Monthly Archives: September 2012

Do not delay allotment of USOF to BSNL

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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BSNL is in dire need of money. After continuous loss for the last three financial years in a row, the PSU has been compelled to resort to austerity even in purchase of equipment, which is the necessary tool for expansion. As the owner of the company, the government  has got the responsibility to ensure its finances.

In this connection it is to be noted that the TRAI as also DOT has recommended for allotment of Rs.1500 crore and Rs. 1250 crore in this financial year and next  to BSNL from the USOF towards loss incurred by BSNL in providing connections to the villages and rural areas as per the policy of the government. No private companies had come forward in this area due to incurring of loss, though these are specific conditions while granting of licences. But it is reported that USOF has opposed the proposal.

DOT has to act in the matter and ensure that the proposal is got accepted by USOF and the same is provided to BSNL at the earliest. Our demand in fact was that the Rs. 2,000 crore given by USOF to BSNL yearly should be continued as it is.

Who is responsible for the Parliament jam?

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Corruption

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The Congress and the BJP are blaming each other for the Parliament jam. In fact, both are responsible for the same.

The UPA II government which is completely submerged in to the scams one after another is in a blind alley. Though it very well knows that it has no tangible defence in view of the evidence and proof of its involvement coming up, it has taken an offensive position as per the old saying that offence is the best form of defence. Its slogan of ‘zero loss’ to government which it raised in the 2G scam, is repeated in the Coal Gate, even after it was exposed in the earlier. It is defending the indefensible. And the parliament jam suits it best, so that more and more wrong doings are not exposed through the Parliament. Though the opposition would have allowed Parliament to function, if the coal block allocations have been cancelled and and a judicial enquiry ordered, the Congress refused, since the jam was most suitable to it.

The position of the  main opposition party BJP is not different. What it has done during the NDA regime is well before us. It does not want the old cases to come up, which certainly will be there if a detailed discussion takes place. Further it is playing politics instead of trying to find out and expose the culprits.

It was the only the Left and some non-congress, non-BJP parties which have taken  a correct position demanding that the Coal block allocations should be immediately cancelled, the guilty to be booked and the parliament debate on these issues to avoid such scams in future.  But both the Congress and UPA were not in favour since both were only playing politics.

Comments by Washington Post and angry reaction by PMO

07 Friday Sep 2012

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Today’s newspapers focussed about the angry reaction of PMO  to the article in Washington Post mentioning Dr. Manmohan Singh as a tragic and silent PM who heads a government of corruption.

Indian newspapers have criticised the Prime Minister more than this several times. The PMO has not issued letters like to them. Is it that the PMO is rattled because it is a paper in US, which is very dear the PMO, which has attacked the PM? Or is it that the PMO can not tolerate criticism?

Anyhow, the PMO seems to have made a fool of itself by making the issue as a prestige one.

No rain , more rain, floods – will the govt.s wake up?

07 Friday Sep 2012

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Nature is unpredictable. It was predicted that this time rains will be less. But no rain came for a long period. Then it started drizzling. Now it is raining cats and dogs. Many states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, M.P. etc. are finding their rivers flooded and overflowing and many dams had to be opened fully to allow the extra water to go. Villages and towns are under water for days. There is no way for the flood  water to go since the gutters etc. are blocked. The people are suffering.

But the government, corporations, municipalities etc. are sleeping. Now and then there are floods. But there is no regular system to meet the crisis. They have to wake up!

 

Make 18th September Demonstration a big success

06 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The decision of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations to organise Lunch Hour Demonstration on 18th September on the ITS repatriation issue is appropriate.

Either all the officials/officers in BSNL should be absorbed in BSNL or all of them have to be repatriated to DOT. There can not be two types of employees/officers, one absorbed and the other on deputation. Common sense and equal justice require the same.

The government has to act immediately. It is for this purpose the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have called for the programme. Make it a complete success through maximum participation.

