A massively participated meeting was held at Central Telegraph Office hall at Kolkata jointly by BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF W.Bengal Circle on 27th July 2016 to celebrate

From early morning today, 24th July 2016, I have been getting calls, messages, Face Book postings etc. wishing a Happy Birth Day and Greetings! Yes, today is my 79th Birth Day. I convey my thanks from the heart to all of you for your affectionate wishes and Greetings, which is cherished much by me and my wife, Pankajam. I may not be able to thank every body personally and this may kindly be treated as a personal note of thanks.

My date of birth as per records in 12th June 1938.It was very late that I found out that the actual date is 24th July 1938. Birth certificates were not insisted for admission in the schools at that time in rural areas. In order to enable admission to school, June being the period for admission, either father or the school teacher might have put the date as 12th June. Otherwise, since the date of birth was usually noted in the Malayalam calendar (Lunar Calendar), some confusion might also have arisen. Hence the difference in the date of birth. I cam to know of it very late and hence could not correct the official records. In the early period many people were faced with similar problem.

Once again I thank all comrades, friends and well wishers for the Best Wishes on my Birth Day!

In Telegraph Offices, there existed two kind of peons who delivered messages to the public. They were 1) Bike peons and 2) Foot peons. The first went on bike (cycles), while the second went on foot. (Later they were called Telegraphmen).
Commission for contracting telephone connection:
Immediately after introduction of telephones in the country in the 1920s,
contractors (agents), who canvassed for providing connections were paid 5% of the amount first paid by the New subscriber!

In Telegraph Offices, there existed two kind of peons who delivered messages to the public. They were 1) Bike peons and 2) Foot peons. The first went on bike (cycles), while the second went on foot. (Later they were called Telegraphmen).
Commission for contracting telephone connection:
Immediately after introduction of telephones in the country in the 1920s,
contractors (agents), who canvassed for providing connections were paid 5% of the amount first paid by the New subscriber!

I am reproducing write up I posted in the blog three years back when Telegraphs were being closed forever.

“I express my strong protest against the decision of BSNL to close the telegram services. BSNL has issued orders stating that the telegram services will be closed with effect from 15th July 2013.

This decision has been taken by the management without discussing with the recognised unions. Telegraph Services were started in India by the British in 1850. On 5th November, the first message went between Diamond harbour and Calcutta.First it was only for use of the government and later extended to the people. Telegraph was the fastest mode of communications till the telephones services started in the 1930s. Still telegraphs continued as a major method of communication.

The Central Telegraph Offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Madras etc. employed hundreds of Telegraphists, Telegraph Clerks and Telgraphmen on duty round the clock. It was not much different in other cities. The cut-cut-cud-cut of the telegraph machines filled the Instrument Rooms. The traffic was so busy that sometimes the staff have to forego even tea-break.

Of course, everything has changed. The Telegraph Services have been stopped from 15th July 2013, despiote the strong protest of the unions.”

Later on our demand, a Museum of Telegraphs has been opened for the future generations to see.

After much hesitation, the DOT has issued notices to all the six major private telecom companies viz. Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone, Idea, Tata and Aircel, all of which has under valued their revenues to reduce payment of taxes on revenue sharing basis to a total of about Rs.46,045. 75 crore. As the first step Rs. 100 crore demand notice is issued as the first installment of recovery.

The government should act immediately to completely recover the dues.

In 1969 Indira Gandhi Government nationalised 14 private banks on 19 July. It was 47 years back. Now the Modi government is moving to merge or privatise these banks as per neoliberalisation policy of both UPA and NDA governments.

As reported earlier, NITI Ayog has recommended to the government for the strategic sale of BSNL and MTNL, the PSU telecom companies.

Forum of BSNL Unions/ Associations has to immediately prepare for serious and sustained struggles to defeat the nefarious game of the government. Any delay will be suicidal.

According to Ministry of Corporates Affairs, thousands of companies are not implementing Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR) as required under rules. This is only avoiding their responsibility to the society. This can not be accepted. Impose harsh penalty on them.
While BSNL was in profits, it is to be remembered, that BSNLEU compelled management  to fully implement it.

The Central govt has allotted Rs.22,915 crore  to 13 public sector  banks to tide over the problem of huge NPAs or bad loans. Though this will help PSUs, it is done only to save corporates from returning the loans taken by them. Govt don’t want the NAP issue to be focused and companies compelled to repay loans.