Monthly Archives: May 2012

Universal pension for the aged should be there

11 Friday May 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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The plight of the aged in the country is a painful story. In many cases, they are not looked after by their children, they are sick and/or they don’t have any income. The senior citizens, those aged above 60, should be looked after by the state. At least they should be paid reasonable pension,  if they are not getting any other pension.

In many developed countries Old Aged Homes are maintained to look after the aged. In many countries all those above 60 are paid pension. In India, Kerala and a few other states are paying a small amount as pension. But in most of the states it is not done.

The Central and state governments should discuss and decide the issue so that each and every senior citizen in the country should get  pension so that he/she can manage their old age without much difficulty.

16.8 lakh children die in one year in India

11 Friday May 2012

Posted by in General

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The news is shocking! It is reported that about 16.8 lakh children under five die every year in India due to infectious diseases. About 50% of these children could not even live for one month after birth.

This is the information as per the study published in the journal ‘Lancet’. Most of the children have died due to ‘pneumonia’. Birth complications and diarrhoea are the other main killers.

Pneumonia, diarrhoea are usual diseases and there is treatment and remedies for the same. These deaths are mainly due to the inability of the families to treat being poor or the inaccessibility of health care institutions nearby. Despite the GDP growth of the country, the healthcare systems for the poor continues to be deplorable. There are thousands of villages without having any hospitals or health clinic.

The care for the children and the aged are the responsibilities of the state. But in both cases the government has utterly failed. A movement should come up focussing these issues and compelling the government to act.

MTNL proposes VRS for 20,000 employees

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in PSU

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It has been reported in the press that MTNL is proposing VRS for 20,000 employees. If my memory is correct, VRS has been implemented about three times in MTNL. Whether the company is saved by these VRSs. No. It is not through VRS that the company is to improve. It is by better management, support from the government and hard work by employees through which the revenue and profit can be increased.

The First War of Independence 1857

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in History, Uncategorized

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The first spark of the First War of Independence 1857 started on 1oth May 1857 at Meerut. It spread throughout the North India like wild-fire. It was a great struggle and war for independence.Before the mighty force of the British Empire it could not win. Lakhs of sepoys and people along with their valiant leaders perished before the guns of the British.

But the war and battles were not in vain. Again the struggle for Independence started and we got independence in 1947.  The present struggle of the people of this county is against the neo-liberal policies being adopted by the government which is not in the interest of the common people and the working class. Let us be part of this struggle of the people of India, nay the world.

Brief Note on Change of designations

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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New designations

 The issue of giving new designations for the Non-Executive employees was taken up in the National Council long back. As per the decision of the National Council, a joint committee was constituted. The committee met a few times. Thereafter, Management stopped calling meeting of that committee. This is one issue on which dharna and hunger strike took place in November, 2011. This issue was taken up as an item for the National Council meeting held on27th February, 2012. Due to the pressure created by us, the joint committee was reconstituted and it’s meeting took place on23rd February, 2012. In that meeting proposals for new designations emerged for the four mainstream cadres, viz., Regular Mazdoor, Telecom Mechanic, Senior TOA andTTA. The proposals are as follows.

Regular Mazdoor –

 (1)Telecom Assistant

(2) Senior Telecom Assistant

(3) Senior Telecom Assistant grade I

(4) Senior Telecom Assistant grade II

Telecom Mechanic –

(1)Telecom Technician

(2) Senior Telecom Technician

(3) Senior Telecom Technician grade I

(4) Senior Telecom Technician grade II

 

Senior TOA –

 

(1) Telecom Associate Officer

(2) Senior Telecom Associate Officer

(3) Senior Telecom Associate Officer grade I

(4) Chief Telecom Associate Officer

 

TTA –

 

(1) Telecom Associate Engineer,

(2) Senior Telecom Associate Engineer,

(3) Senior Telecom Associate Engineer grade I

(4) Chief Telecom Associate Engineer

 

No more World Wars

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in History

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ON this day, 9th May,  in 1945, the Second World War ended, with the surrender of Germany. Hitler had already committed suicide a few days back realising that he has already been defeated. The World War II had the maximum casualties with lakhs of people killed and towns, cities and villages all destroyed. The maimed soldiers were more than those killed. Lakhs of women became widows, and children became orphans. But the dictators and fascists were utterly defeated which saved the world.

Let there be no more  wars and world wars.

Meeting with the Minister on Casual/Contract labour issues.

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Today, along with Com. Tapan Sen, MP General Secretary of CITU, I met Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of Labour and Employment and presented a detailed memorandum on the major issues of the casual and contract workers. The regularisation of the left out casual labour and TSM, grant of TSM to the eligible Casual labour, wages of the casual and contract labour, implementation of social security measures like EPF and ESI, victimisation and retrenchment of labour etc. were discussed in detail for about half-hour.

He was sympathetic and assured to look in to the matters. MY thanks to Com. Tapan Sen for arranging the meeting and presenting the matter with the MInister effectively. Copy of th memorandum will be put on the BSNLEU website bsnleuchq.com

Rabindra Nath Tagore Centenary

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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The birth centenary celebrations of the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore concluded on his 150th birth anniversary on 9th May 2012. The last one year, the celebrations were going on throughout India and specially in W.Bengal and Bangla Desh.

My respectful homage to the great poet, scholar and saint!

RTE Bill passed – what about implementation?

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in General

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The Parliament has passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (amendment) Bill 2012 yesterday providing differently abled children in the age group of 6-14 the right of admission to any school. So far, so good.

But what is the track record of the RTE Act itself? Though the Act for Free and Compulsory Education was passed years back, it has not been implemented in most of the states. More than 1/3 of the population are still illiterate. Nobody can argue that the literacy has not increased after Independence, but is it sufficient for a country which has got freedom from the British more than 60 years back. The fact is that not that importance has been given to the free education in the country.

There should be strong pressure upon the central and state government to ensure the implementation of the Act and the present amendment.

 

FDI increase in Insurance – 0pp0se the move

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in News

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The government is planning to bring the bill to increase the FDI in Insurance sector from 26% to 49%. Earlier, such an amendment was strongly opposed by the opposition parties and the government had to withdraw it due to pressure from Left parties at the time of UPA I government, when the latter depended upon the Left for majority. Now that the situation has changed and the government wants this opportunity to be utilised. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also opposed the increase in FDI. Let us see what the move of the government is.  The working class will certainly oppose it.