JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 29

Jumping out of train

November 2006. The Third Membership Verification for grant of recognition to the non-executive union  in BSNL was in process. Leaders of all unions were touring the country, holding meetings and canvassing support from the employees. As General Secretary of BSNL Employees Union, along with other leaders in the alliance I was in Bihar Circle for a two day tour on 20th and 21st November 2006.

The first meeting on 20th was in Samastipur. We had to catch the train to Patna, where a big meeting was arranged in the evening. The meeting prolonged  and  somehow by the time we reached the station, the express train which we intended to travel had already left. Next  was a local train which would take much time. But no other go. Only 70 -80 km to Patna, but delayed due to  stopping long time in many stations.    Frantic calls coming from Patna asking us to reach immediately as a large number of workers are waiting. The meeting was fixed at 17.00 hours, but by the time we were nearing Patna, it was  almost 1800 hours. Coms. J.N.Mishra, All India President, B.P.Singh, Circle Secretary, N.K.Sreevastava, P.N.Jha and other leaders were with me.

Just about one 1 km before reaching Patna Junction, the train stopped for want of signal. I was reading a book and  did not notice that others were getting down there, since the meeting hall was near. It was an on the spot decision,  as getting down there will save at least half an hour. When they called me to get down, I rushed to the door. By the time, the train has started moving slowly. One comrade  who was behind me told not to get down, but go to Patna station and get an auto to the meeting hall. But I was not in a mood to be further late for the meeting. Being winter, the light was dim outside. Anyhow, I jumped  down from the slowly moving train to the side of the railway line, which  was full of grass.

The jump was perfect and I bent down forward. Had I bent backwards, I would have been under the train. Then only I realised  the danger. When I stood up, I saw that my pants and shirt were full of cow dung, on which I had jumped. Our comrades were panicked when they saw me  jump. But seeing me covered with cow dung, they started laughing. I told them  let us go to the meeting  without waste of time. We almost ran and reached the meeting hall. Some of the people had already left. There I cleaned the pants and shirt and spoke for some time. Com.R.P.Singh, FNTO Circle Secretary, presided. By the time the comrade who got down at Patna came back, the meeting was almost over.

The Meeting was saved and I had the satisfaction that I attended the meeting. But I got  a clear warning through experience against jumping from a moving train in future.

V A N Namboodiri  29.10.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS  – 28

Loss of suit case at Kolkata

August 2005. Full preparations for 29th September 2005 Strike called by Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions against anti-people, anti-worker policies of central government. Continuous tours all over India, including Kerala, M.P., UP West, Punjab, Orissa and W.Bengal.

Strike Convention jointly organized at Kolkata by four circles of W.Bengal viz. Kolkata Telephones, T and D, Telecom Stores and W.Bengal on 18th August 2005. Reached Kolkata early morning by train. Took bath and break-fast at Salt Lake City IQ. Somewhat far away from city. Com.J.N.Mishra, All India President, BSNLEU, with me. We had to reach Telephone Bhawan by noon to attend a meeting before the  Convention. Hired a taxi and started from IQ. Proceeded to Telephone Bhawan with luggage, since I had to catch the flight scheduled at 20.00 hours to Bangalore. Flight ticket already booked. After reaching Bangalore, we – my wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter – will proceed early next morning to Kabani resort to spend 2-3 days there.

Heavy traffic on Kolkata roads as usual. Taxi reached the Telephone Bhawan late. Comrades were waiting impatiently at the gate of Telephone Bhawan. As soon as we stepped down from car, we were carried over to the meeting place by a large number of comrades, with welcoming slogans. We were provided tea and snacks. Meeting started in the CTO Conference Hall by 17.00 hours. Senior leaders Comrades Moni Bose, Ananta Bhattacharya and  others present. Com. Mishra and I addressed and explained the importance of winning in the Membership verification and other issues.

After meeting, I was directly to go to the airport to catch the flight. When asked about  my suit case, comrades told that I got down from taxi with nothing in my hands. I realized with shock that I had forgotten to take suitcase from the car- dickey. Driver also did not remind me. Neither Mishraji. Usually our comrades will be arranging their own cars, they will take the luggage also and I will be getting the same only when I return. As usual, I had thought that our comrades have taken care of the suit case.

