Death is certain for everyone who are born. This is an ultimate truth, which has got no exception. In short, one is born to die.

Kerala Circle Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF organised an effective convention against handing over of national assets to the corporates by the Modi government at YMCA Hall, Ernakulam on 30-11-2021. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Chairman presided over the convention. Com.C Santhoshkumar, Convenor welcomed one and all. Com.S S Sunil, State General Secretary, BEFI inaugurated the convention. Coms. V A N Namboodiri, President, BSNL CCWF, K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, M Vijayakumar, AGS, BSNLEU, K Mohanan, Dy Secretary General, BSNL CCWF and P Manoharan, Circle President, BSNLEU addressed the convention.

All the three private telecom companies drastically raise the tariffs.

All the three private telecom companies have raised their tariffs drastically. While Airtel and Vodafone Idea have raised their tariffs by 20 to 25 per cent, Reliance Jio has raised it’s tariffs by 21 per cent. As a result, a customer who is paying Rs.129/- for 28 days, with unlimited voice calls and 2GB data per day, will hereafter has to pay Rs.155/-. Similarly, a tariff plan with 2GB data per day, with validity of 365 days, will increase from Rs.2,599/- to Rs.2,879/-. The Reliance Jio, with it’s predatory pricing, has closed down all other private telecom companies, except Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Now, all these three private telecom companies have come to an understating and have simultaneously raised the tariff. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Com.G.Sasidharan Achari, senior leader of BSNLEU as well AIBDPA passed away at Thiruvananthapuram on 25th November. He was 73. He has been the Circle Treasurer of AITEU Class iii and BSNLEU for more than two decades. His death is a great loss to the movement. His wife, Com.K.Leelamma was the convener of the Mahila Committee of E.III Circle Union and is still active in the progressive movement. Daughters: Priya and Prita.

My heartfelt condolences to the bereave family.

Red Salute to Com. Sasidharan Achari !

Kannur Dist Conference of AIBDPA was held on 28th Nov. 2021. A good number of comrades participated. Coms. K.Jayaraj, GS and Guruprasad, CS participated and addressed.

New office-bearers with Coms. Santhakumar (President) and K.Mohanan (DS) have been elected.

On invitation from the T.Nadu Circle Union, AIBDPA, I had the opportunity to attend the Circle Working Committee Meeting of AIBDPA. at Tiruchirappally on 19th November 2021. In my inaugural speech , I touched upon the major issues of the pensioners, including Pension Revision, Medical Allowance, Medical Bills, Anomalies etc.

Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle President presided. Com. N.Kuppusamy, Circle Secretary presented the report since the last CWC. Com.S.Mohandoss, All India Vice-President and Com. Pankajavalli, All India Asst Treasurer addressed. The working committee discussed important issues and took decisions to improve the membership and increase the subscribers to Tele-Pensioner.

For the first time in the history of 21 years of BSNL, the number of executives has surpassed that of non-executives. The number of executives is 36,101 and that of non-executives 35,341. When BSNL was formed it was almost 3.0 lakh non-executives and about 50,000 executives.

Years after years, the number of non-executives have been reduced by reducing the sanctioned posts, changing the standards of posts, not-filling up the vacancies as also not sanctioning any fresh posts. There is very less staff even to attend to regular immediate works. In addition, almost 60,000 or more contract workers have been retrenched.

This is another well planned programme to make BSNL most unviable. It has to be opposed and defeated.

Meeting held between the AUAB and the DoT.

A meeting is held today, 24th Nov. 2021, between the AUAB and the DoT. Shri Sajeev Gupta, DDG(PM), who is also looking after as the Joint Secretary (Admin.) and other officers participated. BSNL is represented by Ms. Anita Johri, Sr.GM(SR). All the General Secretaries / Representatives of the constituents of the AUAB participated in the meeting. The AUAB had given 7 agenda items for  discussion in this meeting. Detailed discussion is held in a cordial atmosphere.  A note on today’s discussion will be issued by the AUAB shortly. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

The staff has been reduced drastically after the VRS. At present the approved strength in 71,442 and the working strength 63525. At the time of formation of BSNL, it was almost 3.5lakh workforce.

Now that the trains have started running in a normal way, why the government is not restoring concession to senior citizens and other similar categories, which were withdrawn in February 2019. Govt. should restore the same with out further delay.