Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Bhopal Gas Tragedy completes 30 years

01 Monday Dec 2014

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It was on the night of 2-3 December 1984 that the Bhopal Gas disaster occurred killing more than 3000 people and making many more thousands chronic patients and disabled for their life. This is the biggest such disaster in the world.

Even after thirty years, full compensation has not been given, the affected persons still suffer, and the culprits have not been punished. Justice is not meted to the affected people and to the bereaved of the gas victims.

The government should act and ensure justice to the victims and their families.

 

Parliament Members complain about BSNL, MTNL Services

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNL News

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Many members in the Parliament complained about the services of the BSNL and MTNL. Many others joined them. They were stating their experiences.

BSNL, MTNL Management and employees have to understand the feelings of the Members of Parliament about the service. A serious introspection is required both on the part of the management and the workers.

It is true that the anti-PSU, anti-BSNL, Anti-MTNL policy of both the UPA and NDA governments are the root cause of the present unhappy situation. They have systematically weakened the telecom PSUs and supported the private companies. All obstructions were made by the government in procuring the required equipment, the funds of the BSNL were gradually grabbed by the government on one plea or another, did not give what is due to BSNL and had made the BSNL a loss making company. The totally inefficient Management has added to the problems of BSNL. A top management which does not belong to BSNL is in charge, which does not have any stake in the company.

But the workers and their organisations can not sit idle, stating that the government and the management are the culprits and creators of the present chaos. Their duty is to explain  the present situation and change it for the better, for a better service to the people.

It is, because of this responsibility,  that the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has decided to organise a massive campaign among the public to inform them what has happened in BSNL, What is happening now and what is to be done to improve the situation. In preparation for the Indefinite Strike from 3rd February 2015, the Forum has decided to meet the MPs and seek their help in pressurising the government to support BSNL for revival. There should be maximum campaign among the public also. At the same time, a campaign should be organised among the workers themselves to provide a better service, despite all constraints.

The meeting of the Forum being held on 5th December will plan the campaign and organising the programme   of action already decided. Each and every worker should be part of this massive campaign and action.

Forum will meet on 5th December 2014

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in Forum, TU News - India

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The Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations has called upon the workers to go on Indefinite Strike from 3rd February 2015, demanding the government and the Management to urgently take necessary measures to revive BSNL and improve the services.

In order to plan the campaign programmes in connection with the strike, a meeting of the Forum will be held at 03.00 PM on 5th December 2014 at BSNLMS Office.

All the affiliates have been requested to necessarily participate in the meeting. The leaders and workers at the field level are requested to start preparations for the Indefinite Strike.

Left Parties in Odisha on agitational path

01 Monday Dec 2014

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Bhubaneswar, Nov 30 : Accusing the NDA government of pursuing “anti-people policies”, Left parties today threatened to launch a campaign here on December 10 against “its failure on several fronts”, including inability to bring back black money stashed abroad.

The Left parties would also sharpen their attack on the BJD government in Odisha over corruption and multi-crore chit fund scam being investigated by the CBI, leaders of CPI, CPI-M, Forward Bloc, SUCI and CPI (ML) Liberation told reporters here.

Though BJP and Narendra Modi had announced that black money would be brought back within 100 days of coming to power, now the Centre is backtracking from its promise, the Left party leaders said. (PTI)

 

Organise National Protest Day on 5th December with Massive Rallies

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in TU News - India

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The call of the 11 Central Trade Unions to organise 5th December 2011 as ‘National Protest Day’ is most appropriate. The Modi Government, after taking over the reins of government has been continuously attacking through its reformist policies, the people and especially the working class.

The amendments to the labour laws to favour the corporates and other employers has been moved in the Parliament. Once they are passed, about 60% of the workers will be out of the purview of the labour rules including minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. Rajasthan BJP government has already adopted such acts and M.P. Government, which also is BJP, has issued ordinances to that effect. Other BJP governments may also follow suit.

Increase in FDI in all sectors is on the line. Government has already moved for 100 % FDI in Railways, despite strong opposition from the Railway Federation, AIRF. In defence production also, the FDI is being increased. MNCs and big corporates are given all benefits. The due taxes running in to thousands of crores of rupees are being waived as in the case of Nokia, Vodafone, Shell etc. But at the same time, it is not prepared even to refund BSNL the charges of spectrum, which the latter has surrendered. It is delaying the payment of USOF of Rs. 1,250 crores to BSNL, which is in lieu of ADC, and which had already been approved for the year 2012-13.

There is no respite from the soaring prices, despite promise of the BJP that the prices will be stabilised. Even after the global oil prices have come down, the government is reluctant to reduce the price accordingly, citing the loss to the government from taxes.

The aggressive disinvestment process will soon result in private control of many PSUs, resulting in privatisation,  as happened in the case of VSNL. HMT Watches, Hindustan Cables and other such PSUs are being directly privatised. BSNL and MTNL is also on the line.  The PSUs are being sold cheap.

