Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Com.Dipen Ghosh, a close friend of BSNL Employees

13 Sunday Nov 2016

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Com.Dipen Ghosh has passed away today, 13th November 2016. He was a tall leader of CG Employees and a close friend of BSNL Employees Union. During the period after Bhopal AIC in 1991 and election of a new leadership with Comrades Moni Bose and myself as GS and President respectively, the government and the defeated revisionist leadership created all hurdles for the functioning of the union. Along with Com.E.Balanandan M.P., Com.Dipen Ghosh M.P. gave valuable guidance and help in facing the attacks and advance forward. His M.P.quarters at Delhi was a regular meeting place. The same help and guidance at the time of formation of BSNLEU and afterwards.
Whenever I used to go to Calcutta to attend union meetings I used to meet him.
His death is a great loss to all of us.
The Central Secretatiat meeting of BSNLEU being held at Chennai today expressed deep grief and observed one minute silence in condolence.

Veteran leader Com. Dipen Ghosh expired

13 Sunday Nov 2016

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With deep sorrow it is intimated that veteran trade union and CG Employees leader, former M.P. and leader of CPI (M), Com. Dipen Ghosh passed away at about 09.00 AM today at Calcutta. He was 85. He was ailing for some time.It is a great loss to the entire TU movement. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, comrades and friends!

Why delay in issuing Notification on Minimum Wage?

12 Saturday Nov 2016

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The Central Government has announced that it has decided to increase the minimum wage to Rs.10,000 in a month, though the demand of the Central Trade Unions was for Rs.18,000. The Chief Labour Commissioner has accordingly issued notification in Gazette for increasing minimum wage to Rs.350 per day instead of Rs.650 as demanded. Two months were given to employers and workers to express their unions. BSNLCCWF has personally submitted its opinion that the daily minimum wages need to be increased to Rs.650.
However the orders are yet to be issued. We demand immediate issue of notification, since 2 months are already over.

BSNLEU Central Secretariat at Chennai

12 Saturday Nov 2016

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The Central Secretariat meeting 0f BSNL Employees Union at Chennai has started today, 12th November 2016, with hoisting of National Flag by Com.Balbir Singh President and red flag of the union by Com.P.Abhimanyu General Secretary. Com.S.Chellappa, Convener, Reception Committee welcomed all. President in his address focussed the main issues. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS presented his report in detail. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri Patron, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dteputy GS, Com. Saibal Sengupta, Treasurer and other comrades addressed. The Central Secretariat is continuing.

Demonetization – Brutal Harassment of People

11 Friday Nov 2016

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The demonetization  implemented by the Modi Government  has put the common people to untold sufferings. There are long queues before the ATMs and people waiting for hours together to getting a few hundred notes for day to day needs. Village people with no bank accounts and Adhar are at a loss what to do. Two persons in the queue have died. Banks do not have sufficient notes, majority ATMs are closed after the filled up notes are withdrawn. Life of people are completely deranged.

The Modi government is not worried about the hardships of the people   It only wanted to take political mileage before the elections in a few states including that of UP. It is stated that the decision was taken about six months back which means a good number of people and especially at the higher level are aware of the same.

In the Indian situation, where corruption is rampant, the possibility of the rich and powerful getting prior scent of the action and carefully converting their black money can not be ruled out. The government should immediately examine the entire big transactions of the last five-six months  and take stringent actions, if it is sincere in catching black money.

The Government and Reserve Bank of India should take immediate steps to make available sufficient currency to the people to ameliorate their hardship.

3 year ban for celebrities for misleading advertisements

11 Friday Nov 2016

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It is reported that the Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely has decided to impose a maximum three year ban on celebrities who endorse misleading advertisements. The earlier proposal was penalty including jail, but the same was dropped as an afterthought.

What about the owners of the product who are putting the misleading advertisements. They should be penalised with much more stringent punishments. It is cheating the public and endangering their health. Such people, however high they may be, should not be spared.

 

 

Condemning statement of Defence Minister on reversing of ‘No First use of Nuclear Weapon’

11 Friday Nov 2016

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The statement of Defence Minister Mr. Parrikar that India should revise its “No First Use Nuclear Weapon Policy” is most condemnable. The later clarification that it is his personal opinion does not hold water or reduce the serious damage done to the time tested policy of the Government of India.

This statement is a complete reversal of the long standing and accepted policy of the Government of India since Independence. The Defence Minister, through his irresponsible statement, has put India in a poor light before the world. He should apologize to the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak out what is the policy of India in this matter.

