Category Archives: AIBDPA – BSNL DOT Pensioners

AIBDPA (All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association ) is the organisation of the Pensioners retired from DOT and BSNL. The posting in this category are connected with their issues as also that of other pensioners. It is affiliated to NCCPA and BCPC, umbrella organisations of pensioners.

Meeting the stalwarts of working class at Kolkata.

03 Wednesday May 2017

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I have been away to Kolkata to attend the Circle Conference of AIBDPA  Kolkata Circle as also meeting at Telecom Factory and at CTO building (W.Bengal Circle) during the period 25th to 29th April 2017. The conference and meetings were well attended and I addressed them. The latest developments were explained to the employees, pensioners and casual contract workers.

I could utilise the stay in Kolkata during this period to meet some of the veteran senior leaders of the trade union movement. Com. Sisirda, the senior most leader of P&T employees, who is 97 at present, came to the meeting in the Telecom Factory and addressed the workers. Even at this age he is active and we discussed about the latest developments. A copy of the AIBDPA  Tirupati AIC Souvenir with my article on Sisirda was handed over to him.

On 26th evening along with Coms. Saibal Sen Gupta, Circle Secretary BSNLEU and Biplab Das, Secretary Co-ordination Committee, I went and met Com. Sukomal Sen, former Secretary General All India state Government Employees Federation and a former M.P. He was not well and is under treatment at home. He was happy to meet all of us and we discussed his health problems and other issues.

On 28th April, along with Coms. Pabitra Chakraborty and Arindo Rai, Asst. Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Kolkata  Circle, I visited Com. R.L.Bhattacharjee, Patron, NCCPA at his residence which is about 30 miles away from Kolkata. He is almost bedridden and unable to move out. We had about one hour discussion on the various issues of the pensioners etc.

On 29th morning I went to the residence of late Comrade Moni Bose to meet Com. Jyotsna Bose who is  not well. She used to attend all the meetings earlier. I could meet both the families of Coms. K.G.Bose as well as Moni Bose. Com. Babu (s/o KG Bose) and family had visited Kerala last month and he was very happy that all arrangements have been made for his stay etc. by Com.K.Mohanan, CS BSNLEU and other comrades. I had lunch from there and spoke with all the family members.

Com.Ananta Bhattacharjee, President of AIBDPA and a veteran leader was present in the AIBDPA Kolkata Conference and along with Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General secretary, we could discuss some important issues.

During the stay there, I addressed the SNEA comrades, sitting on Hunger strike in Telephone Bhavan as per decision of CHQ demanding settlement of their demands.

This tour to Kolkata was successful,especially in that I could meet the senior leaders. All the circle Secretaries of BSNLEU, Coms. Animesh Mitra (WB), Saibal Sen Gupta (Kolkata), Om Prakash Singh (TF) and Adhir Kumar Sen (TS) along with Com. Biplab Das, Mihir Dasgupta, Swastika Dasgupta, Sandib Banerjee, Pijush Chakraborty, Supriyo Mitra, Arindo Rai, Amitab Chatterjee, senior leaders Comrades Dilip Das, Prabir Dutta, Gouri Haldar – all helped me in duties assigned to me. I could not meet Coms. Tapas Ghosh and Tapos Banerjee, leaders of BSNLCCWF due to their being out of station to attend meetings.

All these comrades are functioning under great strain due to the special situation in W.Bengal. My Congratulations to all of them for their great tradition and committed service to the organisation.

W.

Medical Allowance Restored for BSNL Pensioners

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Our continuous efforts and struggles have at last yielded the desired result. BSNL management has issued letter restoring the quarterly medical allowance to BSNL retirees, which was stopped unilaterally in 2012.

AIBDPA thanks the BSNL management and congratulates all the BSNL pensioners who have participated in all the struggles for restoration of medical allowance.

