The attack on the PSUs has been sharpened after the assembly elections. The UPA Government which could not divest any PSU during its first term due to the strong opposition of the Left Parties, without the support of which it could not continue in power and which could only start with some disinvestments only during its second tenure till now, has been emboldened by the recent elections to start the sale of family silver – the privatisation of the central PSEs.
It has started with the Cabinet taking a decision on 19th May to sell the Scooters India Limited which is in loss, of course due to the anti-PSU policy of the government. Instead of trying to make it financially viable, the Government has decided to sell to help the private companies in the sector. Scooters India Limited was started in 1972 and was producing three wheelers till the eighties in competition with the private companies.
There is no doubt that it will be sold cheap as in the case of Balco, CMC, Hindustan Zinc, HTL, IPCL, Jessop & company and VSNL which were privatised during the NDA regime.
The Trade Unions and the people of the country have to move immediately to ensure that this process of privatisation is stopped forthwith. Otherwise, there will be no PSUs left within some 10 to 15 years. The slogan of the NDA government that ‘Business is not the business of the Government’ will be fully implemented.

One year is over after the All India Conference of the BSNL Employees Union held at Thiruvananthapuram from 12th to 15th May 2010. That AIC was historic in all respects, including the disciplined manner in which it was conducted.
The growth of BSNLEU since its inception on 22nd March 2001 was truly reflected. The union which started with about 60,000 members has grown to be the biggest union in Telecom and reached a membership of 1,40,000. The Union had won in three consecutive membership verifications with huge majority. It had settled a good wage revision and Promotion Policy for the workers. Hundreds of important issues were settled. Workers had got confidence in BSNLEU.
Another important issue was the change of office-bearers. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, who is the founder General Secretary of the union and who continued till the Conference was elected as President and Com.P.Abhimanyu who was Asst. General Secretary and later Deputy General Secretary elected as General Secretary. Com.P.Asokababu who was Assistant General Secretary since inception was elected as Dy. General Secretary. Com. S.C.Bhattacharjee continued as Treasurer. It was a smooth change over. The decisions of the conference were also important.
After the Conference we have faced another Membership Verification in which also we won with good majority. The workers continue to support BSNLEU as they see in it their true friend and supporter.
This is the time to assess the situation and prepare for further advancement and strengthen the organisation.

Kerala saw a massive strike and protest demonstrations against the increase in petrol prices. After deregularisation of petrol price, the same is increased 5 times this year. Now the petrol price has reached Rs. 63 – Rs 65 according to the concerned states.
There is no justification for the price hike except to satisy the oil compamies and big private business. Petrol price increase will result in the increase of all prices. The government will be benefitted by getting increased taxes. But the poor are the maximum sufferers.
Let us also join the protest of the people.

The Telecom Factories have been the suppliers of the equipment to the Telecom Services in India for a very long time. There was only one factory earlier which was the Alipore Factory in Kolkata. When the II world war broke out and Japan started advancing to India through Burmah, the British Government shifted a portion of the TF to Jabalpore so that the manufacturing of equipment for telecom will continue. Five more factories were started afterwards at Gopalpur, Kharagpur, Bhilai, Richai and Bombay. Much importance was given to the production. The telecom stores were arranging for the supply of the same.

But after the introduction of high technology in the telecom, the importance of telecom factories waned, since the production items were not upgraded and new production of equipment for the latest technology were not started. But the factories are still in profit. The continued pressure from BSNLEU has atleast resulted in some modenised equipments manufacture, but this is completely inadequate. A well planned strategy for manufacture of the required equipments is necessary. Skilled engineers and skilled workers for these are also necessary.
Will the BSNL take any action?

