Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

AIBDPA CALL -DONATE LIBERALLY TO BSNL CONTRACT WORKERS RELIEF FUND

03 Friday Apr 2020

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DONATE LIBERALLY TO BSNL CONTRACT WORKERS RELIEF FUND
Dear Comrades,
As you are well aware, BSNL contract workers have not been paid wages for the last one year or more, on the plea that BSNL is in loss and is not in a position to pay the wages. Many contract workers have been retrenched.
BSNLCCWF has been on continuous struggles all over India demanding wages and against retrenchment. AIBDPA has been supporting the struggle, by participating in the agitational programmes as also raising funds for the contract workers. In Kerala Circle, funds were collected by AIBDPA especially at the time of Onam festival and handed over to the contract workers. Strike for many weeks was organized in the Kerala Circle and similar agitations organized in T.Nadu, W.Bengal, Karnataka, U.P. etc. Dharna continued for many months in various circles.
M.P.s were met and the issue was raised in the Parliament by a large number of M.P.s including S/Shri K.K.Ragesh . Elamaram Kareem, Jose K.Mani, Binoy Viswam, K.Soma Prasad ( Kerala), T.K.Rengarajan, Tiruchi Siva, Smt. Vijila Sathyanath (T.Nadu), B.K.Hari Prasad (Karnataka), Manoj Kumar Jha (Bihar), Subhas Chakraborty, Ahamad Hassan (W.Bengal) and others. But the government /DOT/ BSNL did not settle the issue.
Ten contract workers committed suicide during the period unable to bear the mental agony of being unable to look after their family, including children. Even these tragedies could not move the DOT/BSNL.
Most of these contract workers continue to work, serving the nation and people, despite denial of wage. For keeping the communication network in this Corona situation, they are doing their maximum effort.
They require all our support. AIBDPA has supported BSNLCCWF agitations and donated earlier. Now also the contract workers have to be supported in their continued difficulties.
Hence we call upon all AIBDPA members to support the cause of the BSNL contract workers and donate liberally to the Contract Workers Relief Fund. The collected amount at Circle / District levels be handed over to the units of the BSNLCCWF at the respective levels with intimation to the CHQ. This is our responsibility to the suffering contract workers, who are part of the BSNL fraternity.
Yours Fraternally,
K.G.Jayaraj, New Delhi, 2nd April 2020
General Secretary, AIBDPA

“I have Voluntarily retired, but I have not retired” -( Quote.)

03 Friday Apr 2020

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“I have Voluntarily retired, but I have not retired” -( Quote.)

This may be applicable to the more than 78,000 officials in BSNL who accepted VRS and retired. Though retired, their claims are not fully settled as in the case of exgratia payment, gratuity etc. Even otherwise, their mind is always with the future of BSNL, and its workers. Most of the employees have gone on VRS, due to the peculiar circumstances that existed. They continue to be part of the BSNL fraternity, like those who retired earlier also.

BSNL and Contract workers issues raised in Parliament by Com. Elamaram Kareem, M.P. (Kerala)

02 Thursday Apr 2020

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Com. Elamaram Kareem. M.P. (Kerala) raised the issue of BSNL Revival and contract workers in Rajya Sabha on 01-07-2019. Report is given below:

SHRI ELAMARAM KAREEM: The financial condition of BSNL is precarious
and it is deteriorating day-by-day. Presently, the per month revenue
collection of BSNL comes to only 1,200 crores. However, the per month
wage bill of the employees comes to Rs. 1,300 crores and other
expenditures come to Rs. 900 crore. Thus, every month BSNL is facing a
deficit of Rs.1,000 crore.

Due to this, BSNL is not even able to pay its electricity bills. In all the
circles, gradually the electricity connections of BSNL are getting
disconnected, due to non-payment of bills. Similarly, BSNL has not paid
wages to its contract workers, for the past six months and the families of
these workers are facing starvation. Contractors have also stopped the
works and vendors do not want to supply equipments, due to non-
payment of bills.

Thus, BSNL is urgently in need of both short term as well as long term
capital infusion by the Government. That is my submission.

The submission was supported by Com. K.K.Ragesh, M.P., Binoy Viswam M.P. and Jose K. Mani, all from Kerala.

Casual Contract Labour issue raised in Parliament by Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. (Kerala) on 29-11-2019 supported by many other M.P.s

02 Thursday Apr 2020

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Casual Contract Labour issue raised in Parliament by Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. (Kerala) on 29-11-2019 supported by many other M.P.s

NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES TO CASUAL CONTRACT LABOURERS OF B.S.N.L.,

KERALA SHRI K.K. RAGESH (KERALA): Hon. Chairman, Sir, the casual contract labourers of BSNL have not been paid wages for the last ten months. Last month, in Kerala, two workers committed suicide due to non-payment of wages. One Ramakrishnan, an employee working as a sweeper in BSNL, after completing all his work, committed suicide inside the office as he had not been paid wages for the last ten months by BSNL. Not just in Kerala, but throughout the country, casual contract labourers in BSNL have committed suicide. Ten such workers have already committed suicide in our country. I would request the Government to listen to the agony of casual contract labourers, because yesterday the hon. Minister while responding to the issue said that it was due to the contractors. In fact, BSNL did not pay the contractors and that is why contractors were not in a position to pay the workers. Apart from non-payment of wages to the workers, massive retrenchment is also going on. The Government had decided to reduce 80 per cent of the regular workers and also 50 per cent of the contract workers. That means, regular workers are compelled to take VRS and one lakh jobs have already been lost. Fifty per cent of the contract labourers have been asked not to work. Then, who would work, Sir?

