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| Moneylife Foundation Impact: |
| Customer Reimbursed for Injury Caused on SBI Premises |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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| This month, we are happy to share the success story of a customer, Mr DS Ranga Rao, a retired intelligence bureau (IB) officer, who with help of Moneylife Foundation and intervention from the highest levels at Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was able to successfully receive reimbursement for his claim, after being injured in SBI bank's premises. |
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| Mr Rao, was grievously injured when he fell from a shaky, unstable ladder in the locker room of his local SBI Branch. The fall caused him to sustain major fractures which lead to multiple surgeries and also hospitalisation, spending over Rs6 lakhs in total. You can read more about it here. |
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| Under guidance from Moneylife Foundation, Mr Rao followed the procedure of filing a complaint with the branch, escalating it to the nodal officer and then taking it up with the banking ombudsman (BO) office. At each stage his claim and contention was rejected without even the effort to speak to him. His complaint to the BO was eventually closed under a clause that is non-appealable, leaving only a choice to approach a court or consumer forum. |
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| SBI only agreed to reimburse the medical expenses, after we managed to get intervention from RBI's highest levels, by escalating Mr Rao's complaint to RBI's deputy governor, Mr Rajeshwar Rao. SBI has finally paid over Rs5 lakhs to Mr Rao as reimbursement, which is actually lower than his actual costs incurred. What's worse is that the disability he suffered due the fall is permanent. Do read more here. |
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| We have requested RBI to announce a set of standard operating procedure (SOPs) to be followed when customers are injured while at a bank and hope that this will lead to a policy or circular from RBI so that each individual does not need to go through such a harrowing fight in the future. |
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| Saluting Covid Warriors |
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| At Moneylife Foundation, lifting of Covid restrictions was a reason to celebrate and honour the hard work put in by all doctors and healthcare workers in keeping us, Mumbaikars safe during the pandemic. |
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| Members would recall that our Covid Relief work was done through a WhatsApp group of nearly 30 hospitals in Mumbai and its suburbs and more along with donors and partners to coordinate the supply of essential medical supplies at reasonable rates. The group soon became a support network and began to help resolve a lot of issues, often by reaching out to Mumbai's dynamic municipal commissioner. The group had never met in person and our trustees decide to organize a get together to make it happen. Here is a little video on how this group evolved. |
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| Mr Iqbal Singh Chahal, the Municipal Commissioner for BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) who was our guest of honour, had nothing but praise for the monumental efforts of the Covid warriors in keeping Mumbai safe. The doctors in turn reciprocated the sentiment and said he led from the front like a General! |
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| You can read more about this here and also watch a recording of the speech made by Mr Chahal here. |
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| Conversation with Arun Shourie - 6th May 2022 |
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 Don't forget to join us this week for a conversation with Journalist, Politician and Author, Mr Arun Shourie with Debashis Basu and myself on his latest book, The Commissioner of Lost Causes. Mr Shourie, served many years as the editor of the Indian Express during which the paper broke new grounds in investigative journalism that often shook up the nation. The book chronicles those exciting days and it would be of great interest to all to discover how much has changed and what remains the same in media and politics. Join us for an online session on Friday May 6, 2022 at 6:30pm. Do register! |
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| Restarting Our RTI workshops |
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| Our popular RTI workshops with former Central Information Commissioner and activist Shailesh Gandhi have resumed and are as popular as ever. After a refresher session last week, we have another planned for Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00pm, where Mr Gandhi will be sharing his observations on the misuse of the RTI Act. Further details on this programme have been shared below, do register. |
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| Become a Member |
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| While we are close to resuming our daily counseling sessions in a physical format, we are still playing it safe by keeping an eye on the Covid situation as it develops. If you are a member of Moneylife Foundation and are present on our mailing or broadcast lists, we shall keep you informed of when the in-person counseling sessions would resume. Do take the time to register and become a member, if you aren't one yet. |
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| File your RTI Applications with Expert Guidance |
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| RTI Advice App पर विस्तृत गाइड से विशिष्ट उपयोग के मामलों के लिए आरटीआई आवेदन दाखिल करने का तरीका जानें। हिंदी और मराठी भाषाओं में उपलब्ध। |