The Cabinet Note on ITS absorption

05 Wednesday Sep 2012

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It is reported in Economic Times that the DOT is preparing a Cabinet Note on the encadrement of the ITS, seeking continued or fresh and prolonged deputation of ITS officers to BSNL. Further details are not known.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has sought a meeting with the Secretary, DOT in this connection.

Agitational programme on ITS issue by Forum of BSNL Unions

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

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In the meeting today of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, it has been decided to organise a lunch hour dharna on 18th September 2012 to be followed by more programmes demanding completion of the repatriation of ITS.

The details of the meeting including decisions on other issues will be published later. The Lunch hour programme should be jointly held every where. Make it a complete success.

National Convention of Workers

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

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NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS AT NEW DELHI

The National Convention of Workers organised under the auspices of the 11 Central Trade Unions at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 4th September 2012 has chalked out agitational programmes including a two-days General Strike on 20th and 21st February 2013.

The Talkatora Stadium was filled up and was overflowing to outside the stadium by the massive participation of workers who have come from all the states, especially from the nearby  Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, Punjab etc. More than 5,000 delegates must have attended. The entire compound and the outside of the stadium was decorated and there were large number of flags  and banners of the Central Trade Unions and the various Independent federations of workers in various sectors like Central-State governments, Postal, BSNL, Banks, Electricity, Coal, Transport, Insurance etc.

A big colourful banner was displayed in the back of the decorated stage with the name of the convention and of the Central Trade Unions. The Presidium consisting of the Presidents or senior leaders of each central trade union sat in the front row. It included Coms. A.K.Padmanabhan (CITU), Amarjit Kaur (AITUC) and others. The General Secretaries and other senior leaders sat in the second row.

The Convention was addressed by  Shri  Baidya Nath Rai, General Secretary, BMS, Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, General Secretary, INTUC, Com. Gurudas Dasgupta, GS AITUC, Com. Tapan Sen, GS CITU and other leaders. All of them strongly opposed the anti-worker policies of the government and called upon the workers to continue the struggle against the neo-liberal policies which is causing more and more misery to the toiling masses. They impressed upon the workers the need for complete unity amongst the workers, not only at the leadership level but at all levels. Each speaker was enthusiastically applauded by the house by clapping of hands.

After the speeches were over, the Presidium moved the Resolution on programmes, which was already circulated to the delegates.  The Resolution cited the various agitational programme conducted earlier on the demands raised by the CTUs and the good support received from the workers at all levels. It was reported that more than 10 crore workers participated in the last one day strike organised on 28th February 2012.  The following demands were reiterated in the resolution:

Demands:

1)    Contract measures to contain price rise. 2). Concrete measures for employment generation. 3) Strict enforcement of Labour Laws. 4) Universal social security cover for organised and unorganised workers and creation of National Security Fund and 5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central PSUs and undertakings.

On the above issues, the Convention demanded immediate action by the Government of India to ensure:

  • No Contractorisation of work of permanent /perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment.
  • Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs. 10,000 linked with cost price index.
  • Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.
  • Assured Pension for all.
  • Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98.

The National convention also adopted the following action programme to press for once again the above burning issues facing the working people:

1.     State/District/Sector level Joint Conventions during September, October and November 2012.

2.     Satyagraha, Jail Bharao/Court Arrest on 18th / 19th December 2012 in all states throughout the country.

3.     March to Parliament of 20th December 2012 ( mobilisation by the unions from the states adjoining Delhi)

4.     Countrywide Two Days General Strike on 20th and 21st February 2013.

 The resolution was supported/signed  by BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF,  SEWA  and Independent Federations of Workers and Employees.

The programmes should be effectively organised and there should be maximum propaganda.

The National Convention was not only a show of strength and Unity but also one more historical milestone in the fight for the cause of the workers.

DOT seeks USOF for BSNL

03 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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BSNLEU has been continuously demanding that at least Rs. 2,000 crore which was being given from the USOF to BSNL should be continued since the large number of landlines, which are loss making, are maintained by BSNL in accordance with the government policy of universal service. Now the DOT has sought Rs. 1500 crore for this year and Rs.1250 for next year. Although not sufficient, at least this is something which will help BSNL to tide over its woes. A news from Business Line in this connection is posted below.

