23 Tuesday Jun 2020
It is reported that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is going to set up a six-member committee to decide on the tender specifications for 4G Spectrum upgrade for BSNL and MTNL. The same is stated to be in view of the conflict in the LAC with China, with the intention to avoid Chinese equipment.
Some times Committees are appointed to delay matters. It seems that the intention here is the same utilising the border strife.
19 Friday Jun 2020
Posted in General
For some time, there is a slogan being raised by some friends,” One India One Pension”. Probably it is being raised not to equalise the pension, but to create a hatred against the pensioners as a whole among the people. Those who do not have any income and those who have to work even in their old age for a living is being put against with the pensioners who get some money even after retiring.
What is the real picture we have to see? Why is it that there is a big difference in the income of a few crores in the country and the vast majority of the people who are not even able to make both ends meet. This is the major issue that is to be raised. Every body should at least get sufficient income for a simple living. At the same time the Indian government, as many developed countries, are moving to reduce the pension or completely withdraw it.
Hence what is to be demanded is ” One India One Income” and not ” One India One Pension”. If it is the same income, then the pension or whatever it is will be the same. But we know that except in socialism at its highest level, such a target is difficult to achieve. But at the same time, the gross difference in the income and assets can be reduced which will give solace to the downtrodden.In India, 1% of the people who are super rich are having income equal to 4 times the income of the 70% of the people.
Hence if a slogan is required, it should be “ONE INDIA, ONE INCOME”. Other things will follow.
17 Wednesday Jun 2020
Posted in General
It is reported that 20 army personnel have been killed in the skirmishes with the Chinese military in the border, while defending our land. It is also reported that about 30 Chinese army men have also been killed.
We pay homages to our brave Jawans! We also convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Let both the countries discuss and resolve the issues peacefully.
06 Saturday Jun 2020
Posted in General
The Prime Minister has stated that the senior citizens, old aged are more vulnerable to Covid 19. But there is nothing for them in the Central economic package. Sad, very sad. We express strong protest.
04 Thursday Jun 2020
Posted in General
Department of Posts has issued instructions to restore the functioning of the Post Offices to almost normalcy in view of the Unlock-1 orders of the Central Government. Counters will be open for the usual business.
04 Thursday Jun 2020
Posted in General
Reports have appeared in certain news papers that the Central Government is proposing to privatise three PSU Banks viz. Bank of Punjab and Sind, Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Overseas bank. Already the more than two dozen PSU Banks have been reduced to 12 by merger. Now privatisation of three banks. Mody government is trying weaken and privatise PSU banks on the interest of the corporates and private banks.
03 Wednesday Jun 2020
Posted in General
During the covid period, it is difficult to conduct regular school classes. But delaying classes will be a problem for the education of the school going children. Hence Kerala Government has started online classes for the children from 1st standard. It started on experimental basis from 1st June and is a big hit. The Chief Minister has clearly stated that it is not in lieu of regular classes, which will start as soon as possible. We congratulate the Kerala LDF Government for the initiative.
03 Wednesday Jun 2020
Posted in CG Employees, General, privatisation
Defence Federation conducts Strike Ballot and 82,000 Defence Civilian Employees of 41 Ordnance Factories Will Go For an Indefinite Strike against the Decision of the Government to Convert 219 years old Indian Ordnance Factories into a Corporation / PSU
ALL INDIA DEFENCE EMPLOYEES FEDERATION
INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION
BHARTIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH
(RECOGNIZED FEDERATIONS OF DEFENCE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES)
JOINT PRESS RELEASE FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION
82,000 Defence Civilian Employees of 41 Ordnance Factories Will Go For an Indefinite Strike against the Decision of the Government to Convert 219 years old Indian Ordnance Factories into a Corporation / PSU
The Federations oppose the decision of the government to convert Army base workshops in to GOCO model and abolition of vacancies in MES and Army Units !
Strike Ballot to be taken all over the country between 08.06.2020 to 17.06.2020
The 3 Recognised Federations (AIDEF, INDWF & BPMS) of the Trade Unions of the 82,000 Defence Civilian Employees working in the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories have taken a decision to go ahead with the preparations for an indefinite strike against the arbitrary, illegal and unjustified decision taken by the Government to corporatise the most strategic Ordnance Factories. This decision of the Government announced by the Finance Minister during the 4th Tranche of the Rs.20 lakh crore financial relief to meet the COVID-19 economic crisis under “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abiyan” is against the agreement between the recognised Federations and the Ministry of Defence in the past. Former Defence Minister late. George Fernandez, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, Shri. A.K.Antony and late Manohar Parrikar have given written commitments that the Ordnance Factories would not be corporatised. The present decision of the Government is against all these assurances and agreements.
