Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Farmers’ suicides – Central and State Governments responsible

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in General

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India is the biggest democracy in the world, it is said. But the living condition of the major section of the common people, the kisans, farmers and agricultural workers, has not improved in any significant manner. It is stated that more than 20 lakh farmers have committed suicides in the recent past. Despite all tall claims by the government, the suicides of indebted farmers are increasing in many states. See the list of certain states below, where the suicides have increased in the last ten years:

State                                     Farmers’ suicides (average per year)

1995-2002                            2003-10

  1. A.P.                        1590                                       2301
  2. Assam                     155                                         291
  3. MP-Chattisgarh 2304                                      2829
  4. Maharashtra      2508                                       3802

(Source: NCRB Accidental death & suicides in India Report 1995-2010)

USO Fund – Collections and disbursements

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is created for helping to provide universal service, especially in the rural areas and villages. The fund  collects from all telecom companies including BSNL @ 5% of the total revenues. First it was only for providing the landlines in the remote areas/villages which was mainly done by BSNL. In order to help the private companies , this was extended to the mobile service also by amending the India Telegraph Act of 1885. While the collections were to the extent of Rs.2000 to 3000 crore in the first few years, now it is about Rs.5000 to 6000.  BSNL was paid only about 20 to 25%, due to which the USOF has been accumulated to about Rs.24,000 now. The private companies are putting many suggestions, somehow to get these funds for their development. The collection and disbursement of the USOF year wise is given below:

Year                                       Collection (in crore)                        Disbursement(in crore)

2002-03                                Nil                                                           Rs.   300

2003-04                                Rs. 2143.22                                          Rs.   200

2004-05                                Rs. 3457.73                                          Rs. 1314.59

2005-06                                Rs. 3215.13                                          Rs. 1766.85

2006-07                                Rs. 3940.73                                          Rs. 1500.00

2007-08                                Rs. 5405.80                                          Rs. 1290.00

2008-09                                Rs. 5515.14                                          Rs. 1600.00

2009-10                                Rs. 5778.00                                          Rs. 2400.00

2010-11                                Rs. 6114.56                                          Rs. 3100.00

Total                                      Rs. 37,223.92                                      Rs. 13,471.00

Balance with USOF                         Rs. 23752.48 crore.

 

The government should ensure that reasonable amount is allotted to BSNL for its loss making connections in the rural areas.

Rangoota Panel recommends disinvestment of loss making PSUs

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in PSU

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The panel appointed by the government with S.K.Rangoota as Chairman has recommended that  the loss making PSUs also should be disinvested. This is in addition to the disinvestment of profit-making PSUs. The Committee has also recommended that at least disinvestment should take place in 50 PSUs  within the next three years. The report has already been submitted to the Planning Commission.

The committee has also recommended  creating a Public Sector Land Development  Authority ( PSLDA) to develop the PSUs land asset  and utilise them commercially. It may mean to sell it also.

The government is in undue hurry to hand over all the PSU assets to the private companies and big business.

Govt. owes Rs.110 crore to Air India for VIP travels

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in PSU

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.The Air India is in serious financial difficulties and does not have money even to pay salaries to its employees. It is going through hard times. The financial crisis has arisen mainly because of the anti-Air India and pro-private carrier policy of the government and the decisions of former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who openly supported the private companies.

Now certain  news has been published in the newspapers. The Central Government owes about Rs. 110 crore to Air India towards payment for the tours conducted by the President. Vic-President, Prime Minister etc. to foreign countries. These relate to the period since 2008 and some earlier. The files are all pending with the government only. Why these bills are not paid? There is complete inertia in the government.

The Central Government should immediately pay these bills to the Air-India. It will help the company as also stop the humiliation of the concerned VIPs including President of India.

 

BSNL to outsource its 40,000 mobile towers

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in BSNL News

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BSNL is planning to outsource its 40,000 and odd towers in a bid to reduce its expenditure in maintenance and operation of the same. It is reported that about 20-25% of the total expenditure of the company relates to this item alone. It is also reported that the company has already started leasing /sharing the towers with the private companies.

