04 Thursday Aug 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
As per CVC annual report for 2015 presented to the Parliament, there are 3, 379 vigilance case against Telecom officials. The Railways top the list with about 12,000 cases. Next is Bank officials with 5,363 cases.
This is only a fraction of the actual. A thorough overhaul and drastic action is required to weed out this epidemic.
04 Thursday Aug 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
Anil Madhav Dave, Environment Minister told the Parliament that it will take more than 30 years to remove poverty in the country. India is far behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prescibed by the U.N.
If the New Economic Policy continues, it will take much more years to reach the goal or never reach it. Even after seven decades of freedom, India is lgagging behind even though the National wealth has increased.
The wealth has been usurped by the rich and the poor became poorer.
04 Thursday Aug 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
Just like in 2007-08, there was a serious economic crisis during 1930-31. British were ruling India. They wanted to impose retrenchment and salary cut in government services including Posts and Telegraphs. Orders were issued by Government in December 1931, despite protest from unions, cutting 10% from gross salary. Retrenchment also took place.
In fact, the unions were prepared for small sacrifice, but this was too much to accept. Continued agitations took place. But it was only in the 1940s that some setlement could be made.
Whenever there is any economic crisis, it is the down trodden and the working class who suffer. And it is only through struggles that any relief could come.
We learn from the past to March ahead!
03 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
A mighty demonstration took place today, 3rd August 2016, by the workers of BSNL and MTNL at the Eastern Court Delhi protesting against the proposal of the NITI Ayog and Central government for strategic sale both BSNL and MTNL. Hundreds of workers participated shouting slogans against the government and the NITI Ayog for their anti-people, anti-PSU, anti-worker move. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, former Convener, United Forum of BSNL-MTNL Unions/Associations, Swapan Chakraborty (BSNLEU), A.K.Koushik (MTNL), G.L.Jogi(SNEA), Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), V.K.Tomar(MTNL), Rana Pratap(BSNL), Hari Singh (BTU) and other leaders addressed. The government was condemned by the speakers for moving in the wrong direction with the intent of killing these two precious PSUs. They exposed the anti-PSU, anti-worker policy of the government and called upon the workers to be prepared for serious struggle to save BSNL and MTNL and defeat the evil intentions of the government.
03 Wednesday Aug 2016
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Minister of State of Finance, Santosh Kumar Gangwar told the Rajya Sabha yesterday that the top corporate groups in India owe the Public Sector Banks Rs. 5,73,682 crore, the loans taken and not returned. The total NPAs or bad loans by the corporates will come to lakhs of crores of rupees.
This is a clear case of politician-corporates-bank management conspiracy taking away the savings of the people of the country for the benefit of the corporates. Very strong action is required to recover this money.
03 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Neo-liberal policy, PSU
Tags
It is reported that about 400 branches of SBI has been closed and some more are going to be closed, in the name of reducing expenses and on the plea that there are many branches in the same city itself. It is also stated that this is being done on the basis of the recommendations of a committee.
This decision to close the SBI branches is completely anti-worker, anti-customer and anti-SBI. There is no justification for the same except to reduce the business of SBI and to help the private banks. Instead of taking strong measures to recover the NPAs (bad loans) coming to lakh of crores of rupees from the corporates and big business, closing of the customer friendly branches will not do any good.
It is against such anti-people, neo-liberal policies that the crores of workers are going on a massive strike on 2nd September 2016. Make the strike a big success and a slap on the face of the government!
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in P&T TU History, VISIT THE PAST
The discrimination against women was inhuman during the British days. The women Telegraphists had to compulsorily resign from the service and they will not be eligible for pension. Such a case was quoted in the Telecom Recorder of ITA in October 1929.
On contracting marriage, Miss S.M.Arbuthnot, Telegraphist, Ootacamund was compelled to resign. Although she had ten years of pensionable service, pension was denied to her. The case was taken by the ITA,
This is only but one case. Many such cases were there. Either job or marriage! This was the inhuman condition.
Further, the women Telgraphists were not allowed to become Telegraph Masters. This condition was fought and defeated. In the same ‘the marriage condition’ was also removed later after much agitation.
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in P&T TU History, Uncategorized, VISIT THE PAST
As at present, Annual Reports were submitted by the P and Department. The following information is from the Report of the Director- General Posts and Telegraphs for 1927:
POSTS
Post Offices – 20,737. Postal officials – 1,09,726. Mail Lines – 1,61,280 miles. Articles: 1,293.5 million articles (including 51 million registered articles). Stamps sold: Rs. 60 million. Money orders: 37 Million worth Rs. 897 million. VPP: Rs. 273 million. Insured Articles: 5.7 million articles worth Rs.1.632 millions. Savings Accounts: 25,18,142 with a balance of Rs. 295 Millions. PLI: An aggregated assurance of Rs. 101 millions.Military Pension was paid worth Rs. 15.8 millions. Quinine sold to public: 13,496 lbs. (Distances and weight calculated on the British system of miles and lb. respectively).
TELEGRAPHS
Railway, Canal, Telegraph Offices: 2,342. Aerial line: 97,515 miles of aerial line with 78,252 mile carrying 4,34,337 miles of wire and 1,051 miles of Cable with 78,252 miles of conductors.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
Telephone exchanges: 112.Connections: 12,740 connections with 1,627 extensions. Long distance trunk service between Calcutta and Delhi opened to the public on 12, January 1927. Special repeaters installed at Patna, Lucknow and Agra.
Profit and Loss
Posts: Rs. 13 crores profit. Telegraphs: Loss Rs. 11 lacs.
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in P&T TU Movement, VISIT THE PAST
During the initial stage of the introduction of telephone Exchanges in India, many exchanges were opened with three telephone operators only. They were to attend 8 hours duty every day so that the exchange will be manned all 24 hours. They were neither given any holiday nor weekly off. If one of the telephone operators had to take leave (getting leave was almost impossible), the other two operators will have to share his work.
Now all officials in the telecom sector, including operators get paid Holidays, Sunday (or Weekly Off) and other permissible leave. It was only through sustained struggle for years that these achievements could be made.
The P and T Unions have a past full of sacrifices and struggles!
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in P&T TU History, VISIT THE PAST
British rulers had their own kind of discriminating the workers. From a letter of the union published in the ‘Telegraph Review’ July 1928, the Union has demanded that, there is no latrine for the Indian Staff in the Telegraph Office Patna and it should be provided. While a latrine has been provided for Anglo-Indian Staff, there is none for Indian Staff. At the same time, the union also states that the Indian Staff can not be expected to use the latrine allotted for menials ( cleaners, scavengers etc.)!
It seems that the Britishers thought that separating one section against the other and discrimination will allow them to continue their rule.
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