Category Archives: Uncategorized

Department of Posts ignored for new Banking Licence.

03 Thursday Apr 2014

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While two applicants viz., IDFC and Bandhan Financial Services, have been granted licence to operate banking services, the Department of Posts, another applicant has been ignored.
Department of Posts is already operating services like Savings Bank, Fixed Deposits and also similar functions. Then why it is being ignored? The argument seems to be that it does not have the initial funds for starting banking services. In that case, the government should fund the same. The two companies which have been granted licences are taking loans for the initial funding.
This denial is a clear discrimination and denial of extending service to the people, especially in the rural areas, which are fully covered by the Post offices.

Rs. One Lakh Sitting Fee for Directors for attending Board Meetings

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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I am reproducing a report on the sitting fee to be paid to the Directors of a company to attend the Board/ Company Meetings. It may not be applicable to the full time/executive directors. But it is not clearly spelt out. Whether it is applicable to PSUs is also to be examined.
MUMBAI, APR 1:
Directors on company boards can now be paid more as sitting fee. They can be paid up to Rs 1 lakh per board meeting or a committee meeting thereof.

The new rules notified under Section 197 of the Companies Act 2013, said, “A company may pay sitting fee to a director for attending meetings of the board or committees thereof. Such sum as may be decided by the board of directors thereof which shall not exceed Rs 1 lakh per meeting of the board or committee thereof. “

For Independent directors and women directors, the sitting fee shall not be less than the sitting fee payable to other directors.(Business Line)

Who Was Mangal Pandey?

29 Saturday Mar 2014

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The answer is well-known to all who have followed history and the events in the First War 0f Independence of 1857.

Mangal Pandey was the sepoy who fired the first shot against the British starting the ‘1857 Sepoy Mutiny’ as the British called it. It was on 29th March 1857. The war started, escalated and many places, including cantonments were captured by these freedom fighters. But the gains could not be sustained and the British, with their better arms and discipline recaptured every thing. Many sepoys were killed. Many were captured and killed.

And Mangal Pandey was one of them. He was hanged on 8th April 1857 to show an example to other sepoys.

We have won freedom with the sacrifice of lakh and lakh such martyrs and ordinary people. My homage to Mangal Pandey!

Red Salute to Martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev!

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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March 23, 1931 is a day written in the blood of the eternal young martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who sacrificed at the altar of freedom for the country. It was on this day these young freedom fighters were hanged by the British on the charge of terrorism against the British Empire.
They were not terrorists, but the true sons of the country. They were young and wanted mother India to be free. It is to be remembered that Bhagat Singh was only 23 years old when his life was cut short by the hangman’s knot.
Bhagat Singh very well knew that he will be hanged. But he and his comrades were not afraid. What Bhagat Singh told to his comrades, before the sentence was pronounced shows how these comrades thought about the punishment.
I am quoting below the following from the Book on Bhagat Singh written by his comrade and another accused, Com. shiv Verma, who escaped hanging.

“Then Bhagat Singh laughed and said: Our punishment will be ” To be hanged by neck till we are dead. This is reality Comrades. I know it. You also know it. Then, why shut the eyes to it?”
He continued ” This is the highest award for patriotism, and I am proud that I am going to get it. They think that by destroying my terrestrial body they will be safe in this country. They are wrong. They will kill me, but they can not kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirits. My ideas will haunt he British like a curse till they are forced to run away from here.”
” But this is only one side of the picture. The other side is equally bright. Bhagat Singh dead will be more dangerous to the British enslavers than Bhagat Singh alive. After I am hanged, the fragrance of my revolutionary ideas will permeate the atmosphere of this beautiful land of ours. It will intoxicate the youth and make him mad for freedom and revolution, and that will bring the doom of the British imperialists nearer. This is my firm conviction. I am anxiously waiting for the day when I will receive the highest award for my services to the country and my love for my people.”

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23rd March 1931.

Bhagat Singh was correct. The spirit never dies. And it did not die in this case also. The whole nation revolted and the freedom came much earlier than expected.
( Excerpts from ” Bhagat Singh on the path of liberation” by Shiv Verma”)

Red Salutes to Shahid Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev!

Revolutionary Greetings on BSNLEU Day!

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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Today, 22nd March 2014, is the 13th Foundation Day Anniversary of BSNL Employees Union, the mighty progressive union of the BSNL Employees. My Revolutionary Greetings and Best Wishes to all of you on this day!

BSNL Employees Union during the last 13 years have been serving the BSNL workers, raising their issues, negotiating and making sustained struggles for achievement of the same. Many important issues including two wage revisions, NEPP and other issues could be settled with the full support of the workers, which benefitted them as never before. BSNLEU will continue to do the same in future also.