We sincerely thanks BSNLEU who took the initiative to rally round all the working unions to agree for restoration of medical allowance to the retirees- (AIBDPA Website)

RTI on pension details should be replied within 48 hours – Central Information Commission

02 Sunday Apr 2017

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The Central Information Commission has issued directions that all the RTIs on pension issues should be replied within 48 hours. The report of the PTI is given below.
New Delhi, Apr 2 RTI applications seeking pension details should be replied to within 48 hours as it pertains to the “life and liberty” of the elderly, the Central Information Commission has held as it pitched for early redressal of such grievances.
The Commission also directed that if an RTI application is a genuine grievance of a pensioner, steps should be initiated within 48 hours to redress it.
The directive of Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu will come to the aid of over 58 lakh central government pensioners.
Acharyulu in a recent order held that the information pertaining to pension of a person pertains to his/her life and liberty which is mandated to be replied to within 48 hours as per the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
He said the moment an RTI application on pension issue is received, there should be a mechanism at the entry stage to discover and identify if it reflects a pension related grievance.
He said it should be brought to the notice of the responsible officer by the CPIO on the same day and if it is a genuine case, the grievance should be addressed. The result should be communicated within 48 hours, followed by redressal within 30 days.
Acharyulu said considering the “living needs” of elderly pensioners, it is important that records of their dues should be considered as “life and liberty” related information under the RTI Act.
“The moment RTI application on pension issue is received, there should be a mechanism at the entry stage to discover and identify if it reflects a pension related grievance/issue and should be acted upon immediately,” Acharyulu said in his directives to Employees’ Provident Fund Office, Raipur.
He said all the cases relating to delay in fixation and payment of pension and also arrears shall be dealt with urgently, considering them as request for information concerning the life or liberty under section 7(1) of RTI Act.
“Any grievance regarding these issues should also be treated as ‘right to life’ under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and the public authorities shall do all the needful to address the issue within 48 hours,” the Information Commissioner said.
Acharyulu said some authorities say that unless an imminent danger is there to life or liberty, this clause cannot be invoked.
“It is an extraneous extension of imagination without any basis. The expression used in the Act is simply ‘where the information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person’, which should mean it is enough if it concerns the life or liberty. That need not be in imminent danger,” he clarified in his order.
He was adjudicating the case of one Amrika Bai who had filed an RTI application seeking to know discrepancy in the payment of pension to her.
When she could not get proper response, she approached the Commission questioning non-payment of arrears of pension in a time-bound manner.
“The arrears involved is only an increase of 4 per cent on the basic pension of Rs 1,986, which comes to Rs 80. Though it is a very small amount it matters most for an old age appellant, who lost her husband and depends upon sons or daughters,” Acharyulu said.

Mysuru CEC of AIBDPA chalk out agitational programmes

25 Saturday Feb 2017

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The beautiful Palace city of Mysuru in Karnataka witnessed effective deliberations, active discussions and appropriate decisions. The occasion was the Central Executive Committee Meeting held at Com.M.P.Kunhanandan Nagar in Regional Telecom Training Centre on 23rd and 24th February, 2017. The CEC started with hoisting of National Flag by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri , Advisor and AIBDPA flag by Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary. Thereafter the participants paid homage to the martyrs. The Open session at 11AM on 23-02-2017 was inaugurated by Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA. He narrated the developments in connection with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and the nefarious and treacherous game by the central government to deny the genuine modifications sought by the National Joint Action Council. He came down heavily on the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare for rejecting Option 1, the only positive recommendations for the pensioners. In this context the decision of Confederation for a one day strike is most justified and the pensioners have to support it. Com.S.Mohandoss, Vice President presided. Delivering the Key note address, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri while congratulating the comrades for the growth of AIBDPA as a mighty organisation of pensioners, he appealed to further strengthen it by enrolling more pensioners. He also explained the efforts of CHQ to achieve mandatory pension revision from 01-01-2017. Coms.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, H.V.Sudarshan, Organising Secretary, BSNLEU CHQ and G.G.Patil, AGS addressed the open session. Com.N.Vijayakumar, Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the gathering and Com.S.A.Bilagi, Circle Secretary, Karnataka proposed vote of thanks. The subject session started at 1430hrs on 23-02-2017 continued upto 1600hrs on 24-02-2017 with the usual breaks. Coms.S.Mohandoss, Supriya Mitra and S.V.Shrivastava, Vice Presidents jointly presided. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary and Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, Treasurer presented the report and accounts, respectively. 26 comrades participated in the discussion and raised various issues in a matured manner.Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri and K.G.Jayaraj replied appropriately after which the report and accounts were adopted. The CEC decided to launch a phased program of agitation on the demands identified in the charter of demands, including Mandatory Pension Revision consequent on pay revision in BSNL from 01-01-2017, 50% IDA merger, Fixed Monthly Medical Allowance, implementation of Option 1 etc, as follows.

