Monthly Archives: June 2013

Reinstate Retrenched casual/contract workers

27 Thursday Jun 2013

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In Jamshedpur SSA of BSNL, about 45 casual/contract workers are victimised for going on agitation for getting their due minimum wage. The contractors and BSNL Management together were exploiting the workers by denying the minimum wage and other rights of the workers violating the EPF, ESI Act etc. The workers went on strike and got implementation of some orders on the above, but the many workers were retrenched as revenge.

BSNL is a fully owned government PSU. But the field level management is violating the acts of Parliament like Minimum Wage Act, EPF Act, Contract Labour Act, ESI Act etc. with impunity. When they are compelled to implement these orders of the government and can not continue their exploitation, they victimise the workers. By retrenching so many workers the maintenance and repair works are also seriously affected. To what extend the ethics and law-abiding has gone down with these officers of BSNL.

The BSNL top management has to take immediate remedial action to restore normalcy and also for a human face, which the Prime Minister has called for.

BSNL Employees Donate One Day pay to PM’s Relief Fund

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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The meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations held today, 26 June, has unanimously decided to donate one day pay to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for helping the people affected by the Uttarakhand disaster. The Forum has requested that the amount be deducted from the salary of the employees. It is expected that the donation will come around Rs. 40 to 50 crore.  The Forum has also suggested that an advance by BSNL be immediately given to Relief Fund, without waiting for the collection.

The Forum meeting congratulated the Military (including Air Force and all defence personnel ) for the continued efforts to save the stranded pilgrims, tourists and local population round the clock, without even considering their own safety. Already some of these army personnel have sacrificed their lives to bring the stranded to safety. The Forum condoled the death of these brave hearts who are the pride of the country. The Forum also mourned the death of more than 1,000  in one of the worst disaster the country has ever seen.

The Forum urged the BSNL Management to make all efforts for the immediate restoration of the BSNL services in the state. Our employees have been doing their best to restore the services, even working 24 hours. The Forum requests the management to make available all required equipment for the restoration. Forum wants the management to immediately take necessary steps to assist the BSNL employees who have been affected due to the disaster both in Uttarakhand and those tourists/ pilgrims from other circles.

The Forum also wants the DOT to financially support the BSNL in its efforts to restore the services in Uttarakhand. This will help BSNL which is in weak financial position.

Ghadar Party celebrates Centenary of formation

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Ghadar   Centenary in England

 

                                                 Joginder Bains                                             

THIS year is the year of Ghadar Party                Centenary and it is being celebrated all over the world.                Ghadar Party was                formalised in America                in                1913 with an aim to fight against racism and inhumane                treatment Indian people                were experiencing in America,                 Canada                and many other countries. They soon realised that such                treatment was due to                British colonisation. They redirected their aim to work                to free India                from                foreign rule that had impoverished Indian people, which                forced them to travel                thousands of miles away from the homeland in search of                livelihood. Ghadar Party                planned to take advantage of the First World War. They                thought the perfect time                for the revolution would be when Britain                and its army would have                been fully involved in the War. They organised a network                all over India and                persuaded the Indian army for mutiny in their individual                barracks in the                support of Ghadar revolution. Unfortunately, the British                government became                aware of the plan in time and the Ghadar Party did not                succeed in its aim.                Ghadar Party activists were arrested in their hundreds,                hanged, imprisoned for life                and their assets were taken into government control                leaving their families to                suffer financial hardship to the level of starvation,                homelessness and so on.

 Indian Workers’ Association (GB), Derby                branch celebrated                Ghadar Party Centenary on June 15 at the Indian                Community Centre. 450 people                from Indian Community took part. Jana Natya Manch                travelled from India to                specially perform in the centenary celebrations. Janam                as they are popularly                known, provided a thought provoking presentation on                History of the Ghadar Party                as well as three plays. The first play Yeh Dil Mangey                More Guru Ji – was based                on Gujarat Riots where thousands of Muslims were                massacred by Hindu extremists                just because they were Muslims, same as in 1984 Sikhs in                Delhi were murdered in                the hands of Hindu extremists. The second play Ahinsa                was based on violence                against women. The play illustrated how women are                subjected to violence from                birth to death. The third play Yeh Hum Kyun Sahien                (Enough is enough) was based                on industrial workers. The play illustrated how the                workers are exploited, they                are forced to work on less than a minimum wage,                  work on contracts and are not given permanent                workers status while the                industrialists’ profit margins goes higher and higher.

The programme commenced with patriotic                poems by Kulvinder Johal, and the new UK                members of Janam Roop and Sudesh                also sang two songs. One was based on impoverishing                Indian people under British                Rule “Pagri sambhal Jatta” and the other was based on                female foeticide.