What to do? Since I will be on tour for five-six days, I have taken half a dozen pants, shirts etc. There were some gifts to my granddaughter. There were two bank cheques for about Rs. 90,000/- from a friend which I was to hand over to my daughter. Books and union papers were also there. Fortunately, the flight ticket was in my pocket. I had not noted the number of the taxi. In a city like Kolkata, it is impossible to find the taxi without the registration number.

I had to start for airport immediately to catch the flight. Otherwise, I may miss it. But, Com. Moni Bose and others advised to file a complaint to the police. We went to a nearby police station and gave a written complaint. They started asking so many questions for filing FIR. I was worried about my flight. I was almost certain that I may not get the suit case back. Had the driver wanted, he could have come to Telephone Bhawan where I had got down and handed over. Com.Moni Bose contacted some senior police officers and FIR was ready without  delay.

Com. Dilip Das, Asst. General Secretary, arranged a taxi to airport. Usually I go alone, but comrades insisted that in case I miss the flight, it is better that some body is there. Heavy traffic on the road. Fortunately the strict instructions issued later that ‘the passenger should reach before 40 minutes of the departure of the flight by which time the issue of boarding pass will be closed’ was not in existence then. I called airport officer from the taxi and told that I am on the way, that it was an emergency and they have to wait for me. The reply was, ‘Come immediately’. I reached the airport after the scheduled time of the flight. I rushed inside, asking Com.Dilip Das to wait for me, in case the flight had already left. Looking in to departure board I was relieved. The flight was late; I got the boarding pass, informed Dilip Das and moved to the boarding gate.

Reached Bangalore, then to my daughter’s residence. Told them what happened at Kolkata. I always used to have one or two sets of dresses at Bangalore and that problem was solved. But what about the two checques? I was not sure whether it was crossed or not. If the taxi driver had  encashed them, the money will be lost forever.

Early next morning we started for Kabani. My daughter called her bank, told about the loss and requested to issue directions so that the checques are not encashed in any of its branches. The bank told that only the person who issued the checque has the authority for giving such instructions. I contacted my friend who issued the checques and he immediately did the needful. The money was now safe. Only suitcase and other things were lost. They were lost forever.

After reaching Calicut from the Kabani , I directly went to the State Hantex shop and purchased half a dozen shirts, costing Rs. 150 per each. That problem also was over.

This was a hard lesson. But it did not help much. I was always forgetting things. The famous Malayalam poet Akkitham has put the situation correctly, ‘I have never forgotten to carry the bag of forgetfulness’. He must have written the  poem with such persons as me in his mind.

V A N Namboodiri 28.10.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS  – 27

Train to Nepal

2003 March – Telecom Employees Association of Nepal (TEAN) has invited me as GS of BSNLEU to attend their TU class at Bharatpur on 12th March 2003. Since this is near India- Nepal border along UP – Bihar, I thought better to go by train. Started from Delhi on 10th by Saptagiri Express to Gorakhpur. Since I could not even enter the reserved 3-Tier compartment due to heavy rush by reserved and un-reserved passengers, I got in to II AC compartment and gave the extra amount to TTE. Such things happen. Reached Gorakhpur in the morning, where Com.K.D.M.Tripathi, Vice-President of Union was waiting. He was a sincere dedicated leader. He belonged to the priest family of famous Gorakhpur temple.

At 11.30 hours the train started. On the way the train stopped in a small station due to some technical fault. We proceeded from there on a local train. It was fortunate that by the clever maneuvering of Tripathi, we got two side seats in an ordinary compartment. On both sides of the train, there were dozens and dozens of bi-cycles cleverly hung on the window bars, similar to milk cans hung on the Mumbai trains. Tripathi told me that passengers get down, unload the cycles and continue their journey to their villages. Very interesting. The train did not start for a long time and more and more passengers were getting in. Six – seven women boarded carrying big pieces of old wooden railway sleepers which were in the platform. In fact, they were stealing them. They put it under the seats. Many old jute bags were also with them. They were watching the station carefully. We had put our bags on the upper stand. Tripati told me, ‘always watch our bags, they may disappear any time.’ I understood.