Campaign Week- Last week of March,

2017 Call Attention day_ 20 April, 2017 and

Mass Dharna at SSA level- 25 May, 2017

Resolutions were adopted on important issues. CEC congratulated the Recepetion Committee led by Com.N.Vijayakumar and Basavaraju and effectively guided by Coms.C.K.Gundanna and G.G.Patil for the excellent arrangements for the successful conduct of the CEC.

Early settelment of 78.2% IDA Pension Fixation

03 Friday Feb 2017

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The 78.2% IDA Pension Fixation was ordered for BSNL pensioners after sustained struggle and strikes. It was stated in the order itself that the same should be settled before 31st December 2016. But mainly due to shortage of staff in the CCA offices, a large number of cases are still pending, although more than one month is over after the last date.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA today met Shri Prabhat Singh, Member (Finance) and discussed the matter. He demanded that the cases be settled without further delay by making necessary arrangements, either by posting extra staff or through deputation etc. Pensioners are very unhappy at the undue delay and their cases should settled at the earliest. Member (Finance) agreed that necessary steps will be taken in the matter.

On demand by Com.Namboodiri, Member (F) stated that the implementation of minimum pension and pension for those retired before 2006, with out the 33 years service condition, is being processed, after some CCAs have sought clarification.

Implementation of VII CPC recommendations connected with pension

24 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Despite many months after the implementation of the VII CPC recommendations for the CG pensioners including gratuity, these have not been extended to BSNL pensioners. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA today, 24th January 2017, met Shri R.K.Mishra Member (Services) and discussed the matter and demanded for early issue of orders in the matter. He agreed to look in to the matter. The issue of extending 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for those retired from January to May 2007 was also raised on which a letter has already been given earlier. Member (Services) agreed to look in to.

Maharashtra Circle Conference of AIBDPA

18 Wednesday Jan 2017

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The spacious Recreation Club hall at Mahadji Sindhey Telephone Exchange ,Pune was jam packed with pensioners from all the districts of Maharashtra on 15-01-2017. The occasion was the Circle Conference of AIBDPA, Maharashtra. Com.Nagesh Nalawade, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and the main architect of the organising committee welcomed all and controlled the proceedings. Com.Subhas Bartakke, Circle President presided over the conference.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurated the conference with an elaborate and inspiring speech, covering almost all the issues of the pensioners. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, in his address dealt the organisational issues and exhorted to strengthen the AIBDPA at all levels to meet the challenges. Coms. Appa Saheb Ghagre, Circle President, BSNLEU, Gulab Kale, Assistant Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and S.S.Amre also addressed the conference. Com.B.P.Petkar presented the report and accounts and were adopted after active discussion.

Office bearers were elected unanimously and the following are the important functionaries.

Advisors : Coms. B.P.Petkar, S.N.Barkulabi

Patrons : Coms. S.S.Amre, B.R.Hiwarkar

Circle President : Com. P.G.Suryavanshi

Circle Secretary : Com.R.N.Patil

Treasurer. : Com. A.S.Ingale.

78.2% – Massive Dharnas against non-settlement in Kerala

12 Thursday Jan 2017

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UNDUE DELAY IN 78.2% IDA FIXATION PROCESS- KERALA WITNESSES MASS DHARNAS WITH OVERWHELMING PARTICIPATION OF PENSIONERS.