The Ghadar Party Centenary Celebration                programme was conducted by Shangara Singh Gahonia,                general secretary of Indian                Workers’ Association and was chaired by Harbhajan                Singh Johal. The meeting was addressed by Harsev Bains,                national general                secretary IWA GB and by Sharaz Khan, deputy mayor of                Derby City Council. ( Courtsey: Peoples Democracy)

Condolence Message by Air Force to those Martyrs who sacrificed their lives to save others

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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In the proud tradition of the Air Force,  the Brothers in Arms and the IAF family has sent the following condolence message to those  died in the chopper crash while engaged in saving the lives of thousands of people in the Uttarakhand disaster:

” You all have done us proud, for you gave your life in service of your countrymen without discretion of colour, caste, creed or religion – more importantly, in their hour of need. You are now a guiding beacon in our deeds. Your selfless sacrifice in Operation Rahat is monumental and just remembering it would be more than any pilgrimage to us.”

All Indians will be sharing the same condolence to those brave hearts who sacrificed themselves to save others in the hour of need.

CPI(M) demands declaration of ‘National Disaster’

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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PTI

Kolkata, Jun 25 : The CPI(M) today demanded that the Centre declare the devastation in rain-battered Uttarakhand as a national disaster.                 “Considering the immense loss of life and property in Uttarakhand, particularly in Kedarnath and Chamoli, we demand that the government declare the devastation as a national disaster,” CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose said in a statement. He also demanded relief and rehabilitation of the lakhs of affected people in the hill state  Stating that with its limited capacity the party would like to offer help to the distressed, he asked all party units in West Bengal to raise funds for the affected.

Rescue IAF Chopper crash in Uttarakhand – 8 killed

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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I am quoting below a report from Hindu on the crash of an IAF Chopper during the rescue operations in Uttarakhand killing 8 including 5 crew. The military has been doing a very dangerous task in the hills, saving thousands of victims of the nature’s fury. And the above accident once again shows under what difficult situation the life saving operations are going on. My Red Salute to these brave comrades who are the real heroes of our nation! All of us hope that all the survivors are brought to safety at the earliest.

 

An IAF helicopter on Tuesday crashed during rescue operations near Gaurikund in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, killing eight persons onboard, including five crew members.

“One Mi-17 V5 chopper on a rescue mission from Gauchar to Guptkashi and Kedarnath while returning from Kedarnath crashed north of Gaurikund,” an IAF spokesperson said.

Eight persons onboard, including five crew members, suffered fatal injuries in the mishap, she said in Delhi.

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crash, the spokesperson said.

The IAF said its operations in the area will continue.

IAF had started inducting Mi-17 V5 choppers only in 2012 after 80 of them were ordered from Russia.

This is the second incident of a helicopter crash this week in the hill State.

A private helicopter carrying relief materials for the rain-affected people in Rudraprayag district had crashed on Sunday near Gaurikund leaving the pilot injured.

Air Force officials said eight bodies have been recovered from the crash site by the Garud Commandos of the IAF.

They said the chopper had taken off at 12.30 p.m. from Kedarnath area and crashed within five to seven minutes.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony has expressed anguish over the crash.

A pall of gloom descended at the helipad in Gauchar after reports of the crash reached.

IAF, Army and ITBP officers went into a huddle at a tent erected by the Air Force for controlling its operations.

Senior officials of the agencies involved in the rescue operations also rushed to the helipad.

IAF officers were seen making anxious calls over their cellphones and restricted frequency equipment to finetune the operations and gather details of the crash.

Red Salute to Com. Adinarayana (10-06-1928 – 17-06-2003)

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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It is 10 years since Comrade K.Adinarayana,  the revolutionary leader of P and T employees and former Secretary General of National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) left us forever. He was one of the greatest leader we have seen, who fought for the betterment of the Central Government employees and especially for the neglected Extra- Departmental employees (ED) in P and T. He brought respect to them, organised them and improved their condition.

Himself an ED employee, recruited after years in jail for participating in the historic Telengana struggle even when he was a minor, Com. Adi rose as the secretary General of NFPE and led the workers in the tradition of the Pioneers of the P and T TU movement. He passed away on 17th June 2003 at his home in Hyderabad.

on his 10th death anniversary  a bouquet of red roses and Red Salute to Com. K.Adinarayana!

