Monthly Archives: February 2018

Homage to Com.N.J.Iyer and Com.S.K.Vyas

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in CG Employees, Obituary, Tributes, P&T TU Movement

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13th February is the death anniversary of two great leaders of the Central Government and P and T employees.

It was on this day in 2000 that Com.N.J.Iyer, the indomitable fighter for the cause of P and T and Central employees, left us forever.

It was on this day again, in 2015 that Com. S.K.Vyas, the legendary  leader of the Central government employees passed away.

Both of them were unparalleled fighters who led several struggles of the CG employees and achieved many results.

I had the fortune to be guided by them in my TU activities.  I came in touch with both of them after the 1968 historical strike and especially during the inhuman victimisation of the workers who went on strike. Whenever I went to Delhi, I got one free meal from Com. Iyer and staying place by Com. S.K.Vyas at the Confederation Office premises. I avoided  going to Dada Ghosh Bhawan, the CHQ of E.III since there was constant fight on the question of policies to be adopted and action organised with GS Com. O.P.Gupta.

After I shifted to Delhi in 1991 consequent to being elected as the President of E.3 Union (affiliated to NFPTE) there was constant touch and interaction with both of them, Com. Iyer as the GS of R.III Union and Com. Vyas as the SG Confederation. I still remember the confidence shown  by Com. Iyer, by handing over the valuable original typed copy of the Article by Com.Dada Ghosh  on ‘Origin of P&T Trade union movement’ which after getting typed a fresh copy, was returned to him.

Both were leaders with great vision  served the workers in very difficult situations. Their lifestyle was the simplest. Both prepared their own food and served others when there were visitors. Vyasji used to come to Delhi by Bus from Rajasthan and after getting down from the bus walked about one kilo meter to reach Confederation office opposite Sir Gangaram Hospital, till the last days. Iyer was not different. The image of Com. Iyer marching with a red cap in his head,  ahead of  thousands of P&T workers through the streets of Delhi after the P&T Convention in 1972, from West Patel Nagar to Boat Club near Central Secretariat for many kilometers, as the commander of an army  still inspires me. It was also noteworthy that the Communications Minister Shri H.N.Bahuguna,  came to the Raisina Junction and received the memorandum, instead of waiting  in his office for the delegation to come.

They were giants of the Trade Union movement who guided the workers at the most difficult times and showed the correct path to the future generations.

Red Salute to Com. N.J.Iyer and Com.S.K.Vyas on their death anniversary!

 

India a country of 18.6 millions unemployed- ILO

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in General

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) has warned that 77% of Indian workers will face employment vulnerability by
2019, which is much higher than world level.
According to the ILO’s latest report, the number of jobless in the country will increase to 18.6 million( 1.8 crore) in 2018 and 18.9 million in 2019, against 18.3 million in 2017.

Unemployment is increasing every year. The much publicised election promise of Prime Minister Modi that the new government will provide 2 crore job every year was only to dupe the people. Nothing is done and there is not even any remorse or apology for not fulfilling the assurance.

Comrade Mohamed Amin passed away

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in CITU, Obituary, Tributes

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With extreme sorrow and grief it is intimated that Comrade Mohamed Amin, former General Secretary of CITU and  PB Member of the CPI(M) passed away at Kolkata today, 12th  February 2018. He was 89. He was suffering due to ill health for some time.

Comrade Mohd. Amin started his career as a jute mill worker at the age of 14 and became an active trade union worker. He rose from that position to higher responsibility in the trade union.

Com. Mohd. Amin was a founder member of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and became its secretary in 1987. He was elected as the General Secretary, which post he held from 2007 to 2010.  He was a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha during the periods 1988-94 as also 2007-2013. He was also Labour Minister in the W.Bengal Government for two terms. He was  elected as a Member of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M).

During his tenure as CITU General Secretary and M.P. he was  stationed at Delhi and was a great help to BSNLEU and guided the organisation on the right path and took up many issues in the Parliament for settlement. He attended the CEC meetings of the union held at Delhi  in July 2008, at Kolkata in November 2008, at Mysore in August 2009 and at Bhopal in February 2010 and gave valuable advice. He was always a source of strength to the organisation.

He was well versed in Urdu and his wrote many books. I read his  book on the life of Com. Hyder Amir Khan, one of the founders of the Communist Party in India, in one reading without stopping, as it was so much thrilling and narrated the hard experiences of the earlier communists. After consulting Com. Amin, on my suggestion, Com.R.S.Yadav, former Circle secretary BSNLEU of U.P. Circle translated in to Hindi and was shown to Com. Prakash Karat, the General secretary of CPI(M).

At the time of his death, he was a special invitee to the Central Committee of CPI(M).

AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF express deep sorrow at the demise of veteran leader Com. Mohd. Amin and convey condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades!

 

 

 

When you will finish counting returned notes ? Reserve Bank silent in the matter.

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in General

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Even after one and half years of demonetization, the Reserve Bank of India has not completed counting of the old notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 which it has received back. One of the main declared intention of demonetisation was to catch the black money and black money holders. Earlier the RBI had stated that 99% of notes coming to Rs. 15.28 lakh crore hasve been received back. But still the correct figure is not out.

It seems that instead of catching black money holders, demonetisation has helped in whitening their black money. The Government and the RBI has to answer to reveal all the facts to the people.

