It is unbelievable! Rs.36,000 air fare from Delhi to Trivandrum. It is economic class, not executive or first class.
I wanted to go to Thiruvananthapuram from Delhi on 17 December evening  by AIr India flight and the travel agent told me the charge is Rs.36,000, 
almost four times the normal fare. I enquired about another flight and the charge is Rs.17,000.
Oh! It is December Holidays and X-mas!
This is too much! There should be some limit to the high and intolerable charges.

The Central government has decided that attempt to commit suicide will not be treated as a cime and article 309 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) will be deleted.
This is a good decision.In many countries attempt to commit suicide was never a crime.

The  Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations had called upon the BSNL employees to organise Demands Day on 11 December 2014 on the issue of REVIVAL OF BSNL demanding the government and management to take immediate action on the points raised by it. This is the first of the various programme planned by Forum, which will culminate in an Indefinite Strike from 17 March 2015, if the demands are not met by then.
One thing I want to impress upon the workers and leaders. This is a ‘Do or Die’ crusade for the Revival of our beloved BSNL, the organisation, which gave us the means of our subsistence. It is the source of our bread and butter. Through sustained and determined struggles we could defeat VRS and Disinvestment in BSNL so far. The reported decision of government to privatise BSNL is staring at the 2.36 lakh workers of BSNL. If we can not defeat privatisation, the workers will be in the streets. ‘Now or Never’ seems to be the situation facing us.
This  is not a ritual agitation. It is a fight to the last. Four years, BSNL is in loss and further loss may get us in to trouble being declared as a loss making company and referred to BRPSE. Further wage revision will  become difficult, salary will not be regularly paid, all unexpected difficulties will come. If we do not want all these, each and every one of us should be fully involved in this struggle for existence. Any slackness will be too costly.
Let the first show of strength be the Demonstration tomorrow.  Let at least 70 or more percent of the total workforce be present at the demonstration to show management and govt. that we mean business.
It is also significant that we are starting the agitation on the 40th death anniversary of Com.KG Bose, the great revolutionary leader.
Towards Struggle to Save BSNL and its Workers!

Today the Parliament Select Committee has recommended the Insurance Bill proposing increase of FDI from 26 to 49 per cent. The Congress members supported the bill making it easy for  the government. CPI(M) and 3 other parties opposed.

The MNCs, foreign financial investors and US government have been putting much pressure on the govt. of  India to increase FDI in Insurance sector. Now they will be very happy.
But the  working class will continue to oppose this anti- PSU and anti- people move. Our full support to the Insurance workers im their struggle against the amendment to Insurance Act.

A well attended meeting of BSNLCCWF was held at Bareilly on 10th December 2014. More than 300 comrades participated including workers from nearby disyricts. Com. Surjan Singh, Dist. President, BSNLEU presided. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLCCWF
inaugurated the meeting and spoke about the various issues facing the workers. He spoke about the agitation of casual contract workers, employees and pensioners about the Parliament March and connected matters. The coming agitation to Save BSNL, including proposed indefinite strike was reported. Com. Ansar Ali, Circle President, BSNLEU, Com. Upender Singh Teotia, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, leaders of AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF addressed.
The meeting honoured the leaders. The meeting also decided to make successful all the programmes of the three umions.
Com. Ashraf Ali Dist.Secretary Bareilli and his team made all arrangements in a very good way. There is no doubt now that BSNLCCWF will be stregthened in UP(West).

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has called upon all BSNL employees to observe Demands Day on 11 December 2014 by organising massive Lunch Hour Demonstrations at SSA/ Circle / Corporate Office demanding immediate steps for the Revival of BSNL. This is first of a series of agitational programmes to compel the government to accept our demands to improve and strengthen BSNL. Large scale campaign among public is required. One crore signature is to be collected on the Memorandum  to be submitted to Prime Minister on the day of Parliament March on 25 February 2015. If the demands are not conceded, Indefinite Strike will be organised from 17March.
Hence let us start our programme with all the workers participating in the Demonstration on 11 December in a very big way. Try to bring all the employees to the programme. Let the government and the management see the strength of the workers and their determination to achieve their demands.

As pointed out several times in this blog, brutal exploitation of casual contact workers is taking place in BSNL. We are making all efforts to put an end to this exploitation of the low paid workers. Social security measures like EPF ESI are not implemented. Workers are being  retrenched for union activities. Such atrocities can not happen in a PSU, where strong progressive unions  are there.
In my capacity as President of the BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation, I have already met most of the General Secretaries / CHQ leaders and requested them to help in putting an end to the exploitation.
I am very happy to state that all those comrades whom I met supported me, including ITSA leaders, and assured that this evil practice should be stopped and their support is there.
I am sure this solidarity will bring some improvement. Thank you Comrades!