In reply to a Parliament question, Minister of Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has replied that many representations have been received to restore the train ticket concessions which were withdrawn during the period and the matter has been examined and not found feasible at present.
These concessions include to that of senior citizens. Women aged 58 and above were granted 50% and men aged 60 and above were granted 40% concession in train tickets. Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association, Kerala had represented several times for the restoration of the same. Now the government has flatly refused restoration. This is a great injustice to the old aged people. Our strong protest.
As part of the anti-people, anti-worker, anti-PSU policy of the Modi Government, each and every PSU, which had given yeomen service to the Nation and the people are either being closed or handed over to the corporates for a song or destroyed ruthlessly. Workers are being thrown to the streets. Even during the Covid period, while the people and the workers are in great financial distress, the corporates have increased their wealth. Govt is giving more and more support to the corporates while putting the people in great distress.
The case of BSNL is not different. BSNL was formed only to be privatised since a govt department can not be directly privatised. It was correctly stated that corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation. If the recognised federations like NFTE and FNTO had taken a strong stand along with the Unions in the Door Sanchar Sangharsh Samithi (National Action Committee) and continued the struggles against corporatisation, the position would have been different. With more than 3.5 lakh workers in a crucial sector continuing relentless struggles against corporatisation, government would have been compelled to drop it.
Of course there is not much use in going back to the past, but lessons have to be learnt from the past mistakes. That is what BSNLEU and the Joint Form of BSNL Unions did. Through continuous struggles with the full participation and support of the workers, they were able to defeat the decision of the government to sell the shares of BSNL as in the case of MTNL, imposing VRS twice in the 2000s, sharing of towers and optical fibres and so on.
The government took another route to weaken BSNL. Undue benefits were given to private companies, 4 G was not given to BSNL, all anti-BSNL steps were taken by the DOT with the BSNL management meekly implementing them. Salaries were not paid in time, management pressurised the workers to take VRS, contract workers were retrenched and wages not paid – all intended to weaken BSNL making it like a bonsai plant, cutting its roots one after another. Now its main strength, optical fibres and towers are going to be handed over to the private companies.
This is a crucial period. All odds are against BSNL and its workers – the anti-PSU policy of the government, the corporate lobby with its vast influence on the government even making the Prime Minister its ‘poster boy’ as pointed out out by a former Communications Minister in the Parliament today and also BJP’s brute majority in the Parliament, making it arrogant to pass any anti-people bill in the Parliament even without discussion.
But there is a ray of hope. Even this central government with its huge majority had to surrender before the year-old patient struggle of the kisans, the food-givers of the country. Prime Minister was compelled to apologise to them and cancel all the anti-kisan laws and agree to other fully justified demands. It made one to remember the 22 days strike of the P and T workers in 1946, before which the mighty British government was stunned and which had to concede all the 12 demands raised by the union. Of course that was part of the great Independence Struggle.
As far as BSNL is concerned it has to be revived and strengthened for the benefit of the Nation, the people and the workers. Telecom is the second line of defence. It is crucial for the growth of the country, especially the far flung villages, border areas, strategical centres etc. The workers have got the responsibility to go to the people and campaign for getting their active support explaining what would happen if telecom sector is completely handed over to the private companies.
The formation of the Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU-AIBDPA-BSNLCCWF and its campaign programme and agitations are in the right direction. It has to be developed in to a forum of all the unions and associations of the workers, the pensioners and the contract workers and sustained struggles organised with the support of the people.
The two days strike on 23-24 February 2022 called by the Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations is in the right direction and it had to be made a full success. Such unity and struggles are required to save BSNL and revive it.
As per reported statistics India lost 1,54,732 valuable lives in 2019 alone, in 4,37,396 rod accidents. During Covid period this was comparatively less. Now that restrictions are being removed, accidents have started increasing. The maximum victims are two wheeler riders, either through their direct accidents or through cars, buses, heavy vehicles hitting them. A most condemnable part is the role of those vehicle drivers who speed away, without stopping and helping the victims, well knowing that the accidents were due to their mistakes.
Neither the central government nor the state government seems to take serious note of these accidents and deaths even though their number is increasing every year. It is also a fact that the people themselves are much worried on the spot, but forget all the trauma in a short time.
The Central – State governments has to enforce the traffic rules strictly, roads should be improved, public should be enlightened how to avoid accidents etc. Will it happen in India in the recent future ?
COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON23-24 FEBRUARY, 2022 Call of the NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS held on 11TH November 2021, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
6th December, 2021, New Delhi:
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent sectoral All India Federations and Associations met in Delhi on 3rd December, 2021 and finalized the dates for the Countrywide 2-days’ General Strike, on 23-24 February 2022 during the budget session of the Parliament as announced by the National Convention of Workers held on 11th November 2021 at New Delhi, against the anti-people, anti-worker and anti-national destructive policies of the BJP Govt. at the centre.
The main slogan of the strike will be SAVE THE PEOPLE AND SAVE THE NATION.
It was decided to hold joint preparatory public meetings in co-ordination with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leadership, especially in the states that are to go to polls in the beginning of 2022, to strengthen the call of “Mission UP”, “Mission Uttarakhand” given by the SKM. The Joint Platform of Trade Unions & Federations reiterated its continued proactive support to the programmes and struggles decided by SKM, following repeal of the Farm Laws.