Central Secretariat of BSNLEU on 12-13 November 2016 at Chennai

11 Friday Nov 2016

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The meeting of the Central Secretariat of BSNLEU, the main recognised union of Non-Executives in BSNL, is scheduled to take place on 12-13 November 2016 at Chennai. The main discussion will be on the conduct of the All India Conference to be held at Chennai on 31st December 2016 to 3rd January 2017. Another important or most important matter is about resisting the anti-BSNL move of the government like formation of Tower Company bifurcating BSNL and the Revival and strengthening of BSNL.

BSNLEU since its formation and especially after getting the recognised status have been continuously putting all efforts as also pressuring the government and BSNL Management for taking immediate action for the revival of BSNL. The JAC/Joint Forum/Forum has been initiating moves one after another in this respect and going on struggle, whenever required. The latest attack on BSNL through formation of Tower Company is a serious threat to the existence of BSNL.

Another issue is the fast reduction in the number of workers. During the last 16 years since formation of BSNL in 2000, the workforce have been reduced to about 2.05 lakhs from the earlier 3.5 lakhs. About 1.85 lakhs workers have retired during this period with only about 40,000 new recruitment. The next few years will be critical with about 10,000 to 15,000 retirements each year. Recruitment has become an important part of the revival plan.

There is no doubt that these  and other important issues will be discussed with due seriousness and strategy finalised to face the present challenging situation.

Is it justified to continue separation of Class III, Class II and Class I or Executives and Non-Executives?

11 Friday Nov 2016

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The British Rulers have separated the government employees in to many categories like Class IV, Class III, Class II, Class I etc. Not only in salary and allowances, but in fringe benefits also, the differences were kept. There were differences between British, Anglo-Indian and Indian (native) in qualification for appointment, salary, promotion etc.

These were all part of the capitalist/imperialistcolonial system of government. By about six decades of independence, most of the discriminations between the  Class IV and Class III in government services have been removed. In fact, the Class IV cadre as such is being fully eliminated merging with class III. In Public Sector like BSNL, these two classes have been merged into ‘non-executives’. Almost all the service conditions are made equal.

In government services, the differences between Class III, Class II, class I and IAS continues. In the PSUs, differences exist between Non-Executives, Executives and top Managerial posts.

Are these differences necessary in a democratic set up? Of course, differences will  be there on certain issues like pay, allowances, benefits etc. connected with higher responsibility, position etc. , but the present huge differences are not at all justified.The unnecessary and out dated colonial arrangements intended to serve the foreign rulers need to be put an end to.

As another forward step in this direction, as done in the case of merger of Class III and IV, it is necessary that the Class III, Class II and Class I should be merged as also the Non-Executives and Executives putting an end to the unnecessary, unwanted and outdated artificial divisions of the working class.

Times are changing, world is changing. There is no need to hang upon the mistakes of the past. The need of the time is to change such outdated rules, conventions and practices. But it is not easy since it is the topmost people who wield the power and who safeguard their vested interests.

A serious debate has to start on the justification, feasibility and implementation of eliminating these unwanted differentiations.

AIBDPA meeting at Bengaluru on 10-11-2016

10 Thursday Nov 2016

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A meeting of the active workers of AIBDPA was held at BSNLEU office at CTO, Bengaluru, with short notice to discuss about the various issues facing the DOT/BSNL Pensioners.Com. B.T.M.Giri, Dist. President, BGTD presided. Coms.H.C.Prakash DS welcomed. Com.C.K.Gundanna, CS BSNLEU, Com.Manjunath, Advocate, Com.Munilingappa, Com. V.Girish Chandra, Dt. Treasurer, Com.V.Doraiswamy, Asst. Circle Secretary and others addressed. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA spoke in detail about the issues of the DOT/BSNL Pensioners, the recommendations of the VII CPC, the proposed struggles by the CG Employees and Pensioners etc. He pointed out the various struggles organised by BSNLEU, Forum and AIBDPA for the settlement of 60:40 issue, 78.2% etc. The issue of Pension Revision of BSNL absorbed pensioners has already been taken with the new Minister, Secretary DOT and others concerned. The need to organise the entire pensioners against the neo-liberal policy of the government and to get the PFRDA scrapped etc.was stressed. The participants pointed out certain issues to the notice of the leaders which have to be settled.

In the afternoon, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri along with Com. H.C.Prakash and other comrades met Shri R.Satheesh, Jt.CCA (CCA was away in connection with BRICS meeting) and discussed certain issues of the pensioners including delay in pension orders. The Jt. CCA assured to settle the cases early.