The Indefinite strike by Central Governement Employees, started from 11th July 1960, was the first major strike in Independent India. The strike was organised under the auspices of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers ( including the National Federation of P and T Employees), All India Railwaymens Federation and All India Defence Employees Federation. It lasted for 5 days and was withdrawn after the facing the fury of the government machinery, which arrested, punished, jailed, terminated, suspended and punished thousands of workers. Railway workers were killed in Bikaner and Pathankot. The government brought in to force for the first time the draconian ‘Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance’ against the striking workers. Although the strike was supressed by the state machinery, the Government was compelled later to take back all the dismissed employees and reduce the punishments. And it was also compelled to concede some of the demands, even though after some years.
The 1960 strike inspired a whole generation of workers like me, who was a young participant and punished.

Though a small country and victimised by its big neighbour United States by decades long economic blocade etc. Cuba still continues as number one in the world for health care. It has got one of the best hospitals in the world as also large number of motivated doctors and nurses.
It is no wonder that this socialist nation can boast of more than 1551 centenarians at present, the seniormost being a person who have completed 126 years. The life expectancy in Cuba is 76-78 for men and 80.2 for women. There is a separate department for the elderly in addition to Public Health’s Social Assistant Department.
During the
‘Longevity, as an indicator of quality of life, is a significant social accomplishment’. And the socialist countries are always insistent on the same.

Due to non-settlement of urgent issues of the casual and contract workers, BSNLCCWF has been compelled to call for a massive dharna in front of Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, corporate office of BSNL, on 26th August 2011. It has sought the solidarity and co-operation of BSNLEU in making the programme a complete success.
Circle Secretaries have to intimate the number of participants to the Secretary General BSNLCCWF immediately so that the arrangements for accommodation etc. can be made available. This is to be treated as urgent.

Almost every week, news are coming about rail accidents, derailment etc. causing many death-tolls and also serious injuries to many. Yesterday, on 9th July, there were two serious accidents with more than 100 deaths. Of course the government is declaring compensation to the families of the deceased, injured persons etc. But is that sufficient?
Many of the rail tracks are laid decades back. Continued movement of trains have made them very loose and and the chance of derailment has increased. By reducing the gangmen and other inspecting workers and no recruitment, there is acute staff shortage.The number of trains has increased many folds, but the tracks have not increased to that extent.
But more than these the main reason is the neglect of the railway by the Central Government.All the railway ministers are interested in getting some more railway lines and trains for their constituencies / states only. There has been no serious review of the functioning of the railway by the government so far. And now there is no minister for the last two months. Of course, it is under the charge of the PM himself now. What the PM has to say on these issues? As usuual, may be silence only.
But more than that. No serious effort is made to find out the reasons for the accidents. Enquiries are ordered to satisy the public, but no tangible results are there.
Unless a very serious enquiry is conducted and remedial actions taken there may be more such tragedies.

All newspapers have flashed the news that Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has engaged a private lawyer, Nariman to defend his case in the Supreme Court with regard to the allegation of reducing the penalty of Rs. 650 crore to Rs 5.5. crore to be paid by the Reliance and in protest the Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam has tendered his resignation.
This is not a small matter to be ignored. Senior lawyers are posted as Solicitor General, Advocate General etc. to argue the cases of the Government. All the government cases are entrusted to these government advocates for arguing. Gopal Subramanim has rightly stated that his resignation is to defend the high status of the office of the Solicitor General.
Then why sibal has appointed an outside advocate? Either it is due to his non-confidence in the Solicitor General or in his more faith in the private lawyers. IN both way it is not correct.
Has Kapil Sibal, Communications Minister, has more faith in the private telcos than on BSNL, a PSU?

I am now at Kochi – Ernakulam, the jewel of the Arabian Sea. It is the business hub and metro city of Kerala. I worked here for about one year in 1970-1971 after I along with some comrades were transferred after revocation of the suspension that followed the historic one day strike of 19th September 1968.
I was here exactly for one year till I was transferred back to Kozhikode as a result of sustained struggle by the Union.
We, four comrades, K.Bhaskaran Nair, K.Prabhakaran, P.K.Sahasranamam and myself, were transferred from Kozhikode to Ernakulam. Mnay other comrades were transferred to other places as part of the 1968 strike victimisation. 300 temporary officials were terminated from service.
Sustained struggle continued for about three years after which the Circle administration was compelled to take back all the terminated comrades. Suspensions were revoked. Most of the transfers were cancelled.
We were also granted transfer back to Calicut. Bhaskaran Nair, who became the Circle President and myself returned to Kozhikode. Bhaskaran Nair passed away about three years back. Prabhakaran, who died recently, continued at Ernakulam and was the leading light of the P and T and CGE movement. Shasranamam shifted to Trichur and continued his active union work.
Ernakulam was the centre of the P and T trade union movement at that time. In the telecom side we had very active cadres which organised struggle after struggle. Comrades like P.A.Kumaran (Kumarji), M.R.Rajendran, both leading advocates now, late K.Ayyappan (Ayyappaji) and so many other comrades were taking the leading role at that time. And I feel glad that I was there at that time.

Kerala has many firsts to its credit. 100% education, early and effective land reforms, first communist government through democratic elections, best Ayurveda treatment and so on.
Now unexpectedly it had got another first, the first in the treasure of gold, jewels, artefacts, ancient coins etc. which is valued for more than any known treasure in India. Tirupati Balaji Temple, which was the first so far has been pushed back after the huge treasure in the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple has been found in its ancient vaults.
It is yet to be known whether it is the first in the world. May be.

South Sudan became the newest country in the world. It is formed after the bifurcation of the Sudan in to North and South. It is the 193rd country recognised by the United Nations. It is also the 54th country in Africa.
The mention of bifurcation of a country brings to my mind about the partition of India in to India and Pakistan and independence in 1947. The tragedy that followed in which lakhs of people had to migrate and the murder and loot that took place is a painful memory.
Let us hope that the partition of Sudan will not result is such a tragedy.

The BSNL Pensioners are very unhappy that the BSNL Management as well as the DOT is not taking prompt action to settle their long pending issues. They feel that they are being ignored.
This is the reaction of the pensioners yesterday who had come to attend the Circle Executive Committee of AIBDPA, Kerala Circle at Ernakulam.
What are the problems being faced by the BSNL Pensioners?
1. The fixation of pension after the wage revision to those who retired after 01-01-2007, is yet to be completed eventhough it is more than one year after the wage revision.
2. The promotion as also pay and pension fixation are yet to be completed.
3. The Pension revision for pre-2007 retirees although ordered one year back is yet to be fixed and paid.
The issues of pensioners can not be delayed. They are senior citizens who have contributed their mite in their entire life for the benefit of the society.
If the BSNL management and DOT don’t settle these issues urgently, they will have to face the wrath of the pensioners and agitation.

The State level Convention of Central-State Govenment employees, teachers, Defence, State government employees, Railway and Defence employees held at Ernakulam on 09th July called upon the working class to oppose and defeat the anti-working class PFRDA Bill, which has been presented in the Parliament despite stiff opposition by the Left Parties and the unions
I was asked to preside over the Convention, which was participated by large number of workers.`The convention was inaugurated by Sukomal Sen, Vice=-President, AISGEF and addressed by leaders of various organisation.