Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

The National Council meets

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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The 28th meeting of the National Council was held today, 30th January to discuss about the various important issuesraised by the recognised union. Shri A.N.Rai, Director (HR) and chairman of the National council presided.
The house paid homage to the veteran union leader Com. O.P.Gupta, who passed away on 6th of this month, by standing silent for two minutes. After the initial speeches by the Chairman, Director(Finance), Leade staff side and Secretary Staff Side, the Leader Staff side declared they are walking out protesting against the non-action by the management against the GM Ghaziabad in the murder case of Com. Sukhenderpal Singh. All the staff side members then walked out.
The management was completely taken back.The Secretary of the Council, GM(SR) Sri Neeraj Verma and other officers pleaded with the staff side to come back and participate in the discussions. After some time thestaff side members returned to the meeting and the same was started.
The meeting continued up to 1900 hours and the complete items were discussed. But it is unfortunate that much advance could not be made on many issues. Brief not on the discussions will be put in the BSNLEU website.

United Forum Meets

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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The United Forum of BSNL Unions met today, 30th January 2013, and discussed about the ensuing VI Membership Verification and connected matters. Com. Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNLMS, Chairman UF presided. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, BSNLEU President and Convener UF briefed the meeting about certain aspects of the New Recognition Rules. He also stated that the United Forum should be strenghtened and well co-ordinated as usual. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS told that BSNLEU has taken a decision that UF allies should be together as earlier. All comrades participated in the discussion.
It was decided that the United Forum unions will continue the alliance and will work to ensure that BSNLEU get more than 50% of the votes in the verification.
The next meeting will be held on 17th February 2013.

A train journey

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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On 28th January, I started for Lucknow from New Delhi by Shramjeevi Express. Since the waitlist in the AC III tier/Sleeper was very long, I had booked for I class, where the waiting List was only two. Though the ticket was booked more than one week back, there was no change in the waiting list till the last moment. To my great relief, the ticket was confirmed and I started by the same train in the First Class.
My allotment was in a two berth cabin. There was another passenger who seemed to be from military. Actually, when we got acquainted, I found out that he was a top officer in a para-military contingent. I could understand a lot about the difficulties being faced by the military and para-military forces and officials in their day to day hard life. Though being a very high officer, he was so polite and simple. On the way, he got down at Shajahanpur.
At Shajahanpur another passenger came. He was an armed guard of Minister of the state government, who was sitting in the next cabin. I told that I am coming from Delhi, when he asked. The moment we started speaking again,the young man told me that my speaking Hindi was not as a Delhi man, but seemed to be a man from the South. I fully agreed and told him that I am from Kerala, but staying in Delhi for the last more than 20 years for union work.
I know my Hindi is weak, especially when speaking. But I never thought that it was so easy to find out that I was a South Indian through my accent.
The attendent also brought sugarless tea 3-4 times, whenever I asked for the same, without any murmer. It seems that my old age with white hair arouses sympathy among the young. Fair enough!
Anyhow, my train journey was interesting, as always it was in the past. Another benefit for train journey – Being a Senior Citizen, there is good concession to the extent of 40% ( for women Senior Citizen the concession is 50% – congratulation for the Railways!)
But of course, now the train charges have been increased.

Taxing the Super Rich

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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In many countries, the governments have started increasing the tax on the super rich. The Government of India has also proposed the same.
The reaction from the media, mostly controlled by the big corporates, was on the expected line. They have opposed the proposal stating that it is not necessary. The corporates have reacted sharply. They have, in fact, threatened that the MNCs will leave India, the FDI will shift away and that the GDP will come down drastically if the super rich are taxed more.
It seems that the threat from the corporates and the media is having its effect. There is not much talk about taxing the super rich now.
Workers reasonable and justified demands are denied forthwith; but when the corporates demand, it is seriously considered by the government and necessary decision taken to satisfy them.
The government by the Corporates and for the Corporates!

Gandhiji assassinated 65 years back.

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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65 years are over after the ghastly murder of Gandhiji, the Father of the Nation by a Hindu fanatic. It was on 30th January 1948, that the shots were fired at the heart of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, an RSS, when he was proceeding to the prayer ground in the Birla House, where Gnadhiji used to stay.
Last year I have gone to the Gandhi Samadhi there where group prayer was being held. I would like to attend the same tomorrow also, if possible.

