Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Meeting of GoM on Revival of BSNL and MTNL on 30th July

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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The GoM on Revival of BSNL and MTNL will have its second meeting on 30th July 2013. The first meeting was held on 12th June 2013, in which the BSNL and MTNL management presented about the financial assistance required from the government. It is reported that a demand for Rs.22,964 crore was presented including for both the PSUs, especially connected with the spectrum issues, mandatory provisions for PSUs and government departments to take PSU connections, entry in to broadcast sector etc.

MTNL reported a net loss of Rs 5,321.12 crore for 2012-13, compared to Rs 4,109.78 crore in 2011-12. BSNL loss for 2012-13 is reported at Rs 8,198 crore, compared Rs 8,851 crore posted in 2011-12.

The Forum of BSNL Unions had given a detailed memorandum to the GoM and requested for a meeting to present its views. But so far, there is no communications from the GoM. However, copies of the Memorandum submitted by the Forum have been handed over to many Members of Parliament, who have written to the Chairman of the GoM P.Chidambaram to consider the view points of the Forum.

The Forum leaders at SSA / Circle level should take the initiative in meeting the Members of Parliament in their areas and handover the copy of memorandum requesting them support our cause and write to the Chairman, GoM. So far the Forum at national level has got information of only about meeting about 30 MPs.

Comrade Samar Mukherjee passed away

18 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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Sad News! Comrade Samar Mukherjee, patriarch of the Indian Left, former Member of Parliament, former PB Member CPI(M) and also former General Secretary, CITU passed away today morning at Kolkata. He was 101. His birth centenary was celebrated last year.
He was very simple in living and donated his entire earning to the party. While he was in Delhi, I had the opportunity to meet him several times to bring to notice certain issues of the employees. He was very sympathetic and took up the issues with sincerity and actively.

My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, comrades and friends! My respectful homage to the great leader!

Nelson Mandela at 95 – Wish you early recovery

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Nelson Mandela the South African Leader, who has become a legend in his own life-time , is completing 95 years on 18th July 2013. The icon who fought against apartheid as also for freedom of South Africa from the British was in jail for about 27 years including in solitary confinement in the Robben Island. Mandela is in hospital for the past few weeks, but it is stated that there is indication of some light recovery.

On his 95th Birth Anniversary, I wish him an early recovery and many more years to live!

Forum Calls for protest action against 100% FDI in Telecom

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations in its meeting held on 17th July has strongly protested against the decision of the government to increase the FDI in Telecom Sector from 74% to 100% and in defence from 26% to 49%. This decision is completely against the security concerns of the nation. The Indian telecom companies will be taken over by the foreign companies, since they can own up to 100% as per this decision. Pumping of so much foreign money in to the sector will jeopardise the future of BSNL and MTNL.

The Forum, therefore has decided to organise agitatioanl programmes against the increase in FDI. Lunch hour demonstrations will be organised on 25th July 2013. The employees will wear badges protesting against the FDI increase and demanding dropping of the unwise decision. The badge will have the following slogan: DROP DECISION TO INCREASE FDI IN TELECOM AND DEFENCE”
Forum will continue the struggle against the FDI increase.

NLC employees strike called off.

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

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The  heroic indefinite strike of NLC employees against                       disinvestment called off.

The heroic 13 day old  strike of the NLC employees against disinvestment, was  called off yesterday. The 5% shares being disinvested by  the Central Government is to be acquired by 5 public    sector undertakings of the Tamil Nadu government. BSNLEU              salutes the NLC trade unions and the employees for                       conducting a glorious struggle, to defend the public                       sector of our country ( Courtesy: BSNLEU )

Meeting of AIBDPA at Indore

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) has been formed at Indore in a largely attended meeting. The meeting was organised under initiative of the BSNL Employees Union. Com. Jagdish Soni, senior leader and president of BSNLEU presided. Com. Prakash Sharma, District secretary, BSNLEU welcomed all. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Advisor AIBDPA inaugurated the Convention. He spoke in detail about the latest developments in the telecom sector, the issues facing the revival of BSNL, issues of the workers like early implementation of 78.2% IDA fixation both for employees and pensioners etc. Shri G.C.Pande, General Manger, BSNL, Indore, H.S.Thakkur, Circle secretary, AIBDPA, M.L.Chaudhary and other leaders addressed. Com. T.R.Deharia proposed vote  of thanks.Com. Namboodiri and other leaders were warmly welcomed and honoured. Leaders of the various associations/unions in BSNL attended the convention.

The meeting of the pensioners were held after the convention. The issues of pensioners and the decisions of AIBDPA were explained by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri. The AIBDPA SSA union was formed with election of  office-bearers unanimously with Coms. Sriram Tiwari (Advisor), V.R.Kolhapure (Patron), Jagdish Soni (President), S.M.Lekhre (Secretary) and M.B.Naidu (Treasurer)

 

 

100% FDI in Telecom – Risk to National Security

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The decision of the government to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in telecom is nothing short of inviting serious risks to national security. The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations  strongly protests against  the move and will meet today to discuss the issue and plan agitational programmes.

