Best Wishes and Greetings to all on Milad-Ul-Nabi, the Birth Day of of Prophet Mohammed Nabi!
Best Wishes and Greetings on Milad-Ul-Nabi!
25 Friday Jan 2013
Posted in General
Monthly Archives: January 2013
A visit to 4, Ashoka Road, New Delhi
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in General, Uncategorized
Today I got a chance to visit 4 Ashoka Road in New Delhi. At present this government bunglow is accommodating the All India Kisan Sabha and SFI. I went there to meet senior comrade Noorul Huda, former Member of Parliament and now working with the AIKS. We discussed organisational as well as personal matters and had a cup of tea.I felt very pleasant after the discussion.
Whenever I think of 4 Ashoka Road, a lot of memories come to my mind. It was here that Com.A.K.Gopalan stayed when he was the Member of Parliament and the leader of the opposition. Every time I came to New Delhi for conventions, Conferences etc. I used to visit the place to meet Com. AKG, who will invariably give guidance on some matter or other who will treat you as one of his own family. Every body who had contacted with Com. AKG might have felt the same. He was so close with each and every body.
I remember an incident when I visited 4 Ashoka Road later. Com. AKG was not well and was in Kerala. It was on 26th June 1975, the day after the draconian Emergency was declared by the Indira Gandhi government to suppress the democratic movement and to save her position, that I reached Delhi to attend a National Convention of the CG Employees on 28th June, but since the Emergency was declared and the Mavlankar Hall where the Convention was to be held was completely blocked by the police, there was no question of holding the convention. We were accommodated at the quarters of com. Jyotirmoyi Basu, MP, due to security concern. I went to the 4 Ashoka Road in the evening. I met Comrade Narikutty Mohanan there who was the Delhi correspondent of Deshabhimani, the CPI(M) daily. Incidentally at that time a call came from Ernakulam Exchange.There were no mobile phones.Even STD was not available.Every trunk call was to be connected by Exchange only. It was fortunate that late Comrade K.Prabhakaran, well known P and T leader called from Ernakulam. Since all press news were completely barred and communications through telephones and fax were all censured there was no opportunity for Narikutty to give a report to the Deshabhimani in Kerala. When Prabhakaran contacted I asked him to connect Deshabhimani and Narikkutty gave detailed report about the declaration of emergency, the list of the arrested leaders and other information. And in the next day issue of Deshabhimani, all the news came with photoes of the arrested leaders and a strong editorial. I was told later that Narikkutty was taken in to custody and questioned, but the police could not find how the news reached Ernakulam Deshabhimani, because there were no records of fax, trunk call etc.
All these came to my mind when visiting 4 Ashoka Road.
Many comrades usually confuse 4 Ashoka Road with 4 Windsor Place, where the office of the CPI connected organisations were/are functioning. Both are on the same side of Ashoka Road and having red boards of their organisations. But the office of the CPI organisations is numbered considering that it is in the Windsor round.
I was happy that I could visit 4 Ashoka Road, though after a long time.
78.2% IDA Merger – BSNL Forum decides for agitational programmes
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations in its meeting has decided to organise agitational programmes in its meeting helkd on 24th Janaury 2013. A copy of the decisions of the meeting is given below:Decisions taken in the meeting of the Forum held on 24th January 2013.
A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations was held on 24th January 2013 at the BSNL MS Office. Com. C.Singh, GS, NFTE presided. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener reported about the developments after the last meeting on the various issues on which agitations were conducted. All the comrades actively participated in the discussions. The intolerable delay in implementation of the agreement on 78.2% IDA fixation, Repatriation of non-optee ITS officers, 30% fitment/5 advance increments for the loss of pay of the post-2007 recruited employees, procurement of equipment, formation of BBNL (Broad Band Network Limited) and its impact etc. were discussed.
The following decisions were taken by the meeting:
1. The undue delay in the implementation of the 12 June 2012 strike agreement on 78.2% IDA merger was strongly condemned. Once again the DOT has returned the file to the BSNL Management seeking further clarifications. The delaying and diversionary tactics cannot be tolerated. To pressurise the BSNL Management and DOT for early issue of the orders on 78.2% IDA merger for BSNL Employees, the following agitational programmes are decided:
a) Savingram Campaign from 28th to 30th January 2013.
The following Savingram to be sent by all SSA/District Secretaries to the Secretary, DOT with copy to the Minister Communications and CMD BSNL, during the three days from 28-30 January.
To
THE SECRETARY, DOT,
SANCHAR BHAWAN,
20 ASHOKA ROAD,
NEW DELHI
DEMAND IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT ON 78.2% IDA MERGER.
DISTRICT SECRETARY
—————————
COPY TO:
THE MINISTER COMMUNICTIONS
GOVT. OF INDIA, SANCHAR BHAWAN
20 ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI
CMD BSNL
BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN,
JANPATH, NEW DELHI
b) Organise Lunch Hour Demonstration on 11th February 2013 at SSA level
c) Massive Dharna at SSA level on 15th February 2013.
2. The other issues will be discussed and suitable decisions taken in the next meeting to be held on 22nd February 2013.
V.A.N.Namboodiri, New Delhi
Convener Forum. 24th January 2013.
CPI(M) Statement of Justice Verma Committee Report
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in General
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on Justice Verma Committee Report
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau welcomes the report and recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee concerning sexual violence against women. The report and recommendations are comprehensive and situate sexual violence against women within a broader framework of socio-economic conditions and issues concerning governance, the law, politics and social attitudes and the reforms required to ensure justice for women. The Polit Bureau appreciates the excellent work put in by the committee which has completed its work before time.