MR. CHAIRMAN: What is your suggestion?

SHRI K.K. RAGESH: I don’t know if BSNL is going to be wound up. My point is that since the inception of BSNL, thousands of contract workers have been working on meagre wages. We don’t know what would be the future of those poor workers. I would request the Government to intervene immediately and ensure payment of wages to the BSNL workers, which is due for the last ten months. Otherwise, we would be witnessing mass suicides among the poor casual contract workers.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Let us not hope such a thing happens.

SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member
SHRI B.K. HARIPRASAD (KARNATAKA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI JOSE K. MANI (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA (BIHAR): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRIMATI VIJILA SATHYANANTH (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI BINOY VISWAM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI AHAMED HASSAN (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI ELAMARAM KAREEM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI K. SOMAPRASAD (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member. (End)

Senior Citizens to be strictly AT HOME – Pass your time creatively

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

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The statistics of the COVID casualties show that senior citizens aged 60 and above are most prone to Corona virus. The Government has therefore specially warned  them to be AT HOME. It has to be fully implemented.

There are so many things to be done at home. If your grand children are with you, you will not know how time has passed away. If you are alone with spouse, you can recollect old memories, for which you did not get time earlier due to various activities. You can call your friends, old and new, and renew friendship by speaking on the various issues after you met last. Of course contact your children daily and get all information. You can see TV, read newspapers, books etc. Your favourite books may be in the almirah. Read them once more.  Go through your old albums.

There is sufficient time for creative activities like writing, singing, drawing,  painting etc. whichever you are interested.

You can sleep for 7-8 hours, which keeps you fresh in the morning. Take mild exercises. You can walk inside your house. If you do not feel well, contact your doctor over phone and get treatment.

Enjoy the compulsory stay AT HOME. Do not be worried. Keep all the instructions given by the government to keep out COVID. Arrangements are made by  the government , other organisations so that you may get provisions, medicines, vegetables etc on line.

The Prime Minister as well as Chief Ministers have called for donation to their respective Relief Fund. Donate according to your ability.

Don’t be afraid, but be careful!

We are senior citizens who have faced many challenges in life. We shall fight and defeat COVID 19 also!

 

New Delhi, our capital city.

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

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New Delhi was made the capital of India on this day, 1st April, 108 years back. After thorough discussion, the British rulers decided to shift its Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi and the new capital, New Delhi was founded in 1912. Viceroy’s House, Legislatures, Ministry buildings, parks, roads etc. were built up to accommodate establishments in the new capital. It is a well planned city. The loss was for Calcutta. It lost the power centre.

More than 25 years I stayed in Delhi and was adjusted to the atmosphere. I could get a lot of friends and comrades and relish the period.

More about Delhi later.

1st April 2020, but no ‘Fools Day’.

31 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Tomorrow is 1st April, which is also called as ‘Fools Day’. People will be fooled, pranks will be played, wrong information will be conveyed – all to celebrate the Fools Day.

But in the present grave situation, such pranks, foolishness and recklessness can not be done, since it may adversely affect the serious Lock Down and other activities connected with fighting the Corona virus.

Hence let us postpone the ‘Fools Day’ for next year, 1st April 2021.

BSNL releases Rs. 10,000 crores for exgratia etc. for VRS retirees

31 Tuesday Mar 2020

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According to PTI, ‘State-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL have released over Rs 10,000 crore for employees who have opted for voluntary retirement scheme’.

The report continues, “A total of 78,569 employees of BSNL and 14,387 staffers of MTNL have opted for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) which closed on December 3, 2019.

“BSNL has released Rs 4,100 crore exgratia payment on Friday and Rs 4,900 Crore for leave encashment on Monday. Similarly, MTNL has also released Rs 1050 Crore towards payment of leave encashment, EPF, CPF and gratuity,” the communications ministry said in a statement on Monday.”

AIBDPA demands early payment of Medical Allowance, Reimbursement and CGHS lumpsum amount.

31 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Letter dated 30th March 2020 from AIBDPA to Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL demanding early payment of Medical Allowance, Reimbursement and CGHS lumpsum amount.

Sir,
Sub: Settlement of Medical claims of BSNL Pensioners.
Kindly refer to our earlier letter on the subject.
As pointed out, the BSNL pensioners are having a difficult time for the last many months due to non-payment of medical allowance as also settlement of medical claims. Many pensioners are unable to take treatment due to lack of funds. We are fully aware of the financial crisis of BSNL. We are happy that the situation is improving post-VRS and the salary of the employees is being paid update.
COVID-19 has put the pensioners to more risk as the aged are more prone to its attack. Every pensioner is at home as per direction of the government. They require urgent financial help.
Considering the above situation, it is requested that sufficient funds be immediately allotted for the medical claims and reimbursement purpose.
In addition, it is also requested that BSNL may kindly refund the lump sum amount paid to CGHS by the BSNL pensioners by allotting sufficient funds for the purpose.
Yours Sincerely,
K.G.Jayaraj
General Secretary.