1960 ജൂലൈ 11ന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച കേന്ദ്രജീവനക്കാരുടെ ഐതിഹാസികമായ പണിമുടക്കിന്റെ അറുപത്തിയൊന്നാം വാർഷികത്തിൽ സമരത്തിന്റെ ആവേശകരമായ ഓർമ്മകൾ! ഒപ്പം കേരളത്തിൽ നിന്നും പണിമുടക്കുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് രക്ത സാക്ഷികളായ പാലക്കാട് ടെലിഫോൺ എക്സ്ചേഞ്ചിലെ ടെലിഫോൺ ഓപ്പറേറ്റർ സ. എകാംബരത്തിന്നും കോട്ടയം ഹെഡ് പോസ്റ്റ് ഓഫീസിലെ പോസ്റ്മാൻ സ ടി.കെ.വർക്കിക്കും ഒരു പിടി രക്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ അർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

STHREE PAKSHA KERALA – KERALA WITH WOMEN

CPI(M) Kerala is observing 1st to 8th July 2021 as a week dedicated to the cause of the women organising many programmes for the empowerment of women and against various kinds of discrimination, insults, assaults against them. Though dowry system is prohibited, it continues unabated in various forms and married women are mentally and physically assaulted on this issue by husband and in-laws, even resulting in death or suicide. The LDF government is taking various measures to empower women and ensure equal status to them in all spheres. Despite this, wages for men and women are unequal in many areas, with lower wages for women. The struggle continues and sustained efforts will be required to ensure equal status for men and women. Many initiatives are being planned by the government including required modification in the school curriculum, labour rules, continued propaganda etc.

This inequality and discrimination have been continuing for thousands of years in various forms. Struggles were also going against them. In this connection, I remember a few instances in the case of government employees, even in 20th century. Almost all the big telephone exchanges were feminised, meaning that only women Telephone Operators were employed there. Women T.O.s were granted one extra increment for not marrying. Of course, both these conditions could be changed through the struggles by the workers. In the central govt employees’ strike in 1960 and 1968 and proposed P & T strike of 1949, hundreds of lady telephone operators were arrested, jailed in most of the major cities and towns including Calicut, Trichur, Ernakula etc. in Kerala and some of them terminated/ dismissed from service. Almost the same case was with the Air-hostesses and in certain places for Nurses. Airhostesses had to go to court to get the right to marry, if I remember correct. Nurses had to struggle to get their half skirt uniforms changed. (Recruitment of men telephone operators, Stewards and Nurses gradually changed the situation).

In many other professions, similar discrimination existed and sometimes continues. The struggle for equal status is not an easy one. The struggle has to be continued at home, public spaces, work places, worshipping places etc. etc. Removing the discrimination existing for centuries is not easy. But it is necessary for the future of the human existence. The fight continues.

22Biplab Das, Chandrasekharn Puthiyaveettil and 20 others1 CommentLikeCommentShare

When BSNL was formed, there were about 3.5 lakhs employees including both executives and non-executives, out of which about 3 lakhs were non-executives. Now, after 20 years, the non-executives have been reduced to 32,027 out of about the 60,000 odd employees. 80,000 employees were forced to take VRS through several compulsions in the year 2000 , reducing the staff to almost half. Now further staff are reduced since no new recruitment.

There were about 50 – 60 cadres when BSNL was formed in the non-executive. Now, it is reduced to four viz. JE, TT, ATT and Sr.TOA. The last two cadres are being treated as cadres in which rarely there will be recruitment. Posts are being treated as supernumerary, meaning that on retirement of an official that post will be abolished.

These are part of the govt policy of either closure, privatisation or demolition of this prime institution.

The agitational programme chalked out by the All Unions, Association of BSNL (AUAB) are fully justified. Not only the associations/unions of working employees but pensioners organisation , AIBDPA, has fully supported the programme and will participate in them.

SAVE BSNL – SAVE NATION

The negative attitude of the BSNL management and the DOT in delaying pension revision to BSNL retirees wef 01-01-2017 is fully unjustified and anti-pensioner. We demand the authorities to implement the pay revision with 15% fitment at the earliest.

Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association (SCFWA), Kerala was formed on 9th July 2006 and is completing 15 years of glorious service on 9th July 2021. It is the biggest organisation of senior citizens in Kerala. It deals with the the lot of problems of the aged people including health, security, social justice and against intimidation, harassment etc. of old people.

I got the opportunity to get connected with the SCFWA since my return from Delhi in 2017 and was elected as the President of the Association in the State Conference held in 2017 itself. Re-elected in the Thrissur Conference held in 2020.

The office-bearers are a dedicated team with may stalwarts in the trade union and social activities fields. There is good representation of SCFWA in the Vayojana Council constituted by the government.

Important issues of the aged people are brought to the notice of the government for getting redressal. There is good response from the government. Old aged persons are being paid a monthly Vayojana Pension of Rs. 1,600. This is being increased every year and is expected to reach Rs.2500 by the end of the present term of the Pinarayi Government.

The 15th Anniversary of SCWFA is being celebrated in a big way by the organisation.