Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Warangal CEC inaugurated

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

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The Extended Central Executive Committee of BSNLEU started today, 26th February, at Warangal(A.P) with the hoisting of the National and union flags at about 10.00 AM in the lawns of the Gardens, where the meeting is taking place. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.A.K.Padmanabahan, All India President, CITU.Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presided. The welcome address was given by Com.Bhaskar, MLA and Chairman of Reception Committee and Com. J.Sampath Rao, General Secretary of the RC. Coms. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS, P.Asokababu, Vice-President as also Com. Sudha Bhaskar, General Secretary, CITU, A.P. also addressed/Greeted the meeting.
The report was presented by GS along with other issues. The delegates started discussion in the afternoon. Themeeting will continue for the next two days. In the Inaugural session, more than 800 comrades participated.

We fight for ideas we consider fair – Fidel Castro

25 Monday Feb 2013

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Despite his failing health, Fidel Castro addressed the newly formed National Assembly of People’s Power of cuba which was greeted warmly by the people. A brief report published in the media is given below:
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 25 (ACN) “We do not struggle for our own glory or or honors; we fight for ideas we consider fair and to which millions of Cubans have dedicated their youth and their lives,” said Fidel Castro in his address to the Eight Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power, which was set up on Sunday.
Fidel said he deeply appreciated the noble gesture by the people to have elected him a Parliament deputy. He said he never thought he would live that long and that his enemies would be that clumsy in their hateful practice of eliminating their adversaries, who are determined to fight.
“In such an unequal battle, our people proved their astonishing capacity to resist and overcome,” he pointed out, and stressed that some eight hundred thousand Cubans have met internationalist missions.

The Cuban Revolution leader recalled important moments of recent Cuban history, like the 1962 missile crisis, where the island was about to turn into a nuclear battlefield; the 1961 Bay of Pigs mercenary invasion backed by Washington; the participation of Cuban internationalist troops in the victory of Cuito Cuanavale, which led to the end of the former Apartheid System.
Fidel Castro said that after the 1959 Revolution triumph, the domestic battle targeted political ignorance and anti-socialist ideas instilled by the bourgeoisie and US imperialism. The fight of social classes unleashed just few miles from the United States was the most efficient political school for the country.

However, he said, the big battle now focuses the need to deal with bad habits and mistakes that are being committed by many citizens, including Communist Party members in different social areas.
Fidel said that humanity is now experiencing a unique stage, which is quite different from centuries ago. The world population increased to 7 billion people, an alarming figure expressing a demand for vitalfoodstuffs that science, technology and the natural resources of the planet are quite far from meeting.

Fidel also referred to current natural threats on humanity, such as During his speech to legislators, the statesman recalled the pro tempore presidency recently assumed by Cuba at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), something he described as having “particular relevance for its vindication of the Cuban people’s struggle for sovereignty and self-determination.”

Raul Castro also congratulated the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, for his February 17 election victory, and wished a speedy recovery to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

In statements to Prensa Latina, several parliamentarians confirmed in their posts considered the contribution to the socio-economic updating of the country to be among the greatest challenges before them, through a process where the Government aims to achieve greater efficiency and
productivity within socialism ( Courtsey: Ganashakti)

8.5% interest for PF deposits in 2012 – 13

25 Monday Feb 2013

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The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided in its meeting today, 25th February 2013, to pay 8.5 per cent interest rate to its over 5 crore subscribers on their PF deposits for 2012-13, higher than 8.25 per cent provided in the last financial year 2011-12. But this is far below the demand placed by the Unions that it should be 9.5% interest.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the highest decision making body of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

CBI files case against Airtel, Tata etc. for cheating.

25 Monday Feb 2013

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We had always pointed out that the private telecom companies are cheating and avoiding taxes in many ways to increase their profits. In this connection, the latest is the cheating by Airtel, Tata and Singapore Telecommunications by unauthorisedly giving international connections. A press report in this connection is given below:

NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered a case in a Delhi court against Bharti Airtel Ltd, Tata Communication Ltd and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd for allegedly causing a loss of nearly Rs 48 crore to the government since 2004 by illegally providing international long distance (ILD)services.