M.P.Circle JAC Meeting at Jabalpur

A meeting of the JAC of M.P.Circle was held at Jabalpur on 17th May 2011 presided over by Com. B.S.Rajput to discuss about the implementation of the “Customer Delight Month” and review the work so far done. All the constituents of the JAC in the circle were present. Com. S.R.Nayak, Convener, Circle JAC welcomed all and briefed the house about the issues to be discussed. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri , Convener, National JAC addressed the house and explained the decisional of the JAC at the national level in this respect. All the participants actively participated in the discussion.
It was decided to actively implement the decision to observe the “Customer Delight Month” effectively in the circle. A Press Conference will be held in Bhopal shortly. Meetings of the SSA JACs will be held immediately for implementation. The JAC will meet the CGM and other officers for full co-operation from the management.

On, 16th May 2011, I was completely engaged with the two Telecom Factories, Richai and Jabalpur. By about 0930 hours, along with Comrade D.K.Pal, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Jabalpur Telecom Factory, I started for Richai Telecom Factory, which is about 08 km away from the town. We reached there by 0930 hours. The District President and District Secretary Coms. Faiz Ahmed and Suraj Bhan along with a good number of workers were waiting at the gate of the factory to receive us. Many comrades garlanded us and welcomed.
Without waiting much time, after introductions etc. we proceeded to the main two plants, galvanisation plant and tower plant.
In the tower plant the tower is being made by cutting the iron angles for manufacture according to the measures of the particular type of tower. It is hard work. The one big plant shed is not sufficient for the purpose and some of the workers were doing their job outside the shed. Inside and outside the plant was full of dust inch deep since the cemented floor is completely damaged. In the galvanisatin plant, the parts of the tower already cut in to size, are put in the large tanks of acid and cooled. This is called galvanisation. It is also dangerous work. Chemists are appointed to test to the mixture of the acid etc. The galvanisation plant is also full of dust. In addition the many metric-tons of the zinc-ash stored in iron baskets are safety risks. These zinc-ash is valuable and will get good amount when auctioned. I was wondering why it was kept there instead of selling it. The boundary wall of the factory on the back side is still not completely repaired as recommended by the Joint Committee DDG (TF) and myself a few years back.
The workers in both the plants met for a meeting which I addressed and told them about the JAC decision to improves the services, make BSNL financially viable etc. I heard their complaints and suggestions and replied.
Afterwards we met the General Manager of the TF and discussed about the issues raised by the workers. Certain issues which have to be immediately atended to were also mentioned to him.
We also visited the Telecom Factory, Jabalpur.Later we met the CGM Shri Rakesh Kumar and had detailed discussion with him on the various points we raised. Regarding the compound wall he assured that it will be repaired without any delay. On the issue of compassionate appointments his suggestion was that TF may be given the powers for appointment which will solve the issue to a c certain level. He mentioned about the action being taken against the encroachment of the factory land by outsiders and the Municipal Corporation.
A meeting of the United Forum was held in the Conference hall which was presided over by Circle Union President Com. Fiaz Ahamed. I spoke briefly about the decision of the JAC to strengthen BSNL and to provide better service to the people. I also explained the decisions of the JAC to observe May month as Customer Delight Month and the actions to be taken. Coms. D.K.Pal, Circle Secretary, Holmes Moses, former Circle Secretary, J.P.Nanhead (BSNLMS), Sunil Patel, Dist. Secretary and other leaders spoke.The doubts rcaised were cleared by Com. Namboodiri.
The Telecom Factories have a good future and can manufacture many modern items, if only the top management takes interest. Anyway, the union have to give suitable suggestions and pressurise for action.

Inspection Circle and BRABRAITT

ON 16th itself I visited Installation Circle. A combined meeting of the Installation Circle was held in the office premises which was addressed by me and other leaders.

While coming from Delhi to Jabalpur in the morning flight today, 15th May, there was an interesting incident. I was reading the article on ‘Girl Child’ written by G.Mamatha published in the Peoples Democracy. One of the young air hostess was looking what I was reading. I told her that I was reading the article on ‘Girl Child’ and gave the weekly to her. She said she was on duty and there is no time to read. I left it at that. But when the plane landed and I was just going to get down, she came to me and asked whether I can give the weekly to her. I readily agreed and she was happy. I was happy on two counts. One she was committed to her duty and secondly that she wanted to read the article.