The decision of the Travancore Devaswom Board, Kerala, to appoint temple priests from dalits and other backward  classes is most appreciated. This is a welcome step. Along with 26 Brahmins, these priests from OBCs and dalits have been appointed. This is a bold decision and is to be considered by the other temple managements also.

Instances are daily being reported about the complete anti-PSU stand of the government. The latest is the denial by the Directorate General of Hydro carbons to the ONGC to produce gas from ultra deep sea on the plea of technological challenges to be faced. It is to be noted that such ultra deep gas production is being made in the Gulf of Mexico and other places.

It is not the question of technical challenges that is being faced, but the pro-capitalistic corporate stand of the government that is the reason for denial of permission. The government wants the private companies to get the benefit and not the PSU,  ONGC. It is certain that tomorrow or later the private corporates will be given such permission.

The people have not forgotten many such instances like licence to provide mobile services, which was granted to the newly formed private telecom companies, while the same was denied to Telecom Department, BSNL and MTNL, existing players, for many years.

Trade Unions world over are observing 3rd  October 2017 as ” International Action Day for Migrants and Refugees”as per the call of WFTU. Due to terrorist activities, US intervention and many other reasons, lakhs and lakhs of refugees are running away from their own countries to safety.

It is the bounden duty of all the countries to help these refugees to have a life and living. The latest flow of refugees is by the Rohingyas from Myanmar to Bangladesh, India etc. It is unfortunate that Govt. of India is moving for returning them to Myanmar, instead of rehabilitating them.

Thousands of people participated in the Human Wall round the Kozhikode Railway Station protesting against the move of the Railways to privatise the Kozhikode Station. The programme was organised under the auspices of the Railway Station Protection Committee. The participants took Oath to stop the privatisation of the station. Further programmes are being chalked out in continuation.

Com. Tapan Sen M.P. and General Secretary of CITU has written to the central government to stop the move to close 11 Government Presses out of a total of 16. These presses have been most useful to the government in printing important documents and government publications for along time. These can be well modernised as demanded by Tapan Sen. This will reduce the dependency on the private presses.

It is well understood that the closure of government presses is part of the Capitalist Corporate Policy, which the Modi government is aggressively continuing. ‘Every Sector for the Corportates, All Profits to the Corporates’ has become the slogan of the government.

Telecom, Postal, Banks, Railways, Airlines, Airports – the list for privatisation is increasing every day! Sustained struggle is the only way to defend the PSUs.

It is not only the opposition leaders, but many leaders of the BJP including their former Finance Minister Yeshwant Sinha have expressed their unhappiness over the economic down trail. The fact is that despite many assurances and announcement of many new programmes, neither employment has increased nor GDP. The demonetisation and introduction of GST has hit the people hard. There is unhappiness in the BJP cadres also.

The Modi impact is losing ground. Rajasthan BJP government had to concede all the demands of the Kisans after their mighty demonstration and protest rallies with participation of lakhs of people. The anti-worker new labour codes being introduced has angered even BMS, whose leaders have issued statements of protest. The university students are protesting against the curbs on campus freedom. The trade unions are organising Maha Dharna in Delhi for three days w.e.f. 6th November with lakhs of workers’ participation.

Yes! The change has started. The change shall continue. When assurances are not implemented and the miseries and sufferings are increasing, there will be strong reaction from the people.