Monthly Archives: January 2014

CG Employees’ Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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A massive day long dharna was held at Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, New Delhi today, 9th January 2014 by the Central Government Employees as per the call of the Confederation of CGE and Workers to focus the 15 Point demands including to accept of the terms of reference furnished by the Confederation on the VII Central Pay Commission, Five year revision of wages, Interim Relief, Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks, filling up of posts, Five Promotions, Stop victimisation etc.
The dharna was inaugurated by Com. S.K.Vyas, veteran leader of the Central Govt. employees. Coms. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU, K.K.N.Kutty, President Confederation, M.Krishnan, Secretary General Confederation and General Secretaries of the CGE Unions addressed.

The Confederation of the Central Govt. Employees are on agitational path and further programmes may be decided in the Executive Committee being held tomorrow, 10th January 2014.

BSNLCCWF Uttarakhand on agitation

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The BSNL Contract workers have been on Dharna in Uttarakhand Circle for the last few weeks on the demand of minimum wages and other demands. A discussion took place yesterday between the Management and the leaders of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF circle unions led by Com.P.C.Kandpal, Circle Secretary BSNLEU. The agitation has been postponed after agreement was reached on certain demands. The other issues will again be discussed.
Congratulations to the Uttarakhand Comrades!

BSNLCCWF, Hubli SSA, Files case against retrenchment

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The BSNL Causal and Contract Workers Federation, Belgaum SSA Unit has filed complaint before the Asst. Labour Commissioner (Central), Belgaum (Karnataka) against the retrenchment of 284 workers who have been continuously working for the last 12 years. The retrenchment is done as a vengeance and victimisation for taking up the issues of the contract workers and going on struggle for getting them implemented.
The retrenchment has taken place on the initiative of the BSNL SSA management. This kind of victimisation has to be stopped.

GoM on “Revival of BSNL, MTNL Meets today, 9th January 2014

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in PSU, Telecom

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The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Revival of BSNL/MTNL headed by the Finance Minister is meeting today, 9th January 2013. This is the fourth meeting of the committee. A report published in the “India Public Sector” dated 8th January is given below for information.

“Can the GoM on MTNL, BSNL chalk out a revival strategy for the loss making telecos?

