Monthly Archives: June 2020

AIBDPA writes to CMD BSNL on submission of option for outdoor medical facilities by the retirees – extending the last date for submission.

04 Thursday Jun 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Letter written by Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA to CMD BSNL with regard to option to medical facilities by retirees is given below:

AIBDPA/ BSNL MRS/2020 4th June, 2020

To,

Shri P.K. Purwar

CMD, BSNL

Bharat Sanchar Bhawan,

Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001

Sir,

Sub: – Submission of option for outdoor medical facilities by the retirees – extending the last date for submission – reg.

Ref: (1) BSNL CO No.BSNL /Admn-1/15-12/18 dated 08-05-2020.

(2) This Association letter No.AIBDPA/BSNL MRS/2020 dated 13-05-2020.

(3) This Association letter No. AIBDPA/BSNL MRS/ 2020 dated 19-05-2020.

(4) Telephonic discussion had with you by Shri V.A.N. Namboodiri, our Advisor on 29-05-2020.

It is reported that in the discussion you had with our advisor, Shri V.A.N. Namboodiri, you have taken a strong stand against review of the above referred order. The unilateral and arbitrary order was issued curtailing the limited outdoor medical facilities.

All the serving unions and pensioners associations have opposed the new order and demanded reversal/ modifications. It is pertinent to point out that neglecting the all-out opposition is not desirable in a democratic country.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, has repeatedly stated that senior citizens need special care and facilities as they are the most vulnerable section to the pandemic. And as such curtailing the existing facilities tantamount to breaching the promise of the Prime Minister.

While we appreciate your efforts to reduce the unwarranted and unnecessary expenditure of BSNL, we may be permitted to point out that there are other areas of largesse which are to be dealt with strongly.

In view of the foregoing, it is once again requested that a judicial and reasonable review be made in the matter so that justice is extended to the elders.

In the case of submission of Option for outdoor medical facilities by the retirees. We are thankful to you for agreeing to extend the last date to 30-06-2020 during the discussion with Shri V.A.N. Namboodiri. However, no order is so far issued by the Corporate Office in this regard.

But you may be aware of the fact that though the central government has relaxed lockdown as on 31-05-2020, five state governments have extended the lockdown to 30-06-200 and two state governments to 15-06-2020. And there is every chance of further extension considering the alarming spread of Covid-19 in many places in the country. To add fuel to fury, West Bengal, Odisha and Maharashtra are facing unimaginable miseries after the devastation of cyclone. Communication and road traffic are the worst affected and it may take months, particularly in West Bengal, to restore normalcy.

It is absolutely impossible for the retirees to travel from far off and remote villages to the concerned BSNL office and submit the option in the absence of transportation. It will be also difficult for them to submit the option by email or WhatsApp, as internet is not available in many places.

Therefore we request you to kindly consider our suggestion to exempt from submission of Option to those who do not want change from the option submitted last year. In the case of others who want change from the earlier option may be given extension flexibility as per the local conditions.

Also in the case of medical cards revalidation may be limited only in cases where change of beneficiaries. Thus, we feel that unnecessary expenditure could be avoided.

VRS retirees who are yet to receive the PPO are not being issued the BSNL MRS cards. In such cases MRS cards may please be issued quoting the HR number.

Finally, the most burning issue of BSNL pensioners, non payment of medical bills both with voucher and without voucher, for the last two years and onetime payment made to CGHS, continue to be neglected by BSNL management. We have repeatedly explained the sufferings of the hapless pensioners in our discussions and through several letters, but of no avail. Sir, kindly do something to mitigate the miseries of the seniors without further delay.

Awaiting your positive response and favourable action.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary.

Copy to: (1) Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001

(2) Shri S.K. Gupta, Director (Finance), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

(3) Shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR), BSNL CO., Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001

Online classes for students in Kerala.

03 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by in General

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During the covid period, it is difficult to conduct regular school classes. But delaying classes will be a problem for the education of the school going children. Hence Kerala Government has started online classes for the children from 1st standard. It started on experimental basis from 1st June and is a big hit. The Chief Minister has clearly stated that it is not in lieu of regular classes, which will start as soon as possible. We congratulate the Kerala LDF Government for the initiative.

