Monthly Archives: January 2013

A.P.Circle keeps up tradition by printing Diary.

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Within minutes of publishing my earlier post on Calendar by Calicut SSA of BSNLEU, I got a mail from Com. Taranath, ACS, BSNLEU, A.P. Circle.He rightly asked me ‘whether you have forgotten our Diary?’
How can I forget the excellent Diary I am getting every year, even before starting of the year, with my name printed and pasted in golden letters, sent by Com. J.Sampat Rao, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, AP, the biggest circle of BSNLEU? This time also I got it sufficiently early and cherished it.
But the fact is that the AP Diary 2013 is not with me now. It is a small story. A few days back, Com. Tankalal Shreshta, Advisor to Telecommunication Employees Association of Nepal (TEAN) and also the union nominated Director of the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC), came to Delhi. On my invitation he visited my quarters at D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi. We had tea and sweets together and discussed organisational and personal matters. I showed him the Union Calendar and also the Diary printed by the AP Union. He appreciated both. All of a sudden I thought that I will present the Diary to him. That is exactly what I did. He thanked me and told that it is a diary with my name and that I may like to keep it. I told him that you can remember me whenever you see the diary. Both of us laughed and appreciated each other.
Com. Taranath, when I told the above, stated that he will send me another Diary. Ok, he can send it any time. But his gesture itself is sufficient for me. Thank You AP comrades!

New Year Calendar by BSNLEU, Kozhikode SSA

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

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I have reached Kozhikode (Calicut) today to attend the marriage of my brother’s grand-son. In the evening, Com. Jayarajan, District Secretary, Calicut visited me to discuss some organisational matters. He gave me some copies of the 2013 calendar published by the District Union. It is attractive and beautiful. In addition, it has specially marked the important trade union events and memorable days separately. The calendar is suppllied to all members in the district. This, the District union has been doing for many years.
I congratulated the District Secretary and the District union for doing this good job.This systemm can be implemented by other districts/circles also.

DOT requests Govt. to exempt BSNL-MTNL from one time charge.

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

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The DOT has recommended to the Cabinet to exempt BSNL and MTNL from paying the one time charges for the spectrum allotted to these PSUs. Both of them together have to pay about Rs. 12,000 crore while the privae companies have to pay very less. This is because the one time charge is being levied for the balance period of licence,w.e.f.2012. In the case of private companies, they were given licence is 1995-96 and hence their licence period will be over by 2015-16 and hence they are to pay for 3-4 years only. In the case of MTNL and BSNL, the licences were given only after 2000 and hence the balance period is 8-10 years and hence the increase.
The Joint Forum of BSNL and MTNL Unions/Associations have been continuously demanding that BSNL and MTNL should be exempted from paying the one time charges since they do not have the money to pay being in loss and also that they are the engines of the government to implement its policies including universal service. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Joint Forum along with other leaders have already met Addl. Secretary, DOT, Member (Finance ), Member (Services), Joint Secretary(T) DOT and other senior officers on this cause. It is one of the demands raised in the charter by the JF in the last agitation.
We are happy that the DOT has now recommended for exempting BSNL and MTNL from this payment. DOT and BSNL Management has to persue it strongly with the government for a favourable decision. Joint Forum will also pursue the demand strongly. We have to ensure that BSNL and MTNL is exempted.

NEW DELHI: The telecom department (DoT) wants the central government to bear the cost of the one-time spectrum fee for BSNL and MTNL. Seeking Cabinet approval, the department has said that these loss-making and debt-stricken state-owned telcos are not in a position to shell out nearly Rs 12,000 crore toward this charge

Examination for 10% JAO

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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I had a discussion today with Sri P.C.Mehta, Sr. GM (Rectt) on the examinations for the JTO (35%) and JAO (10%). He gave the assurance that the JTO LDCE will be held on 2nd June and that the JAO (10%) exam will be conducted by February or so.
We want all the examinations to be conducted in time so that the workers will get their legitimate promotion with out any delay. This is necessary to motivate the workers and improve efficiency.