Apart from the above when the present Government included the subject of Corporatization of Ordnance Factories in its 100 days agenda, the Federations opposed the move of the Government and called for a one month strike which commenced on 20-8-2019. During the 5th day of the strike based on the direction given by the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) a settlement was reached with the then Secretary (DP) and present Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar wherein he has assured that no final decision has been taken by the Government with regard to Corporatization of OFB. Based on his assurance that a High Level Official Committee (HLOC) will be constituted to study the possibility of the OFB achieving Rs. 30,000 crores production target in the present setup, the Strike was deferred.
Since, there was a dispute between the Federations and the Government with regard to the terms of reference the Federations represented to the Honourable Defence Minister during October 2019 to intervene and change the terms of reference of the HLOC. However without considering the pending representation of the Federations, taking advantage of the COVID-19 lock down the Government have arbitrarily made the announcement that OFB will be Corporatised and will be listed in the Share Market
Government Decision to convert Ordnance Factories into Corporation hurts 82000 Employees
The above decision of the Government has hurt the 82,000 employees, since all these employees were engaged in manufacturing of all types of PPE’s required for the Doctors, Nurses and Para medical staff for fighting against the COVID-19 spread. They have taken risk of their life and were working throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. The Government instead of recognising their service to the Country have taken a major decision to convert this War industry as a PSU and thereafter to privatise the same.
This decision of the Government is against the Defence preparedness and National security of our country. Moreover it will overnight change the service conditions of the 82,000 employees and their status as Central Government employees which will be snatched away. In spite of our repeated representation to the Defence Minister and the Defence Production Secretary there is no positive response and hence the Federations are left with no other option than to go for an Indefinite Strike demanding the Government to withdraw its decision to Corporatize the Ordnance Factories. The date of the Commencement of the Indefinite Strike will be decided after the completion of the Strike Ballot which is scheduled between 8-6-2020 to 17-6-2020 throughout the country.
The Federations also are opposing the decision taken by the Government against other Defence Industries like MES, and EME. While 9304 vacancies in MES the Army Base Workshops under EME are being handed over to Private Sector in the name of GOCO Model. The Federations have already opposed the move and we will be separately deciding for serious Trade Union Action programme in these Defence Units also. The Federations also oppose the decision of the Government for allowing 74% FD] in Defence production.
27 Wednesday May 2020
Posted in General, Obituary, Tributes
Tags
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most acclaimed leader of the Independence struggle next to Mahatma Gandhi only. He was the undisputed claimant as the first Prime Minister of independent India. His entire family from his father Motilal Nehru, sister Vijayalaxmi Pandit and daughter Indira Gandhi was connected with the Independence movement in one way or other. was attracted to the USSR
and socialism. His ‘Socialist Pattern of society’ slogan was accepted by the Avadi Congress, but it was only partly implemented and later was completely forsaken. Non-alignment was a powerful movement, but that also did not last much after him. The creation of Public Sector and its growth in the first two decades is clearly his contribution. His speech on 15th August 1947 on the ramparts of Red Fort is a memorable, which echoed throughout the country.
I had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Pandit Nehru during 1957/ 58. He had come to Tellicherry and was to address a public meeting there which was massively participated. I was working as a school teacher and had come to hear him. I wanted to get his autograph. I had a small box camera with me and along with the press photographers I went near to him and took a photo. I utilised the opportunity by requesting for an autograph. He readily agreed and signed in my small autograph book.
As a P and T worker, later I read that Jawaharlal Nehru supported the 1946 Posts and Telegraph Strike and was also partly instrumental in its settlement with almost all the demands accepted by the British Government. But as the Prime Minister of India, he called the Central government Employees’ historical strike of July 1960 as ‘Civil Rebellion’ and suppressed it by using all the brute force at the hands of the government including the ‘Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance’ promulgated.
There is no doubt that he was a man of destiny and had the opportunity to lead free India for more than 17 years.
Homage to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 56th death anniversary!
24 Sunday May 2020
Posted in General
Birthday Greetings to Com.Pinayayi Vijayan, Chief Minister and architect of New Kerala ! An uncompromising fighter for the downtrodden, he navigated the tumultuous period of last four years facing severe challenges like Nipah virus, floods, natural calamities and the present Corona pandemic. Whatever is assured by him, it is fully implemented. Words and deeds are inseparable.
Red Salute to Com.Pinarayi Vijayan on his 75th birth anniversary !