All the three telecom companies have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and also under the Indian Telegraph Act for violating the department of telecommunications’ licencing norms.

The FIR has been filed in a local court on a complaint of ministry of communications and IT.

When contacted, Bharti Airtel had no comments to offer while Tata Communications said it would not comment on speculation.

Com. K.A.Velayudhan passed away

25 Monday Feb 2013

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A few minutes back, Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron of AIBDPA intimated me the sad news of the passing away of Com. K.A.Velayudhan, a leader of AIBDPA and a valiant fighter of the BSNLEU.
Com. Kochu Velayudhan, as he was fondly called by our comrades, was very active in the BSNLEU and held many ofice-bearers posts in the union. He was victimised several times for his union activities including participation in the strikes. His main centre of activities was Ernakulam-Cochin area. I met him last time at the Circle Conference of the AIBDPA at Ernakulam about six months back. We discussed about organisational matters and issues of Pensioners.His wife, Com. Karthyayini, who is also a very active worker of BSNLEU and AIBDPA, was also present.
We have lost a very experienced and militant leader. I express my deep sorrow. I express my heartfelt condolences to Com.Karthyayini and other family members!

Left Parties Greet Indian Working Class for Historic Strike

24 Sunday Feb 2013

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The Left Parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party – have issued the following statement:
“The Left parties warmly congratulate the working class, employees and other sections of the working people who have made the two-day general strike on February 20 and 21 a magnificent success. The workers struck work in all industries and commercial sectors. The strike was effective in petroleum sector, coal, mining, port & dock, plantation, manufacturing, banking and insurance. State government offices were also affected by the strike. The participation of workers in the unorganized sectors and scheme workers was also notable.

The Left parties condemned the instances of police repression against striking workers and the killing of a T.U leader in Ambala by crushing him under a state bus. In West Bengal, despite the state government machinery being used to foil the strike, there was a powerful strike in various sectors. Kerala observed a total bandh in solidarity with the striking workers.

This strike has been historic in that all the Central Trade Unions gave a joint call for the first time for a two-day general strike. This makes it the biggest working class action since independence. The Central government has to immediately address the demands raised by the general strike and take steps to fulfill them, otherwise bigger actions will follow. This is a wakeup call to stop the anti-people and anti-working class policies.”

(Prakash Karat)
General Secretary CPI(M)
(S. Sudhakar Reddy)
General Secretary, CPI
(Debabrata Biswas)
General Secretary AIFB
(T. J. Chandrachoodan)
General Secretary, RSP

WFTU Greets Working Class of India for Glorious Strike

24 Sunday Feb 2013

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The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has congratulated and greet the Indian Working Class for the Historic Strike of 20-21 February 2021. The same is reproduced below:

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

Statement by the General Secretary of the WFTU, George Mavrikos on
the All-Indian General Strike on February 20-21st, 2013

“The Indian working class proved its determination in the struggle for the
labour and social rights with a massive general strike.

Dozens of millions of workers marched under the banners of the WFTU
affiliated class-oriented trade union organization. This is a loud message
to the Indian government and the capitalists and a great lesson for the
international working class.

We denounce with anger the state violence, the oppression of the employers
and the strike-breaking mechanisms that aimed to weaken the united class
response of the workers to the anti-labour policies causing acute problems to
the Indian workers. We honour the martyrs of the struggle who give their lives
for the betterment of the living and working conditions of the working class.

The WFTU once more expresses its support to the demands of the Indian
trade unions.”

Sangharsh Sandesh Jathas by CPI(M)

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is conducting a Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha which will traverse the length and breadth of the country. Four main jathas will start from Kanyakumari, Kolkata, Mumbai and Amritsar to Delhi. At the conclusion of these jathas, there will be a massive rally at Delhi on March 19 at Ramlila Maidan.