Pensioners all over Kerala expressed their anguish and anger against the undue delay in the 78.2% IDA fixation process and drawal of arrears thereof. Pensioners from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta held a massive and powerful Dharna in front of the CCA office, Thiruvananthapuram. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the Dharna participated by about 500 pensioners. Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President and CHQ Treasurer presided. Coms. K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, P.K.Muraleedharan, Circle Convenor, NFPE, M.C.Nair, Circle Prsident, AIPRPA, Jacob Thomas, Circle President, P-III(NFPE), Benny, District Secretary, BSNLEU addressed the dharan. Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed all and Com.N.Vikraman Nair proposed vote of thanks.
After the Dharna, a delegation consisting Coms.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, R.Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President and N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary met the CCA, Shri. Manoj and discussed the issue of early completion of the work related to 78.2% IDA fixation and calculation of one extra increment for pension. They demanded that at least by 31-03-2017,everything in this regard should be completed.The CCA stated that the works could not be completed within the stipulated period due to shortage of staff and though now additional staff are posted, still,it is not sufficient.The delegation immediately offered the services of retired staff which was accepted by the CCA. Initially, two retired Section Supervisors, Coms.M.Balachandran Nair and M. Salauddin are being made available from 11-01-2017 itself.

Similar Dharnas were also held at Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kottayam by the respective district branches.

Pension Revision along with Wage Revision is a must

09 Friday Dec 2016

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Pension Revision for the central government retirees is automatic with the implementation of the pay revision for the employees. But in the case of BSNL absorbed retirees it is different. Every time the file has to go to Cabinet for approval for pension revision. This is unjust and discrimination.

BSNLEU and AIBDPA have demanded that the pension Revision also be made along with the wage revision for the BSNL employees. This is only but justice to the BSNL absorbed DOT employees.

A Brief Report on the TUI (P and R) Conference at Kathmandu, Nepal

06 Tuesday Dec 2016

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The Inspiring Conference of TUI (P&R) at Kathmandu

The Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the Trade Union International (Pensioners & Retirees) held at Kathmandu on 3rd December 2016 has adopted a detailed Declaration of Demands of the Retirees and Pensioners and also Action Plan for organizing the pensioners in the region.

The Conference was held in the spacious Convention Hall of the Nepal Agricultural Development Bank, Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. The natural beautiful surroundings, the pleasant climate and the very convenient accommodation in the same complex made the stay of the delegates very comfortable. The Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world, towering in the background covered in white pack of ice was a majestic sight.

About a total of about 200 Delegates from India, China, Bangladesh and Nepal participated.  From India Comrades K.K.N.Kutty (NCCPA), K.Raghavendran (AIPRPA) participated to in addition to Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Member Technical Committee of TUI (P and R), and representing AIBDPA.  Delegates from SAIL retirees and AITUC also participated.

Open Session

The Open Session was held in the morning of 3rd December 2016 presided over by Com. V.N.Nirala, President, REAN (Retired Employees Association of Nepal) which took initiative to hold the Conference. A minute’s silence was observed paying homage to Com. Fidel Castro, the former President of Socialist Cuba and the great Revolutionary leader, who passed away recently and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the toiling masses. Com. Ram Sharan Wagle, General Secretary, REAN, welcomed all and honored the guests and leaders on the dais by putting shawls and presenting gifts.

The National Anthem of Nepal, International Song and WFTU Song were sung before start of the Conference. Com.Bamdev Gautam, Former Dy. Prime Minister of Nepal and Sr. Vice – President of Communist Party of Nepal – UML inaugurated the Conference by lighting the ornamental lamp. In his inaugural address, Com. Gautam spoke of the great traditions of Nepal, about Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Budha, about the many hills, plains, lakes, rivers etc. in the country. Nepal has never been colonized in its four thousand years of history, upon which many kings ruled over. A Hindu kingdom, Nepal has converted in to a Federal Republic country in 2006 overthrowing the long rule of kings. It is now declared as a Independent, Sovereign, Federal, Secular Republic with socialism oriented state. The new constitution seeks eradication of exploitation, guarantee of social security etc. He stated that CPN-UML played a great role in this process. He also said, that however, it will take a long time to reach the goals.

