Monthly Archives: June 2013

Child Labour – a Black-Spot on the Nation.

14 Friday Jun 2013

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India is probably having the largest number of child labour, if the media reports are to be believed. Lakhs, and may be crores, of children are compelled to work in factories, shops, hotels, as also as domestic servants just to make a living for them / for their families. You can see them in many establishments in any city.

These are the children of our great nation and citizens of tomorrow. It is their right to get a good education, healthy food and special care. But what is the condition of these children who are compelled to work in their young age when they are expected to play and study. They live in very unhealthy atmosphere, they hardly get sufficient food and are exploited in all ways. They are punished harshly even for minor mistakes. They live in almost hell.

There are laws in the country banning child labour including the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986. But these laws are never ensured and implemented except in very rare cases. The law-enforcing agencies close their eyes, because those who employs child labour are powerful and influential. The large-scale poverty is another reason for growth of the child labour.

June 12th is declared and observed as the International Day Against Child Labour. Observing the day once in a year is completely insufficient. The Government, the NGOs, Trade Unions, political parties – all should jointly fight this cruel system and put an end to it. The right of our children to have a bright and happy life should be ensured.

Greece Govt.close TV and Radio – strong protest by people

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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A report from Greece is reproduced below regarding strike of the people against closure of TV and Radio as part of austerity measures.

Athens, Jun 12 : Greece’s conservative-led government was facing a political crisis today after its decision to shut down state-run TV and radio as part of spending cuts triggered a wave of strikes and fierce opposition from within the coalition government.                 The country’s two largest labour unions called a 24-hour general strike for tomorrow with flights from Greece’s airports set to halt for two hours that day.                 TV and radio signals from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corp., or ERT, went dead early today, hours after the government closed the broadcaster down and fired its 2,500 workers, citing the need to cut “incredible waste.”                 Protesters gathered outside the company’s headquarters north of Athens for a second day, sheltering from torrential rainfall in the building’s giant lobby, as ERT’s journalists defied the order and continued a live Internet broadcast.                 Journalist unions also launched rolling 24-hour strikes, halting news programs on Greece’s privately owned broadcasters, while the government’s center-left coalition partners demanded that ERT’s closure be reversed.                 The government defended its decision, insisting a new more efficient and less costly public broadcaster would be launched before the end of the summer.                 “When you restructure something from the foundations, you have to close it, temporarily,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said.

Forum plans to revitalise BSNL for better service

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations which met today, 13 June 2013, called upon the entire BSNL employees to unitedly face the crisis and determinedly to make all efforts to revive BSNL, both financially and also in providing a better service to the people. The Forum sought meetings with the Finance Minister, who is the Chairman of the Group of Ministers on  Revival of BSNL and MTNL as also Communications Minister to present its view points included in the Memorandum submitted to them.

The meeting also decided to organise an All India Convention at New Delhi in August 2013 to be followed by Circle and State Conventions in the next three months to propagate its views and suggestions and get maximum support from the people for the revival of BSNL.

 

GoM on Revival of BSNL & MTNL Meets

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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The first meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on ‘Revival of BSNL & MTNL’ met yesterday, 12th June 2013, and started discussion in the matter. DOT, BSNL and MTNL are reported to have submitted its presentations on the present situation of the two companies and the reasons for the decline of services and revenues.

It is reported that the DOT requested for the refund of the charges of Rs. 12,846 crore for the BWA spectrum which has been surrendered by the companies. The liability of MTNL for the pension coming to about Rs. 7500 crore was also pointed out. BSNL and MTNL Managements are also reported to have represented their case for financial support.

The Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations have already submitted a detailed Memorandum to the GoM on how the BSNL can be revived. Forum has also sought a meeting with the GoM and its  Chairman, Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.

Forum has called upon all the Circle / District Secretaries to meet the Member/s of Parliament in their area and furnish the Memorandum to them with the request to take up the matter with the government to ensure financial support and preference to the BSNL. This is to be taken seriously and with implemented effectively and reported to Forum General Secretaries.

