Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

March 31st is a very important day

31 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by in General

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31st March is important in many ways. Firstly, it is the date on which the Banks finalize the accounts. Government and many private and public organisations also finalize the accounts on the same date. The budget of the next year is to be approved by the Parliament before the start of the next financial year ie. April to March.

As far as Postal Department is concerned, this is the day on which the first Post Office in India was opened in Calcutta in 1774.  The postal services was only for the government earlier. It was from 1774 onwards that it was opened for the public, though limitedly.

There will many important events connected with 31st March. It is, anyway, an important date.

April 1st – Delhi completes hundred years as capital of the country.

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in History

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The capital of India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi one hundred years back on this day, 1st April 1912. Till that time the Britishers were functioning at Calcutta as their headquarters. Of course during summer, they used to shift the HQ to Shimla to avoid the heat. But taking all facts in to consideration, including the security as well as the location, the HQ was shifted and Delhi became the capital. It is stated theat seven empires including that of Moghuls have ruled the country with Delhi as capital. New Delhi was constructed by the British along with the present Rashtrapathi Bhawan, North and South Blocks, Connaught Place etc.

The shift was a loss to Calcutta, but a gain for Delhi.

No increase in IDA from April 2012

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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With the 7% increase for the Central government employees from January 2012, PSU employees were waiting for a good increase from April 2012. The DA increase from January was given earlier to them.

It has now been informed that there is no increase in IDA for PSU employees w.e.f. April 2012. It will continue at 56.7% till June, when a revision is to take place.

400 ITS officers to Surplus cell ?

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in BSNL News

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I am reproducing a report published in the Economic Times:

“The government is likely to declare some 400 officers in the telecom department as surplus following their refusal to consider re-employment in BSNL.

These Indian Telecom Service executives, who had transferred to the DoT from cash-strapped BSNL in November, are likely to be moved to a surplus staffers cell in the HRD ministry, according to a senior official of BSNL.”

Thank you for your condolences

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in General

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Many friends and comrades have intimated through SMSs, mails, calls and comments their heartfelt condolences to me in the last two days for my bereavement, passing away of my beloved elder sister. I thank all of them for their sharing of my grief and condolence messages.

Congratulations leaders of BRICS !

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in General, Uncategorized

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The summit meeting of the heads of the five countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and S.Africa (BRICS) held in New Delhi in the last two days has been watched by the world over. These five countries are some of the major developed and developing countries and their co-operation in the field of economy, trade etc. will have important results. The developed countries like US and Euro takes this as an alternate grouping which may not be to their benefit.

One of the major decision is that despite the embargo for Iran, India, Brazil and S.Africa will continue to buy oil from Iran. Secondly they have called to US etc. to have talks with Iran on the nuclear issue. There were bilateral discussions between India and the heads of the participating nations.Thiese bilateral agreements will be beneficial to India. My congratulations to the leaders of the BRICS!

Meeting between Pope and Fidel Castro

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in History

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The religious head of the Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, met Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro during his visit to Cuba. This is not the first visit of the head of vatican with  Cuba’s leader. Earlier, meeting had been held between Pope John Paul II and Fidel, while he was the President of Cuba.Pope was received in capital city of Havana at Revolution Square  participated by about 3,00,000 people, a large number considering the cuba’s population.

Both octogenarians discussed issues of mutual concerns. One issue which was focussed was about the inhuman economic embargo of Cuba, by the US and connected countries. Pope in clear terms opposed it and demanded the US government to put an end to the blockade.

The meeting between the Catholic and the Communist is really historic.

New Number Plan – proposals by DOT

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in BSNL News

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With the increasing mobile telephones, DOT is trying to rearrange the number system for telephones. Considering the fact that landlines and CDMA lines are mostly on the decline, it is proposing to utilise these numbers for mobile phones. Accordingly landlines numbers will be restricted to numbers starting with 2 and 4. Series starting with 92 and 93, which are mainly for the CDMA numbers, will also be allotted to GSM telephones.

However, the proposal of the TRAI to allot ten digit numbers to landlines has not been accepted by the DOT.

Pesky Call and SMS – a nuisance which should be put an end to

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in BSNL News

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The unwanted telemarketing calls, called pesky calls, are creating such a nuisance that it should not only be banned, but should be punished with heavy penalties and jail term. The latest technologies are being used by the market forces to impose these unwanted calls and SMSs on the subscribers with impunity. Valuable time is compelled to be wasted. Sometimes, the SMSs and calls are also cleverly charged on the receiver.

I appreciate the TRAI for its continued instructions and directions to stop this menace. May be it has been reduced to a certain extent, but the telemarketers are finding out new ways not to get caught and punished.

As per the earlier instructions TRAI has stated that it has penalised 22,000 users and 94 telemarket firms for earlier violations. But not much has been improved. Now the TRAI has reiterated again the instructions on this subject.

TRAI has asked the persons who does not want unsolicited calls/data to register with National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). If violations are found out it should also be reported. If individuals are sending these unwanted messages, their telephones will be got disconnected.

Let us hope these actions will at least reduce the menace.

Air India Employees take strike decision

29 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in PSU

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Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over the impending strike threat on Air India and urged Government to consider special relief for the national carrier to resolve the salary and arrear payment issues of its employees. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ram Chandra Khuntia (Cong) said the arrears of Air India employees have not been paid for four years and they have not received salaries also for a long time even as the government has been spending thousands of crores to bail out Air India. Drawing the attention of the Upper House to the notice given by Air India workers to stop work from April 2, he said the airline faces repeated strikes even as its Chairman has been changed. Pointing towards Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who was present, Khuntia said the minister should see into the matter and resolve the problem of pending arrears and salary dues of employees by April 1 so that the strike is prevented. “If required Government of India should give some special relief to Air India,” Khuntia said. As members from almost all parties supported Khuntia’s contentions, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan observed “it is entire House’s sentiment. Government should take notice.”