Monthly Archives: July 2012

The T.Nadu untouchability Eradication Front

24 Tuesday Jul 2012

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The Circle Conference of BSNLEU, T.Nadu Circle started to-day, 24th June, at Tirupur. As usual, flag hoisting, homage to martyrs, Inaugural session all were systematically held.

In the evening, an open session was held inaugurated by Com. P. Sampath, senior trade union leader as also the Convener of the T.Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF). In his speech he explained the inhuman treatment meted out to the dalits and the system of untouchability existing in many places even now. The action programme organised under the TNEUF was also explained. The full house with more than 1000 comrades, heard it in rapt attention. It touched the inner cord of the workers. At the end of the speech he appealed for generous donations for continuing the programmes.

There was immediate and very positive reaction. Comrades started coming to the stage and giving donation one after another. Some comrades went to the participants and collected there also. I also donated Rs. 1000. After about 10-15 minutes the collection was over. The donation received was more than 47,000. The Circle union added the balance and an amount of Rs. 50,000 was handed over to Com.Sampath, convener of the TNUEF.

Everybody appreciated the generous donation. More than that the workers felt a commitment to fight to eradicate untouchability and to fight for the down-trodden.

Pranab is President – What we can expect.

23 Monday Jul 2012

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Shri Pranab Mukherjee, one of the senior politicians in the country with about four decades of experience in the central government behind him is the new President of India. I heartily congratulate him on his election to the highest office in the country.

The President  is the constitutional head and is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, including army, navy and airforce. But the fact, as every body knows, is that he is the nominal head only and have to generally function on the advice of the Central Cabinet. He is non-political but has to act as per the advice of the government run by the elected political party/parties.

I had the opportunity to meet him three – four times during the 1970s when he was the State Minister of Finance ( or Dy. Minister of Finance?). It was in connection with the upgradation of Calicut City from a C class city to B Class for the grant of House rent Allowance for the Central Govt. Employees etc.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers took up the issue with the government. 5 lakh population is required for declaring a city to B Class but Calicut was having only 3,33,000 population at that time. But there were other considerations like urban agglomeration etc. As the Convener of the Confederation, along with other comrades, we met Shri V.V.Giri, President of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and the concerned Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. And within three years, with the same population, we got the city upgraded. The decision was taken by the latter.

I hope that Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as President, will keep up the high tradition of the post of President and use his high office for improving the conditions of the poor and working people of the country.

I wish him every success in his new responsibility.

Freedom Fighter Captain Lakshmi Saghal expired

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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Comrade Captain Lakshmi Saghal, veteran freedom fighter and CPI(M) veteran,  passed away today ( 23rd July ) at Kanpur  at the age of 97. She was ailing for a few weeks.

Captain Lakshmi was born at Madras in 1914 as  the daughter of freedom fighter Ammukkutty Swaminathan and B.Swaminathan . After   passing MBBS  from the Madras University, along with medical practice she involved in the freedom movement. She went to Rangoon and joined the Indian National Army (INA) of Subhas Chandra Bose and was the captain of the Rani Jhansi Regiment which marched to India for fighting the British. She was captured and almost killed. She headed the medical treatment to the thousands who were wounded in the war.

After marriage with INA leader Prem Kumar Saighal, who was also in INA. Later she settled at Kanpur along with her daughter Com. Subhashini Ali, who is the Central Committee Member of the CPI(M) and also a former MP. She continued to serve the public in her clinic at Kanpur for decades till she fell sick a few weeks back.

Captain Lakshmi was a leader of the women’s movement and was a top leader of the CPI(M). She was the Presidential Candidate of the Left parties in 2002. She was awarded  Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

I had the chance to meet her and speak to her a few times when I went to her house at Kanpur and also at the Party Congresses/conferences. She used to talk to me  in Malayalam on those occasions which was very encouraging to me.

Her passing away is a great loss to the CPI(M), the Left, the women’s movement and all progressive forces. She was one of the freedom fighters still left amongst us. She was an inspiration to thousands for her selfless service to the nation and the Left movement. Her life story is the history of a valiant freedom fighter and a social workers who till her death served the public in her clinic.

