X-Mas is here. The New Year 2013 will arrive by one week. My Hearty Greetings and Best Wishes to all on this occasion!
Happy X-Mas and New Year!
24 Monday Dec 2012
Posted in General
Monthly Archives: December 2012
Postal Part-time, Contingent and Contract workers on agitation.
24 Monday Dec 2012
The Postal Part-time, Contingent and Contract workers organised a Hunger Strike on 19th December 2012 in front of Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, demanding wage revision to these workers and also regularisation of services. Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, inaugurated the Hunger Strike. More than one hundred workers participated in the hunger strike.
We extend our full support and solidarity to the agitation and demands of the Postal contingent, part-time and ontract workers. The situation is not different in BSNL or in certain other sections. We have to unitedly fight for getting justice to this exploited section of workers. regular workerw should fully support and guide the casual-contract workers in their just struggle.
Attacking student protesters-Govt.seems directionless and senseless
24 Monday Dec 2012
Posted in General
Tags
There is no limit to the senseless actions of the Central Government. The entire country and especially the young generation are angry and restless against what is happening in the country. The increasing unemployment, the huge corruption at high levels, the spiralling price increase etc. have already created panic and justified anger. And now, the brutal gang-rape and heinous attack on the girl and her friend. The young generation, students and all sincere people have come to the open demanding an end to this sexual assault which is increasing day by day. National capital Delhi has become the rape capital. Young people and students have come to the Delhi streets and near the state power to seek justice. They were peacefully protesting for the last few days to ensure that quick action is taken in the present sexual assault as also in other cases.
And how the government and its police have reacted? They became panicky seeing the protest and attacked the people in their usual way – by water cannon, lathi-charge and tear-gas- as if attacking an enemy. In this cold winter how the police can put the cold water on them? How they can beat mercilessly on the young girls and senior citizens who have come to express their anguish at the serious state of affairs? It is inhuman, it is cruel.
The Government should seek apology from the people. The government should also ensure that the grievance of the people is addressed. Remember, we always repeat, when necessary or not, that India is the largest democracy in the world. We have to live up to it. Is the government hearing?
Two decades without USSR
23 Sunday Dec 2012
Posted in General
Tags
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(USSR)which dominated the world political scene as an equal socialist force against the capitalist US and other countries collapsed by the end of the 1980s and extinguished itself by the resignation of Michael Gorbacheb, USSR President on 23rd December 1991.
USSR was a bulwark against capitalism. Within years of overthrow of Czar and formation of USSR in 1917 after the October Revolution, USSR grew in strength, new inventions, space journey etc. It stopped the US attack on Cuba. It defended India at the time of Bangladesh war when US was supporting pakistan. The Red Army took the dominant role in defeating the Nazi Hitler.It helped many countries to get freedom before and after the II World War. The toiling masses all over the world looked to USSR with hope.
Unfortunately, the inner controversies and other significat factors led to its collapse. USSR was divided in to many states which left Communism behind.
Though USSR has collapsed, the memory of the same still inspires many. I was thinking that if the USSR was not collapsed what would be the world position today?
CPI(M) condemns police action against gang-rape protestors
22 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in General
December 22, 2012 : The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau condemns the police action on thousands of young demonstrators outside Government offices on Rajpath today. It is a spontaneous upsurge fuelled by the outrage against the brutal gangrape and beating of a young woman and also by the common experience of young women in Delhi of sexual harassment in public places. The use of lathis, tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, highlights the utter insensitivity of the Delhi police and the Central and State Governments on the issue
The arrogant statements by the Home Secretary and the Delhi Police Commissioner refusing to accept the responsibility of the utter failure to implement earlier assurances related to the measures required to ensure security for women in Delhi is deplorable. Who is responsible for the monitoring of the security situation? Who is accountable for non-implementation of measures already decided? The multiplicity of authority particularly as far as law and order and security is concerned in Delhi has meant zero accountability on the part of various authorities for the deteriorating security of women in the capital with the state and central agencies indulging in a blame game.
The Prime Minister should answer the nation. He should intervene without delay, implement the earlier measures assured and take appropriate action against those top police officials responsible. Pious statements have little meaning.
