E-MAGAZINE. [ Publication of an article, news or Photograph is at the discretion of the Editorial Board]

Feedback/Write Ups/Information/Readers’ Views/Request with e-mail id for soft copy of monthly e-Magazine EASTERN NEWS free of cost may please be sent to following e-mail IDs : LIC RETIRED OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION AMAR KUMAR GOSWAMI SUBIR KUMAR MAZUMDAR

: [email protected] : [email protected] : [email protected]

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