I express my deep grief and convey heartfelt condolences to Com. Subhashini Ali, other family members, comrades and friends in their great loss.  Red salute to Com. Lakshmi Saighal!

Stop the move for FDI in retail trade

22 Sunday Jul 2012

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The UPA II government is in an aggressive mood to impose the anti-people reforms, especially after the criticisms from US President Obama in this respect. The Left and democratic parties have strongly criticised the move and has asked the Prime Minister to stop this anti-people moves.

Following is the text of the letter addressed to the Prime Minister on the reported moves to revive the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail trade. The signatories to the letter are: Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party, Shri Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI(M), Shri S Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary of the CPI, Shri Danish Ali, General Secretary of the JD(S), Shri Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary of the AIFB and Shri Abani Roy, Secretary of the RSP. The letter was delivered at the PM’s office on July 21.

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Dear Dr. Manmohan Singhji,

Reports are appearing that the Government of India is going to revive the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail trade. This decision was suspended earlier due to widespread opposition in the country.

The Indian retail sector is the second largest employer in the country after agriculture. It employs over four crore persons. Most of these are small unorganised or self-employed retailers. Entry of MNC supermarket and hypermarket chains would cause severe displacement of these small and unorganised shopkeepers and traders. The entry of the giant Wal-Mart supermarket chain would have a disastrous impact. According to one estimate, a Wal-Mart supermarket in India would displace over 1300 small retail stores and render around 3900 persons jobless.

In a situation when employment growth has slowed down according to the National Sample Survey data of 2009-10, the entry of foreign supermarkets would further aggravate the employment situation.

We urge the government not to open up the retail trade to FDI any further. Political parties across the spectrum are opposed to this move. Many state governments have also stated their opposition.

In the absence of a wide-ranging consensus, we request you not to proceed with this decision.

Save BSNL – There is a big role for the workers

22 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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After sustained struggles and pressure by the JAC / Joint Forum, the BSNL management has been compelled to procure equipment on a fast track basis. Although not in adequate quantities, telephone instruments, cables, drop-wires, Broadband Modems and GSM equipments are on the supply line to the field level. In some places they have reached, it is yet to reach in many other places.

After continued struggle we could obtain these. Now it is the responsiblity of the executives and non-executives to ensure that the development and expansion takes at a fast rate. This is our first real chance to improve the services and expansion, since earlier we were completely handicapped with the lack of all kinds of necessary equipments.

I hope that the SSA level management also will rise to the occasion. It is their job to ensure the supply of the equipments and motivate the workers for more and more expansion. The workers should take it as a challenge to increase the connections in mobile, landline, broadband and other services also better service. My suggestion is that each and every week the SSA level management and representatives of workers should meet, discuss the plans and implement it effectively as a crusade. The challenge of improving the services, providing more connections and getting more revenue is the task of the moment. Let us all pull together and restore the glory of BSNL.

The youth brigade of Bengaluru (BG TD)

22 Sunday Jul 2012

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I had a surprise at the Banglore Telephone District Conference. When the Conference was over with shouting of revolutionary slogans, some young comrades wanted me to meet them separately.

We met in the conference venue itself. There were about some 20 or more youngsters who were recruited in the last lap of DOT or in BSNL. Most of them were either recruited in sports quota or on compassionate grounds. They are active workers of BSNL. They had some issues about the sports recruitment, training as also about the conducting of the tournaments etc. I discussed with them for about half an hour and assured to take up the matters both at CHQ level and through the Sports Control Board. They also informed that they are in contact with Com. John Verghese, BSNLEU representative in the Sports control Board. They assured me that the young workers in Bangalore are fully with BSNLEU. I assured them that BSNLEU has always taken the issues of new entrants very seriously and will continue to do so.

Re-engage the retrenched contract labour in BG TD

22 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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I  express   my strong protest  against the retrenchment of the 300 and odd contract labour in Bangalore Telephone District in the past few days and demand the BSNL management to reinstate them without any delay.