Defence Employees towards strike against proposal to corporatise Ordnance factories. Press release by AIDEF, INDWF, BPMS.

03 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by in CG Employees, General, privatisation

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Defence Federation conducts Strike Ballot and 82,000 Defence Civilian Employees of 41 Ordnance Factories Will Go For an Indefinite Strike against the Decision of the Government to Convert 219 years old Indian Ordnance Factories into a Corporation / PSU

ALL INDIA DEFENCE EMPLOYEES FEDERATION
INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION
BHARTIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH
(RECOGNIZED FEDERATIONS OF DEFENCE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES)

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION

82,000 Defence Civilian Employees of 41 Ordnance Factories Will Go For an Indefinite Strike against the Decision of the Government to Convert 219 years old Indian Ordnance Factories into a Corporation / PSU

The Federations oppose the decision of the government to convert Army base workshops in to GOCO model and abolition of vacancies in MES and Army Units !

Strike Ballot to be taken all over the country between 08.06.2020 to 17.06.2020

The 3 Recognised Federations (AIDEF, INDWF & BPMS) of the Trade Unions of the 82,000 Defence Civilian Employees working in the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories have taken a decision to go ahead with the preparations for an indefinite strike against the arbitrary, illegal and unjustified decision taken by the Government to corporatise the most strategic Ordnance Factories. This decision of the Government announced by the Finance Minister during the 4th Tranche of the Rs.20 lakh crore financial relief to meet the COVID-19 economic crisis under “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abiyan” is against the agreement between the recognised Federations and the Ministry of Defence in the past. Former Defence Minister late. George Fernandez, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, Shri. A.K.Antony and late Manohar Parrikar have given written commitments that the Ordnance Factories would not be corporatised. The present decision of the Government is against all these assurances and agreements.

Apart from the above when the present Government included the subject of Corporatization of Ordnance Factories in its 100 days agenda, the Federations opposed the move of the Government and called for a one month strike which commenced on 20-8-2019. During the 5th day of the strike based on the direction given by the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) a settlement was reached with the then Secretary (DP) and present Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar wherein he has assured that no final decision has been taken by the Government with regard to Corporatization of OFB. Based on his assurance that a High Level Official Committee (HLOC) will be constituted to study the possibility of the OFB achieving Rs. 30,000 crores production target in the present setup, the Strike was deferred.

Since, there was a dispute between the Federations and the Government with regard to the terms of reference the Federations represented to the Honourable Defence Minister during October 2019 to intervene and change the terms of reference of the HLOC. However without considering the pending representation of the Federations, taking advantage of the COVID-19 lock down the Government have arbitrarily made the announcement that OFB will be Corporatised and will be listed in the Share Market

Government Decision to convert Ordnance Factories into Corporation hurts 82000 Employees
The above decision of the Government has hurt the 82,000 employees, since all these employees were engaged in manufacturing of all types of PPE’s required for the Doctors, Nurses and Para medical staff for fighting against the COVID-19 spread. They have taken risk of their life and were working throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. The Government instead of recognising their service to the Country have taken a major decision to convert this War industry as a PSU and thereafter to privatise the same.

This decision of the Government is against the Defence preparedness and National security of our country. Moreover it will overnight change the service conditions of the 82,000 employees and their status as Central Government employees which will be snatched away. In spite of our repeated representation to the Defence Minister and the Defence Production Secretary there is no positive response and hence the Federations are left with no other option than to go for an Indefinite Strike demanding the Government to withdraw its decision to Corporatize the Ordnance Factories. The date of the Commencement of the Indefinite Strike will be decided after the completion of the Strike Ballot which is scheduled between 8-6-2020 to 17-6-2020 throughout the country.

The Federations also are opposing the decision taken by the Government against other Defence Industries like MES, and EME. While 9304 vacancies in MES the Army Base Workshops under EME are being handed over to Private Sector in the name of GOCO Model. The Federations have already opposed the move and we will be separately deciding for serious Trade Union Action programme in these Defence Units also. The Federations also oppose the decision of the Government for allowing 74% FD] in Defence production.