12 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted in General
It is heart rendering news that 63 children in hospital in Gorakhpur in UP have died due to non-availability of Oxygen. We express our deep pain and extreme sorrow at this tragic incidence.
It is reported that the utter irresponsibility and negligence of the Hospital authorities and of the company supplying oxygen have been the reason for the deaths.
We demand immediate action against the culprits in the matter.
12 Saturday Aug 2017
WFTU has given the following statement on the National Convention of workers in India.
India: The National Convention of Workers decided the next militant steps of the Trade Unions
10 Aug 2017ASIA, INDIA
The Trade Unions of India during the National Convention of Workers discussed about the current developments, the increasing anti-labor policies of India government and worker’s standard of living.
The Convention examined the previous action of the trade union movement and the continuing government’s provocative rejection and indifference of the 12-point Charter of Demands on minimum wage, social security, workers’ status and pay and facilities for the scheme workers, against privatization and mass scale contractorisation etc.
The convention was organised by the joint platform of all the central trade unions – CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF, and the National Federations of State and Central Government employees and the employees in a wide range of sectors such as banking, telecom, coal, steel, transport and construction.
The Convention decided the next militant steps below:
1. To work for achieving and accelerating united struggles in all the sectors of the economy on respective demands, which have already begun
2. To Organize level massive campaigns at various levels: Block, District, Industrial Centres and State level; mobilisation and convention in preparation to central mobilization to be followed
3. Massive three days dharna (protest) at National Capital on 9th,10th and 11th Nov. to be attended by workers from all over the country.
4. The National Convention calls upon the working people to prepare for indefinite countrywide strike action against the anti people, anti national activities of the Govt.
World Federation of Trade Unions
Central Offices in Athens
40, Zan Moreas str, 117 45 Athens, GREECE
11 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in General
“A Democracy is likely to degenerate into a tyranny if it does not allow the opposition groups to criticise fairly, freely and frankly” (Ex- Vice President Hamid Ansari)
Is Modi Government hearing?
11 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in General
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Highlighting the dangers of communalism, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today warned against creating a “Hindu Pakistan” out of India.
He was speaking in the Rajya Sabha while participating in a special discussion to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement.
While talking about the freedom struggle, he said the country’s Independence also had the painful episode of partition attached to it.
Yechury, whose term as Rajya Sabha member is coming to an end with this session, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mentioned that communalism must quit India. “The question is — are we doing anything to make it quit?”
Reciting a couplet about communal harmony, he said a ‘Hindu Pakistan’ should not be created.
The CPI(M) leader recounted the contribution of several communist leaders in the fight against British rule. He said a lot of people in the cellular jail were communist leaders from Bengal and Punjab.
He, however, emphasised that attempts should not be made to appropriate the freedom struggle.
Yechury said there were two communist leaders – a maulana and a swami – who had moved a resolution for complete independence at a meeting of the Indian National Congress in 1921.
The Quit India movement belonged to the people and is a common heritage, he said.
He said the divide between the rich and poor was widening. From 49 percent earlier, the amount of the country’s GDP held by 1 percent of the country’s population has risen to 58.4 per cent.
The need is to eliminate neo-liberal policies and communalism, Yechury said. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)
07 Monday Aug 2017
Posted in General, P&T TU History
The newly published book ” History of P and T Trade Union Movement” authored by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary of BSNLEU, was released on 6th August 2017 by veteran TU leader Comrade Tapan Sen, M.P. General Secretary CITU by handing over to Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of C.G.Employees and former Secretary General NFPE, in the Annual Conference of the All India Postal Employees Union Group C being held at Bengaluru. The book is published by Com. R.N.Parashar, Secretary General of NFPE and GS oF P.III Union.
The book chronicles the history of the Posts and Telegraphs in India, the formation of unions in Posts and Telegraphs in the first decade of the last century, the formation of UPTW, NFPTE, the historical strikes organised in 1919, 1946, 1960, 1968, 1974, 1982 etc. and also the various developments in the sector. Brief notes on the lives and activities of the founder fathers and other leaders are also given. Foreword and introduction of the book is written by Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, Vice-President, CITU, Com.M.Krishnan and Com.R.N.Parashar. The book is priced at Rs.100/-.
Com. AKP, in his introduction states:
” I am aware that there are books in different languages covering some aspects of the book. But I have not come across one covering all aspects dealt with by the author. I am sure that in the hands of the young generation of employees, who are struggling to carry forward the militant tradition of the class oriented trade union movement, this book will also be a tool to advance the cause.
Without understanding the history, we will never be able to successfully plan our future.”
04 Friday Aug 2017
New Delhi, August 4: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
BJP Double-speak on Kerala
The BJP leadership is indulging in doublespeak regarding the recent clashes between the CPI(M) and BJP-RSS workers in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala. The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, had urged the Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan to take adequate measures to stop the clashes. The Kerala Chief Minister convened a meeting of CPI(M) and BJP-RSS state leaders on July 31 to discuss ways and means to ensure peace and avoid such incidents.
The meeting took certain decisions and decided to hold similar meetings in three districts as a follow up. These meetings were also held and they have provided a framework and both sides have committed to see that conflicts are avoided and the police takes action against anyone resorting to violence. An all-parties meeting is also being held on August 6.
It is at such a juncture that the central leadership of the BJP and Union Minister have raised baseless and partisan allegations against the CPI(M) in Kerala. Bhupendra Yadav, General Secretary of the BJP and Union Minister Smriti Irani, have even questioned the sincerity of the initiative by the Kerala Chief Minister which has yielded results.