At last train started. It was stopping at all stations. After two – three stations, the women got down carrying the wooden sleepers. All of sudden, there was shouting by a young man clutching one of the bags taken away by them. It was his bag. The women told it is their bag. Others intervened, opened the bag and found out it was the boy’s bag only.

I wanted to have coffee or tea and Tripathi told that he will go outside in the next station and will bring tea, because if both of us go, our bags may ‘disappear’. He tried at two three stations, but no tea or coffee. Somehow he got two packets of roasted ground nuts, which we ate and drank water which we carried. We reached a station, may be 10 miles from the border by late evening. Went to a tea shop nearby, but came out quickly since the shop was most dirty and unhygienic.

We got in to a bus going to the border town Raxaul. We got seats. Though the bus seemed very old and worn, there was T.V. fitted and on. We were happy to watch the TV. Before start of the bus some persons boarded and stood very close to the TV blocking the view to all others behind. Nobody objected. When I wanted to protest, Tripathi signalled me,’danger’. I understood. The bus started. The road was so bad, that the bus was turning and tumbling this side and that side. We were afraid that it may fall or crash down. The speed was almost like that of a bullock cart moving on a rough patched road. Though the distance was about ten miles, it took about one and half hours to reach there.

We got down, engaged a tonga and crossed to Nepal. The Raxaul town was partly in India and partly in Nepal. TEAN leaders Com. Ashok Karn and others were waiting there. They took us to a hotel telling that we will move to Bharatpur next day to attend the TU meeting and class. We were so tired that we slept heavily.

If Com.Tripathy was not there with me ?

V A N Namboodiri  28.10.2024

Com. Basudeb Acharia M.P

When writing about train journeys, a prominent name always comes to my mind, that of Com. Basudeb Acharia, veteran leader of CPI(M) and 7 times Member of Parliament from Bankura, W.Bengal. One of the best parliamentarians, he was Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways for a good number of years as also some other Standing Committees.  Took up many issues of the railway workers and settled. He was always very helpful in taking up the issues of the P and T workers, BSNL and others. It was through his efforts that BSNLEU could meet the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and many Ministers of Communications several times. Whenever I went to his official quarters he was kind enough to meet immediately and do the needful. He will never allow me to leave before having  a cup of tea. That was his usual relation with everybody. Several times I approached him for getting VIP quota for train tickets since it was impossible to get reservation at short notice. Never the Railways Ministry refused his recommendation.

Coming to the point. Com. Basudeb Acharia was not only the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Railways, but was also a person who used Railways as his journey mode, most of the time. He used to travel by train, instead of air travel which he is entitled to, when going to Delhi to attend Parliament and returning to his constituency.  Of course, it was also convenient to him since his constituency Bankura was on the rail route. I still remember the way how he reached Kannur to inaugurate the All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association on 6th February 2013. He came from W.Bengal to Chennai by train, then came to Kannur by Chennai – Mangalore Mail which reached a bit late at about 10.30. He inaugurated the Conference, had a hasty meal and off to Chennai by Mangalore – Chennai Mail at 15.30 hours or so. That was Com. Basudeb Acharia.

He had arranged a meeting with the then Chief Minister of U.P. Shri Akhilesh Yadav to discuss about immediate action to be taken against the culprits in the gruesome murder of Com. Sukhpal Singh, our District Secretary Ghaziabad. When we went to receive Basudeb Acharya at the Lucknow Railway station, we could see a large number of railway employees crowding near him and making all arrangements for him. When I tried to take his bag, he jokingly told that ‘ I am younger than you.’ Any way the bag was taken by the Railway workers. He was so close to them. We were received at  the gate itself by the Chief Minister. It was with utmost respect that the CM discussed issues with him.

Com. Basudeb Acharya is no more. He passed away on 23^rd November 2023 at the age of 81. But his comradely affection will last for ever in my memory.