Chhattisgarh Circle marches ahead
22 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in BSNLEU
Chhattisgarh is a comparatively small circle, which was formed by bifurcation of the earlier M.P.Circle. Though area is not so small, the population is less and a good part of it is forest. It has got six SSAs only viz. Raipur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur, Durg, Jagdalpur and Raigarh. The staff are also less with about 1800 only. Only two main unions are there, BSNLEU and NFTE. FNTO is having members in two digits only. The difference between NFTE and BSNLEU is reducing after each membership verification and it is expected that in the VI verification, BSNLEU may get more votes.
There is very good co-ordination between BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. The Circle Conference of the AIBDPA was being held on 22 Decenber, but in fact the members of all the three unions were present.
The Conference started with Com. R.L.Shrivastava hoisting the union flag.
In the morning, the Seminar on ” PFRDA and FDI in Pension and struggles against” was held in the GASS Memorial Conference hall at Raipur. More than 200 comradess were present. Com. R.L.Shrivastava, President BSNLEU and AIBDPA presided. Com. R.P.Atmapoojya, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA welcomed all. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF and Advisor, AIBDPA inauguratedd the Conference. In his speech, he focussed on the issues of the BSNL and DOT pensioners, but at the same spoke about the issues of both BSNL and Casual/Contract workers and also about the struggles by the entire working class in India. He called upon the workers to participate in the two days strike called by the Central trade Unions on 20-21 February 2013 against the anti-working class policies of the government and also demanding settlement of the urgent issue of the workers.
S/Shri Sahu, Sr. GM BSNL, Pahdi, CCA, S.C.Bhattacharjee, All India Treasurer BSNLEU and Circle Secretary, Chhattisgarh also addressed.
In the afternoon the delegates session was held. Com. R.P.Atmapoojya, Circle Secretary presented the report which was discussed and adopted. Organisational issues were discussed. Plans were finalised to organise AIBDPA in all the districts. Office-bearers with Coms. J.S.Thakkur (Advisor), R.L.Shrivastava(President),R.P.Atmapoojya(Circle Secretary) and Lala Dani(Treasurer) were unanimously elected. AIBDPA donated Rs.5,000 (Rs. five thousand rupees only) towards KG Bose Bhawan Building Fund.
A Circle Executive Committee meeting of the BSNLCCWF was held in the evening. Circle President Com. S.C.Bhattacharya presided. Com.Om Prakash sahu, Circle Secretary BSNLCCWF reported about the activities so far. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India president, BSNLCCWF spoke about the Hazaribag Central Executive Committee decisions and also actions taken up by the CHQ on the demands of the casual/contract workers. He also called upon the casual and contract workers to participate in the 2-21 February 2013 strike.
In between, along with Circle President abd Circle Secretary of BSNLCCWF, Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri met CGM Chhattisgarh and discussed about the issues of the casual and contract workers including the non-engagement of the circle secretary for work.
After attending all the meetings, one would certainly come to the conclusion that Chhattisgarh, BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF are functioning in good co-ordination and that they are advancing fast and becomng much stronger.
AIBDPA All India Conference at Kannur on 6-7 February 2013
22 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
Only about one and half months are left for the holding of the AIBDPA AIC to be held at Kannur(Kerala). Kannur comradees are making all arrangements for the comfortable stay and accommodation for holding th conference. The Conference will be inaugurated by Com.Basudeb Acharia, veteran trade union leader and leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha.All India leaders of BSNLEU and other service organisations will be greeting the conference.
About 500 delegates are expected to attend from all parts of the country. The AIC will discuss and take important decisions with regard to the demands of the BSNL-DOT pensioners as also on the issues of the workers in general.
AIBDPA Chattisgarh Circle Conference
22 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
The Circle Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA), Chhattisgarh Conference is being held today, 22nd December at Raipur. I reached here yesterday. The local comrades are making all arrangements for the successful holding of the conference. The organisational issues were discussed with Coms. Shrivastava, Circle President, Atmapoojya, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA and with Com. S.C. Bhattacharya, Circle Secretary and All India treasurer of BSNLEU.