These are all parts of the neo-liberalisation policy. After spending thousands of crore o f rupees for installing and making all infrastructures, they are being allowed for the use of the private companies for a minimum revenue sharing or rent. The maximum benefit of the towers is handed over to the private companies on a silver plate. The loss of the company, a creation of the wrong policy of the government and the inefficient management, is made a justification for the same.  CMD BSNL has stated that the process may get about Rs. 3,000 crore to BSNL. We have to watch and see.

It is to be noted that such important decisions are taken by the management even without consultation to the unions, important stakeholders of the company.  Unions get the information through the newspapers/media only.

USO Fund denies support to BSNL on loss making land lines

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in BSNL News

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The Administrator of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is reported to have denied the request of the BSNL for subsidy support to meet the losses being incurred for operating wire line connections in rural areas.  BSNL had shown that about Rs. 10,000 crore  loss is incurred by the company for implementing the social commitment of the government in providing connections in the rural areas/villages.

The Government, which has taken away all the surplus cash of the BSNL through 3G,BWA Spectrum charges, Notional loan, Dividend etc. is refusing to help it at the time of crisis.  The JAC and Unions have to take up the issue with the DOT and the Minister urgently.

Air India assures salary payment – Staff ends the non-attendance

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The crisis in Air India for the last few days has ended after discussion between the Air India CMD Rohit Nandan and the representatives of the Pilots. A good number of pilots have been boycotting duty protesting against the non-payment of salary for the last two-three months. Other staff like Stewards and Air Hostesses in international flights were absenting since they were paid neither salary nor the allowances (expenses) for staying in foreign stations.  Many flights were cancelled during the last one week.

Air India, which is in a serious financial crisis, mainly due to the anti-PSU and pro-private companies policy and decisions of the Central Government, especially that of the former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel , has been demanding subsidy from the government. But the government has not responded to the extent required.

Finance Minister meets Central Trade Unions on pre-budget discussions

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The Finance Minister  Pranab Mukherjee will be meeting the Central TUs on Monday, 16th January, to have their views before the finalisation of the budget proposals.

The trade unions are expected to raise the issues of the abolition of the contract labour, increase the minimum wage, social benefits like EPF & ESI etc. to them. They are also expected to raise the demand to have more employment generation as also increase the interest rate on Provident Fund decided by the EPFO. All the major National Trade Union centres are expected to participate in the meeting.

BSNL may lose Mini Ratna Status – HMT, Hindustan Papers and Hindustan Newsprint also.

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) is proposing to re-examine the Mini Ratna status of the PSUs which are not performing to the required level for the last three years.

BSNL may come on the radar. Though it was eligible for Nava Ratna Status on the basis of its performance earlier, the same was denied and only Mini Ratna was granted to it. But if the said proposal of the DPE is accepted, there is a chance that BSNL may lose its Mini Ratna status also, since its performance for the last two years have not been up to the mark. It is well known that BSNL has been posting losses mainly because of the anti-PSU policy of the government and the lack-lustre performance of the top management.  After the ‘Customer Delight Year’ project has been started by the JAC, the negative trend has changed for positive, but to what extent  is not known.  However, the DPE will have to think about this trend also before taking any action to downgrade BSNL. The BSNL Management and the unions should strongly demand not to demote the PSU.

HMT, Hindustan Papers and Hindustan Newsprint are also on the radar of the DPE for taking away the Mini Ratna stauts from them.

S and P downgrades European Countries – France and Austria lose AAA status

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

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The global recession is on. This time it is the 9 European countries that have been downgraded by the global rating agency, Standards & Poor, from their present rankings. France and Austria, the ratings of which were AAA, have also been downgraded. The other countries which are demoted are Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.

This is a big blow to France which is going to have election shortly. The downgrading will have serious implications for the Euro economy.  It may be remembered that the ratings of US was demoted from AAA+ last year after the global economic crisis.

One after another, the capitalist countries are facing the inevitable crisis that is the integral part of the capitalist system.