KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) Pensioners have been on struggle for the last few months demanding that their pension should be paid in time and that the arrears for the last few months also should be paid. Since the KSRTC is in loss, it was only through heavy loans that even the salary is paid to the employees. The pensioners have been sitting on dharna in front of the State Secretariat and in front of the KSRTC district depots for the last few months demanding the the government ahould take over the responsibility of paying pension. All the trade unions in the state, irrespective of political affiliations have been supporting the struggle. I had participated and addressed many of these dharnas with the latest in front of Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram on 8th February.

Two days back, the government had discussions with the pensioners’ unions and decision was intimated that all the arrears will be paid immediately and future pension will be paid in time. The government in its budget has allocated Rs. 10,000 crore for strengthening the KSRTC, for purchasing new buses and revamping the operations. The unions have called  off the agitation on this assurance.

Out of the total 40 state PSUs, which were almost all in loss during the UDF rule, 12 are already made profitable by maximum efforts of the government and the workers. The allocation of sufficient funds and revamping is expected to bring KSRTC to better position.

This the difference between the approach of the BJP ruled centre and the LDF ruled Kerala state. While the former is privatising / closing down the PSUs one after another through its anti-PSU policy, the LDF government in Kerala is making all out efforts to strengthen the PSUs.

Congratulations to both the KSRTC pensioners for their struggle and success and the government for its support to the pensioners!

As usual. the Circle Conference of BSNLEU Circle Conference held at Ernakulam from 1st to 3rd February was a great success both in its deliberations and decisions.

The Conference was held at the spacious Town Hall Building, named “Com.Prabhakaran Nagar” in memory of Com.K.Prabhakaran, senior BSNLEU leader and who organised many a historic struggle in the Ernakulam – Kochi area.

After flag hoisting and  homage to  the martyrs, the three days conference was inaugurated by Com. Elmaram Karim, former Minister and General Secretary of CITU, Kerala  state. He spoke on the united movement of the trade unions and struggles against the anti-worker, anti-people policies of the Modi Government. He also spoke on the government move to disinvest/privatise BSNL and other PSUs and the need for united struggles to save it. He congratulated the BSNLEU  and other unions for their committed efforts to improve BSNL. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary BSNLEU, M.Krishnan, Secretary General Confederation, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary, BSNLEU, C.N.Mohanan, Chairman, Reception Committee, P.C.Mathukutty, General Secretary, Kerala NGO Association, A.S.Anil (BEFI), M.Kunhikrishnan(AIIEA) N.Guruprasad(AIBDPA) T.Santhosh Kumar(SNEA), M.Vijaya Kumar, CHQ Org. Secretary and other leaders addressed. Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle Union President presided and Com. P.S.Peethambaran proposed vote of thanks.

The Delegates session was inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. Com.K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary presented the Working Report and Com.S.Pratap Kumar, Treasurer, the audited accounts. After discussion by the delegates, the report and accounts were adopted. The discussion showed the maturity and trade union consciousness of the workers.

A cultural session was organised in the evening which was addressed by Shri Sunil P.Elayidam, a well known social critic and speaker.

On the second day, a Women’s Convention was held which was inaugurated by Com.P.Sathi Devi, Ex.M.P. and also General Secretary of AIDWA, Kerala. A large number of women comrades attended and participated in the discussion.

A procession was organised in the evening culminated in a rally. The Open Session was inaugurated by Com.M.V.Govindan Master, Chief Editor, Deshabhimani, who spoke on the main task of the working class in the present situation. Other leaders also addressed.

Cultural programmes were organised in the late evening.

On the third day, the elections were held. Circle Office-bearers with Com. P.Manoharan and Com. Santhosh Kumar were unanimously elected as President and Circle Secretary respectively. Com.Bhagyalakshmi has been elected as the Convener, Mahila Committee.

A farewell to the outgoing  office-bearers on retirement was given. Coms.A.V.Kuriakose, Circle president, K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, S.Pratap Kumar, Treasurer, Girija Kumari, Vice-President, S.Manikantan Vice-President and P.S.Peethambaran, Vice-President were given a warm send off by the Conference. Com.K.Mohanan has been leading the Circle for  long twelve years to the appreciation of all comrades. Veteran leader Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan presided in the session and Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presented the leaders with shawls and books. Shri Kadannappally Ramachandran,  Minister for Ports, attended the session and spoke.

The conference ended in the evening of 3rd February with shouting of slogans. One more feather in the cap of the Kerala circle Union.

Congratulations to the organisers of the conference and the newly elected office-bearers!

‘King George VI is the King of England and the Emperor of India’

The above was the first sentence in the first lesson of the English Text to be studied when I joined VI Standard. Though India had got independence about one year back, the text book had not changed. Many things had not changed.

Now it is more than 70 years after India got independence. But still much has not changed for the poor people. The rich has become richer and the poor, the poorer. We got political freedom, but not freedom from hunger and poverty.

The system should change for a better future. Struggle is inevitable.

In an embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh government, Governor Ram Naik today termed the Kasganj communal clash as a “blot” on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur. (PTI)

The Governor has called a spade a spade.