Meeting with DOT and BSNL Officers

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Meeting with Additional Secretary, DOT

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum & Advisor AIBDPA and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA met Smt. Rita Teotia, Additional Secretary, DOT and discussed the issue of orders on 78.2% IDA fixation for the BSNL pensioners retired before 01-01-2007. They urged for issue of early orders. The issue of early payment of Rs. 1,500 crore from USOF was also pointed out for which the  Addl. Secretary assured early action and stated that only the Gazette Notification is further required in the matter.

Meeting with Member (Services) and Member (Finance)

The AIBDPA leaders met Shri S.C.Misra, Member (Services) and Smt. Sadhana Dixit, Member (Finance) and urged for necessary action for issue of necessary orders on the payment of 78.2% IDA fixation  for the pre-2007 pensioners. Copy of the letter addressed to Secretary, DOT in the matter was handed over.

Meeting with Director, Finance (BSNL)

Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri and K.G.Jayaraj met Sri KGCK Pillai, Director (Finance), BSNL and discussed about the implementation of the orders on the payment of 78.2% IDA pay fixation. Shri R.K.Goyal, GM (Estt.) was also present. The union leaders requested that the method of fixation and connected matters be clearly directed so that there will be no confusion at the field level. Director(F) assured that this will be done.

Meeting with CMD BSNL

Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Shri R.K.Upadhyay, CMD BSNL and discussed about the restoration of the services in the flood and landslide ravaged Uttarakhand and HP and offered maximum support from the workers and pensioners. CMD stated that most of the towers and other infrastructure have been restored, but again due to the heavy rain, cables have been destroyed. They are also being restored. He appealed for maximum donations from the staff.

The Association leaders requested for extension of provision of concessional Broad band connections to the DOT retirees. He assured that the issue will be positively considered.

25th June 1975 – The Black Day, Promulgation of ‘Emergency’

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Today, we once again remember the Black Day 38 years back, when the ‘Internal emergency’ was declared by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi on 25th June 1975, to save herself and the Congress Government she led from collapse and constitutional crises.

India never has seen such a period of what happened after emergency. All political opponents, including top leaders of political parties  were arrested, jailed, hunted down and victimised. The working class and their struggles were suppressed. All their genuine rights were denied. Newspapers were censored before each day publication. Many opposition parties’ mouthpieces were banned. Many trade union leaders including from P&T were jailed without any charges. Meetings, processions, every method of protest were prohibited.

It was not Emergency, but it was Draconian Dictatorship. The dark days were over when in the next general elections, the Congress was utterly defeated and the Janata Government came to power.

The people have to be cautious that such violation of democracy never occurs again.

BSNL for Better Service (7)(Continued) – Procurement of Equipment

24 Monday Jun 2013

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On pressure from the staff unions, another tender was floated for 93 million (9.3 crore) GSM lines, but that was also cancelled at the last moment citing some vigilance issues. Next tender for 5 million lines was also cancelled on some other pretext. The Government and management together ensured that the BSNL is completely out of stock of mobile lines. It was a golden period for the private companies to give lakhs and lakhs of connections, without any competition from  BSNL. The market share of BSNL went continuously declining and reached to about 12% in the mobile sector. The private sector reached about 88% of the total mobile lines in the country.

The Forum of BSNL Unions took up the issue with the BSNL management and warned of going in to struggle if the equipment is not procured. It was not only the case of GSM lines. There was acute shortage of cables, Broad-band modem, Drop wire and other equipment required for expansion and regular maintenance of the services. No equipment was purchased for a number of years creating a critical situation.

The continued pressure of the Unions had some result. As per the management, Advance Purchase Orders have been issued  for 22 lakhs clip instruments, a good number of cables, Broadband modems, drop wire etc. But the fact is, that most of the SSAs have still not got the same. The top management should take necessary steps to immediately  get the equipment purchased and distributed or authorise the SSAs to purchase the same.

At present the procurement of equipment is done in an unplanned manner. Because there was much pressure from the Forum and unions, some purchase is made. After this, the situation may again go stagnant.  The Management should have a well-planned strategy to purchase all equipment required for the growth, expansion and maintenance.

Drop-wire is being manufactured by the BSNL Telecom Factories and the production can be increased according to the requirement. As far as towers are concerned, again the factories can manufacture any number of towers. In fact, more than two hundred towers are ready for supply in the TFs, but SSA heads are purchasing the towers from outside citing some small technical problems. These have to be solved and the TF towers should be purchased and utilised. Efforts should be made to manufacture the optical fibre cables in our own factories. Tender for sufficient mobile lines, phone instruments etc. has to be floated. An effort should be made to manufacture Broad-band Modem in the TFs. It is not much difficult. In short, there should not be any shortage of equipment.

The Management should take immediate steps for the procurement, which will go a long way in expansion and a better service to the people.