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 Many of you are already aware of our 'RTI Advice' app, which was launched for both app and iOS devices a year ago. The app helps you get expert advice on your RTI queries in any language or format (text, audio or video) and access to over 900 queries that are already asked and answered by our 14 highly regarded RTI experts. It also has user guides in English, Hindi and Marathi! You can download the app to access these essential guides or even access them from our website here. |
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| Don't worry about how to navigate the app—we now have user guides for you in English, Hindi and Marathi! download the app or access the guides from our website here. |
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| Our How To Series |
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| Our ‘how to’ section covering a range of practical issues and difficulties that all of us face. Check them out. |
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| Counseling on Helplines & Zoom Meetings |
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| Our counselling sessions on various issues remain online (Legal & Credit Helplines) until full normalcy is restored and we are back to working from the office. We also have Zoom counseling meetings for members when necessary. If you have a query on housing society, insurance, banking, credit or any other issue, please do become a member of Moneylife Foundation and take advantage of the knowledge imparted by our experts who guide through our helplines. |
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| Forthcoming Webinars |
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| Friday, 6 May, 2022 | 6:30pm to 7:30pm |
| A Conversation with Arun Shourie |
| Journalist, politician and author Arun Shourie has had many avatars. In his latest book, "The Commissioner for Lost Causes", he opens up about his years as 5e editor of Indian Express and his memoir offers answers to many questions in today's polarised age. |
| Register |
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| Wednesday 11 May, 2022 |6:00pm to 7:30pm |
| Misuse of RTI by Citizens & Public Information Officers |
| Retired Central Information Commissioner, Shailesh Gandhi will share his thoughts and observations on the misuse of the RTI Act, not only by citizens but also by Public Information Officers. |
| Register |
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| Register and become a member of Moneylife Foundation, to be added on to our mailing lists, so that you are notified when we announce new webinars and also receive information about our activities and initiatives. Also, allow me to also remind you that you can always catch up on our past financial literacy programmes on our YouTube channel as well. As always, we look forward to your active feedback on issues that you would like us to discuss, and we will do our best to make it happen. Please do write to us [email protected] |
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| Programmes in April |
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 We had organised a webinar with retired CIC Mr Shailesh Gandhi, to refresh our members on the important provisions of the RTI Act and also to help them file effective applications seeking information from public authorities. The session while conducted online on Zoom, was also broadcast live on our YouTube and Facebook channels, and as many as 160 people attended the session. A video recording of this session can be viewed on our YouTube channel. |
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| Moneylife TV & Helplines |
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| With the outbreak of Covid, our physical events and daily clinics for this month continue to remain suspended for the safety and benefit of all those involved. However, in this lockdown period you can still take advantage of our numerous videos of past seminars and workshops which are always available on our YouTube Channel – Moneylife TV and Moneylife News Bites. |
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| Although counselling on various issues from our experts is not possible in-person, you are welcome to email on [email protected] with your details. We shall forward your mail to the expert for guidance and do our best to get your query resolved. |
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| You also have the option of posting your query on either our Legal Helpline or Credit Helpline. |
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| Also, Moneylife Foundation is now on Telegram and Instagram, so do follow us on these channels to stay updated on our activities and events. |
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| As always, we look forward to your active feedback on issues that you would like us to discuss, and we will do our best to make it happen. Please do write to us at [email protected] |
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| Best regards, |
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| Sucheta Dalal |
| Founder-Trustee, Moneylife Foundation |
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| Trustees: TS Krishnamurthy, Walter Vieira, Sucheta Dalal, Debashis Basu. | | | | Moneylife Foundation is registered with the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, is an Affiliate member of OECD's International Network on Financial Education, is a Supporter Member of Consumers International, Development Partner of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and is a winner of the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award. | | |  | | | | Donations are eligible for tax benefits under Sec 80G of the Income Tax 1961 (50% tax exemption) and MLF is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 80(G) Reg No: DIT(E)/MC/80G/685/2010-11 dated 7.2.11 effective 8.+9.2010 | FCRA Registration No: 08378138  | | | |
