Kerala will celebrate its 66th Foundation Day on 1st November 2021. It was on 1st November 1956 hat Kerla State was born after bifurcation of the then Madras State. The demand for Aikya Kerala (United Kerala ) was going on for many years since Independence.

Best Wishes to all on Kerala Day!

School classes in Kerala are scheduled to open on Monday, 1st November 2021 after a long period, due to Covid pandemic. The LDF government is taking all precautions for the safety of the children and the teachers. School books are all printed and ready to be supplied. Sanitation and sanitizing have been completed. It is noteworthy that this time the schools are being opened on the 66th Formation Day of Kerala.

For about ten years or more BSNL was profitable and maintained its services efficiently. This was not appreciated by the corporate sector as well as government who wanted to privatise this profitable PSU. It had about Rs. 40,000 crore revenue and about Rs.6,000 to 10,000 on an average.

It was only due to the anti-PSU, anti-BSNL policy and decisions of the central government as also undue favoritism to the corporate sector and starving of equipment to BSNL, that it became loss making and unable to keep up it revenues. This has got to be exposed among the people at large.

Privatisation of BSNL and MTNL means that the telephone charges will go sky high, at least 10 to 20 times immediately as in the case platform tickets, which is increased from the present Rs. 10 to Rs. 50, wherever the Railway stations are going to be privatised. It is the people and the workers who suffer. The beneficiaries are the corporates.

The Supreme Court has appointed a Committee to enquire in to the complaints raised by the petitioners against the central government of snooping of phones etc. of individuals, encroaching on the rights of the concerned individuals. Despite questioned several times whether it has used Pegasus for snooping, the central government has not said yes or no, which has irritated the SC. The order of the Supreme Court is really a slap on the face of the government.

BSNL pensioners, who are eligible for Medical reimbursement / Medical Allowance as per rules and as also as per the agreement with the unions have neither paid the medical allowance nor reimbursed the medical bills submitted for the last two years or more. This is a great injustice. Pensioners are unable to take required treatment due to the non-payment for such long period.

AIBDPA has raised the issue with the CMD BSNL several times. We are happy that employees are being paid medical reimbursement / allowance . But why not the pensioners, who in fact are more vulnerable.

CMD BSNL should act to ensure that the medical bills / allowances are paid at the earliest.

Despite the fact that lakhs of farmers on agitation demanding repeal of the three kisan acts passed by the Parliament which are against the interest of the farmers, the central government has not even come forward to discuss with them. This is most undemocratic and not is condemnable. Anyhow, the kisans’ organisations have decided to continue the agitation till their demands are met. All support nd solidarity to the kisans, who are the bread givers for the country.

BSNL Employees were agitating for getting their salary in time as earlier. For the past many months it was being delayed on the plea of short of funds. In the meeting with the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) today, 28th October 2021, CMD has assured that it will be paid in the last working day of the month as early, from January 2022 onwards. The BSNL workers were on agitation for settlement of their urgent demands. Congratulations.

Concessions in Railway tickets were granted to senior citizens as a welfare measure for the last so many years. Women of age 58 and above were getting 50% concession, while men with 60 and above were getting 40% concession. The Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association, Kerala, had demanded that men also should be granted 50% concession removing the discrimination.

Instead of removing the discrimination, the Railway authorities have withdrawn the concessions in February 2020 without any justification. This is a complete attack on the rights of the senior citizens. It seems that the concessions are withdrawn, in view of the proposed privatisation of Railways.

The senior citizens strongly protests against the Railway orders withdrawing the concession and demand that it should immediately be restored.

In preparation for the All India Conference of the AIBDPA, the conferences at the lower level ie. Area and District Conferences have started. Despite Covid situation, good number of pensioners are attending and participating in the discussions actively, maintaining covid protocol. Welcome reports are reaching AIBDPA CHQ from various states.

BSNL has issued the order for payment of IDA instalments of 01-10-2020, 01-01-2021 and 01-04-2021 which were frozen by the Modi government for a period from 01-10-2020 to 30-06-2021. BSNL Employees Union had filed a writ petition in the High Court of Kerala against the freezing of IDA instalments and got a favourable order. However , BSNL management was delaying its implementation on flimsy grounds. After much pressure exerted and struggle by BSNLEU has finally yielded the result. Hearty Congratulations to CHQ BSNLEU and all the beneficiaries.

AIBDPA had taken a clear stand that the freezing of IDA instalments is not applicable to BSNL absorbed pensioners and took up the issue with the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, DPE and DOT. When there was no positive action from the authorities, CHQ filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court and the Hon’ble High Court was pleased to issue an interim order in our favour on the same day of filing the case. However, both the DPE and DOT have not cared to implement the order. So , we are continuing our efforts to get a definite and final order from the High Court. (AIBDPA Website)