Monthly Archives: May 2012

WFTU calls for Solidarity and Support to Palestine people

05 Saturday May 2012

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World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)  has called upon the all the workers to extend Solidarity and Support to the people of Palestine who have dedicated their lives for an independent homeland of Palestine:

* Free the 4600 Palestinian prisoners imprisoned by Israel.

* Stop settlement activity by Israel in Palestine

* Immediate lifting of unfair and inhuman blockade of Gaza strip and the withdrawal of Israeli army from all occupied territories

* Demolish the racist wall

* Creation of an independent, democratic and truly free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital and return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland.

* Implement all decisions of the United nations and Security Council in this respect.

This International Campaign for a free Palestine and for release of Palestine prisoners in Israel is to be made in to a mass movement. April 17, 2012 was observed as Palestine Day in many countries. Let us also be part of this great movement.

194 Birth Anniversary of Karl Marx

05 Saturday May 2012

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Today, 5th May, is the 194th birth anniversary of  Karl Marx, the greatest philosopher the world has ever seen. He was born in 1818 on this day. He along with Frederich Engels wrote ‘The Capital’, which analysed the social relations, the role of the working class and were the founders of socialism and Communism. Their theories were put in to practice by Lenin who formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Although USSR has collapsed later, the communist countries like China, Cuba, Vietnam and N.Korea continue as Communist countries and have charted their growth through the implementation of Marxism.

The capitalist theoreticians declared that Marxism is dead after the collapse of USSR in the 1990s. But after the 2007 recession, the world has again started reading Marx and his theories.

It is interesting to note that the French Revolution which started on 5th May, 29 years earlier in 1989, which put an end to the monarchy in France for a decade, had considerable influence on Marx in preparing his writings.

We pay respectful homage to the memory of Karl Marx!

More than 6 crore contract workers in India – Labour Minister

05 Saturday May 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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In a reply to a question in the Parliament raised by Com. Prasanta Chatterjee, M.P., Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has stated that according to the study conducted by V.V.Giri National Labour Institute, there are 14 lakh contract workers in the Central sphere and 46 lakhs in state sphere. There may be five times more contract labour in the country who are not even covered by the  Contract labour act.

The Minister also stated that there are about 39066 contractors based on 2010 – 2011 figures.

Though it is completely banned to engage contract labour in perennial jobs, it is exactly what BSNL is also doing.  Though the full figure is not available. it is estimated that about one lakh contract workers are engaged in BSNL.

Justice should be given to these workers.

NPS – 6 companies empanelled as Pension Fund Managers

05 Saturday May 2012

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6 companies have been empanelled by the Governmentn as Pension Fund Managers(PFM) for providing pension and annuity products under the New Pension Scheme(NPS) . They are LIC, SBI Life, ICICI Prudential, Bajaj Allianz Life, Reliance Life and Star Union Dal-Ichi. Out of these only two are from PSUs and all the others from private sector.

Earlier the Central and state government employees were getting pension as defined pension. But for the employees recruited on or after 01-01-2004 the New Pension Scheme has been introduced which is a contributory pension scheme. Despite strong protest from the employees, the NPS was implemented by  Central and all state governments except the left-led states of Kerala, W.Bengal and Tripura.

Recovery will be made from the employees to Provident Fund. The government will also contribute. This fund will be managed by the Pension Fund Managers. They can invest the fund according to their decision. 60% of the amount will be refunded at the time of retirement and 40% will be put in annuity for payment of pension.

The private employees can accept the scheme. But so far, out of 3 million employees under NPS, 90% are from government or PSUs only.It is mandatory for them.

The Central and State Government employees have strongly opposed the scheme and asked the government to continue he pension scheme as per CCS (Pension ) Rules according to which the pension will be paid as defined pension and not contributory pension. A Parliament March was also organised in this connection.

The fight will continue for defined pension scheme.

Civil Service – 4,72,290 applied – 910 selected

05 Saturday May 2012

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910 candidates have been selected for the Civil Service cadres like IAS, IPS, IFS etc. as per yesterdays announcement by the government. Congratulations to them all.

They have to be congratulated. They have been selected after a serious examination and interview later. 4,72,290 has applied  out of which 2,43,003 appeared in the examination. 11,984 candidates were declared qualified in the written examination. Out of them 2,417 candidates were selected for personality test. And 910 are the candidates who became victorious and selected for the coveted posts.

