31 Tuesday May 2011
Posted in Corruption
Tags
According to a report published in Tehelka Magazine, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, is alleged to have unduly benefitted from grant of licence to telecom firms during his tenure as Communications Minister. It is alleged that the Sun TV which belongs to Maran family has got crores of rupees as kickbacks. Dayanidhi Maran has filed a defamation suit against the Tehelka.
Further news expected.
31 Tuesday May 2011
Posted in History
1st June is celebrated as the International Childrens Day all over the world. It coincides with the school opening day in many parts of the country. Lakhs of children will be joining the school for the first time. Those who are already in the schools will be coming back after the holidays. It is a day of joy for all of them.
But there are a large number of children in our country who could not afford to attend schools. Either there are no schools nearby, or due to their poverty they are not in a position to be in school. Lacks of children in their young ages are compelled to work to earn a living for them and their families.Even after six decades of independence, the situation has not improved much.
It should be the top most priority of the government to ensure that the child labour is completely stopped and all children get school education.
31 Tuesday May 2011
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
Comrade Mihir Dasgupta, former Asst. General Secretary and President Kolkatta Telephone Circle of BSNLEU retired from service today, 31st May 2011, on superannuation from BSNL. He was one of the top leaders of the BSNLEU and had served at the HQ many times. A good writer and speaker, Com. Dasgupta was the District Secretary of one of the Districts in Kolkatta for a very long time. His wife, Com. Swastika who is also a leader of BSNLEU and District Secretary of one of the big divisions in Kolkatta retired some time back. Comrade Dasgupta belonged to a family committed to Left.
I convey my Greetings and Best Wishes on his retirement. I hope that he will continue to be active in BSNLEU and working class movement.
VAN Namboodiri
31 Tuesday May 2011
Posted in BSNL News
Since 2007, the BSNL has been cancelling mobile tenders one after another resulting in shortage of equipments to provide to the much needed customers. In 2007 the Minister directed to cancel the 45 million lines tender which the BSNL Board implemented loyally stopping the PSU from moving forward in the mobile sector. In 2010, the much publicised 95 million lines mega tender was cancelled after two years of court cases etc. Both these cancellations resulted the BSNL mobile market share going down to 12% and to the 4th position. In the 1-2 December 2010 strike agreement it was assured by the Minister that 5.5million lines will be made availble immediately and another tender for 15 million will be floated.
Now it is reported that the BSNL has decided to cancel the 5.5 million tender which is almost finalised. Assurance is given that 15 million lines tender will be floated. This is the third consecutive time that the tenders are cancelled. The 15 million tender is also being floated to cancel at the last minute.
The government is completely under the spell of the private telcos. It only wants to ensure that BSNL become weak so that the private companies can reap profit and grow. The simillarity with how Air India was destabilised is before us. The Govt. wants BSNL to have the same fate as Air India.
The workers and the JAC has to immediately move to ensure that the 5.5million lines are made available.
31 Tuesday May 2011
Posted in Politics India
After the state assembly elections, the UPA II government has started quick action to reform the labour laws in the country. It is reported that about 43 central labour laws are going to be examined and amended or modified. The industry captains have been continuously pressurising the government to modify labour laws to suit their requirements in the neo-liberalisation area. They are not satisfied with the government instructions banning trade union functioning in the Special Economic Zones. They want the trade union rights to be curbed every where. They want the right for hire and fire also. In short, the industry wants to take away even the minimum rights that have been won by the workers through sustained struggles. Another demand of the industrialists are to increase the working hours to 12 hours.
The Government has appointed a Working Group headed by Shri Prabhat Chaturvedi, Labour Secretary, to examine and repeal the laws which are not necessary and which are to be modified etc. in the new situation of neo-liberalisation. A few trade union representatives are also included. But it is well known from the past experience that the voices of the TU leaders were never favourably considered by such committees.
The Central Trade Unions are fully aware of the situation. One of the main demands of the Central Trade Unions in their joint agitations is that the anti-worker policy of the government should be changed.
30 Monday May 2011
Posted in 2G Scam Corruption
Today, the CAG Shri Vinod Ray was examined by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the assessment of the loss etc. CAG stood the ground and asserted that the loss to the Government is Rs.1.76 lakh crore assessed by him is correct. Now Director of CBI is also going to be examined.
30 Monday May 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
The National Joint Action Committee meeting held on 30th May 2011 has decided to extend the observation of “Customer Delight Month” for one more month, June 2011. The committee discussed about the improvements in service and development this month and took the above decision. The details of the decisions will be put on Union Website.
30 Monday May 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
As per PTI report, there are at least 30 corporate bosses in India who are getting salaries of more than one crore. These include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance), Sajjan Jindal( Jindals), Ajit Gulabchand ( Hindustan Constructions), G.H.Singhania ( Raymonds), Chanda Kochhar (ICICI Bank), Shikha Sharma (Axix Bank), S.Gopalakrishnan (Infosys) and S.D.Shibulal (Infosys).
In a country like India, where 80% of the people are getting about Rs. 20/- per day, these corporate honchos are getting crores of rupees as salaries. In addition, there will be other fringe benefits which may equal the salaries.
Still the Government wants to subsidise these big businesses. And even whatever concessions are given to the poor are being withdrawn one after another. Two kinds of justice, one for the rich and the other for the poor.
Can this be tolerated?
30 Monday May 2011
Posted in Corruption
Tags
The 2G scam has exposed the Pandoras Box. Corruption, violation of rules, bribing by private companies, irregular transactions, violation of security concerns, hoarding of crore of rupees in foreign banks, evading tax – there is no limit to what is involved in the telecom sector. The private companies have been thriving with the connivance of the corrupt politicians and bureacrats fully supported by the Government of India. And BSNL and MTNL were being accused of not coming up to the mark. The PSUs have to be transparent, law abiding and straight forward in all its transactions, while the private companies can violate all rules and regulations,
Almost all the private telcos are involved and many officers of these companies are in custody. They include Reliance, Swan, Unitech etc. Now it is reported Tata and Idea are also involved. Is there any major private telco which is not tainted?
30 Monday May 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
Revolutionary Greetings on CITU Foundation Day, 30th May.
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the vanguard of the working class movement in India, is celebrating its 41st Foundation Day on today, 30th May 2011 all over India. During its 40 years of existence, CITU has become the torch-bearer of the struggles of the toiling masses. At the initiative of the CITU many joint struggles have taken place.
Many all India federations of the Central Government Employees, PSUs etc. have got full support and guidance from the CITU leadership in taking up their issues and struggles. BSNLEU will always remember the clear guidance and assistance given by Coms. E.Balanandan, M.K.Pandhe, Chittabrata Mazumdar, Mohamed Amin, Tapan Sen, A.K.Padmanabhan and other CITU leaders which made it as the biggest union in BSNL.
The working class is facing severe challenges – the spiralling prices, attacks on the rights of the workers, the neo-liberal policies aggressively being implemented by the Central Government, disinvestment & privatisation of PSUs, the pitiable condition of the unorganised workers and so on. Sustained struggles are required to be organised to safeguard the interest of the workers. We hope, are sure that CITU will be in the forefront as always.
BSNLEU conveys its Revolutionary Greetings to CITU and Comrades on this 41st Foundation Day Anniversary of CITU.
V.A.N.Namboodiri
President, BSNLEU
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 