Monthly Archives: November 2014

AIRF Opposes Railway Privatisation

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy, TU News - India

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PTI

Lucknow, Nov 29 : All India Railwaymen’s Federation today said it opposes 100 per cent FDI in railways as it will “demolish the existing framework” of the organisation.

“During the national convention of AIRF, 100 per cent FDI in railway was taken as a challenge as it will demolish the existing frame work of the organisation,” National General Secretary AIRF Shiv Gopal Mishra told reporters here.

“It is being said that FDI is needed for railways. But when the government can invest in infrastructure, then why not in railways,” he added.

“The railways is not in loss. The railways could have saved Rs 1,56,000 crore if it was allowed to do fair pricing,” he claimed.

“When in opposition BJP opposed FDI during UPA regime and now it has taken a U-turn and is supporting it,” he added.

Mishra said other issues of merging dearness allowance into basic salary, to provide interim relief, abolish new pension scheme and to restore old one and anti-labour provisions in the labour law were also taken up. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

 

Vehicles older than 15 years to go off the Delhi roads

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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National Green Tribunal(NGT) has ordered that all the vehicles, including buses, cars, autorikshas etc.  which are older than 15 years should not ply and would be off the roads in Delhi. The order has been issued by the NGT to reduce the high level of pollution in Delhi.

It is estimated that there are about 29 lakhs vehicles which are more than 15 years old plying in the Delhi roads. As per the orders all these vehicles will be off the roads.

Hope this will reduce the pollution level at least to a certain extent.

Untouchability still highly prevalent in India – A sad commentary on Indian Democracy

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in General, Uncategorized

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The sad truth has once again been confirmed. In the secular democratic republic of India, untouchability is still being practiced by about 25% of the population. it means that about 30 crores of people are still accepting this worst practice against humanity. This is based on the joint report of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Mary Land University of USA.

The situation varies from states to states. The untouchability is being practiced maximum   in the Hindi belt. Madhya Pradesh tops the states with 53%, followed by Himachal Pradesh (50%), Chhattisgarh (48%), Rajasthan and Bihar (47%), U.P.(43%) and Utharakhand (40%).

While in India , the average is 25%, in Kerala it is only 2%. Kerala has the least number of people practicing untouchability. But even that is too much to be tolerated.

What the Modi government will do to improve the situation? Will it take any action at all to remove the same? Will the Party which follows the Manu guidelines on caste (Manusmriti) take any action at all ?

It is not the government alone, but the entire people should take this as a challenge and remove this black blot on the face of the Indian Republic.

Around 13,000 wage slaves in UK ; How much in India?

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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The U.K. Home Office has stated that there are up to 13,000 people working as slaves in U.K. This is based on the assessment of the Police, UK Border Force, Charities and the Gang Masters of Licencing Authority.

The slavery victims include women forced to Prostitution, domestic staff, workers in the fields, factories and fishing boats etc. More of the slave victims are from other countries like Albania, Nigeria, Romania etc. trafficked in to UK.

In UK, as stated above, there are about 13,000 slaves? What is the number of such slaves in India? If the above criterion is taken, the slaves in India will run into crores.Whether the government has any idea about how much it will be ?

Earlier, the foreign invaders kept Indians as slaves. But now the Indian rulers, themselves, are keeping other Indians as slaves. This has to be changed. Nobody should be slaves. All should be free citizens, not only to cast vote, but also financially free.

Prime Minister moves for privatisation of Railways

29 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy

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After making 100% FDI in Railways, Prime Minister Modi is moving fast to privatise the Railways. While flagging of the first train from Meghalaya to Guwahati, PM stated that the Railway Stations should be privatised for modernisation. He also stated that Railways should leverage its properties by allowing private parties to build luxury hotels, restaurants and other facilities.

This is nothing but privatising the Railways, which is the property of the people. Railways has the maximum land assets and is the largest employing government department. The NDA government wants this asset to be handed over to the private companies according to its motto ” Business is not the business of the government”.