A seminar will be held in the morning and the delegates session will be held in the after noon. It is also proposed to have a meeting of the casual and contract workers also to discuss their pressing issues.
March to Parliament – Prelude to the 20-21 February Strike
21 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in TU News - India
MORE than fifty thousand workers and employees participated in the March to Parliament by the central trade unions—BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF, SEWA and federations of employees on December 20. The march was the culmination of the two days countrywide jail bharo agitation on December 18-19, 2012 in which lakhs have courted arrest, all over the country. The unprecedented participation and the enthusiasm of the participants showed the anger of the workers against the anti-worker policies of the government. Even though the march included only people from the nearby states, the participation was more than expected.
A K Padmanabhan, president, represented the Centre of Indian trade Unions (CITU) in the presidium, which consisted of one representative each from all the central trade unions. The speakers were, B N Rai (BMS), Ashok Singh (INTUC), Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), R A Mittal (HMS), Tapan Sen (CITU), Satyawan (AIUTUC), Swapan Mukherjee(AICCTU), Ashok Singh (UTUC), S P Tiwari (TUCC), Shanmugham(LPF).
The meeting reiterated the decision for the two days countrywide general strike on February 20-21, 2013.
The meeting moved a resolution condemning the recent heinous rape and assault on a 23 year old girl in Delhi and against the increasing violence against women in the country, especially the capital city and the failure of the administration to provide security to its citizens.
The meeting also adopted a resolution in support of the struggle of the Maruti Workers Union, Manesar, Gurgaon, demanding the reinstatement of all workers who were terminated illegally and withdrawal of the false cases against the workers.
Apart from the central trade unions, all unions of employees of central and state government, banks, insurance, defense, telecom etc also participated in the programme.
DEMANDS
The five point demand charter formulated jointly by the central trade unions and federations is: 1) concrete 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 Social Security Fund and 5) stoppage of disinvestment in central and state PSUs/undertakings.
Other immediate demands are: no contractisation 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 or establishment ; amendment of the 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 the consumer price index; removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase in the quantum of gratuity; assured pension for all and compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions 87 and 98.9 PD DATED 23-12-2012
………………….
Women’s Organisations March to Rashtrapathi Bhawan for justice
21 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in General
Hundreds of young men and women gathered near Parliament House, at Rail Bhawan, to protest against the brutal rape of the young girl still battling for her life at Safdarjang Hospital. Carrying placards, “My Body My Right” the protestors shouted “We Want Justice”, “Home Minister Istifa Do” as they marched up Raisina Hill to Rashtrapati Bhawan. They were all wearing black badges, head and arm bands to register their protest.
The anger was palpable as the students led the demonstration making it clear that they would no longer tolerate the apathy of the government, the complicity of the police force and the inaction of the authorities that had made Delhi so completely unsafe for women. The demonstrators stopped at Rashtrapati Bhawan, halting briefly at both the Home Ministers office and the Prime Ministers Office to raise their demand for action.
The police, and the Government must send out a strong message of zero tolerance on cases of violence against women. The protests will continue until our demands are met.
WE DEMAND:
1. Take immediate steps to enact the Sexual Assault Bill.
2. Increase patrolling and deployment of police, including police women in public places so that such incidents can be prevented, and women’s safety assured;
3. Improve infrastructure to make cities safer for women.
4. Fast track courts to deal with rape cases, hearings to be held on a day to day basis, so that sentence can be delivered within a period of 6 months. Police investigation to be conducted in a time bound manner.
5. Standardized investigation procedures be circulated to all police stations, along with the principle of accountability to take action against police personnel who do not implement them properly;
6. Increased sensitization, effective investigation and accountability of the police in dealing with heinous crimes against women.
7. Immediate relief, legal and medical assistance, and long term rehabilitation measures to be provided to survivors of rape, without delays and hassles.
Signed by:
All India Democratic Women’s Association, Centre for Policy Analysis, National Federation of Indian Women, Guild of Service, Joint Women’s Programme, Young Women’s Christian Association, Swastik Mahila Samiti, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Muslim Women’s Forum and Jagori.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 