So, while the Home Minister adopts one position, another Union Minister and the BJP leadership take a contrary stand. This clearly shows that the BJP-RSS are not keen to see that peace is restored and there are no political clashes.
It should be recalled that the BJP-RSS began their attacks on the CPI(M) the very day election results were announced in May 2016. A CPI(M) worker was killed in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s constituency while participating in a victory procession.
Since the formation of the LDF government, thirteen CPI(M) workers and others have been killed by RSS-BJP men (see list attached). More than 200 Party members and sympathisers have been injured and hospitalized. Over 165 houses and 51 Party offices and many mass organisation offices have also been attacked, set on fire or vandalized.
The game-plan is clear. Resort to provocative actions and uncalled for physical assaults against the CPI(M) workers and raise the cry that the CPI(M) is resorting to violence and blame the Kerala government for not stopping such attacks.
The people of Kerala know very well who is responsible for the political violence, at a time when the LDF government is seriously engaged in implementing the developmental programmes set out in the election manifesto of the Left and Democratic Front. The people of Kerala who continue to maintain the highest level of communal amity and social harmony will surely rise to defeat such efforts at disrupting peace and normalcy in the state.
List of those Killed by RSS-BJP men after
LDF Government came into power
No
Name
District
1
C. V. Raveendran
Pinarayi, Kannur
2
C. V. Dhanraj
Kannur
3
Sasikumar
Thrissur
4
T. Suresh Kumar
Thiruvananthapuram
5
Mohanan
Kannur
6
Anandu
Alappuzha
7
Muhammed Muhazin
Alappuzha
8
G. Jishnu
Alappuzha
9
Shibu
Alappuzha
10
P. Muraleedharan
Malappuram
11
Riyas Moulavi
Kasargode
12
Faizal
Malappuram
13
Suresh (Congress I supporter)
Thrissur
04 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in General
Tags
The ruling party at the centre shows its intolerance at any criticism of the government or the party, out side or in the Parliament. Today again it happened while Com.P.Karunakaran, leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha was raising the issue of the RSS attacks on Com.Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI)M) and also murder of CPI(M) members in Kerala. He was not being allowed to speak. The Speaker, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, had to admonish the shouting BJP members. As BJP members protested again, the Speaker said that the BJP members should not turn the House into a ‘Kurukshetra’ but ‘Dharmakshetra’ where they could debate issues.
04 Friday Aug 2017
Tags
The central government has issued orders making Aadhar mandatory for registration of death. The PTI news in this connection is reproduced below. Orders are being issued one after another on Aadhar, despite the fact that crores of people are yet to be issued with Aadhar. The difficulty for the ordinary people in this connection is unattended and ignored by the government.
New Delhi, Aug 4 : The government has made Aadhaar number mandatory for the registration of death from October 1, to prevent identity fraud.
The home ministry said today that it would be applicable for the residents of all states except Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Meghalaya, for which a date would be notified separately.
“The Aadhaar number will be required for the purpose of establishing the identity of the deceased for the purpose of death registration with effect from October 1,” according to a notification issued by the home ministry.
The office of the Registrar General, which functions under the home ministry, said the use of Aadhaar will result in ensuring accuracy of the details provided by the relatives or dependents or acquaintances of the deceased.
“It will provide an effective method to prevent identity fraud. It will also help in recording the identity of the deceased person. Further, it will obviate the need for producing multiple documents to prove the identity of the deceased person,” it said.
The Registrar General has directed all states and Union Territories to ensure compliance by the registration authorities concerned and send a confirmation on or before September 1.
Anyone applying for death certificate is required to provide Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID Number (EID) of the deceased and other details as sought in the application.
If the applicant is not aware of the Aadhaar number or EID of the deceased, he/she will be required to provide a certificate that the deceased person does not possess Aadhaar number to the best of his/her knowledge.
Any false declaration given by the applicant will be treated as an offence as per the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and the Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1969.
The applicant’s Aadhaar number will also be collected along with the Aadhaar number of the spouse or parents of the deceased.”
02 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in General
I was invited today to inaugurate the Hunger Strike in front of Kozhikode PMG Office organised by the All India Postal Casual,Part-time Contingency Contract Workers Federation demanding payment of arrears of wages due from 2006 and 2016 onwards. Orders are issued, but not implemented even after months. Most of the participants were part-time and contingency workers engaged in the Post Offices to sweep and clean the offices including the toilets. Many of them are engaged for about one hour to two hours daily so and is paid a pittance of Rs. 1,000 or so in a month.
This is most cruel and brutal exploitation. These workers have to spend much time to reach the office and go back, work mostly more than the time engaged and do some additional works in the office. But the wages are for one hour or two. Wages for part-time should be paid at least for four hours ie. half a day, so that the worker gets something to maintain a family.
My congratulations to NFPE and AIPCPCCCWF for taking up the issues these downtrodden workers seriously. The Department of Posts should be made to pay reasonable wages to these workers. We express our full solidarity to the fully justified struggle.
02 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in General
The media controlled by the private corporates have been continuously misleading reports about difference between the CPI(M) PB and Kerala unit. PB has issued the following statement in this connection.
New Delhi, August 2: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
On Media Reports
Misleading reports are appearing in sections of the media about differences between the CPI(M) Central leadership and the CPI(M) Kerala state leadership over the recent developments in the state.
These reports are completely baseless.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 