Privatisation means higher charges. Privatisation of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad Airports have shown how much the airfare as well as the prices for the sales, including tea, meals etc. have increased in these airports. The train travellers will be fleeced by the private companies. Train Travel will become just like Air travel with regard to costs.

We strongly oppose the privatisation of the railways. It is anti-people and selling the family silver. The assets of the people are gifted to private companies to increase their profits. This should be stopped.

Reduce the Oil Prices

29 Saturday Nov 2014

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The NDA government deregulated the oil prices and stated that the prices will be based on the international prices. Now the international prices have come down continuously. But the government has not brought down the prices as per the international rates.  This is nothing but cheating the people.

The Government should immediately bring down the oil prices.

Loop Mobile will be no more from today, 29th November 2014.

29 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in Telecom

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One of the first private telecom / mobile companies in India, Loop Mobile ( former BPLMobile), will close its services by midnight  today, 29th November 2014. This is because it has not renewed its licence which is ending today. There was a proposal of the company being acquired by Bharti Airtel, but it was called off after failure to get regulatory approval.

BPL, the original company, was formed 20 years ago by the present Rajya Sabha M.P., Rajeev Chandrasekhar. It is not known what will happen to the existing subscribers of Loop Mobile.

This is what happens to the private companies. The subscriber requirement is not its concern. IT IS ONLY PROFIT AND LOSS.

One more anti-labour bill passed – Small units need not file returns

29 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Neo-liberal policy

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The Central government is passing bills one after another, in the name of labour reforms, to curtail the rights of the workers won through hard struggles.

This time, it is the Bill seeking exempting lakhs of establishments, about 482.7 of them, from filing returns and maintaining registers, which is passed by the Parliament. The definition of small establishments, which need not furnish returns have been increased from 10 to 40 workers. This will keep away crores of workers in the 4 crore and off establishments.

The acts which can be avoided by the small establishments are  Motor Transport Workers Act 1961, The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, The Interstate Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of service) Act 1979, The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of service) Act 1996.

There was strong opposition from Congress, CPI(M), TMC and Biju Janata Dal.

We express our strong protest and condemn the NDA government for passing such aan anti-labour and pro-corporate Bill.

Inhuman Victimisation of contract workers in Hazaribag

29 Saturday Nov 2014

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BSNL Management in Hazaribag, jharkhand is continuing victimisation of the casual contract workers there. All the 287 workers are kept out of work since July 2013. What is their ‘crime’? They went on strike demanding payment of minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. as per government notifications and CMD BSNL orders. They were being paid only a fraction of minimum wage. Strike was withdrawn after assurance that orders will be implemented. But what happened is something else. All the 287 workers have been retrenched. No work is being carried out and maintenance is suffering. But the management is continuing its revenge and inhuman victimisation. The case is pending with Dy. Chief Labour Commissioner.
BSNL C.O.is keeping silence despite the same brought to its notice.
BSNLCCWF Jharkhand Circle is on the move to start agitation on these and other issues.

Convention of BSNLCCWF at Dhanbad

28 Friday Nov 2014

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A state level Convention BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Jharkhand was held at Gandhi Sevasadan Dhanbad today, 28 November 2014.
Com. Sudarshan Singh, District President, BSNLCCWF, presided over the meeting. Com.B.Narayan, Vice President, BSNLEU, welcomed all. Com.VAN Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLCCWF, inaugurated the convention. He spoke in detail about the issues of the casual contract labour, strike yesterday, against victimisation and the need to strengthen the organisation. Comrades Naresh Lal, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Sudama Pal Circle Secretary BSNLCCWF, BN Singh, DS AIBDPA, Jameel Akthar BSNLCCFW and other comrades spoke. The doubts raised by the workers were answered by Com.Namboodiri.
Jharkhand Casual Contract Workers Federation has conducted many struggles in the past and achieved gains. At the same time, union leaders were victimised both in Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Hazaribag. BSNLCCWF has taken up the case with C.O.