One and half century back, Cawnpur was a centre of the great Indian arising against British imperialism, the First War of Independence of 1857. Today, I witnessed another such  arising in Kanpur. It is one of the biggest two cities oin UP, the other being Lucknow.The BSNL workers have come to attend the election campaign meeting held today. The entire compound was almost filled by the workers supporting United Forum.Both the All India Presidents of BSNLEU and NFTBE( Com. VAN Namboodiri and Com.N.T.Sajwani) were present.Com.K.R.Yadav, All India Vice-President was also present. Com.K.N.Tripathi Dist. Secretary welcomed all.The meeting continued for more than four hours with almost all the  600 present sitting there, including  more than 50 ladies.
It is clear that this time there is an arising amongst BSNL workers and it will win with more than 50 per cent votes. Congratulations to Kanpur Workers!

My one day tour of Rajasthan, attending meetings at Pali Marwar and Surat on 11April 2011 has convinced me that Rajasthan Circle this time will create surprise by getting more than 70. per cent of vote for BSNLEU.

Surat is called Diamond City which has the biggest diamond cutting and polishiing industry worth lakhs of crores of rupees and employing about 8 lakhs of skilled workers. The election campaign meeting held at Surat was participated by hundreds of workers including many lady comrades.All the senior leaders who were at Bharuch meetting were there.Cpm.G.Patel

, President, Surat presided. All leaders were receivef and honoured. Com.Namboodiri spoke in detail about all issues. There is no doibt thst Surat will bring majority with more than 60 per cent votes.

Bharuch is comparatively a small SSA. But it was a big crowd which waited for Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri President BSNLEU and other leaders to come and address them as part of the election campaign in connection with the VI Membership Verification in BSNL. Many senior leaders and circle office-bearers were present. They included Circle Secretary Com.D.K.Bakurta, J.M.Prajapathi, former CHQ office-bearer, Manubhai Chaniara, Circle Secretary AIBDPA, J.G.Naik, former Circle Secretary, S.V.Christian, N.P.Patel, R.M.Patel, Sunil Thakar, Anil Dwivedi(BSNLMS), K.V.Vasava, DS Bharuch, O.V.Dwivedi and others. Com.Namboodiri spoke in detail about the issues facing BSNL workers, achievements of BSNLEU, the tasks before the workers etc. All the leaders were received and garlanded.The meeting assured leaders that BSNLEU will get majority in Bharuch.

The one day tour at Surat and Bharuch by Com.VAN Namboodiri President BSNLEU and Convener United Forum has inspired the workers who have assured that this time Gujarat will be in a very leading position in Gujarat and will score more than 60 per cent.

My recent tour to Bihar, Jharkhand & Odisha and the interaction with workers have once again revealed the brutal exploitation of the casual/contract workers in BSNL.
The contract workers are being paid much less than the minimum wage fixed by the central government. PF contribution is not deducted, and iif deducted it is not remitted to PF Sccount with the contribution from contractor / Principal employer ie. BSNL Management. It is the same case with Insurance contribution. Casual workers who are on the job for 20 or more years are converted to deny them the monthly pay scale.Lakhs of rupees are swindled through ghost workers. There is no end to such exploitation of these poor workers.
This brutal exploitation is  a  black dot
on the face of the BSNL and its management.If the issues remain as it is, the management will  have to face the wrath ogf the workers and sustained agittions.
Continue reading →

Mangal Pandey, who is stated to have fired the first shot against the Britishers in the First War of Independence of 1857 was hanged on 8 April 1857. So many thousands of comrades have sacrificed their precious lives at the altar of freedom. Along with paying homage to these martyrs, let us contribute our mite to bring changes in the society which will benefit the poor and the untrodden.