V.A.N.Namboodiri  27.10.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 25

Flight, Train and Car

The Circle Working Committee meeting of M.P. Circle, BSNLEU, was scheduled to be held on  28th of October 2006 at Khandwa and as GS, I was requested to attend. I had booked train tickets for myself  and wife Pankajam to Khandwa sufficiently in advance. She was coming with me, since it was the place of my daughter in-law, Sunila and we can visit her family there. We went to the Railway station to board the train at 15.00 hours on 27th, but unfortunately tickets were not confirmed. It was difficult to travel in the heavy crowded train with out reservation, especially with family. Tried for flight, but that also could not get. We returned home and informed Com.S.R.Nayak, Circle Secretary and Shri P.N.Hedawoo, my daughter-in-law’s father, that we will not be able to come.

Next day at early 04.00 in the morning, the District Secretary Khandwa, Com.P.L.Sapre, called me and said that I have to come to Khandwa, whatever be the means of journey.  Membership verification was to take place within two months and workers wanted to hear GS. No excuse will be accepted, he said.

I had no other choice. I went to the Airport in the early morning to get a ticket for the  Jet flight starting at 06.30 hours. No ticket. But got a ticket for the Sahara Express flight at 10.00 hours. Returned home, had breakfast etc and came back and boarded the flight to Indore. From Indore, comrades have arranged a car to Khandwa. The CEC meeting was in progress. Spoke in detail. Met parents of Sunila at their house and had dinner.

Our comrades tried for train reservation for return journey, but failed. I had to reach Delhi some how next day to attend an important meeting. District Secretary stated that we  can go to Indore by car in the night, stay in the IQ and catch the early flight at 07.30 to Delhi.

At about 23.00 hours we started to Indore by car. The driver was  very experienced and knew all the road routes well. It was heavily raining and the high way was having heavy traffic. It may take some time to reach Indore and I will not get any chance to sleep. The driver and the comrade who accompanied me discussed and decided to go by a short-cut road, instead of highway, stating that it will reduce the distance by about 20 to 30 km and save much time. So, on the way, the driver turned to the short-cut road.

The decision seemed to be  very good. There was no traffic jam, the road was neat and passing through villages. We made good time. Rain continued incessantly. We must have passed about 30 kms when some vehicles from the opposite side started coming. Within a short time we reached a place where a number of vehicles were parked on the roads with many people standing. The rain has almost stopped. We also got down.

We were near a bridge, which was overflowing with rain water in torrents. Only the railings of the bridge can be seen. The current was very strong and nobody dared to approach the bridge. Any moment it can collapse also. On the  other side also there were many vehicles. Some people told that since the rain has stopped, the water will come down by about one hour or so and then will be able to pass. By seeing the torrents of water, it was difficult to believe it. I have to reach the Airport at least by 06.30 next morning to catch the flight. Much distance to go.

The correct decision was to go back and go through the highway. The bridge on the highway are much higher and will be safe. We stood there for about half an hour and then returned the same way we had come. It was more than 30 kms. We came to the place where we had diverted from the highway and started for Indore. We were in real fright whether we will be able to get the flight. The driver increased the speed.

We reached Indore by about 05.00 hours, rushed to the IQ, woke up the watchman, took bath and reached the Airport. We were in time fortunately.

Started for Delhi by 07.30 flight and reached Delhi before 10.00 hours. Target achieved. 

V A N Namboodiri  26.10.2024

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 24

Theft of Pearl Necklaces

CPSTU Convention in Hyderabad on 22nd June 2015. Meeting of AIBDPA Hyderabad District on 23rd June. Started from Bengaluru by flight to Hyderabad along with wife Pankajam on 21st. Reached HD at 14.40 hours. went directly to BSNL IQ. Comrades J.Sampath Rao, Circle Secretary  BSNLEU, Ramachandrudu, CS AIBDPA and other comrades came and made all  arrangements for our stay. On 22nd and 23rd attended the above mentioned  programmes which were arranged efficiently.

Hyderabad is famous for pearls of all varieties. Pankajam  suggested why can’t we purchase pearl neck laces for our dear grand daughters? Agreed. Mentioned to Com. Sampath Rao. He arranged some lady comrades to come with us. They took us to a famous jewellery shop. Many items of pearl necklaces in the show cases. We selected 3 light rose coloured twin neck laces. Hard bargaining by our lady comrades and settled for about Rs. 33,000/-  Beautiful small bags also gifted to take the same. We were very happy, thanked the lady comrades, rushed to the IQ, packed suitcases and then taxi to Kacheguda Railway Station. We were in time, got in the  Bengaluru Express. Train started in time at about 19.00 hours. Had very good sleep. Train reached Bengaluru at about 06.00 hours early next morning.

