World Elders day on 1st October has been organised and celebrated befittingly by NCCPA, AIBDPA, SCFWA an many other organisations in a befitting way. A report from the website of AIBDPA is given below;

As already been intimated , we have to observe the World Elders Day at all levels in a befitting manner. The call for the observance was given well in advance by the TUI(P&R) to highlight the genuine demands of the elderly people; DECENT AND DIGNIFIED LIFE TO ALL THE ELDERS. Ensure decent pension, Medical Care, Housing, Potable water and Transport Facilities, Entertainment and Ensure Old Age pension to all the senior citizens.

NCCPA has organised a National Webinar at 4PM on 01-10-2021. Com.A K Padmanabhan, Vice President, CITU will present the keynote address. Coms. Shiv Gopal Mishra, V A N Namboodiri, K K N Kutty, K G Jayaraj, K Ragavendran etc will also address. All the CHQ Office Bearers, Circle Secretaries and District Secretaries are requested to join the programme. The link will be sent later.

District Branches are requested to observe the programme according to local conditions, jointly with other pensioners organisations as far as possible, by holding demonstration, meetings etc exhibiting placards, flags and banners. The photos be sent to CHQ and ensure media coverage also. (AIBDPA website)

29th September 2021 is the 94th birth anniversary of Com.K.T.Mohammed, Bhishmapithamaha or Nataka Kulapathy of drama writers / artists of Kerala. The day is being observed every year by organising various programmes in his memory and on his contributions. This year the day is being observed by a webinar organised by the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham. K.T. has written about 40 dramas, including ‘Ithu Bhumiyanu’ (‘This is the earth’), ‘Kandam Becha Kottu'(‘Coat with stitched parts’)etc. He has also written screen plays for a lot of Films. He had his own drama team and club. He was honoured with many awards including Kerala State Film Award for best screen play.K.T. Mohammed was an employee of the Posts and Telegraphs Department. He first worked as an ED Packer and after passing examinations was promoted to Postmen and then to Postal Clerk. He was very active in NFPTE and participated in all the strikes and struggles organised in P and T. He was suspended for his leading role in the Token Strike of 19th September 1968. He resigned protesting against the anti-worker victimization imposed on the strikers by the Central government and fully engaged himself in writing drama and attending other cultural activities. Of course, he continued his connection with the P and T Movement and his erstwhile comrades till the last. Attended many meetings and conferences of the union.I had the fortune to work in the union along with him. Many times visited his drama club. Even while functioning at Delhi, when visiting Kozhikode, I met him more than once at his residence along with late Com. K.Rajan, who was the Convener of the Co-ordinating Committee of NFPTE Kozhikode at that time. Once I gave K.T. a copy of the one page article about him published in the journal of the NFPTE in 1952 at the time when he was given an International Short Story Award award for his short story ” Kannukal ” (‘The Eyes’). He was very happy to receive the old copy.There is a big fine Statue of Com. K.T.Mohammed installed in his honour in the centre of the Kozhikode Town by the Corporation. But by oversight or so, the name and other particulars are not noted on the statue. The new Mayor of the Kozhikode Corporation, Smt. Beena Philip, has assured when we approached her, that the Corporation will certainly fulfill its responsibility in maintaining and placing a suitable name plate at the earliest.

Justice Ramana, Chief Justice of India, have expressed his opinion that at least 50% posts of judges be filled up by women. This is an admirable suggestion. Congratulations to the Chief Justice for his excellent suggestion.

Central Government with Shri Narendra Modi as Prime Minister is moving ahead to sell and hand over all the Central Public Sector Units like Air India, Airports, Railways, BSNL, LIC, Banks, Oil companies etc. to the corporate houses for nominal price. Even the large profitable PSUs are made loss making by creating hurdles in their functioning and development. Crony capitalism indeed.

On the other hand, the Kerala LDF government with Com.Pinarayi Vijayan as Chief Minister is making all the state PSUs profitable with good support from the government both on policy and development. It has offered the central government that it is prepared to take over the Central PSUs in the state, but the Modi government is bent upon handing over them to the Ambanis and Adanis.

Two governments, two approaches.

The Bharat Bandh and Hartal called by the farmers’ organisations and central trade unions on 27th September against the anti-worker and anti-kisan policies and actions of the Modi government are going to be the biggest agitation in the recent past. The entire country is preparing for the same. It is going to create history in the country. Congratulations in advance to all those comrades and friends who are marching ahead with the action programme.

Trade Union International(Pensioners & Retirees) an affiliate of the WFTU has given call to observe 1st October as International Elders’ Day, as is usually being observed. Many organizations of the pensioners as well as Senior Citizens also have given call. There is no doubt that the day will be observed befittingly.

“Five days that created History” the book written by V.A.N.Nambbodiri and P.V.Chandrasekharan about the 5 days glorious strike of the central government employees in July 1960 was released by Com.K.Chandran Pillai, National Secretary, CITU by handing over a copy to P.K.Muraleedharan, Convener, NFPE Kerala on an online meeting on 19th September 2021, the 53rd Anniversary of the 1968 strike. The book is in Malayalam. It is also proposed to prepare an English version of the book in due course.

The three days dharna at Jantar Mantar premises, New Delhi by the BSNL workers as per the call of the AUAB from 21st September 2021 is a great success with massive participation from Delhi and nearby circles.

The BSNL management and central government should take note of the serious dissatisfaction among the workers, the need for reviving the BSNL and should take necessary immediate action. Otherwise sustained struggles will have to be faced by them.