The purpose of the jatha is to highlight some of the main problems and issues facing the people and to set out alternative policies advocated by the CPI(M). The policies of the UPA government at the Centre have resulted in continuous price rise, agrarian distress, growing unemployment and massive corruption. There is no difference between the Congress and the BJP as far as their basic policies are concerned.

The jathas will call for people’s unity to struggle for their basic rights, against communalism and to demand a reversal of the disastrous economic policies being followed by both the Congress and the BJP. The jatha will focus on the following areas:

1) Right to Land and House-sites: Implement land reform policies by distributing surplus land to the landless. Guarantee house-sites to each landless household.

2) Curb Price Rise and Right to Food: Universal right to 35 kgs of foodgrains at a maximum price of rupees two a kg. Scrap APL/BPL based fraudulent poverty calculations. Stop forward trading in foodgrains and other essential commodities.

3) Right to Education and Health: Stop privatisation of educational and health services. Increase allocations for education and health. Guarantee implementation of the Right to Education Act. Strengthen public services in health and ensure strict regulation of the private sector.

4) Right to Employment: Step up public investment to ensure creation of jobs; lift the ban on recruitment and ensure time-bound recruitment for all vacancies, particularly for SC/ST/OBC backlog; increase days of work under NREGA with price index linked minimum wages and expand it to include guarantee of work days in urban India.

5) Ensure Social Justice and Rights of Women : Curb violence against women and provide one-third reservation for women in legislatures and Parliament; end social practices of untouchability and discrimination against dalits; protect the land and forest rights of adivasis; provision of equal opportunities in education and jobs for the Muslim community.

6) End Corruption: Enact Lokpal legislation with independent powers of investigation; bring back black money stashed in foreign banks; recover losses from the corporates responsible; send the corrupt to jail.

Programme of the Jathas:
•
February 24 – launch of the Kanyakumari to Delhi jatha. This jatha will be led by S. Ramachandran Pillai and the team of leaders will consist of M. A. Baby, K. Varadharajan, V. Srinivasa Rao and Sudha Sundararaman.

•
March 1 – Jatha will start from Kolkata to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Prakash Karat and the team of leaders will consist of Biman Basu, Jogendra Sharma, Subhashini Ali and J. S. Majumdar.

•
March 4 – Jatha will start from Jalianwalabagh in Amritsar to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Brinda Karat and the team of leaders will consist of Hannan Mollah, Inderjeet Singh and Rajendra Sharma.

•
March 8 – Jatha will start from Mumbai to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Sitaram Yechury and the team of leaders will consist of Nilotpal Basu, Mohd. Salim and Mariam Dhawale.

The Kanyakumari jatha will be flagged off on February 24 by the General Secretary Prakash Karat.

Linking Jathas

From Guwahati (Assam), there will be a jatha to Kolkata starting on February 23. This jatha will be flagged off by Manik Sarkar, member of the Polit Bureau.

From Paralakhemundi (Odisha), there will be a jatha to Kolkata starting on February 24.

From Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), there will be a jatha to Chandigarh starting on March 3.

From Bhavnagar (Gujarat), there will be a jatha to Indore starting on March 6.

During this period, there will be various sub jathas conducted within the states that will link up to the main jathas.