It is incumbent on the Government to act without any delay on the recommendations. The CPI(M) demands:
(1) that the concrete recommendations concerning changes in the rape and sexual harassment laws should be placed and passed in the forthcoming session of Parliament
(2) that a multi-ministerial committee should be set up with a time-bound mandate of one month to look into the other recommendations concerning different agencies such as on police reform, on bringing armed forces personnel under the purview of the criminal laws and withdrawing protection under AFSPA, changes in the Peoples Representative Act, on khap panchayats, on improvement of conditions in juvenile homes, on specific facilities for disabled women etc.
(3) Action taken report on these recommendations should be presented so that urgent reforms required in the areas mentioned by
Publish enquiry reports on Subhas Chandra Bose
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in General
“A Delhi-based NGO researching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s disappearance for over a decade,today urged the Centre for declassification of all documents and records concerning Netaji in national interest.”Our government does not want to release secret Netaji records for reasons of national security, but in national interest all these should be declassified and it is the demand of most of Netaji’s extended family members,” stated a spoke person of the NGO”. (Press Report)
I fully agree with the above opinion.It is more half a century after the news in 1945, about the plane crash and disappearance /death of Netaji has been published and two enquiry commissions submitted their reports. Of course, the people of this country have a right to know what happened to their dear leader who fought for the freedom of the country. The Government should publish the reports and place the facts before the people.
116Birthday anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in General, Uncategorized
Today, 23 January 2013, is the 116th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the revolutionary leader of the Indian Independence Movement. Along with Gandhiji and Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhas Bose was a top leader of the Congress and was elected twice as its President. But he resigned after difference with Gandhiji, who openly expressed his displeasure in the election of Subhas Bose defeating the candidate proposed by Gandhiji. Later he formed his own party, Forward Block.
Subhas Bose formed Azad Fauj (Indian National Army), to fight against the British with the Indians staying in Burma and with the help of Japan, but could not reach India since the British stopped their march and arrested them. They could not capture Subhas Bose.
His death is still a mystery. it is stated that he died in a plane accident in Taiwan in 1945. But it is disputed. The mystery of his death continues.
Netaji Bose was one of the greatest leaders of the Indian Independence movement. My respectful salutations to him on his birth day anniversary!
Private telcos increase tariffs
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Telecom
Tags
It is reported that Bharti Airtel has increased its telecom tariffs. The Rs.1/ for one minute will now be raised to Rs.2 for one minute. It is also reported that Idea and Vodafone are also moving towards increasing the tariffs.
It seems that the customer-sweet tariffs are going to end due to fierce competition. Now the time is coming for higher tariffs.
The private telecom companies have already threatened that they will stop roaming services, if the roaming charges are discontinued.The continued surrender of the government to the pressures of the private companies have made them bolder and to threaten the government.
No report has come from BSNL and MTNL with regard to increase of tariff. Of course, they will have to consult the government.
Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations meet on 24th Jan.
22 Tuesday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
Tags
A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations is fixed to be held at 1100 AM on 24th January 2013. The meeting will have to seriously discuss about the undue delay in implementing the 78.2% IDA fixation, ITS repatriation issue etc. on which the Forum had gone on sustained agitations. In addition, the question of the wage reduction resulted for the recruits after 01-01-2007 has to be taken as already pointed out by many circle units of the Forum and also as pointed out in the last meeting by the Convener himself and supported by others.
The DOT and BSNL management both together seems to be in a pact to delay matters, which can not be tolerated. We will have to seriously ponder on our strategy to deal with the critical situation.
Postal Unions pay homage to late OPG
22 Tuesday Jan 2013
Posted in Obituary, Tributes
The Postal Unions organised a well attended meeting at the Speed Post Office premises, Gole Market, New Delhi on 22nd January to pay homage to the Com. O.P.Gupta who passed away on 6th of this month at the age of 91.
Com.Sharma, President R III Union Delhi Circle presided.Com. Suresh GS R.IV Union welcomed all. Coms. S.K.Vyas, Chairman, Confederation of CGE and Workers, V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNL Employees Union, M.Krishnan, SG NFPE and many other leaders addressed focussing on the life, works and services rendered by the late lamented leader.
All the comrades present stood one minute in silence paying homage to late OP Gupta, before start of the meeting.
End the Exploitation of Casual and Contract Workers in BSNL
22 Tuesday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
Despite continuous representations and agitations on the issues of the casual and contract workers, the inhuman exploitation continues at field level. Whenever we meet the management, the sterotyped reply is that the CGMs have reported that in their circles, all rules are implemented including payment of minimum wage. implementation of EPPF / ESI etc. But the ground reality is completely different. Hence it has become necessary for the union to address the mangement with the details in each and every circle/SSA. The BSNL management has also submitted to the Parliament Standing Committee on Labour that all rules and regulations are implemented in the case of casual and contract workers. These utter lies of the management has got to be exposed and action taken to implement all orders. BSNLCCWF is meeting the BSNL C.O. officers continuously on these issues, but the results are meagre.
It is therefore necessary that District Secretaries of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF together should collect the details and send it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour with covering letter. The following details are required:
1. Name of the casual contract workers
2. Minimum wage eligible according to Govt. notification
3. How much is actually paid.
4. Whether EPF / ESI amount is deducted and along with employers share is deposited in the EPF / ESI.
5. Whether any BSNL officer is present at the time of payment.
Any other important issue may also be included.
The address to which the memorandum is to be submitted is:
The Chairman,
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour,
Parliament Annexue
New Delhi – 110001
A copy should be sent to CHQ BSNLCCWF (Both to President at Delhi address and General Secretray at Kolkata address)
It is a shame to BSNL and even to the unions and employees tht such inhuman exploitation is taking place in BSNL, a prestigious PSU. We have to put an end to this exploitation. If all of us are deermined, there is no doubt that we can change it and changee it quickly. Let us start the campaign. Let us win.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 