As always, it was very interesting and educative to attend the 8 Convention of the Telecom Employees Association of Nepal which was held t Kathmandu on 12th and 13th December. 2012. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS BSNLEU and I reached Kathmandu by the morning flight from Delhi. The Air India flight was to start at 0730 in the morning, but due to heavy fog it could start at 1000 hours only.
We reached Kathmandu Air Port by about 1200 hours and after the immigration etc. we were out of the airport by 1230. India and Nepal being SAARC countries, the immigration is somewhat simple. However Passport is very much necessary. Otherwise it will create a lot of problems as we realised later.
Coms. Gopal Dhakal, Advisor to TEAN, and another comrade were waiting to receive us. They garlanded us and we greeted each other. We were directly taken to the Convention Place which was arranged in the Nepal Police Club conference hall. The meeting had just started at 1200 hours. The big hall was full and a lot of comrades were standing near the door and outside. The President of the TEAN Com. Ashok Kiran Karn was delivering his Presidential address. We were received as special guests and honoured by garlanding etc.
The Convention was presided over by Com. Ashok Karn, who is the President of TEAN. It was inaugurated by Com.K.P.Sharma, former Dy. Prime Minister of Nepal. Leaders of sister unions of TEAN greeted the conference. I was also requested to address the convention. In my speech I mentioned about the present financial position of BSNL, the Joint Forum’s efforts to improve the services etc. The agitation and struggles against the neo-liberalisation policies, the huge corruption cases like 2 G Spectrum, Coal Gate corruption etc. were mentioned. I concluded my speech thanking the TEAN and greetings the delegates.
The delegates’ session was held next day, 13th December. Com.Abhimanyu and I both addressed the delegates session and spoke on the various telecom issues. We gave a gold plated shield. They also presented us with some beautiful paintings. After lunch we returned to the Airport and then to New Delhi by the last Air India Flight.
We could not participate in the last day of the conference. However, we could discuss with the leaders com. Thankalal Shreshta, Gopal dhakal and Sunil Porkhel about the present position of Nepal Telecom Corporation, the organisational issues, our intervention with the management etc. It was a very fruitful discussion.
My thanks to the TEAN comrades and Greetings to them.