Delhi pays Homage to Com. O.P.Gupta

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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There was a meeting organised in Delhi CTO Hall today,15th January 2013, to pay homage to Comrade Om Prakash Gupta, veteran CGE and P and T Union leader, who passed away on 6th January. The meeting was organised under the auspices of NFTE, whose top leader he was for more than 6 decades.
The meeting was presided over by Comrade Islam Ahmed, President of NFTE. Com. C.Singh, GS NFTE welcomed all the participants. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and Convener of Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations was invited to speak first. Com.Namboodiri paid flower tributes at the photo of com.O.P.Gupta placed on a table and initiated his speech. He paid high tribute to the dedicated and determined service of Com.O.P.Gupta for the benefit of the Central Government and Pand T workers. There may be differences and disputes over his certain actions, but his commitment and sincerity to the cause was never questioned. Com. Namboodiri remembered his long association with OPG. He paid respectful homage and expressed his deep condolence to the family members. Coms. Prahlad Rai, GS AIBSNLEA, K.Sebastian, GS SNEA, G.L.Dhar, Secretary, AITUC, P.Abhimanyu, GS BSNLEU, S.P.Sharma, GS, BSNLWRU, Giriaj Singh, GS R.III (NFPE), Suresh Kumar, GS BSNLMS, Vasisht, FNTO, R.K.Kohli, GS NFTBE, Hari Singh, BTU Shri Jain GM(Mtce)and many other leaders paid high tributes and homage to Com. OPG. A large number of workers and leaders were present. Salil Gupta, son and Sapnil, grandson of OPG were present and the latter addressed also.
At the end of the meeting all the participants stood in silence for two minutes and paid homage to the departed leader. From BSNLEU in addition to President and General Secretary, Coms. Swapan Chakroborty, AGS,R.S.Chauhan Organising Secretary, John Verghese, Organising Secretry and many other comrades participated.
The Pioneers of the P and T trade union movement were Babu Tarapada, Henry Barton and Dada Ghosh. The leaders who led the movement mainly just before independence and afterwards included comrades K.G.Bose, O.P.Gupta, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana, Moni Bose and others who have all left us. Of course, senior leaders like Coms. Sisir Bhattacharjee and A.K.Bhattacharjee are still with us.
The P and T movement has a great history and past and also present. It is high time to completely assess the growth of the movement and get inspiration to move forward in the present period when attack after attacks are coming on the working class movement.

JTO LDCE will be held on 2nd June 2013

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The JTO LDCE examination now will be held on 2nd June 2013. The unions had to put much pressure on the management to get the orders issued. After long 12 years, now the examinations are going to be held. A number of vacancies exist and there is good scope for many comrades to pass. My hearty congratulations in advance!

Kerala State employees and teachers strike ends

14 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by in TU News - India

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After discussion with the Finance Minister and later with the Chief Minister, the Kerala state employees and the teachers unions have withdrawn the strike as per the agreement reached. My Hearty Congratulations to the workers for their fight against the anti-worker decision of the government introducing contributory pension replacing the age old and beneficial defined statutory pension.

Kerala State employees/teachers on strike against contributory pension

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in TU News - India

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The lakhs of State Govt. employees, teachers and other govt. and local body workers are on strike for the last one week demanding cancellation of the government decision to introduce contributory pension instead of defined statutory pension as it existed before.
Though the central government and most of the state governments had introduced the contributory pension for the employees recruited w.e.f. 01-01-2004, the three Left led state governments of Kerala, W.Bengal and Tripura refused to implement the same taking the concern of the workers. Since the formation of the UDF government in the state it has been preparing for introducing the new scheme which is completely opposed by the employees. And now it has issued orders implementing the same. The state government employees are on strike against this anti-worker order. It is reported that the strike is a big success with more than 60% workers on strike.
The CITU and other Left trade unions have decided to organise a one day Strike supporting the workers and demanding the government to discuss the issue with the workers and withdraw the same.
My full solidarity and support to the workers on strike!

Casual labour appointed in BSNL eligible for Govt. Pension – CAT Ernakulam

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The recent judgement of Central Administrative Tribunal Ernakulam in OA No. 289 of 2012, dated 11th December 2012 with regard to grant of Govt. Pension to casual labour regularised in BSNL is a remarkable one. The CAT has ordered that the casual labour who is regularised in BSNL as per the DOT order dated 29-09-2000 ‘is to be governed by the pension rule as it stood applicable in the Department of Telecommunication as on the date of absorption and not in the new scheme.’
As per this order the casual labour who are regularised in BSNL are eligible for Govt. pension. The BSNLEU has taken the issue several times with the BSNL Management and DOT, but the latter accepted the govt. pension only in case of TSM and not casual labour.
BSNLEU is taking up the matter with the BSNL management that the order is implemented to all casual labours.

150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

12 Saturday Jan 2013

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Today, 12th Janaury 2013 is the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, who rejuvenated the Hindu religion and also gave a clarion call to the humanity for tolerance, patience and also to awake and arise for the progress of humanity.
Born on 12th January 1863 in Calcutta, he graduated in 1884 and came in contact with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, during the same period. He travelled throughout India as also many other countries like America, Canada etc. His famous addresses to the Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11 and on September 27 inspired lakhs of people all over the world. His disciples include Margaret Noble (later renamed as Sister Nivedita) and others. He founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1st May 1897, which has now got branches in many countries.
Swami Vivekananda passed away on 4th July 1902 at the young age of 39.
The entire nation is paying homage to this great Social Philospher and Thinker on his 150th birth anniversary. Let us also pay our homage to this great Indian, nay, world Citizen!

” Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached!” – Swami Vivekananda.