2 Lakh unfilled vacancies in Railways

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in CG Employees, General, PSU

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There are about 2 lakhs unfilled vacancies in the Railways! Due to non-filling up of the vacancies arisen by retirement etc. the Railways are acutely in shortage of staff, which hampers the smooth functioning of the biggest organisation, which caters to the travel needs of crores and crores of people.

Almost 20,000 – 30,000 employees are retiring every month with out any new recruitment. In the last one year alone, 21,678 employees have retired as per the reply given by Railway Minister to Com. C.P.Narayanan, M.P. The requirement will be much more if the development and new routes and trains are taken in to consideration.

While BJP had promised at the time of elections to ensure 2 crore new jobs every year, in the last four years of its rule, it could not provide even ten lakhs job. As in the case of Railways, even the existing vacancies are not filled.

The government should not ignore the need of the Railways as well as the unemployed. It should immediately act to fill up the vacancies in Railways.

Aadhaar or Niraadhaar?

11 Sunday Feb 2018

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Reports are coming every day from many parts of the country about various kinds of services being denied to the people for want of Aadhaar. The latest is about a hospital Gurugram, near Delhi, which denied admission to a pregnant woman for want of the Aadhaar certificate. Earlier, there was a move by the Central government to make Aadhaar mandatory for issuing death certificate, but it was probably put in shelve due to strong protest.

And now the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) says to the government to not deny benefits for want of Aadhaar. On the one hand the UIDAI and government are compelling Aadhaar for all purposes despite clear instructions from the Supreme Court, and on the other hand issuing statements like the above to mislead the people and save themselves from criticism.

The privacy of people has been tampered with the mandatory of Aadhaar for almost all purposes and transactions. They are at the mercy of cyber-thiefs and crooks.

This is not Aadhaar for the people, but only Niraadhaar!

NALCO posts profit of Rs.722 crore

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Disinvestment, PSU

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National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) posted an increased Rs. 722 crore profit in the quarter ending December 2017. The profit in the same quarter in 2016 was Rs. 235 crore and in 2015 Rs. 144 crore. It is reported that there is 207% growth for the PSU. Hearty Congratulations to the workers and management of NALCO who made this profit!

It is to be remembered that the Bajpayee government wanted to sell NALCO in 2001, at the same time as it sold 51% of shares of Bharath Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) to Sterlite Industries. But the trade unions and the people of Orissa made such a strong protest and agitation that the government was compelled to turn back from the disastrous move.

Now the Modi Government is in a mad rush for selling the PSUs, the valuable assets of the people, to the corporates. It has to be fought and defeated as was done in the case of NALCO. It is not impossible.

Banks merger puts SBI in big loss of Rs. 2416 crore – a hard lesson for PSU workers

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in General, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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According to reports in the press, the SBI has posted a huge loss of Rs. 2416 crore in the three months quarter ending December 2017. This is the first time that SBI has posted any loss since the quarter ending March 1999, which was Rs. 115 crore. The loss is mainly due to the increased NPA (bad loans), reduce returns from bonds etc. But another major reason is the merger of the six associate banks including State Bank of Travancore, with SBI. The merger was implemented despite strong opposition by the workers.

Merger has been made a tool by Government to make PSUs in to loss making. While both the airline PSUs, Indian Airlines and Air India were profitable, the merger, among other reasons like purchase of large number of planes which were not at all required, made the merged Air India in to loss. The same policy is now implemented in the bank sector and made SBI posting loss.

Government is now planning and moving fast for merger of BSNL and MTNL in to one entity. BSNL is fighting for survival with the initiative from the workers and has earned operational profit for the last three years,though the net loss continues. MTNL is in a very difficult financial situation with increasing loss. The merger with out writing away the loss and repurchase of the disinvested shares to the tune of 46.5% of MTNL will be disastrous. That disaster is exactly, what the government wants to hand over the telecom sector completely to the foreign and Indian corporates. Why can not the government which is allowing the banks to write of lakhs of crores of rupees of loan taken by corporates, alow the same in the case of its own PSU MTNL?

The fact that the entire workers / unions in BSNL are on united struggle to save BSNL is a very welcome step. The privatisation of BSNL and MTNL is not only against the interests of the BSNL, MTNL workers and the customers of both the PSUs, but also of the entire telecom customers of all the private telecom operators. Once BSNL and MTNL is closed or privatised, there will be no limit to the charges for telecom service. India has one of lowest tariffs in the world and absence of the PSUs will result manifold tariff increase, which will be much beyond the capacity of the ordinary customer. India has got mobile connection of about 110 crore. The high tariff cost may perhaps reduce the telecom density, but the profit that will be garnered by the telcos will be manifold with reduced costs. This what the pro-corporate government wants.

The struggle against unwanted merger of PSUs as in the case of banks and telecom sectors, should continue and the government move should be defeated.

BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala circle.

10 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by in BSNL

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BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala circle.
BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala yesterday. Initially the 4G service has been made available at five locations in the high range Idukki district. This service has been launched, with BSNL’s existing spectrum. The first call was made to the CMD BSNL. CGM, Kerala, Shri P.T.Mathew said that, by the year end, 4G service would be made available to all its customers in all the districts by the end of the year. It may also be recollected that BSNL is making serious effort to 5 MHz 4G spectrum in the 2,100 MHz band. Once BSNL gets this spectrum allotment, it’s 4G service will also be rolled out throughout the country. (BSNLEU Website)