Heavy rush while getting down from the train to the platform. I was standing in the corridor near the door placing the suitcases on the compartment floor, but I was pushed away in the rush and suit cases fell down and was pushed away sideways. After others got down, we also got down after taking the suitcases which were near the toilets.

Hired an auto riksha, reached daughter’s residence at Basava Nagar, near HAL Airprt. Pankajam  opened the suitcase and searched for the pearl neck lace to present it to grand daughter Arya. Lo, there was no neck laces, not even a hint that the necklaces was there. Although I was very sure that I had packed the necklaces in the bag from the IQ, I called comrades at HD to find out whether I had missed them there. They checked and told that they  are  not there.

I went to the Bengaluru railway station and gave a written complaint to the Railway Police Force. After getting the details  they filed FIR. I had taken the suit case with me and  showed them that though the lock was not broken and suitcase not opened, the position of the lock on the  zip was on one side of the suitcase, instead of the centre as I have put it. The police officer   then told me that it is a clear case of theft and showed me how the thief might  have opened it by a knife or so, probably in the train in the night or while getting down at the station. He also told that they might have planned the theft very meticulously, probably from the time of the purchase itself in Hyderabad watching us coming from the shop.  He said that if there is any information, he will intimate.

Next day day at noon I got a call from another railway station asking me some more details about the theft. Gave it. But nothing later. I enquired to  the RPF  again, but no further information. I understood that it was lost forever.  My wife was very upset. We were shortly going to London to meet my son and family and two necklaces were for the grand daughters there.

Lost is lost. But it can not stop us presenting pearl neck laces to my grand daughters. I spoke to Com. Sampath Rao and asked him to purchase similar necklaces and send it to me. Fortunately there was a meeting of AIBDPA AIC Reception Committee to be held at Tirupati on 6th July and I was invited to attend. Com Sampath Rao and some other comrades were also  coming. They purchased similar pearl necklaces at the same reduced rate and gave me the same at Tirupati. 

After returning to Bengaluru,  one neck lace was given to Arya, my  grand daughter. She was happy.

On 12th July same year me and wife went to London. The other two necklaces were given to grand daughters Saumya and Sneha. They were Happy, we were happy.py. Then forgot about the loss. Why worry about things lost, when there are so many other things to attend?

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS  – 23

Journey with Com. Chittabrata Majumdar

A meeting of the Central Executive Committee of BSNLEU was fixed at Pune on 15-17 June 2005 and I had my flight booked. I reached the airport in time, checked-in and got the boarding pass. I saw Com.Chittabrata Majumdar, M.P. ,  General Secretary CITU, sitting in the lounge. Went and met him. Of course he was coming to inaugurate the CEC on our invitation. He was not feeling well and was unable to walk. I spoke with the air-port staff and they came with a wheel chair to enable him to board the flight through the lift. I  went with him assisting, when required. It was an Indian Airlines flight. We boarded the flight by the lift available. He was provided a seat in the first row of the economic class by the young air-hostess. I requested her to allot me a seat near to  him so that I can be of assistance, if required. She did not mind me and I had to go to my seat somewhat irritated, since the passengers were entering the flight. I felt very uneasy about Com. Chittabrata.

After the plane was in air, I went to the air-hostess’s cabin and spoke in a bit angry tone, why she did not allow me a nearby seat to assist my companion. All of a sudden her face became red and I was worried whether she was going to cry. She told me in  broken voice that she did not hear me, she is new to the job and please do not complain to higher authorities. Now I was worried. I told her no problem and that I am not going to complain to anybody. In fact she did not violate any rule. I went to Com. Majumdar, but he was already sleeping. Did not want to disturb him. Came back. By the time we reached Pune, he was feeling better.

I learned an important lesson. Don’t be rude to anybody, especially to women.

Next day Com. Chittabrata inaugurated the CEC and delivered a meaningful speech. By then he was was quite well and returned to Delhi.

