According to the deployment plan approved by the Cabinet, the number of PGM/GM level officers to be posted in BSNL during 2021-22 is just 199. However, today, the working number is more than 425. About 130 PGM/GM level officers are working in excess from 2020 onwards and in 2021-22 the number will be around 225. Management is simply accommodating hundreds of senior officers in BSNL without any justification and paying them the benefits of 7th CPC, LTC, Transport Allowance, TA, Tuition Fee reimbursement etc., on the revised rates, when the same are denied to BSNL employees. It is identified that, about 20 PGM/GMs are in excess at BSNLCO itself. BSNL is paying about Rs.90 to 100 crore per annum as salary and allowances for the excess officers working in BSNL. (from BSNLEU website)
61st Anniversary of Historic 11th July 1960 Strike
11th July 2021 is the 61st anniversary of the historic 5 days strike of central govt employees. The main demands were Need Based Minimum Wage and DA according to cost of living index.
These were not new demands. The Tripartite Conference of govt, employers and workers in 1957 had already accepted the justification of need based minimum wage. It was to be implemented, but govt refused to implement. Demand of DA according to increase in cost of living index was raised before 1946 Central Pay Commission but was denied. Govt was not prepared even for a constructive discussion. Strike notice issued to start in June was postponed to July to enable the govt to start discussion. But Nehru govt was not prepared for discussion. Instead was determined to crush it utilising ruthless govt machinery.
The strike spread like wildfire in all departments of the central govt. It was massive in P&T, AGs Office, Railways etc. The barbaric Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance was promulgated, with six months jail for participation in strike and one year jail for instigation. More than one lakh were arrested and jailed, including central trade union leaders and M.P.s. 17 comrades became martyrs.
Strike was withdrawn after 5 days, unable to face the cruel attack launched by the brutal govt machinery. Fight against victimisation continued long 4 – 5 years, till all were taken back in service.
Govt was under the wrong impression that the central employees’ movement is weakened and there will be no struggle in future. But they were mistaken. A mighty strike took place on 19th September 1968 on the same demands.
I was a participant in the historic 1960 strike and remember the brutality with which the govt hounded the striking workers including women.
On this 61st anniversary of 1960 strike we pay homage to the martyrs. Struggle is to continue for Need Based Minimum wage. DA has been frozen for the last 18 months for CG employees and pensioners since January 2020. PSUs are, one after another, being sold to corporates. Labour laws enacted after sustained struggles are thrown to the winds. Lakhs of vacancies in govt departments are kept unfilled. Kisans are on struggle for months for their existence. Central trade unions are on struggle path. United sustained struggle is the only way before the working class. 1960 strike memory will certainly be inspiration for future struggles.
(A book on the 1960 strike was being prepared to be released on the 61st anniversary of the strike, but due to Covid pandemic, it is being postponed for some time. Hope to publish it this year itself).
Ayurveda Kulapathi PadmaShri and Padmabhushan Doctor P.K.Warrier (100) passed away today. He was not only a worldwide known Ayurveda physician, but also a person involved in progressive movements. He brought Kottakkal Aurveda Vaidyasala and Ayurveda treatment to new heights. He was close to top politicians as also to common people.
1960 ജൂലൈ 11ന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച കേന്ദ്രജീവനക്കാരുടെ ഐതിഹാസികമായ പണിമുടക്കിന്റെ അറുപത്തിയൊന്നാം വാർഷികത്തിൽ സമരത്തിന്റെ ആവേശകരമായ ഓർമ്മകൾ! ഒപ്പം കേരളത്തിൽ നിന്നും പണിമുടക്കുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് രക്ത സാക്ഷികളായ പാലക്കാട് ടെലിഫോൺ എക്സ്ചേഞ്ചിലെ ടെലിഫോൺ ഓപ്പറേറ്റർ സ. എകാംബരത്തിന്നും കോട്ടയം ഹെഡ് പോസ്റ്റ് ഓഫീസിലെ പോസ്റ്മാൻ സ ടി.കെ.വർക്കിക്കും ഒരു പിടി രക്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ അർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
CPI(M) Kerala is observing 1st to 8th July 2021 as a week dedicated to the cause of the women organising many programmes for the empowerment of women and against various kinds of discrimination, insults, assaults against them. Though dowry system is prohibited, it continues unabated in various forms and married women are mentally and physically assaulted on this issue by husband and in-laws, even resulting in death or suicide. The LDF government is taking various measures to empower women and ensure equal status to them in all spheres. Despite this, wages for men and women are unequal in many areas, with lower wages for women. The struggle continues and sustained efforts will be required to ensure equal status for men and women. Many initiatives are being planned by the government including required modification in the school curriculum, labour rules, continued propaganda etc.