The more than 600 contract labour employed in the Bengaluru Telephone District were only  getting almost half of the minimum wage that is to be paid according to the rules and government notifications. After sustained struggles the management was compelled to pay them minimum wages as per the conciliation before the RLC. But as a retaliation, within months of its implementation, 300 and workers are retrenched and they are without any work. These labours have been working in the BSNL for the last many years. The discontinuation of the engagement has resulted in adverse effect on hundreds of families who were fully dependent on the retrenched workers.

While I was in Bengaluru on 21st June for the attending the District  Conference of the BSNLEU, I went to the place in centre of the town where the retrenched workers were sitting on dharna demanding reengagement.  Along with me Coms. K.N.Umesh, Secretary, CITU and GB Salakki, AGS BSNLEU were present.  While addressing and supporting the agitation, I assured that BSNLCCWF will take up the matter with the Corporate  for reinstatement.

In many places such disengagement is resorted to by the Management and the Contractors when they are compelled to pay minimum wages to the workers. This is violation of the rules and regulations and has got to be opposed. BSNLEU leaders and workers at the field level are requested to help and support the struggles of this exploited section of workers.

An inspiring Conference at Bangalore

22 Sunday Jul 2012

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The District Conference of BSNLEU, Telephone District Bangalore was attended by large number of delegates and observers. The Conference was inaugurated by me which was attended by more than 700-800 comrades. The Conference was presided over by Com.  C.Chinnaraji Circle President. In my inaugural speech I mentioned about the achievements of the union in the last ten years, including the two good wage revisions, promotion policy, efforts to settle the anomalies in the 2000 as also 2007 wage revisions etc. The struggles organised for settlement of the workers issues were also mentioned. I pointed out the important tasks to be pursued and to be taken fresh. The task in the All India Conference to be held t Ludhiana in September also was focussed. Com. Amanullah Khan, President, AIIEA, K.N.Umesh, Secretary, CITU, Shri Shubendu Ghosh, PGM, BG District, C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary, G.S.Salakki, AGS, B.P.Narayana, Circle President, Com. Babu , Veteran leader and others addressed. In his report Com. Sudershan District Secretary mentioned that more than 300 members joined recently making the number of members to more than 3,000, a great achievement. A total of Rs. 15,000 was donated to the KG Bose Bhawan Building by some leading comrades.

The Conference unanimously elected the office bearers with Coms. B.T.M. Giri as District President  and H.V.Sudershan as District Secretary.

Mighty Protests by Spanish people and workers.

20 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by in TU News - International

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MADRID : Tens of thousands of angry Spaniards protested in 80 cities throughout Spain on Thursday against the government’s latest austerity package, blaming officials for “ruining” the country.
Protesters flooded Madrid’s main Puerta del Sol square and the streets in front of parliament late into the night. Large deployments of riot police manned barricades in front of the legislature, fearing rising tensions could lead to violence.
Large crowds also gathered in Barcelona and Bilbao, while leading Spanish newspaper El Pais estimated on its website that more than 100,000 had attended the rally in the capital.
Marchers in Madrid carried Spanish flags bearing black bows for mourning and banners saying, “No to the cuts” and “You have ruined us.”
The country is in its second recession in three years and its government borrowing rates are unsustainably high as investors worry the government may face new costs in rescuing the banks. If the government’s borrowing rates do not fall back down, it may eventually need a sovereign bailout like those taken by Greece, Ireland and Portugal ( Courtsey: Ganashakti)

Agitation in Maruti plant again

19 Thursday Jul 2012

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It is unfortunate that the Maruti Management has not learnt any lessons from the earlier strikes of the workers. Instead of discussing and settling issues with the workers union, the management seems to be again and again victimising and provoking the workers.

In the scuffle between the management officers and workers yesterday one life has been lost and a large number of officers and workers are hospitalised. It is reported that the scuffle took place after one of the officers made casteist remarks against a worker.

A high level enquiry should be conducted so that such ugly happenings should be avoided.