Already 74% FDI is allowed in the telecom sector. This has resulted in majority influence of foreign MNCs in some of the private telecom companies. The case of Vodafone is well-known. Neither they agree to the restrictions of the government of India on many occasions, but they are also openly violating the regulatory conditions. They refuse to pay due income-tax levied on them. If 100% FDI is allowed as decided now, many of the Indian private companies will be taken over by the Foreign MNCs with disastrous result for India. The snooping by the US Intelligence Agency through the mobile companies are well exposed and known to all. Under such circumstances any increase in  the FDI and giving a free hand to foreign companies in the telecom sector, which is the second line of defence, will be suicidal.

The increase in FDI will seriously and adversely affect the growth of BSNL. Pumping of huge money to the private telcos and lack of funds for the PSUS, BSNL and MTNL, will lead to the marginalisation of the latter. This in turn will be utilised by the private companies to increase the rates for calls and other telecom services on a large-scale and the customers will have to pay more.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations expresses its strong protest and demands the government to desist from the move to increase the FDI to 100%,  failing which the unions in BSNL will be compelled to resort to agitations programmes.

Telegram Services – buried alive. Will it come back?

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The nation will never forgive the BSNL Management, DOT and the Government for burying the telegram services, while it was still alive. There was no demand from the people to close it. They were still using it. The argument that the telegram service was in loss is a myth. Telegram services  is part of the telecommunication services, which is in loss for the last three years and naturally the telegram services also had their share. But there was no justification to close it.

The people loved it. They had used it at one time or another. They had nostalgia about the telegrams.

The workers protest against closure has been ignored by the BSNL which put a stop to the living telegrams. But still the case in the Chennai High Court is there. Let us hope that telegram services will come back with alive to serve the people.

Meeting with Comrades of BSNLCCWF at Indore

14 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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After reaching Indore to attend the conference of AIBDPA to be held tomorrow, 15th July, I utilised some time discuss matters with the District Secretary of BSNLEU Com. Prakash Sharma, President of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF Com. Jagdish Soni, ADS BSNLEU Com. Chaudhuri ML and other leaders. A few leading comrades of BSNLCCWF were also there.

After serious struggle, the minimum wage is being paid and ESI and EPF are implemented. But the minimum wage is paid only at the rate for C class cities. Since Indore is B class the rate should be different. Identity cards have been issued. 22 contract labour were retrenched two years back in connection with the agitation for minimum wage. They have not been taken back yet. The wages are being paid in cash. It should be paid by cheque or remitted to the bank account. The need for strengthening the BSNLCCWF was stressed. Almost all the 100 and odd workers are members of the union. Efforts are being made to enrol cent per cent membership. The comrades who attended the discussion were well-informed. There is every chance that Indore will make a strong base for BSNLCCWF.

Don’t bury Telegram Services, it is still alive.

14 Sunday Jul 2013

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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001

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Press Release                                                                                                                                    14th July 2013

DO NOT BURY TELEGRAM SERVICES, IT IS STILL ALIVE

The decision of the BSNL Management and Communications Minister to stop the 163 year old telegram services is ill advised and anti-people. The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations once again expresses its strong protest and demands the government and the BSNL Management to continue the services, which are still used by certain sections of the people.

The plea of the BSNL for taking this drastic decision is the so called loss to BSNL for running the telegram services. It is stated by the CMD BSNL that while there is about Rs. 100 crore expenditure per year, the revenue is less than Rs. One crore. The next argument is that there are better communication services available to the people, like SMS, mobile services, internet etc.

These are but only distortion of facts and reality. More than 50,000 telegrams are booked/ sent/delivered every month and lakhs of rupees received through the services. The so-called expenditure of Rs. 100 crore  per year is a myth. The staff of the BSNL is doing the telegram services also in the same Customer Service Centres. Out of many counters for internet, mobile etc. one more counter is there for telegrams. No extra staff is employed, nor anybody is going to be retrenched  after stopping the telegram services. There is not a single paise spent for the staff of telegram service alone. There is no extra maintenance charge, since it is part of the telecom services. All the telegram service centres are in departmental buildings and no rent is to be paid. In fact, more than Rs. One crore is received by the management without any major expenditure.

Further, there are responsible and recognised unions representing the two and half lakh executives and non-executive employees in BSNL. The Management took the decision without consulting or even discussing with these unions/associations, which have great stakes in the services.

The telegram services are provided as per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. Any change like closure cannot be done without any amendment to the Act by the Parliament. The closure decision is completely in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Telegram is a heritage service which is still used by the people. The rush to send telegrams in the last few days clearly shows their love and nostalgia for the telegram services. The service can be continued without any extra expenditure and some profit. The decision is nothing but backing out from providing service to the people.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations demands the Government and the BSNL to rescind their decision and ensure continued telegram service to the people. Telegrams are not dead; Don’t bury the living. It will be an injustice to the nation.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Convener, Forum

Mobile :  9868231431