The neo-liberalisation has made rich people richer and the poor, poorer. Poverty and employment is growing. Socialism is the final remedy to these ills. He supported the demands of retirees and pensioners and told that they are the wealth of a nation. He wished the Conference all success.

Many leaders of the TUI(P and R), CPN-UML, REAN and leaders of the delegations were present in the dias. The Conference was addressed by Comrades Dimos Koumpouris, President, TUI (P and R), Mohan Bahadur, Vice-President, TUI (P and R), Mohanman Swnar, Finance Committee Member, WFTU, Premal Kumar Khanal, WFTU, Zheng Haixim ACFTU, China and  V.A.N.Namboodiri, Tech. Committee, TUI (P and R) and Swapan Kumar (SAIL) and Nizamuddin Patway (Bangladesh). A Souvenir with valuable articles was released in the Conference.

Delegates Session

The Delegates Session started about 14.00 hours. Com. Dimos Koumpouris, President TUI, presided. Many delegates addressed the session including Coms. K.K.N.Kutty, K.Raghavendran and V.A.N.Namboodiri from India.

On the basis of the discussion a detailed Declaration was adopted by the house which was presented by Com. Mohan Bahadur, Vice-President, TUI(P and R), giving the back ground of the Conference, the formation of TUI( P and R), the aims and objectives, the work done so far, the need to bring more and more unions/association to the fold of TUI etc., the action plan for the future etc. It mentioned the special needs and current concerns for social security benefits, health care, housing, recreation, transportation, retirement policy, against privatization etc. The declaration reiterated the commitment to fight for the rights of pensioners with the concept of assertive struggle as a way to raise awareness of the causes, which are the essence of capitalist system and the exploitation of man by man.

A Secretariat of the Asian Pacific Region was formed for continuing the work and enlarging the TUI with associations from the other countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia etc.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, on behalf of the Indian delegation, invited the next Conference to be held at New Delhi. President TUI (P and R) assured that the invitation will be considered by the TUI (P and R) head quarters.

A Closing Session was also held after which the conference concluded with shouting of slogans: Long live the Working Class! Long Live the Class Oriented Trade Union Movement! Long Live WFTU! Long Live TUI (P and R)!

Visit to the CPN – UML Office

All the foreign delegates were taken for a tour to the historic Bhaktiarpur  City, which has been partly destroyed by earthquake. The delegates were given a warm welcome at the office of the Communist Party of Nepal – UML  and a meeting was held there. The President and General Secretary of CPN –UML greeted all. Com. Koumpauris and V.A.N.Namboodiri on behalf of the delegates thanked for the reception.

Reception at TEAN Office

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, BSNLEU was given a warm reception by the Central office bearers of the Telecom Employees Association of Nepal (TEAN) at their HQ Office in the Nepal telecom building. Com. Namboodiri was honoured by a memento and traditional shawl.  Coms. Raj Bahadur Rawal, General Secretary, Tankalal Shreshta, Advisor, Sunil Kumar Pokhrel, Worker Director Nepal Telecom and others spoke. Com. Namboodiri thanked all and spoke about the latest developments in BSNL and the struggles being organized by the workers against disinvestment, formation of tower company etc.  Com. Namboodiri conveyed  the invitation of the General Secretary BSNLEU to TEAN comrades to attend the All India Conference of BSNLEU to be held at Chennai from 31st December 2016 to 3rd January 2017, which they gladly accepted.

The close friendship of BSNLEU and TEAN during the last fifteen years was once again cemented through the present visit.

The Regional Conference was the first meeting of the TUI(P and R) in the region and it is hoped that the organization will benefit and improve with the inspiration and enthusiasm of the Conference.

Our thanks to Retired Employees Association of Nepal and Com. Mohan Bahdur, Vice-President, TUI(P&R), who organized the successful Conference.