STATE-owned telecom companies BSNL and MTNL are facing tough time. But a crucial meeting of the group of ministers (GoM) assigned the task of finding the course of profitability for MTNL and BSNL on Wednesday is likely to bring some cheers to the once-profitable jewels of the government. Will MTNL be able to cut its workforce? Will there be a proposal to develop its huge land resource in Mumbai and Delhi? Finally, will there be an effective revival strategy for both BSNL and MTNL? These and many other issues will be discussed in the fourth meeting of the GoM headed by finance minister P Chidambaram. BSNL has been incurring losses since 2009-10. BSNL’s profits started dipping after 2004-05, when it had made net gains of Rs 10,183 crore. Its losses stood at Rs 8,198 crore for 2012-13 against Rs 8,851 crore in 2011-12. The company had reported a loss of Rs 1,093.72 crore in the same period a year ago. Likewise, in 2012-13, MTNL recorded a net loss of Rs 5,321.12 crore on annual revenue of Rs 3,428.6 crore. The last time MTNL made a profit was in 2008-09, when it posted a net of Rs 205.9 crore on revenue of Rs 4,496.2 crore. After reporting widening of losses for nine quarters in a row, MTNL reported narrowing of its standalone net loss to Rs 947 crore for the July-September 2013.
The department of telecom (DoT) has put a number of issues for GoM for improving condition of MTNL and BSNL. These include a synergy between the two companies, waiver of one-time spectrum charges which amounting to about Rs 10,000 crore, waive off around Rs 980 crore principal amount of notional loan amount outstanding against BSNL among others.
The last meeting was held on September 12, 2013 when it decided on pension issue. The pension proposal of MTNL was approved by Cabinet recently that would cost the government an estimated Rs 500 crore annually. The decision is likely to bring additional amount of about Rs 1,500 crore (including interest) in the books of MTNL as refund from government for the pension that the PSU paid to its around 43,000 employees.
On January 9, Cabinet will discuss about refund of Rs 12,800 crore to MTNL and BSNL which the telecos had to pay for wireless broadband spectrum in 2010 auctions. This will be the biggest boost to the companies’ balance sheet. BSNL had to pay Rs 8,313.8 crore and MTNL Rs 4,534 crore for these airwaves which put a heavy burden on their books.
Both BSNL and MTNL have offered to surrender their BWA spectrum and sought refunds. The two companies did not have to buy spectrum in the auction but were asked to match the price that a successful bidder had to pay for the airwaves.
MTNL proposes to develop its large land banks in Mumbai and Delhi, where it operates. According to a recent presentation, MTNL has some 230,000 sq m of technical land and 380,000 sq m of residential land in Mumbai and Delhi. Commercial use of these lands will give the PSU a handsome profit. MTNL estimates it can earn as much as Rs 3,600 crore in the next three years by selling the built-up area developed from the land and Rs 400 crore from leasing some of it. MTNL has already earned some rent from some of its built-up space in the two cities—Rs 4 crore in Delhi and Rs 30 crore in Mumbai. It estimates total revenue from renting space at around Rs 66 crore for the full year.
Both BSNL and MTNL have a number of state-mandated social obligations to fulfil. Government interference in the functioning of the PSUs is another reason for its dwindling profits. Moreover, MTNL’s 42,000-employee workforce is three times its required strength. To cut staff, MTNL estimates it will have to spend about Rs 5,000 crore on a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), making it the biggest such plan that the telco has offered. The current staff cost is around Rs 4,000 crore, including retirement benefits.
On the other hand, Bharti Airtel, India’s largest telecom services provider, has fewer than 18,000 employees across the country and outsources several functions.”

Black Money slashed in foreign Accounts – Is the government serious?

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Corruption

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“According to Swiss National Bank statistics, at the end of 2012, Indians had 1.34 billion Swiss francs (Rs 9,000 crore) stashed in the European country’s banks. This doesn’t include money that Indians may hold in Swiss banks in the names of others or trusts.

To be sure, the amount has shrunk from over 2 billion Swiss francs at the end of 2011 after an anti-corruption movement in India focused public anger against black money.” (ET report)

The government of India is telling that despite maximum pressure on these European governments, it is not able to get the name of persons, corporates etc. who have stashed these amounts.
It may be true, may not be true. But one thing is sure that the government is not serious, since many of those who stashed the money are of the highest echelon, may be many of the top politicians also. The government has not published the names of those persons, whose list is already with the government, on the plea that bilateral agreements does not allow them to be published.
What the government is actually doing is giving a chance to these tax evaders and holders of black money to safely change it to other places/countries, where the government has not moved so far. By the time the details of the accounts with the name of holders are received, there will be no money in the accounts for the government to take any action,even if it wants.

“Need to Change the Ruling Alliance at the Centre” – Manik Sarkar

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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Tezpur(Assam), Jan 8
Stating the need to change the ruling alliance at the Centre, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today said the left along with democratic parties will play a major role in government formation after the coming Lok Sabha elections.

“People of India want a political change in the country.

There is need for strengthening the secular democratic forces,” Sarkar said while addressing a public rally here.

Citing the example of formation of the V P Singh government, he said in the last 15 years no political party has secured absolute majority, but alliance ruled the country.

“In the forthcoming parliamentary elections, regional parties will play a major role,” the CPI(M) Politburo member said.

During his speech, Sarkar termed Gujarat as the model state for communal violence, but not a model state for development as blood stains of innocent riot victims were still fresh.

Attacking both the Congress and the BJP for their “so-called secularism”, he said BJP tries to polarise Hindu votes, while Congress plays the dual role.

“If BJP comes to power, the economic and political situation will not change, only the face will,” he added.

