Department of Disinvestment seems to be the most active department of the Modi Government. It might be working 24 hours days. It has now drafted proposals to disinvest the PSUs in a big way. The target is get about Rs.63,000 crore in this financial year.

The plans are already made and implementation will start shortly. The workers in the PSUs and their organisations have a big challenge to face. There is no other way but to fight, to fight with all our might.

Best Wishes and Greetings – Eid Mubarak!

A meeting of the Executive Committee of National Co-ordinating Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA) was held on 25th July, mainly to discuss about the Part II Memorandum to be submitted to the VII Central Pay Commission. The First part has already submittedand preliminary discussion taken place with the CPC on 23rd July.

The meeting was presided over by Com. R.L.Bhattacharjee, President. Com.S.K.Vyas, Secretary General welcomed all. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron inaugurated the meeting. He spoke about the international pensioners’ organisation TUI (P and Retirees) and the decisions taken therein. Com. Vyas reported about the discussion with the CPC.

After detailed discussion, the II part of the Memorandum was finalised.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Advisor AIBDPA went to Department of expenditure in North Block today, 24 July and met several officers including Shri Vijay Kumar Singh, Director (ADM) and Shri Vivek Ashish, Under Secretary, DoE for the speedy approval of the 78.2% IDA fixation of the BSNL absorbed pensioners. Since it was earlier told that the DoE has not received the clarifications from the DOT so far, a copy of the same was also supplied. The officers told that they have received the same yesterday after  a long delay. They also assured that the file will be early within 10 days or so. 

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi is the allotted quarters to BSNLEU CHQ. This was allotted since 2001. Two  days back, a notice was received from the Jharkhand Government stating that the whole Telegraph Place quarters and land have been purchased by them from the  Government of India and that all occupants should vacate the quarters by 5th August 2014 ie. within two weeks. Today the officers of the Jharkhand Government along with about 10 policemen came and put their board in the Park in front of the quarters. They also tried to remove the board of the BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. On our strong protest and threat of going to the court, all the notice boards were re-fitted where they were earlier.

 Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU, P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary and John Verghese, Org. Secretary met BSNL CMD Shri A.N.Rai and brought to his notice the inflammable situation and sought immediate action. In case the eviction can not be stopped, then another suitable quarter is to be allotted. The CMD stated that he will deal the case wit due importance.

There were rumours that the Central Government was proposing for 6 days week for the Central Secretariat staff. Now it has been clearly stated in the Lok Sabha  by the Minister that there is no proposal for 6 days week and the present 5  days week will continue.

On the continued pressure from AIBDPA and BSNLEU with regard to the acute delay in settlement of pension cases, the Member (Finance), DOT has issued an Immediate letter to BSNL asking to take necessary steps to ensure that the Pension cases are sent to CCA strictly not later than six months before the retirement of the employee. The copy of the letter has already been posted in our websites along with the letter of the BSNL C.o. to the CGMs to implement the directions strictly.

The retired officials are put to much difficulties due to the delay in settlement of the cases. The Circle Secretaries of both BSNLEU as well as AIBDPA should see to that that the SSA office forward the pension papers to the CCA as directed by the Corporate office, so that the cases are settled in time.  

In a reply to the Rajya Sabha, Labour and Employment State Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai stated that there are 46.5 crore in the country out  of which 43.67 crore (93.91%) are in the unorganised sector. What the minister did not say is that these workers are being brutally exploited. What the government is going to do to save these workers from exploitation and to get implemented the labour laws these unorganised workers. 

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 23rd July, MoS for Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has sated that there is a proposal to reduce limit from 20 persons to 10 for coverage under the EPF Rules.  However, the time frame has not been announced.

Executive Committee Meeting of Bharat Central Pensioners  Confederation (BCPC)  will meet on 25th July at D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi at 1100 hours.