ORGANISE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON 25 -10-2024  AS PER THE CALL OF THE CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF BSNLEU-AIBDPA-BSNLCCWF

The Co-ordination Committee of BSNL Employees Union – All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association and BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation in its meeting held on 7^th October 2024  has called upon the Employees, Pensioners and Casual and Contract Workers to organise massive demonstations all over the country  on 25^th October 2024 as part of its II agitational programme on the following demands :

1. Immediate settlement of Wage Revision and Pension Revision

The Wage Revision of BSNL employees and Pension Revision of BSNL Pensioners are due from 01.01.2017. The last wage revision and pension revision was implemented with effect from 01.01.2007. 17 years have passed since. The III PRC have recommended wage revision with 15%, but BSNL is refusing to implement the same on the plea that BSNL is in loss. If BSNL is in loss , the entire responsibility lies with the the government since it is due to its anti-PSU and anti-BSNL policies and decisions. Workers can not be held responsible for the same. BSNL is a 100% government owned PSU, converted from a government department in to a PSU with solemn assurances that the workers issues will be safeguarded. Hence the government has the duty to ensure that wage revision is implemented by utilising government funds, if necessary. In Kerala, eventhough it was a PSU from the initial stage, wages and pension of KSRTC employees and pensioners are paid by the Kerala Government when the PSU is unable to pay the same. Similar other examples are also there. As such, the Govt and BSNL should implement wage revision, in case of which the payscales have already been discussed and agreed between the BSNL Management and recognised unions years back. In the case of Pensioners, 15% pension revision be implemented as the funds are already with the government collected from BSNL towards pension contribution.

1. Expeditious launching of BSNL’s 4G and 5G Services.

Central government has always been discriminating and ignoring  BSNL in providing latest technologies, compared to the private telecom companies. It was only years after the private companies were allowed to start mobile services that DOT/BSNL was allowed to provide the same. Same with 2 G services. Years back, private companies were allowed to provide 4 G services, but BSNL is not allowed to provide the same on  flimsy grounds. 4G and 5G services are very much important for the growth of BSNL and for the benefit of its subscribers and should be provided without any further delay.  

• No 2^nd VRS in BSNL

It is understood that BSNL is preparing for implementing a II Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce the workforce in the name of reducing the wage expenditure. Since formation of BSNL, it has been the continuous plan of the management and government to reduce the work force through VRS. In the early two times  they were compelled to withdraw VRS proposals, in view of he strong opposition from the unions. By creating a situation of uncertainty and fear among the employees about their future prospects, third time they succeeded in sending about 80,000 employees  on VRS in 2020. Now there are only about  56,000 employees in total including executives (29,000) and non-executives ( 27,000).  Government / BSNL should drop the II VRS proposals.

• Implementation of Minimum Wage, ESI, EPF to Contract Workers

 The contract workers were inhumanly exploited earlier and it was only after BSNLCCWF was formed in 2006 that  ESI, EPF, Minimum Wage etc. were got implemented after several agitations as also after the issue was brought before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour which held many meetings and compelled the management to implement the labour laws.

There were almost one lakh contract workers engaged in BSNL for effective maintenance at the time of formation of BSNL. During the Covid period, the management arbitrarily brought in the SLP system and retrenched about 70,000 workers arbitrarily. Not only that, whatever achievements have been got through struggles etc. were all taken away . Now in many places minimum wage, ESI, EPF are not being implemented causing huge loss and lack of social security to the workers. It is of utmost important that Minimum wage is paid as per rules and the social security measures like ESI, EPF, Gratuity are implemented.

• Payment of 7^th CPC Pay Scale  and  DA installments to Casual Labour.

While in DOT, Casual Labour were being regularised after fulfilling certain conditions like work for one year work without break etc. When BSNL was formed an assurance was given that all the existing casual labour will be regularized , if they fulfil certain conditions. Accordingly more than 4000 casual labours were regularized till 2006 , but the regularisation was stopped on the plea of a Supreme Court judgment with regard to a electricity casual workers case in Karnataka. Those who were not regularised are still working as casual labours. They are eligible for Minimum wage as per VII CPC, but the same is denied on the plea that wage revision is not given for BSNL employees. It was the BSNL management which stated arbitrarily that Casual Labour can not be given minimum salary as per wage agreement in BSNL, which is higher than the minimum wage of the CPC , and can be given only the minimum salary recommended by the CPC.  The minimum wage to Casual labour should be paid without delay as also the due DA installments as per CDA.