The State Units of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations will carry out intensive campaign jointly through various forms – such as state conventions, human chains, torchlight processions, signature campaigns, sectoral and area-based joint campaign and agitation etc- to expose the consequences of the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti–people, pro-corporate and anti-national destructive policies by the Govt. of India which have brought the lives and livelihood of the entire people and also the country’s economy to the brink of disaster. Already many struggles and agitations are going on in many sectors on the same issues at the initiative of the constituents of Joint Platform. The Joint Platform also welcomes and supports the decision of two days countrywide strike in Banks on 16-17 December 2021 as decided by United Forum of Bank Unions and also the strike decision by Electricity Employees’ joint forum on 1st February 2022-all against privatization move and retrograde legislative move in that direction. Our United Struggle is not only to save the rights and lives/livelihood of people but also save the country’s economy and the entire democratic system and the society as a whole from disaster and destruction being engineered by the authoritarian forces in governance with the active support of private corporate, both domestic and foreign and decisively defeat the disastrous policy regime and their political operators in governance.
The farmers’ movement has snatched a historic victory by forcing the arrogant Modi govt. to repeal the 3 farm laws. Now the cross sections of the Working People must heighten their united intervention further to demand a halt to this process of assault on lives and livelihood, employment, alarming intensity of impoverishment and hunger, assault on democracy and also unity of the people and thereby save our dear nation from disaster.
We have to demand from all political parties of the nation to incorporate “protection of right to work, living wage, free quality health-care and education-facility to all citizens and all legitimate constitutional rights” as a firm commitment in their political manifestos for the coming assembly elections in 2022 and for the elections scheduled for 2024 and take oath publicly to fulfill their assurances and to support the demands of workers, farmers and all people of the country if they come to power.
The recent repeal of 3 Farm Laws and marginal reduction in central taxes on petrol/diesel in the face of determined long-drawn united struggles by the farmers along with countrywide solidarity actions by the working people and people at large demonstrating rising popular anger and unrest, is also a reflection cum reaction under compulsion of the debacle faced by the ruling party in the centre in the recent by-elections. And therefore, intensification of the united struggle in continuity determined to combat and defeat the anti-people policies and the regime is the way before us. Let that determination be demonstrated in the forthcoming countrywide two days’ general strike.
We have to heighten our united struggle resolutely pressing for our demands, particularly for
Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA (Essential Defence Services Act)
Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha,
No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all
Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme
Along with other demands already formulated and being pressed for and pursued by the Joint Platform of CTUs and Federations/Associations.
Forward to the 2-days countrywide General Strikes on 23-24 February 2022
The Central Trade Unions organised a National Convention of Workers at Jantar Mantar on 11th November, 2021. The Convention deliberated in detail about the pro-corporate, anti-people, anti-worker and anti-kisan policies of the Modi government. The Convention unanimously resolved to organise a two day General Strike in the budget session of the Parliament, opposing the wrong policies of the government and demanding settlement of the 12 point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions. Thereafter, the Central Trade Unions have discussed and finalised the date of the General Strike. Yesterday, the Central Trade Unions have issued a statement, announcing that the two day General Strike would take place on 23rd & 24th February, 2022.
Charter of demands
Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA.
Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all.
Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme.
It was on 17th December,1982,the constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice Y V Chandrachud delivered the historic judgment in the case filed by Shri.D.S.Nakara. The judgment being called as the Magna Carta of the pensioners declared in unequivocal terms that pension is not a bounty but a right of the pensioners and pensioners cannot be discriminated on the basis of date of retirement.
It is also a fact that the pensioners in the country started organising themselves after this important judgment and fought against many injustices and won many a battles. But the government continues the attacks on the genuine rights of the pensioners and the PFRDA Act is the real challenge to the entire pension community. Attempts are also being reported to curtail the pension and to hand over the the pension fund to the private entities.
As far as BSNL and DoT pensioners are concerned many of the just demands, including pension revision, are still to be settled due to the negative stand of the government. So let us affirm to continue our fight against all injustices being meted out to the pensioners and the onslaught against the people.
Let us also remember the great man, D S Nakara for his heroic and relentless fight and observe the National Pensioners Day in a befitting manner. (AIBDPA Website)
The Central Government is paying only Rs. 200 as old age pension to the senior citizens ie. those who are above 60 years and are not having any income. No increase of the pension amount since it started about 10 years back.
Senior Citizens Friend Welfare Association, Kerala has demanded that the Old Age pension should be increased to Rs. 5,000 so that they will be able to manage their daily life.
Women above 58 years of age and men above 60 years of age were getting 50% and 40% concessions respectively in train ticket charges. This was withdrawn in 2020 during the Covid period on the plea that senior citizens are not expected to travel during Covid period. Now trains have started running. Senior citizens will have to travel for medical treatment, visiting their children working in other places etc as also visiting tourist places.
The Central Government should immediately restore the concession in train charges for senior citizens. Do not ignore the senior citizens.
BSNLEU CHQ has decided that the next All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union, the majority Recognised Union in BSNL, will be held at Guwahati from7th to 10th March 2022. The earlier AICs were held at Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Guwahati, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Chennai and Mysuru respectively.
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