A very important meeting of Forum on 13th June

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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A very important meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations is scheduled to be held at 03.00 PM tomorrow ( 13th June 2013)at the FNTO office. The meeting was fixed in the Forum meeting held yesterday for calling off the strike after the issue of the 78.2% IDA pay fixation. It was unanimously agreed that the next immediate priority should be the revival of BSNL, for which the Forum can take a pivotal role. A detailed memorandum has already been submitted to the Group of ministers (GoM) appointed for the purpose. The intention of the govt. may be to introduce VRS, start disinvestment etc. This challenge has to be accepted and the crisis should be made an opportunity for improving the services and revitalising. We can never agree to VRS or disinvestment. We have given specific suggestions for making BSNL viable and improve services.

All these issues will be seriously discussed in the meeting tomorrow and suitable decisions taken.  Suggestions in this connection are welcome.

Closure of Telegram Services opposed

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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I express my strong protest against the decision of BSNL to close the telegram services. BSNL has issued orders stating that the telegram services will be closed with effect from 15th July 2013.

This decision has been taken by the management without discussing with the recognised unions. Telegraph Services were started in India by the British in 1850. On 5th November, the first message went between Diamond harbour and Calcutta.First  it was only for use of the government and later extended to the people. Telegraph was the fastest mode of communications till the telephones services started in the 1930s. Still telegraphs continued as a major method of communication.

The Central Telegraph Offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Madras etc. employed hundreds of Telegraphists, Telegraph Clerks and Telgraphmen on duty round  the clock. It was not  much different in other cities. The cut-cut-cud-cut of the telegraph machines filled the Instrument Rooms. The traffic was so busy that sometimes the staff have to forego even tea-break.

Of course, everything has changed during the last two decades. 90% of the telegrams have been reduced. Now it is being used in the rural areas, by the military and military personnel, some banks, medical rpresentatives and by some others for legal and record purposes etc.

BSNL management might have issued the order  to reduce its losses being incurred for running the services. Nobody will deny that justification. BUt as in the case of loss making telephone services in the rural areas, the telegram service also has to be maintained. Further, before taking such a drastic action as closing the service completely, the recognised unions of the employees have not even been consulted. The Management also should have considered the people who are still using the telegram services. Telegraph is to be treated as a Heritage service and maintained at least in the District HQrs as at present.

I express my strong protest against this closure of one of the earliest service in the country. The BSNL Management should urgently discuss the matter with the unions/associations so that the issue is solved in an amicable way.

‘India, one of the most violent nation’ – Global Peace Index

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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India has always been mentioned as the country of the most peaceful people. Outsiders attacked and conquered it several times. The peaceful and calm life of the lakhs of villages were the real base of the nation.

But it seems every thing has changed. According to the Global Peace Index, a study on the global levels peacefulness, India is ranking 141 among 162 nations in the world. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka are all above India, but Pakistan and Afghanistan are at 157 and 162, below India.

Maoist violence, communal carnage, sexual assaults, road rage, terrorist attacks, political murders etc. have been on the increase in India. Many countries have started advising their citizens about risks in touring India.

It is most important that this dangerous situation needs to be changed for the better. How to do it and what actions are required is the moot point.

Nelson Mandela still in critical condition

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Nelsn Mandela, the icon against apartheid and former President of South Africa is still in hospital and in serious condition. Not only people of South Africa, but the entire world is wishing for restoration of his health.

It was on 12th June 1964 that Nelson Mandela was put in  prison  for leading the Freedom struggle for the independence of South Africa from the British. He was put in solitary confinement in Robben Island for long  24 years.

After getting freedom he was unanimously elected as the first President of the free South Africa.

BSNL Strike called off

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

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The proposed strike by BSNL workers from 12th June 2013 has been called off by the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations consequent to the orders issued on 78.2% IDA fixation by the BSNL Management.

Hearty Congratulation to the workers and leaders in their victory!

Congratulations to BSNL Workers! 78.2% IDA orders issued

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

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The long pending demand of the BSNL workers for 78.2% IDA fixation w.e.f. 01-01-2007, has been achieved after a long struggle. The BSNL Management has issued the orders on the same today, 11th June 2013.

Congratulations to all the workers for standing firm and determined behind the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations and implementing effectively all the action programmes called by the Forum. It is only under the threat of an indefinite strike, that the issue could be settled.

Thanks are also due to the DOT and BSNL for realising the serious situation and have  fast-tracked  for issuing the orders, even though at the last moment.