New Delhi, Aug. 28:

The Department of Telecom has sought more money from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund to be given to BSNL for rural telephone lines.

This is based on the recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. TRAI observed that BSNL is maintaining a network with a large footprint and providing services in remote and far-flung areas.

The fixed line rural network that existed prior to April 2002 was primarily set-up with Government funding at high cost and always supported by USO or access deficit charges (ADC) since inception of these regimes.

TRAI put the subsidies payable for eligible rural wireline connections, installed before April 2002, at Rs 1,593 crore for 2011-12. It put the figure at Rs 1,265 crore for 2012-13.

TRAI recommendations

“Accordingly, TRAI has recommended the support of Rs 1,500 crore for the first year (2011-12) and Rs 1,250 crore for the second year (2012-13),” sources in the know of developments said.

The ADC compensates a service provider, mainly the incumbent, for rental or local call charges and any other below cost tariffs to make the basic telecom services affordable to the common man and promote both universal service and universal access.

“TRAI suggested that some form of assistance would be needed to support incumbent in sustaining their non-remunerative operation and this should be given from the USO Fund to BSNL,” TRAI said in its communication to DoT.

The wire-lines, installed by BSNL prior to April 2002, were supported by USO Fund for the period April 2002 to February 2004 on the basis of the difference between regulated rental and actual rental.

But, USO support for these lines were withdrawn from February 2004 since the scope of ADC was increased to take care of the deficit arising out of cost based rental and prevailing rental in rural areas.

However, in view of the TRAI recommendations in 2008 to the Ministry of Communications and IT, BSNL had accordingly been given the subsidy of Rs 2,000 crore a year from USO Fund for the period July 2008 to July 2011.

Parliamentary Committee against allotment to private companies

03 Monday Sep 2012

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The government is again in trouble with the allotment of coal blocks to private companies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal has asked the government why the coal blocks were allotted to the private companies, when the Coal India Limited, the biggest coal company in the world, has to go to foreign countries  for mining coal for the requirement of the country. And further the private companies, even after years of allotment, had not started the operations for minim coal. The report of the committee is going to be a further head ache for the government. A report in this connection from the Ganashakti is given below:

“New Delhi, Sept 3 : A parliamentary committee has expressed unhappiness over allocation of coal blocks to private firms – most of which have failed to develop them – instead of Coal India Ltd (CIL), prompting the government to state that 116 mines will be allotted to the state-owned firm.      “A paradoxical situation is arising in the country wherein the coal blocks are being allocated to private parties most of which are failing to develop coal blocks in stipulated time frame, whereas CIL, is vying with foreign players in international market to acquire coal assets abroad to meet its requirements,” said the panel in its report tabled in the Rajya Sabha today.      The remarks of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal comes at a time when government auditor CAG has estimated undue benefits of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private firms on account of such allocations and uproar over it refuses to die down.      Coal India and its subsidiaries should be accorded top priority in allocation of identified 138 coal blocks, the panel said. To this, the government has said that it has identified 116 blocks to be given to the PSU.      “The proposal of CIL has been examined in detail by the Ministry of Coal. After examining the revised proposal of CIL, it has been decided to tentatively assign 116 coal blocks to CIL,” the government said in its reply.      The Committee said it is of the opinion that CIL, which is the country’s biggest coal organisation, responsible for meeting the coal demand of various sectors, “has to play a vital role in ensuring energy security of the country at a time where there has been continuous increase in the sector wise as well as overall demand for coal over the years.”      Battling low production, CIL has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore for acquisition of mines overseas and has also formed a subsidiary Coal India Africana Ltd for the such acquisitions.      CIL is the largest coal producer in the world and accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal output. It had recorded about 432 million tonne production in 2011-12, as against a revised down target of 447 MT.”