The Chief Minister cited Tripura’s example of development in education, health, agriculture and power sectors. (PTI)

“Bhagat Singh dead will be more dangerous to the British enslavers than Bhagat Singh alive” – Bhagat Singh before his execution

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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Before the death sentence was awarded to Shaheed bhagat Singh, all the accused in the Legislative Assembly bomb blast case in Lahore Jail was discussing about what would be the judgement that may be pronounced in their case. All were sure of one thing: that Bhagat Singh and Rajguru will be hanged, but nobody wanted to tell the truth.

Then Bhagat Singh laughed and said: Our punishment will be ” To be hanged by neck till we are dead. This is reality Comrades. I know it. You also know it. Then, why shut the eyes to it?”
He continued ” This is the highest award for patriotism, and I am proud that I am going to get it. They think that by destroying my terrestrial body they will be safe in this country. They are wrong. They will kill me, but they can not kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirits. My ideas will haunt he British like a curse till they are forced to run away from here.”
” But this is only one side of the picture. The other side is equally bright. Bhagat Singh dead will be more dangerous to the British enslavers than Bhagat Singh alive. After I am hanged, the fragrance of my revolutionary ideas will permeate the atmosphere of this beautiful land of ours. It will intoxicate the youth and make him mad for freedom and revolution, and that will bring the doom of the British imperialists nearer. This is my firm conviction. I am anxiously waiting for the day when I will receive the highest award for my services to the country and my love for my people.”

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23rd March 1931.

Bhagat Singh was correct. The spirit never dies. And it did not die in this case also. The whole nation revolted and the freedom came much earlier than expected.
( Excerpts from ” Bhagat Singh on the path of liberation” by Shiv Verma”)

Stop increase in prices – Left Parties.

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

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Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India
All India Forward Bloc
Revolutionary Socialist Party

January 7, 2014. Leaders of the Left parties, the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB & RSP met in New Delhi today and issued the following statement:

Agitation Against Price Rise
The Left parties express serious concern at the crushing burden of price rise which is affecting all sections of the people. There is no respite in the upwards spiral of prices of food items and essential commodities with food inflation reaching a record high of 20 per cent.
The UPA government is adding fuel to the fire by continuously increasing the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG.
The Left parties decided to conduct a protest campaign against price rise with the following demands:

1. Stop increase in the prices of petroleum products. Restore administrative price mechanism.
2. No to Aadhar linkage being made mandatory for delivery of services and subsidies to the people.
3. End hoarding and speculation of essential commodities and conduct de-hoarding campaign.
4. No privatization of basic services and conduct audit of those private companies utilizing public resources and delivering basic services.
5. Ensure universal public distribution system.

The Left parties call upon all its state units to conduct the anti-price rise agitation between January 15 and 31.

The meeting was attended by A.B. Bardhan, Prakash Karat, S Sudhakar Reddy, Debabrata Biswas, Sitaram Yechury and Abani Roy.

The Private Companies and their advocates against CAG Audit.

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

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As naturally expected, the corporates and their legal sharks have started serious attacks on the decision of the High Court to allow CAG to audit the private telecom firms to find out whether they have cheated the government by reducing the revenue to avoid the revenue sharing to the government. Clear indications are there that this is a fact.
Editorials are written against the decision. Congress leader and Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has strongly opposed the HC decision.
This may turn in to another big scam. Let us wait to see the future developments.

Govt. proposes free mobile for BPL families

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Telecom

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The government’s proposal to provide a free mobile connection to all BPL families is understood to have been approved by the Telecom Commission. This is part of the UPA government’s pre-poll freebies to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, which will benefit about 60 lakh families. Along with the free mobile, a free talk-time of 200 minutes also will be allowed.Well and good.
The expenditure for this is expected to be Rs. 7,000 crore and will be taken from the USOF, which has got sufficient funds at its disposal.

UPA government and the ruling Congress Party is gearing up for the election. After the utter defeat in the recent assembly elections, the Congress is in a desperate move to woo the people. The news that the Congress has allotted Rs. 500 crores for advt. blitz to focus Rahul, itself speaks volumes of this desperation.