This inequality and discrimination have been continuing for thousands of years in various forms. Struggles were also going against them. In this connection, I remember a few instances in the case of government employees, even in 20th century. Almost all the big telephone exchanges were feminised, meaning that only women Telephone Operators were employed there. Women T.O.s were granted one extra increment for not marrying. Of course, both these conditions could be changed through the struggles by the workers. In the central govt employees’ strike in 1960 and 1968 and proposed P & T strike of 1949, hundreds of lady telephone operators were arrested, jailed in most of the major cities and towns including Calicut, Trichur, Ernakula etc. in Kerala and some of them terminated/ dismissed from service. Almost the same case was with the Air-hostesses and in certain places for Nurses. Airhostesses had to go to court to get the right to marry, if I remember correct. Nurses had to struggle to get their half skirt uniforms changed. (Recruitment of men telephone operators, Stewards and Nurses gradually changed the situation).
In many other professions, similar discrimination existed and sometimes continues. The struggle for equal status is not an easy one. The struggle has to be continued at home, public spaces, work places, worshipping places etc. etc. Removing the discrimination existing for centuries is not easy. But it is necessary for the future of the human existence. The fight continues.
22Biplab Das, Chandrasekharn Puthiyaveettil and 20 others1 CommentLikeCommentShare
കേരളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ വയോജനസംഘടനായ സീനിയർ സിറ്റിസൺസ് ഫ്രണ്ട്സ് വെൽഫേർ അസോസിയേഷന്റെ സ്ഥാപന ദിനമാണ് ജൂലൈ 9. 2006 ൽ രൂപീകരിക്കപ്പെട്ട അസോസിയേഷൻ വിജയകരമായ 15 വർഷങ്ങൾ പിന്നിട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.
ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ മുതിർന്ന പൗരന്മാരുടെ വിവിധ പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യുകയും അവ പരിഹരിക്കുവാൻ എല്ലാ ശ്രമങ്ങളും നടത്തുകയുണ്ടായി. ആരോഗ്യ പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ, ഫലപ്രദമായ ചികിത്സ സംവിധാനങ്ങൾ, സംരക്ഷണവും സുരക്ഷയും, പീഡന വിരുദ്ധ നടപടികൾ, സർക്കാരിൽ നിന്നും ലഭിക്കേണ്ട ആനുകൂല്യങ്ങൾ, വയോജന സദനങ്ങൾ തുടങ്ങിയ കാര്യങ്ങളിലെല്ലാം വിവിധ തലങ്ങളിൽ അസോസിയേഷന്റെ പ്രവർത്തകർ ഇടപെടുകയും പരിഹാരങ്ങൾ കാണാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി.
ജനാധിപത്യപരമായ പ്രവർത്തനം അസോസിയേഷൻ എപ്പോഴും ഉറപ്പാക്കി. വയോജന കൗൺസിലുകളിൽ വയോജന സൗഹൃദ നടപടികൾ തീരുമാനിക്കുന്നതിലും നടപ്പാക്കുന്നതിലും ക്രിയാത്മയമായ പങ്കു വഹിച്ചു.
അസോസിയേഷന്റെ മാസിക ‘ വയോജന വാർത്ത’, കൃത്യമായും ഫലപ്രദമായും ഇറക്കുവാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞു.
അസോസിയേഷൻ പതിനാറാം വർഷത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിക്കുന്ന ഇപ്പോൾ എല്ലാ വയോജനങ്ങൾക്കും അസോസിഷൻ അംഗങ്ങൾക്കും പ്രവർത്തകർക്കും നേതാക്കൾക്കും
അഭിനന്ദനങ്ങൾ, AAsamsakal!
വയോജന താല്പര്യങ്ങൾ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്ന പരിപാടികളുമായി നമുക്ക് മുന്നേറാം.
വി എ എൻ നമ്പൂതിരി, സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ്, സീനിയർ സിറ്റിസൺസ് ഫ്രണ്ട്സ് വെൽഫേർ അസോസിയേഷൻ.