Mobile loss – a Calicut experience

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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It was an interesting experience. My son Shaji and me had gone to the SBI Branch, Calicut for getting an ATM card for him. After submiting the application, we took an auto riksha to go to SBI Branch at Kallai, about 8 kms from the town for settling a loan taken earlier. We paid the auto and started for the Bank. After two-three minutes, Shaji told me that his mobile phone is missing and probably it was forgotten in the auto while getting down. We rushed back to the road, but the auto has already gone. We waited there for some time. Then we went to the nearby auto stand to find out whether the auto was there. But no sign of it.
We tried calling the missing telephone. Ring was going, but nobody took the phone. Number of times we called but still No reply.
It was a costly mobile but more costly were the information in it. Immediately we came back to the city and filed a compalint in the Town Police Station.They passed the complaint to the concerned Police Station.
Calicut has a tradition of missed things being returned by the auto drivers. Though fully not convinced myself, I told my son that there is every chance that the mobile will be got returned. Some times the drivers hand over such missed articles to the Union offices. Hence I contacted the Secretaries of CITU and INTUC, Com.T.Dasan and Advocate M.Rajan respectively and requested to help. All of us were together in the workers movement here and it was a pleasure to speak to them. They were also happy to speak to me. Both of them assured that the mobile may be found out by evening or tomorrow. It gave some relief to us, though we were not much hopeful.
After half-an hour again we rang the lost mobile number. Somebody answered. My son told him that it is his telephone which was lost in auto. The person at the other end told that he is speaking from the City Traffic police station and the mobile is with him. We rushed back to the Traffic Police Station. The constable on duty asked us about the details of the mobile as also how we lost it. Getting convinced he handed over the phone to us. He told that one auto driver Mr. Mahendran has brought the mobile to the Police Station and had handed over the same stating that some body has forgotten to take his mobile and he found it later.
We thanked the police and returned. I called the number of Mr. Mahendran, auto driver and expressed our thanks and wanted to meet him and thank in person. He said that it was not at all necessary and he was in another part of the town at that time. And so, we could not meet him.
Within 3-4 hours of the loss, we got it back. When we told our friends here, they said it is not a surprise at all. They cited many cases where the auto drivers have returned such missed things either to the police or to their union offices.
Our experience in both the police stations were much helpful. The honesty of the auto-driver is also much appreciated.
I am very much happy that Calicut, even after becoming a big city, is keeping its tradition by the auto-drivers. Not only that they ply wherever the customer wants to go, but also they charge exactly what the meter shows and they return the missed things to the owners. Congratulations and thanks to you all for such good service.

The Unprecedented Historic Strike – Salient points

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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My Hearty Congratulations and Greetings to the BSNL workers, Casual and Contract Workers and DOT-BSNL Pensioners, who stood together in making the 48 hours strike in BSNL a complete success. The reports received from all over India indicate that vast majority of the BSNL workers have enthusiastically participated in the historic strike. All the non-executive unions in BSNL have given call for the strike called for by all the 11 Central trade Unions in the country. It would have been really a 100% strike if the executive associations had also given call for strike, instead of only extending solidarity and support. However it is also reported from some areas that many of the executives have also absented themselves on the day.
This strike was historic in many ways as can be seen below:
1. It was a strike for which call was given by all the 11 Central trade Unions in the country.
2. This strike was the biggest since Independence in 1947. More than 12 crore workers participated.
3. Factory workers, agricultural workers, central and state government employees, public sector workers, daily and contract workers – in short workers in all sectors participated in the strike. There was no section which was not a party to the strike.
4. In many states like Kerala, the strike became a virtual bandh. No shops or business concerns opened on these days. It was not by threat, but by their own, they have closed.
5. The demands were the pressing demands of the workers; more, they were directly connected with the issues of the common people like protest against price rise etc.
6. The Independent Federations and All India Unions, which are not affiliated to the 11 Central Trade Unions, also participated in the strike. The entire central and state government employees along with the PSU workers participated.
7. The preparations for the strike started early. After the New Delhi National Convention on 4th September 2012 declared the strike, state level conventions, union wise meetings etc. were held systematically and the demands propagated. Country saw during the last few months one of the biggest campaigns that the country has seen so far.
8. The Central trade Unions kept up its rock-like unity till the last. The compulsions from the government and pressure from the corporates and big business could not make any dent in the unity a of the CTUs. Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, President, INTUC, despite much pressure from the top congress leaders stood his ground.
9. Even the media and newspapers controlled by the corporates which usually ignores the strikes by the workers could not do so this time. They were compelled to give the news.
10. The statement by the leaders of the central trade unions after the strike, that they will continue the struggle till the demands are met have inspired the workers for sustained struggles.
11. The 2 days strike was really the implementation of the slogan ‘Struggle for Unity, Unity for Struggle and Struggle and Unity for Progress’.
In short, the strike was unprecedented, historic and a mighty action of the workers against the anti-worker policies of the government; and for achieving their own demands.