Communist China is providing its senior citizens, those who are above 60, with GPS enabled bracelets so that they can contact their family when they are lost or their family can track them down when they are missed. There is provision in the bracelet to make phone call to the family.

In China, there are about 22.2 crore senior citizens above 60 years, out of a total population of 138 crore. It is reported that on an average, 1,370 senior citizens are going missing every day. Hence this new method to find them is arranged, which will help lost people to be found.

In this connection, it will not be out of place to mention that in large metro cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai etc. a large number of senior citizens are lost every day. Some arrangements, as made in China, will be helpful in their cases.

With great sorrow, it is intimated that Comrade Fidel Castro,former President of Cuba and  veteran world Communist leader passed away today at Havana, the capital of Cuba. He was 90 years old.

Com. Castro was the legendary leader of the Cuban Revolution which converted Cuba in to a Communist State. Though a small country Communist Cuba showed the world how a country can grow despite continued attacks and blockade by USA, the leader of capitalism and imperialism.

He voluntarily vacated the post of President due to age and was continuing to guide the Socialist Cuba. His death is a great loss not only to Cuba, but the entire Socialist world.

Red Salute to Comrade Fidel Castro!

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

Class oriented – uniting – democratic – modern – independent – internationalist! 40, ZAN MOREAS STREET, ATHENS 11745 GREECE TEL. (+30) 2109214417, (+30) 2109236700, FAX (+30) 210 9214517 http://www.wftucentral.org E-MAILS : info@wftucentral.org, international@wftucentral.org Athens, 21st November 2016

WFTU statement on the new accident in India

At least 133 people lost their lives and 200 were wounded in a new accident that happened in India. The accident occurred in central India by a train derailment. One more time the working class paid for the lack of safety protective measures in public transport. The World Federation of Trade Unions demands investigation of the conditions of the accident and punishment of the responsible. Also, the WFTU demands the determination of high standard of safety measures in public transport and at all aspects of public life. Also we demand cheep and reliable public transport in the service of the working class and the poor population. We express our sincere condolences for the families and friends of the workers who lost their lives.

Today I, along with my wife, visited the International Trade Fair being held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. In addition to the Pavilions of the States, there are stalls of certain government departments and PSUs. The Trade Fair is arranged on the central theme of Digital India. I met Com.C.P. Narayanan M.P. and Com.A.Sampath M.P. who were going through the stalls in Kerala pavilion and appreciated the exhibits there.

The Trade Fair was worth seeing. We spent about three hours, but still could not see all the important stalls. But one thing has to be mentioned; Most of the pavilions are two or three stories high and it is very difficult for the aged and disabled to climb the stairs. This need to be remedied.

BSNL, Postal workers and Pensioners as per call of BSNLEU, NFPE, AIBDPA and AIPRPA will organise massive dharnas on 24th November 2016 against the demonetisation, demanding removal of the hardships of the people to get cash and also protesting against the denial of cash transactions to the co-operative banks in Kerala. The NDA government is purposely putting the Keral Co-Operative societies in to great difficulty by denial of the cash transaction facility.

Our full support to the fully justified agitation!

The latest Indore – Patna train accident yesterday night has taken away about 90 valuable lives. Hundreds have been seriously injured. It is a shocking incident. My heartfelt condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the deceased.

This is not a lone accident. Almost every month one or two major or minor accidents are taking place. Incidentally, I was a passenger in another train in the same route, the same night.

I am a regular train traveller for the last five decades or so. Never have been the train movement so jittery and shaking. Whenever the train takes speed, it seems that not only the train is moving forward, but it is also shaking abnormally. Passengers moving inside the train or sitting in the toilets etc. have to be very careful that they do not fall down.

Most of the railway tracks have passed their life-period and are to be replaced. By reducing the number of gang men and other workers who check up the tracks are reduced and no mentionable modernisation takes place. The continued governments at the centre, whether UPA or NDA, completely failed to look after the security of the Railway passengers. After every accident, an official inquiry is set up. Neither the report is published nor any remedial action is taken. Everything is forgotten till another accident takes place.

The government and the Railway Ministry are playing with the valuable lives of the passengers. A High Level Judicial inquiry under the chairmanship of a judge of the Supreme Court should be ordered and the culprits who are responsible should be punished. Strict guidelines should be issued for ensuring the safety of the passengers.

The opposition Members in the Parliament have charged that the BJP leaders and their friends were in the know of the demonitisation beforehand and demanded that all the transactions made during the last six months should be enuired.

The government, if it is serious about unearthing black money, should order such an enuiry.  Otherwise, the government stands under shadow of doubt.