History was created  in 1917 when the revolution took place in Russia and the first ever communist government in the world was formed. It was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The leader of the revolution was Comradee V.I.Lenin, the revolutionary who put the Marxist theories effectively and got the imperialist czar thrown out.

22nd April 2016 is the 146 birth anniversary of the great leader. He passed away on 21st January 1924.

The Railways proudly announces that senior citizens will be provided with lower berths when requested. But my experience shows that this is an empty promise. During the last two months, I have travelled by train several times. But except on one or two occasions, I always got the upper berth, even when booked sufficiently in advance.
Today also I got only upper berth.
The difficulty of senior citizens to climb to the upper berth is to be considered while allotting berths.

The privatisation wing of central government is working 24 hours a day. Though disinvestment department as such is not existing, the central ministers are directly dealing with disinvestment/privatisation. Of course, they have to please and repay the Adanis and Ambanis who have contributed huge election funds.

Now the target is sea ports. Finance Minister Arun Jaitely in his budget proposed corporatisatin of ports, of course, as the first step towards privatiation. But facing the heat from the powerful port labour unions, no further steps  were taken.
Now Nitin Gadkari Shipping Minister has come with the idea of implementing   Public Private Participation and handing over opetation of ports to private companies for modernisation and ‘competitiveness’.
Handing over all govermment assets to private corporates is the main programme of NDA government. This has to be resisted and defeated.

BSNL DOT pensioners at Bhubaneswar met on 20 April 2016 under the Chairmanship of Com. P.R.Das, senior leader and Circle President of BSNLEU. The meeting discussed the pending issues of DOT and BSNL pensioners. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA and Patron NCCPA explained the demands of pensioners, recomendations of VII CPC and memorandum given by NCCPA/ AIBDPA etc. The present position of 78.2% IDA Pension fixation, medical allowance etc. were reported. Many comrades participated in the discussion, including Com. Sahdeb Biswal, A.C.Mohanty and others.
The meeting decided to form AIBDPA in Odisha Circle. Com.Sheikh Hussain was unanimously elected as the Circle Convener to organise AIBDPA and hold a Circle Convention.

A well attended meeting on membership campaign was held at Cuttack on 20 April 2016 presided by Com.P.R.Das, Circle President BSNLEU. Though a holiday, comrades have attended in large numbers. Comrades A.Dhupal, Patron, Sahdev Biswal, Pat
ron, S.R.Das, Circle Secretary, Fanidra Mohanty, District President, Shridhar Mallick, District Secretary, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron BSNLEU and other leaders addressed. In their speeches, they mentioned the achievements of BSNLEU during the period of recognition and earlier  and the demands those have to be achieved after the verification.
Cuttack comrades assured that this time also BSNLEU will get majority in the district much more than last time. The workers are very enthusiastic about the victory.

BSNLEU workers at Berhampore will ensure that not only they will make more profit for BSNL, but also will ensure that the red flag of BSNLEU fly high with good majority in the SSA. Berhampore always gave majority to BSNLEU and this time it will be more. The meeting held at the GM office premises was attended by a large number of workers. Com.Rajata Kr. Mishra, SSA President presided. Coms. S.R.Das, Circle Secretary, senior leaders Coms. A.Dhupal, Sahdeb Biswal, VAN Namboodiri Patron, Animesh Mitra, Vice-President BSNLEU, Niranjan Sahu, Co-ordinator, SNATTA and other leaders addressed. The participants assured full support and assured that this time more votes will be polled for BSNLEU.

A massive meeting of casual and contract workers was held at Berhampore on 19th April 2016 participated by more than 200 workers. Com.Kameswar Rao, Dist. President BSNLCCWF presided. Coms.VAN Namboodiri, President, Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF, Saroj Ranjan Das, CS BSNLEU, senior leaders Sahdev Biswal, A.Dhupal, Behera, Dist Secretary and other leaders spoke. Delegates presented their difficulties to the visiting leaders. The questions were answered by the office bearers. The Charter of Demands placed by the union was explained by Secretary General. The leaders called upon the workers to participate in the general strike called by the central trade unions on 2 September 2016 on demands including minimum wage of Rs.18,000.

The meeting inspired the entire workers present. Programme of action will be organised in Odisha circle if the just demands of the casual contract workers are not settled.

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), central PSU has paid an interim dividend of Rs. 260.72 to the central Government for 2015-16. It has also declared dividend to its share holders, including government, a total amount of Rs. 322.16 crore.

NALCO is the prestigious  Aluminium PSU situated in Odisha, which Bajpeyee Government wanted to privatise. It was due to the strong opposition of the trade unions in the company as well as the people of Odisha that the government could not privatise it. NALCO is providing a lot of benefits to the people through its corporate social responsibility schemes.

If it has been privatised, all the benefits will go in to the coffins of the corporates. We salute the people of odisha