Remembering Tipu Sultan – A real fighter

04 Friday May 2012

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Tipu Sultan died fighting against the British on 4th May 1799 within the ramparts of his own fort at Seringapatam. He was attacked by the combined forces of the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Tipu Sultan who succeeded his father to the throne of Mysore valiantly fought against the British and won many battles in the early stages. His allying with French and contacts with foreign countries against the British could not help him finally. The British not only killed him, rampaged the fort, but also made all his sons prisoners and murdered them later. The British museum is full of the valuable things taken after he was killed. The golden throne, swords, many valuable artefacts are all show-cased there.

Though the British propagated him as a villain and against other religions, the facts contradicts these. He built a church for French in Mysore. In Seringapatnam the well-known temple even exists. He was a scholar and poet also.

The country will remember Tipu Sultan as a hero who fought the British to the last for the independence of the country.

BSNL Board should meet urgently

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The BSNL Board is expected to meet at least once in a month. BSNL is a mega company and is facing stiff competition from private companies. It is in loss for the last three financial years. Improving the company is important to the country as also all stake holders including the workers. There are many issues regarding the development and expansion issues, financial strategies, marketing etc. to be considered and decided. In addition, a lot issues of the workers are also pending with the Board.

But the Board has not met even once in April 2012. It is not known when the next meeting of the Board will be held. Is it because the CMD and some of the Board members have been on tour, including foreign travels. We are not told what is the reason. Any, it is the responsiblity of the BSNL management to ensure that the Board meeting is held early and decisions are taken to take company forward and settle the issues of the workers.

Living by Rs. 15 a day – The reality in rural India

04 Friday May 2012

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The report of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) has exposed all the claims of the government with regard to the poverty in the country.

In its report covering July 2009- June 2010, NSSO has reported that “the poorest in India’s rural population had an average monthly per capita consumer expenditure of Rs. 453. The poorest 10% of the urban population had an average MPCE of Rs. 599.”

The survey further pointed out that 10% of the population at the lowest level in the rural areas lives on Rs.15 a day while in urban areas the figure is Rs. 20 a day.

This is a very serious and pitiable situation. India got independence 65 years back. Many five-year plans have been implemented. The government always proudly declare about the growth of GDP and development in the country. But the majority of the people in the rural areas are far below the poverty line, somehow managing to live. The condition of the poor in urban areas is not different as the NSSO report reveals. While on the one side big business barons like Jindals and Ambanis get Rs 65 crores and Rs.51 crores salary in a year, whereas  the poor in the country exists on Rs. 15 per day. Despite this the government is moving on with its neo-liberal policies, which will further reduce the living conditions of the poor in the country.

A sustained struggle with massive participation of the people is required to defeat the neo-liberal policy of the government which is increasing the misery, the inequality. The time is already late; It should not become too late.

 

Mobile, Tower Companies join to oppose TRAI recommendations

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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In a major offensive against the recommendations of the TRAI recommending for higher charges for spectrum allocation, all the major private mobile companies have come together and met the Finance Minister, Communication Minister, Dy. Chairman Planning Commission, Secretary DOT and also PMO to see that the recommendations are not accepted by the government.  Now the Tower companies have also joined them.

Further the pressure of the private companies seems to have its result. The DOT had asked the TRAI on which grounds the high charges for spectrum has been recommended. As told earlier in these posts, through aggressive pressure, private companies are achieving their demands. But BSNL is keeping mum on its justified demands and is losing. There should be an assertive and aggressive management to get its demands conceded by the government. Employees and their unions will fully support the management if it takes a strong stand on the demands of the BSNL.

Government move to bail out Vodafone – Amendment to Income-Tax Act

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Income Tax Department had issued notices to Vodafone imposing penalty of thousands of crores of rupees since they did not abide by the rules in case of merger and acquisition. Not only Vodafone, but other MNCs were putting strong opposition to the correct move of the IT Department. When Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was on tour in US, he had told the business community who met him that ‘how can tax be recovered for many years retrospectively?’. It was a clear indication that the government will succumb to the pressures of the MNCs.

Now that is exactly  what is happening.  The central government is reported to have brought an amendment to the Income Tax Act to this effect which will be part of the Finance Bill -2012. When the Amendment to the Act is passed, Vodafone will be free from paying the taxes.

This is one more case of the government surrendering to the dictates and pressures of the MNCs. This is, of course, part of the neo-liberal policy of the government.