National Council on 30th January 2013

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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The National Council meeting will be held tomorrow on 30th Janaury 2013, after more than 6 months. The items have been given already on which the discussion will mainly be held.
The present meeting is the 28th meeting of the National Council after it has been formed in 2002, after the First Membership Verification.
If we go through the constitution and proceedings of the National Council so far, we can see that the same is treated as an unwanted but unavoidable practice by the BSNL Management. This mindset is there from the start. Let us examine whether this assessment is true or not.
1) In the government services, there is the system of National Council for the Central Government employees as a whole. On the official side there are Secretaries of the Departments and on the Staff Side, the nominated General Secretaries/ office-bearers of various organisations. The topmost officer of the Central Government, the Cabinet Secretary will chair the meetings. In the Departmental Councils, the head of the Department, the Secretary will chair. Accordingly, in the National Council for BSNL, the CMD BSNL should chair the NC meeting. But unfortunately, only Director HR/HRD, is the Chairman. Despite demanding several times, the BSNL management has not agreed to the proposal and still Dir(HR) is presiding. For taking quick decisions, chairing by the CMD will be the ideal position.
In fact, the head of the circle, CGM and that of the SSA, GM are presiding the council meetings at their respective levels.
2) Periodicity of the meetings
The National Council is to be held every three months. But it is not beiong held like that. Only two meetings have been held in 2012, instead of four meetings. This indicates the intention of the management toavoid meetings and delay the same. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that the meetings are held regularly and in time.
3. Discussion and Decisions:
The meetings are being held to discuss and settle issues of the workers, which couold not be settled till then. The items are given sufficiently early so that the management can prepare their position and ready for taking suitable decisions.But what is happening is completely different. The management is outrightly denying most of the demands on one plea or another. It is very rare that concrete decisions are taken in the council. The maximum that is stated is that the official side will examine the demand. The Councils are being held for taking decisions and the examination should be over before the meeting. If the view points of the management is given along with the agenda at the start of the meeting it will be possible for the unions also to discuss the same and find out some solutions.
4. National Council is not a one way process. The Management have to bring their agenda which they want to discuss with the staff side on development, expansion, improvement of the services etc. But during the last so many years, the official sie has not brought any agenda from its side. On the other hand it is issuing orders on many issues connected with the service condition and connected staff matters without discussing with the unions or in the Nationl Council. Such one sided actions are being taken due to the bureacratic thinking that the unions have no role in all these issues.
5. Even after certain decisions are taken in the meeting, it is not being pursued by the official side. The minutes are issued, but then no action is taken on the matters till the next meeting. Once a decision is taken it has to be implemented by the management.
6. There are certain issues on which the management has to take up the matter with the DOT before taking any decision. A large number of cases come under this category. The official side assures to take up the cases with the DOT, but is is not being pursued, or after writing a letter no further reminder or action is taken. Earlier a Committee was formed with DOT, BSNL and the recognised union which discussed and settled many things. But that system has been given up lately. This is to be restored for dealing with such cases.
7. Sufficient time is not allotted for the National Council. Though the meeting will be scheduled at 1100 hours, it is held at 1130 or so. And by lunch time it is managed to finish. One full day is required for the Council to effectively discuss.

More than two lakh workers, several cadres, and mny kinds of issues are being discussed with the recognised union in these council meetings. It is for the management to ensure that the meetings are effective, positive decisions are taken and that there is cordial relationship between the unions and the management.

Meeting with CGM UP(West)

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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While I have been at Lucknow today to meet the Chief Minister, U.P., in between meeting the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister, along with Coms. K.R.Yadav, all India Vice-President and R.K.Mishra, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, I met the CGM, UP(W), Shri A.K.Purwar and discussed with him about the BSNL services and development in UP (East). I pointed out to him about the complaint of the Chief Secretary, UP State government about not being able to call 100 from all parts of the state. CGM stated that he is aware of the same and to the extend technically possible, it will be provided. I also told him about our discussion with the chief Secretary about expanding our serrvices in the state government offices and suggested him to meet the Chief Secretary for this purpose. I also suggested that monthly meetings be held with the Circle union on the development and service issues for providing better service to the customers.

Meeting with Chief Minister U.P.

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Today, 29th January, along with Com.Basudeb Acharya, Member of Parliament and Leader of CPI(M) group in Lok Sabha I had the opportunity to meet the Chief Minister of U.P. Shri Akhilesh Yadav, and place our strong demand for immediate action to arrest the General Manager, Ghaziabad Shri Adesh Kumar Gupta, in connection with the murder of Com. Sukhenderpal Singh, District secretary, BSNLEU on 22nd October 2012 in the GM’s room.
First we met Shri Srivastava, Chief Secretary at his office at 1100 hours. We pointed about the undue delay in arresting the GM Ghaziabad despite the filing of the FIR on the gruesome murder in the office of the GM itself. We pointed out that the postmortem report clearly shows that the body had serious injuries. Despite meeting the SSP/officer-in-charge Ghaziabad twice, no arrest has been made so far. A copy of the letter addressed to the Chief Minister was handed over to him. Chief Secretary assured that immediate report will be called for from the SSP on the matter for taking necessary action.
At 1400 hours, the meeting took place with Shri Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister at his residence. In addition to Com.Basudeb Acharya and myself, Com. K.R.Yadav, Vice-President BSNLEU was also present. The Chief Minister heard our submissions patiently. We explained all the facts including the vendetta of the General Manager against Com. Sukhenderpal Singh for complaining about the corrupt practices of the GM and the revenge he has taken by planning the murder of the Dist. Secretary. A detailed letter, signed by the President and General Secretary BSNLEU along with the copy of FIR and post-mortem report was handed over to the Chief Minister. Com. Basudeb Acharya, M.P., emphasised the need to take immediate action in the matter since the entire workers all over India are agitated over the issue. Chief Minister assured that he will immediately call for the reports and take necessary action in the matter. He expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family and proposed to help them. The stand of the young Chief Minister was very positive. The meeting continued for more than half an hour.
(In between, I mentioned about the help needed from the state government in providing BSNL connections in the police, educational institutions, hospitals etc. and increasing the connections for which he took very positive interest.)
It was through the good offices of Com. Basudeb Acharya, M.P., that the meeting took place. He came to Lucknow from kolkata for this specific purpose, although he attended certain other programmes also. My heartfelt thanks to Com. Basudeb Acharya for taking much pains on our issue and meeting the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary.