Com.Jyoti Basu was one of the giants of the political scenery of India. He was the Chief Minister of W.Bengal for long 33 years. His contribution as Chief Minister as well as the charismatic top leader of the CPI(M) and its PBM since its formation in 1964 is legendary.
I had been fortunate to meet him during union conference as also Party Congresses. My request that the W.Bengal government may kindly ensure that all the government telecom services be made through BSNL was well received. The same reply was also given by Com. Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister, Tripura, who was also present.
Red Salute to Com. Jyoti Basu on his 108th Birth Day !
When BSNL was formed, there were about 3.5 lakhs employees including both executives and non-executives, out of which about 3 lakhs were non-executives. Now, after 20 years, the non-executives have been reduced to 32,027 out of about the 60,000 odd employees. 80,000 employees were forced to take VRS through several compulsions in the year 2000 , reducing the staff to almost half. Now further staff are reduced since no new recruitment.
There were about 50 – 60 cadres when BSNL was formed in the non-executive. Now, it is reduced to four viz. JE, TT, ATT and Sr.TOA. The last two cadres are being treated as cadres in which rarely there will be recruitment. Posts are being treated as supernumerary, meaning that on retirement of an official that post will be abolished.
These are part of the govt policy of either closure, privatisation or demolition of this prime institution.
The agitational programme chalked out by the All Unions, Association of BSNL (AUAB) are fully justified. Not only the associations/unions of working employees but pensioners organisation , AIBDPA, has fully supported the programme and will participate in them.
7th July 2021 is the 100th Birth Anniversary of Comrade K.G.Bose, the legendary revolutionary leader of Central and P&T employees, who passed away at a comparatively young age of 54 on 11th December 1974.
Comrade Krishna Gopal Basu entered P&T Department as clerk in the office of the Divisional Engineer Telegraphs, Calcutta in 1941. He became an active worker of the union from the day he joined the service.
Com.K.G. along with Com.Dada Ghosh ( B.N.Ghosh) took lead in organising the P & T Strike of 1946 in Bengal and made it completely successful. He was also an active participant in the formation of UPTW in 1946. KG was arrested and dismissed from service in connection with the proposed P&T strike of 1949 and was never reinstated. He became a full time trade union worker.
KG was one of the comrades who took initiative for formation of NFPTE in 1954, merging all the different existing unions in P& T. He also took leading part in the historic strikes of 1960 and 1968.
He was Circle Secretary, West Bengal of both Postal Class III & Engg. Class III Union. He was also All India President of P.III Union. He was elected as President of NFPTE in 1970 defeating the revisionist leadership and led the movement till his death in 1974.
KG was close to the workers and understood their feelings and pulse. Since 1964 All India Conference at Trivandrum, I had been fortunate to be in close contact with him and get his advice and guidance. He visited Calicut twice on our ivitation, the second time in April 1973. In the All India Conference we woked under his guidance. He inspired the workers with his sincerity and progressive ideas. He was an inspiration to the entire trade union movement.
He was elected as an MLA and also functioned as a Member of the Pay Commission for state employees in W.Bengal.
Com.KG Bose passed away on 11th December 1974 at a London Hospital, where he was under treatment for dreaded cancer. His death was a big blow to the P&T and Central employees movement.
His younger brother Com.Moni Bose was an important leader of P&T movement and General Secretary of E.III Union. His wife, Com Jyotsna Bose, was also a respected leader of P&T. Both have passed away.
K.G.Bose Mandiram at Calicut was the first memorial building opened in memory of Com.KG, which was inaugurated by Com.Parul Bose, his wife and leader of Teachers’ Union. BSNLEU building in Delhi is named ‘KG BOSE BHAWAN’ and was inaugurated by Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU. The road in front of the family of KG and Moni Bose is named as ‘K G BOSE SARANI’in memory of the legendary leader.
It is understood that W.Bengal comrades have decided to organise various memorial programmes in connection with the birth century of Com.K.G.Bose. Good decision.
Revolutionary Greetings on the 100th Birth Anniversary of the legendary leader Com K.G.Bose! Red Salute!
The negative attitude of the BSNL management and the DOT in delaying pension revision to BSNL retirees wef 01-01-2017 is fully unjustified and anti-pensioner. We demand the authorities to implement the pay revision with 15% fitment at the earliest.
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