27 Circle Heads have intimated the BSNL C.O. that minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. are fully implemented in their respective circles. Management has submitted this to the Parliamentary Standing Committee stating all labour laws are implemented in BSNL.

We are stunned, but not surprised. Many CGMs have been giving such false reports earlier also. In fact the labour laws are more violated than implemented in BSNL. During the last few days, I have been getting the correct details of the contract labour in the SSAs and how much they are being paid etc. Today I got the details of the Karnal SSA in Haryana.

The list gives the names of 33 contract workers who are engaged for 8 years, 10 years, 12 years etc. Most of the workers are getting Rs. 4,000 each while a few are getting 4800 or 5,000. As per minimum wage they should be paid a minimum of about Rs.6,600. The workers are being paid in cash by the JTO, while the wages are to be paid in cheque or in account as per instructions of the Corporate Office. EPF and ESI are not implemented.

This exploitation and violation of the orders are happening just below the nose of the Corporate Office. Still corporate office says that all labour laws are implemented. Very sad indeed !

A change in the mindset of the BSNL management is urgently required. Falsehood is not the motto of BSNL. The motto of the nation is ‘Satyameva jayate’.

Even in US, the captian of capitalism, voices are coming up focussing the grave danger of the growing inequality between the rich and poor.
The latest voice has come from a top executive, the Chairwomen of the Federal Reserve. While addressing the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Economic Conference, she stated that recent Federal Research showed that distribution of those opportunities viz. means to raise children, access to education, owning a small business and inheritance, to be increasingly unequal. Then she stated ” I think it is appropriate to ask  whether this trend is compatible with values rooted in our nation’s history, among them the high value Americans have traditionally placed on equality of opportunity.”

It seems that after the ” Occupy Wall Street” agitation, a section of the capitalist leaders themselves in US have started thinking about the danger of the increasing inequality. But you can not expect any positive policy from the capitalist system.

Though as usual the newspapers of big corporates  ignored the CMD BSNL Office March on 15 October by the casual and contract workers, the  Left papers published the news prominently. In Deshabhimani and Ganashakti the news was given good coverage with photoes. The workers have to understand who stand by them.

The Reserve Bank is again calling for applications for grant of bank licences. These will be for Small Banks, Payment Banks and Universal Banks. In fact, there is not much requirement for further banks. It is only to weaken the State Bank and PSU  Banks which are functioning effectively and to allow big corporates to start their own banks for
manipulation.
The intriguing or rather objectionable part is that, the Post Office which is already doing banking has been denied banking licence.
The Govt. should ensure that India Post is ensured of Banking Licence.

After the Inspiring Bharat Sanchar Bhawan March on 15 October, the Office bearers and Circle Secretaries of BSNLCCWF met and has decided to give call for One Day Strike on 27 November 2014 for settlement of the long pending issues of the casual and contract workers. The demand of ‘Save BSNL, Save Nation’ will be focussed.
Notice for Strike is being issued. All comrades are requested to make immediate preparations for a successful strike.

Again the east coast of faced another fury of nature. This time it was Visakhapatnam and nearby places which had to face the fury of the sea and wind named Hudhud. 5 are reported dead and more than 4 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places. As Chief Minister Chandrabhanu stated, this is another national disaster and the affected people have to be assisted as such.

As reported in the press most of the terrible zunami type disasters are in the Bay of Bengal zone. Out of such 35 disasters 27 were here only.
We sympathise with the affected people. They should be given all assistane immediately.

11th October 2008 is a sad day for India. It was on this day that UPA Govt. signed the nuclear deal with United States despite strong protests from opposition parties and also from alliance partners like CPI(M). The surrender to US attitude was so much that even the chance for the fall of the government was ignored.
The plea raised by the government was that there is acute power shortage in the country and the agreement will result in supplement of power.
But despite 5 years having passed nothing has resulted in this   respect.
And what will be the cost when this is produced. It will be hefty and beyond the purchasing power of people.

Hundreds of Casual and Contract Workers from all the circles will participate in the CMD Office March which is being organised on 15 October 2014. Comrades from various distant circles have already boarded the trains so as to reach Delhi in time for the March. Considering the difficulty for accommodation at Delhi, circles have been requested not to bring more than 50 comrades from  a circle.
The accommodation is arranged at Chug Dharmasala, Gharwal Bhawan and Kalibari. Circle Secretaries should contact CHQ and find the place allotted to them.
onward March to CMD Office!

The Circle Conference of AIBDPA, Karnataka Circle will be held at Mangalore tomorrow, 13 October 2014.The CEC Meeting will be held today. Most of the CEC members as also delegates have arrived.
Karnataka is one of our strong circles and under the leadership of senior leaders have advanced much. I am at Mangalore and will attend the Conference.