Unorganised workers are being brutally exploited. There is no move to regularise the contract workers who are employed in the place of regular employees resulting in wage slavery. More than 90% of the total workers are in the unorganised sector.

It is in these circumstances that the Central Trade Unions have  called for observing the National Protest Day on 5th December 2014. This call has been supported by all the Independent Federations of Central, State and Public Sectors also.

Massive campaign programmes have been organised in all the states in November 2014 to mobilise the workers for participation in the national Protest Day.

In Delhi, the Central Trade Unions have decided to hold massive rally at Jantar Mantar by about 10.30 hours, which will be participated by thousands of workers.

It is the duty of each and every worker, every trade union, to take this opportunity to participate in the National Protest Day and the make the programme a historical event. The Central trade Unions are expected to take important decision for further agitational programmes.

 

AIRF Opposes Railway Privatisation

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy, TU News - India

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Lucknow, Nov 29 : All India Railwaymen’s Federation today said it opposes 100 per cent FDI in railways as it will “demolish the existing framework” of the organisation.

“During the national convention of AIRF, 100 per cent FDI in railway was taken as a challenge as it will demolish the existing frame work of the organisation,” National General Secretary AIRF Shiv Gopal Mishra told reporters here.

“It is being said that FDI is needed for railways. But when the government can invest in infrastructure, then why not in railways,” he added.

“The railways is not in loss. The railways could have saved Rs 1,56,000 crore if it was allowed to do fair pricing,” he claimed.

“When in opposition BJP opposed FDI during UPA regime and now it has taken a U-turn and is supporting it,” he added.

Mishra said other issues of merging dearness allowance into basic salary, to provide interim relief, abolish new pension scheme and to restore old one and anti-labour provisions in the labour law were also taken up. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

 

Vehicles older than 15 years to go off the Delhi roads

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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National Green Tribunal(NGT) has ordered that all the vehicles, including buses, cars, autorikshas etc.  which are older than 15 years should not ply and would be off the roads in Delhi. The order has been issued by the NGT to reduce the high level of pollution in Delhi.

It is estimated that there are about 29 lakhs vehicles which are more than 15 years old plying in the Delhi roads. As per the orders all these vehicles will be off the roads.

Hope this will reduce the pollution level at least to a certain extent.

Untouchability still highly prevalent in India – A sad commentary on Indian Democracy

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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The sad truth has once again been confirmed. In the secular democratic republic of India, untouchability is still being practiced by about 25% of the population. it means that about 30 crores of people are still accepting this worst practice against humanity. This is based on the joint report of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Mary Land University of USA.

The situation varies from states to states. The untouchability is being practiced maximum   in the Hindi belt. Madhya Pradesh tops the states with 53%, followed by Himachal Pradesh (50%), Chhattisgarh (48%), Rajasthan and Bihar (47%), U.P.(43%) and Utharakhand (40%).

While in India , the average is 25%, in Kerala it is only 2%. Kerala has the least number of people practicing untouchability. But even that is too much to be tolerated.

What the Modi government will do to improve the situation? Will it take any action at all to remove the same? Will the Party which follows the Manu guidelines on caste (Manusmriti) take any action at all ?

It is not the government alone, but the entire people should take this as a challenge and remove this black blot on the face of the Indian Republic.

Around 13,000 wage slaves in UK ; How much in India?

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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The U.K. Home Office has stated that there are up to 13,000 people working as slaves in U.K. This is based on the assessment of the Police, UK Border Force, Charities and the Gang Masters of Licencing Authority.

The slavery victims include women forced to Prostitution, domestic staff, workers in the fields, factories and fishing boats etc. More of the slave victims are from other countries like Albania, Nigeria, Romania etc. trafficked in to UK.

In UK, as stated above, there are about 13,000 slaves? What is the number of such slaves in India? If the above criterion is taken, the slaves in India will run into crores.Whether the government has any idea about how much it will be ?

Earlier, the foreign invaders kept Indians as slaves. But now the Indian rulers, themselves, are keeping other Indians as slaves. This has to be changed. Nobody should be slaves. All should be free citizens, not only to cast vote, but also financially free.

Prime Minister moves for privatisation of Railways

29 Saturday Nov 2014

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After making 100% FDI in Railways, Prime Minister Modi is moving fast to privatise the Railways. While flagging of the first train from Meghalaya to Guwahati, PM stated that the Railway Stations should be privatised for modernisation. He also stated that Railways should leverage its properties by allowing private parties to build luxury hotels, restaurants and other facilities.

This is nothing but privatising the Railways, which is the property of the people. Railways has the maximum land assets and is the largest employing government department. The NDA government wants this asset to be handed over to the private companies according to its motto ” Business is not the business of the government”.

Privatisation means higher charges. Privatisation of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad Airports have shown how much the airfare as well as the prices for the sales, including tea, meals etc. have increased in these airports. The train travellers will be fleeced by the private companies. Train Travel will become just like Air travel with regard to costs.

We strongly oppose the privatisation of the railways. It is anti-people and selling the family silver. The assets of the people are gifted to private companies to increase their profits. This should be stopped.