Well attended Dharnas were organised  in a large number of SSAs on 26th August on the demands of the casual and contract workers as per call of BSNLCCWF. Members of BSNLEU and AIBDPA also participated in good numbers. Both the unions have fully extended support and solidarity.
The next programme of agitation is on 25 September when Dharnas at Circle level will be organised.
Bhubaneswar CEC Meeting of BSNLCCWF  has also called upon the workers to observe 2014 as “The Year of the Casual Contract Workers”. As such we have to settle the major issues of the workers this year. Let us prepare for further struggles, if the issues are not settled.

As per call of BSNLCCWF, massive dharnas were organised in a large number of SSAs by Casual/Contract workers demanding settlement of their important issues. BSNLEU and AIBDPA workers also participated in many places. Detailed reports will be posted later.
The next programme is Dharna in front of circle offices on 25 September 2014. Make full preparations for the same to make it a grand success.

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated today that the government will invest Rs. 20,000 crore for provide mobile services to 55,000 villages. This will be provided through the Universal Service Obligation Fund. We appreciate the announcement of the Minister.
But from past experiences, we do not know whether this will be implemented. Such assurances in the past were dishonoured.
The USOF has got funds accumulated only because the funds due to BSNL were not paid. Even the sactioned amount of Rs. 1250 crore for 2013-14 is yet to be paid.

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated today that for providing mobile connectivity to 55,000 villages in the country, the government will invest Rs. 20,000. This will be done through the Universal Service Obligation Fund(USOF).
Many such assurances were given at the time of UPA government also, but not implemented. That is why funds have got accumulated in USOF.Even the dues for BSNL was curtailed. Amount approved about Rs. 1250 crores for 2013-14 is yet to be paid.
We hope that it will not be repeated by the present government.

The DoT  is proposing to bring in a new rule for checking foreign made telecom equipment for security risks. It is not understood why such a decision was not taken earlier, despite various reports of security leaks.

The interest for 2014-15 for the 8 crore and odd EPF subscribers will proabably be decided today, 25 August, in the scheduled meeting of the EPFO Trustees.
Last year the intetest was 8.75%, while .the Central TUs demanded for 9. 5%. There will be strong protests from the workers if it is less than the demand of 9.5%.

Handing over the family silver seems to be the main target of the NDA/BJP Government. It is reported that the Finance Ministry  and Department of Disinvestment are on the move to sell shares of most profitable PSUs. According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the government proposes to garner Rs. 58,425 crore by sale of PSUs in 2014-15. The disinvestment is proposed in ONGC, Coal India, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., HAL, SAIL, NHPC, Power Finance Corporation etc. which are highly profitable PSUs.
The UPA Government sold PSU shares for Rs.13,384 crore in 3011-12, Rs.23,957 crore in 2012-13 and Rs. 15,280 in 2013-14. These were below the targets of Rs.40,000 crore, Rs. 30,000 crore and Rs. 40,000 crore respectively.
The govt. is also on the move to hand over certain PSUs to strategic partners as was done in the case of VSNL.
BSNL workers defeated the govt.’s move for disinvestment twice earlier. Now that BSNL is not on profit, the issue remains in the back ground. But the threat exists.

The casual and contract workers engaged in BSNL are organising Dharna on 26 August on the Demands included in their Charter of Demands.
BSNLEU and AIBDPA have given full support and solidarity.
Comrades, make the programme a complete success with your participation.

The Competition Commission has ordered a total penalty of Rs.2,545 crores on 14 car companies for unfair business practices in the sale of spare parts. The companies penalised include major car makers like Maruti, Tata, Ford, Mahindra, Hindustan Motors, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes Benz etc.
Cheating both the Government and the people at the same time has become the system for the corporates to maximise their profits. They also exploit the workers.
The government is fully aware of the cheating, but is not prepared to take  action. They all belong to the same ruling classes.

The Supreme Court today stated that all the 194 coal mining rights distribution allocated between 1993 and 2010 are illegal and asked to examine all these allocations since 1992. Except 39, all other allocations were made by the UPA Government.
The Coal Gate scam was revealed after the CAG gave its report stating that the government lost Rs. 1.83 lakhs due to illegal coal block allocations. The SC order has once again focussed on this loot of the country’s natural resources.