UPA persuing anti-people policies – Budhdeb Bhattacharjee

27 Sunday Jan 2013

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Baruipur (WB), Jan 27 Lashing out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for allegedly failing to improve the condition of the poor, CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the UPA regime has pursued
anti-people policies to help a handful of rich people for the past nine years.
“Can Manmohan Singh claim that the conditions of poor and middle class have improved during the nine years of UPA regime? Can he claim that the number of unemployed youths in the country has come down? The fact is the condition of the poor has worsened under this regime because of its anti-people policies,” Bhattacharjee, the former chief minister, told a rally here.
The UPA government had not undertaken a proper PDS to provide food grains at subsidised rates, he said and criticised it for increasing fuel prices and capping the number of subsidised LPG cylinders.
“We(CPI-M) are fighting against UPA’s policies both inside and outside the Parliament. We have time and again requested the government to strengthen PDS, but it is least bothered about it. Instead it is differentiating the poor as APL and BPL categories. How much money does it take to provide
subsidized ration to the people?” he said.
“We had requested that oil prices be controlled by the government as these have an direct impact on price rise and inflation. The petrol, diesel, kerosene prices are increasing regularly and it is impacting the masses,” he said.
(Courtsey : Ganashakti)

CTUs’ demands on Pre-Budget consultations

27 Sunday Jan 2013

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The Finance Minister Shri P.Chidmbaram, met the representatives of the Central Trade Unions on Pre-Budget Consultations on 3rd January 2013. Some of the points raised by the Central Trade Unions in the meeting are mentioned below:
* Take effective steps to arrest the spiralling prices and contain inflation. Ban speculative trading. Universalise Public distribution system.Rationalise tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.
* Minimum Wage should be guaranteed to all workers as per 15 th Indian Labour Conference.
*Create a Welfare Fund for the unorganised workers including agricultural workers.
* The ban on recruitment in government, PSUs and autonomous institutions should be lifted.
* MGNREGA be extended to urban areas and employment of 200 days ensured. Universalisation of ICDS to be done.
* The workforce in ICDS, Mid day meal scheme, Vidya volunteers etc. to be regularised; ASHA be brought under minimum wage and social security.
* Steps to be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligible coverage schemes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008.
* Remunerative prices should be ensured for agricultural produce. Benefits of the increase to reach the small cultivators and not big comapnies/land lords alone.
* Budgetary provisions should be made for essential services including housing, sanitation, water, schools, creche etc. to workers in the new emerging indusrial sites.
* PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment should be stopped forth with. Budgetary support for sick UPSCs.
* Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased.
* Support for traditional sectors like jute, textiles, coir, hand loom, plantation etc.
* Income Tax exemption for salaried employees to be raised to Rs.5 lakhs. Fringe benefits should be exempted from income tax liability.
*Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme to be brought down. Employers contribution to EPF be increased.
* Proper policy towards street vendors to be ensured in order to protect 4.5 crore people engaged in the sector, especially after the FDI in multi-retail is being implemented.
* All interests and social security of domestic workers to be statutorily protected.
* Constitute VI CPC for Central Govt. employees.
* Progressive Taxation system to be brought.
* Concrete steps should be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears.
* Unearth huge accumulated black money.
* Concrete measures to recover NPAs (un-returned loans) of Banks.
* The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc. to be expandedd and enhanced.
* No discrimination against PSUs in tax regime.
* ITES, Out sourcing, Educational sector, health services etc. run on commercial basis should be brought under service tax net.

The Central trade Unions also expressed their strong resentment to the government in not responding to their 10 point demands which have been focussed and on which the working class of India have organised several agitations and struggles. The utter disregard and non-response is not only unacceptable but also deplorable.
The Central Trade Unions also objected strongly to the so called Banking reforms. The FDI in retail,disinvestment of Insurance etc were also strongly opposed by the Central TUs.
The CTUs also demanded post-budget discussion as is being done with the corporates.

The Central Trade Unions have effectively put the demands. But it is to be seen that whether the government will consider the same, or ignore as in the past.