One of the policy issue in telecom approved by the Committee of Secretaries and awaiting the approval of the cabinet is that 30% of the telecom equipments should be purchased from Indian companies by both the government and private telecom companies. This is being objected to by the MNCs as they are opposed to any reservation so that they can continue to make huge profits from the Indian market.Many of these companies are from US viz. Cisco, Motorola, H.P., Dell etc.
Now the US government has intervened. It says that how there can be any discrimination against foreign companies. It has also asked the GOI why such a policy is being introduced?
No sovereign country can accept such dictates. But from the past experiences of the GOI dependence on the US, there is every possibility that it may succumb to the US pressure. If GOI succumbs, it will be a great loss to the Indian industries.

I was watching the TV yesterday night of the reports on the bomb-blast in the entrance of the Delhi High Court and the comments made various persons. It was about half hour past to 2300 hours. All of a sudden there was a very big noise as that of a bomb-blast. I just came out of the house to see what it was. By the time all the residents in the quarters have come out of their houses. Then I understood that it was an earth quake. The TV channels started ‘flash news’ about the earth quake which was felt in around Delhi.
I was afraid that another quake may happen. But the news came in TV that there will be no repeat.
This is the second time tht I have experienced earthquake in Delhi. Last time it was for about one or two minutes, but this time it was only for a few seconds. That might have helped many lives.
I thank all the comrades and friends who contacted and enquired about our safety.

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations / Unions of Executives and Non-Executives which met today, 7th September, has decided to organise massive dharnas at SSA/Circle/Corporate Office levels on 14th September 2011 protesting against the curtailement of the existing facilities like encashment of leave for LTC, stopping of BSNLMRS scheme of allowance without voucher and freezing of All India LTC for two years by the BSNL management. It called upon all the BSNL Workers to participate in the dharna and give a suitable reply to the BSNL management.
This decision is the appropriate decision at this stage. The JAC and the unions have been putting all their efforts for improving the services and has been fully co-operating with the management in this respect. It has decided to observe 2011-12 as ‘Customer Delight year’. The workers have been putting extra effort to improve the efficiency and during the last three months there has been some improvement also.It is at this juncture that the Management has stabbed the workers in the back. Even without the courtesy of discussing with the unions, the management has arbitrarily issued this orders which are in violation of the agreement with the Unions. This has to be resisted with all our might.
Make the 14th Dharna a great success and a stern warning to the management.

The All India Convention held under the banner of the 11 Central trade Unions viz.BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA at Mavlankar Hall today, 7th September 2011, called upon the workers to organise Satyagraha/Jail Bharo/Mass squatting etc. on 8th November 2011 in all the state capitals and industrial centres on the demands raised by the unions.
The Convention was held on the first anniversary of the historic oneday strike organised under the banner of central Trade Unions on 7th September 2011. The Resolution on the demands as well as the programmes of action was moved by Shri Sanjeeva Reddy, President, INTUC and seconded by Shri Pawan Kumar (BMS). All other leaders of central trade unions supported and the motion was unanimously adopted. More than 1200 workers and leaders participated. I was there along with other comrades of BSNLEU including Com.G.B.Salakki, AGS.
Now we have to start full preparations for making the programmes successful.
Detailed report and the copy of the resolution will be put in the BSNLEU website.

Again it has happened. Now it is before the Delhi High Court at 10.00 hours today, 7th September. The bomb-blast was severe and 9 people have died according to the latest reports. There are many injured in the hospitals and there may be more casualties.
Every Indian will condemn the bomb-blast which shows that the terror threat is still there. The Parliament which was in session has condemned it strongly unanimously.There can not be any difference in that matter.
I express my heartfelt grief at this great tragedy and convey condolences to the near and dear of those who became victims of the blast. Let us hope that the conditions of the others may improve early.

Last year on this day, 7th September 2010, the country witnessed the biggest strike in the nation so far. As per the call of the Central Trade Unions, the workforce of more than 5 crore through out the country went on a one day strike against the neo-liberalisation policy of the Central Government. The main demands of the strike were 1) Arrest Price Rise 2) Stop Anti-working class policies 3) No Disinvestment/privatisation of PSUs 4) Ensure minimum wages and social security measures to the unorganised section of workers- strict enforcement of labour laws etc. The strike was the culmination of a series of agitations under the banner of the Central Trade Unions which was joined by the Central and State Government employees, public sector, All India Federations etc.
This massive protest action should have opened the eyes of the Central Government. But No. The Government ignoring the protest, is continuing aggressively with its implementation of the neo-liberal policies putting and more and more misery to the common people and the toiling masses.
Corruption has become all pervasive with the corrupt corporate-politician-beauracratic nexus with the full backing and participation of the MNCs are looting the country of its valuable natural resources like water, air-waves, land, mines etc. The major corruptions are emanating from the cheap sale of these to the corporates and big business. While a few politicians and corporates have been arrested and jailed, it was only due to the strong protest in the Parliament, the strictures of the supreme Court and also the Anna Hazare fast etc.
The working class has to take the lead in fighting the neo-liberal policies and decisions based on the same by the government. That is why, despite ideological differences etc all the Central trade Unions including INTUC and BMS has joined with Left Trade Unions to fight against the anti-working class policies of the Government.
On this anniversary of the 7th September Strike, 2010, all the Central trade Unions are meeting once again today at the Mavlankar hall, New Delhi to discuss and plan the next programme of Action. Let us hope that the All India Convention will take suitable decisions for the sustained struggle and action programmes.

The Central Trade Unions jointly are organising a massive All India Convention tomorrow, 7th September 2011, at the Mavlankar Hall in Delhi to chalk out programme of action against the anti-worker decisions of the Central government. All major TU centres like INTUC, BMS, AITUC, CITU, HMS etc are party to the Convention. The All India Federations including BSNL are also participating in the convention. On the 5 point demands including against price rise, anti-worker policy, privatisation etc. as also issues of the unorganised workers are there in the demands of the convention.
It is hoped that the Convention will chalk out suitable programme of action.

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions is meeting tomorrow, 7th September to discuss about the new attack on the workers by the management in curtailing the existing facilities like BSNLMRS allowance without voucher, encashment of leave for LTC purpose and freezing of the LTC itself.
All the existing unions are invited to attend the meeting of the JAC to be held at 1600 hours at the National Council Room in the Eastern Courts portion of the Corporate office. NFTE and FNOTo and some other unions who have been keeping away from the JAC for some time have also been invited to participate. The issue is very serious and it is hoped that they will also attend.
While the workers are trying to improve the services and strengthen BSNL by going extra-mile, the present orders issued by BSNL is sure to demotivate them. The JAC has already sent a strong protest letter demanding the management to withdraw the above orders.
Unity and struggle are both required now.

The BSNL management has issued orders curtailing the benefits under BSNLMRS as also LTC and leave encashment of BSNL employees in the name of financial crunch. Everybody knows that the present financial crisis has come only due to the wrong policies of the Government and mismanagement. The Joint Action Committee of the BSNL Associations and Unions have been making all out efforts for improvement of services by starting ‘Customer Delight Year 2011-2012’ and putting extra work by employees and officers. There is some improvement also. It is at this jucture that the management has started these arbitrary actions even without discussing with the recognised union. This will only demotivate the workers.
The JAC has strongly protested the anti-worker orders and demanded the managment to cancel the same. BSNLEU and AIBDPA has called for protest demonstrations on 7th September.
The management should understand that by antagonising the workers, it is not going to get anything. The situation will only worsen. You discuss with the Unions and sort out the issues instead of issuing arbitrary orders. Withdraw the present orders first to prepare an amicable situation.