It is for achievements of the above demands that the agitational programmes are decided by the co-ordinating committee in it meeting held on  07.10.2024. Implementation of the programmes with massive participation is necessary.

MAKE THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMME SUCCESSFUL BY MAXIMUM PATICIPATION OF BSNL EMPLOYEES, BSNL-DOT  PENSIONERS, CONTRACT WORKERS AND CASUAL LABOUR !

CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF BSNLEU-AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF ZINDABAD !

V A N NAMBOODIRI 24.10.2024

Mobile theft – Police Station in Train.

JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS 21

Mobile theft – Police Station in Train.

As General Secretary BSNLEU, I was on continuous tour to the circles, one after another in preparation for the first Membership Verification in 2002, as also other office-bearers. Tour of East U.P. Circle from 2nd to 5th July in a Tata Sumo. Covered 12 SSAs including Sultanpur, Rae-Bareli, Allahabad, Pratapghar, Joanpur, Azamgarh, Mau, Deora, Gorakhpur, Bashi, Gonda and Lucknow within four days, along with veteran leader Coms.R.S.Yadav, K.D.M.Tripathi, All India Vice-President, O.P.Verma, Circle secretary, K.R.Yadav and others.

The last meeting was at Lucknow and everybody were dead tired. The leaders accompanied me to Lucknow railway station to send me off to Delhi. Since the train was to arrive at 22.00, and all were very tired, I told them to go home and rest. The train Vyshali arrived at about 22.30, half an hour late. Though the platform was long, my compartment was beyond the platform.There was rush and push, and I also managed to climb the steep steps of the train to get in. The suit case was in my hand and the ruskin bag was hanging from my shoulder. I thought that somebody was trying to snatch my bag and I firmly held the same.

After reaching my berth, I checked my pockets and found that the purse was safe there. But when I looked at the  ruskin bag, it was cut neat, probably by a blade. I checked inside and realized that my  mobile phone has been stolen. It was purchased in 2000, a Motorola with a small antenna, that was one of the best that time. I had put the mobile in the bag before getting in to the train. How the thief knew that the mobile was in the bag?

The train was still in the station. I put the suit case in my berth, asked another passenger to keep a watch and rushed to the platform. I met a police constable and reported the theft. He told me that he is on train duty and that  I have to complain to the police station which is in the first platform since the theft was in the platform itself. The train was in 7th platform and there was no time, no question of going to the first platform. The train would depart by that time.  I got in to the train and it moved.

I went to sleep clutching my suit case and bag. By about 01.00 hours the police constable came, woke me up and told to accompany him to the ‘train police station’. I accompanied him to the next compartment, without stepping on the bodies of the passengers sleeping on the floor, where three police personnel including one SI was there. They asked me about the theft and I told them in detail. Then I was asked to give a written complaint. I went to my berth, tore some sheets from the diary and wrote a complaint and went to the ‘police station’ and gave it. It was in English. They  said that the complaint should be written in Hindi only. Why? Any way I went back to my berth, managed the complaint in Hindi, again went to ‘police station’ and submitted. They prepared an FIR in Hindi, which took a very long time, in between asking me many questions and gave a copy to me. It was almost early morning by the time I could return to my berth. Fortunately, my luggage were safe. Reached Delhi by 07.00 hours. As advised by the ‘police station’ I filed a copy of the FIR at the Delhi Police Station.

Mobile phone has become indispensable. Bought a new instrument. Since I had the FIR with me, mobile company did not charge for the SIM card. Later I found out that even if there is no chance for recovery of the lost mobile, it is better  to file FIR, since you will not be responsible for any criminal act done through that particular sim by the thief.  Now one could block the instrument as well as the sim if they are lost, making it useless for the thief.

After a few years when I went to the police station along with a friend to report loss of his mobile phone, I could see that printed forms were available for reporting mobile theft, meaning that the number of cases have increased.

V A N Namboodiri 24.10.2024