BSNLEU has taken initiative to bring all the non-executive and executive unions together to make all out efforts to improve BSNL and its services to the people. The mighty struggles and strikes organised by the JAC/Joint Forum/ Forum compelled the government and the BSNL Management to backtrack from its decisions to implement Disinvestment /Retrenchment / VRS etc. in BSNL. The Forum’s strong reaction to the proposal of the Government to merge BSNL and MTNL, without settling the crucial issues like wage differences, disinvest of MTNL to the extend of 46.5%, huge loan liabilities of MTNL etc. compelled the government from moving forward. But we have to be still vigilant and be ready for instant action if any such decision is taken.

BSNLEU took the initiative for forming the JAC of the Non-Executive Unions for taking a united stand on the workers’ issues and go on agitation unitedly. As part of this unity effort, it strongly initiated for the recognition of a second union also and brought recognition to NFTE, which will benefit BSNL and its workers.

BSNLEU is part of the working class movement in the country. It has got a great heritage. It has assimilated all the inspiring tradition of the P and T Trade Union movement under the leadership of the founding fathers like Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton, V.G.Dalvi and Dada Ghosh. BSNLEU has always taken guidance from the Revolutionary leader, Com. K.G.Bose, who inspired a whole generation of workers and will inspire the future generations.

BSNLEU has taken part in all the struggles organised by the Central Trade Unions and CPSTU, the Co-ordination Committee of the PSU Unions. Our activities and participation are well appreciated.

BSNLEU is part of the world working class. Its representatives have participated in the Congress of World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) since 2005 as also the Trade Union International (TUI) of Public Services, which is affiliated to WFTU.

BSNLEU leaders and workers had been in the forefront of the struggles and had sacrificed themselves to the cause of workers. The fight for justice to workers has been a long and strenuous. This will certainly continue.

The formation of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) and BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) was another achievement of BSNLEU.These two organisations have strengthened and are functioning as the champions in their respective areas.

BSNLEU stands for the working class unity. It stands for progressive ideas. And it will always be in the forefront of the struggles for the cause of BSNL workers.Let all of us pledge to continue and improve our work and struggle for the cause of the BSNL workers.
Revolutionary Greetings to all our Comrades, Friends and Well Wishers on BSNLEU Day!

AIBDPA – BSNLEU Convention at Kannur

21 Friday Mar 2014

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The SSA Unions of AIBDPA and BSNLEU Kannur District organised a very impressive Convention jointly on 21st March 2014 at Com. T.K.Balan Memorial Hall. The hall was full with some comrades even sitting outside the hall. Com. K.Kunhiraman, SSA Secretary, AIBDPA presided.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Advisor AIBDPA inaugurated the Convention. In his speech, he mentioned about the latest developments in BSNL, including the proposal of the government to merge BSNL, formation of new companies bifurcating BSNL etc. and called upon the workers for rallying round BSNLEU to fight the saem.He also briefed the house about the latest position on 78.2% IDA pension fixation, Barcelona Congress of Pensioners and Retirees etc.
Coms.K.Mohanan,Circle Secretary BSNLEU, P.Manoharan, ACS, BSNLEU, Ravindran Kodakkad,DS, BSNLEU, P.V.Unnikrishnan, SSA President AIBDPA ,K.R.R.Varma, ACS, AIBDPA, P.V.Rajan, DS BSNLEU, Nandakumar, Circle Vice-President, BSNLEU and other leaders addressed.

BSNLEU Kerala Convention at Thiruvananathapuram

21 Friday Mar 2014

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The BSNLEU Kerala Circle Convention as per the decision of CHQ was held at Thiruvananthapuram on 20th March 2014. In addition to the CEC Members, a large number of representatives from all the SSAs participated.

The Convention was  pr, BSNLEU.presided by Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle President. Com. K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary welcomed all and briefed about the purpose of the meeting. Com. M.V.Govindan Master,  senior CPI(M) leader inaugurated the Convention. In his speech, he explained the historical perspective of labour and capital, the struggles of the workers and also the anti-worker attitude of the government and the neo-liberal policies being implemented by the UPA Government. The class character of both the ruling class parties viz. Congress and BJP was analysed. He assured all support of the Left movement to the struggle of the BSNL employees.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU explained the latest development in the telecom sector and the struggles being organised under BSNLEU and the Forum for survival and strengthening of BSNL. The background of the recent agitation against BSNL-MTNL Merger and connected matters, the formation of JAC of Non-Executive Unions and charter of Demands ec. and the BSNL workers role in the general elections were also briefed.

Coms. P.V.Chandrasekharan, veteran leader of P and T Union movement, K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, R.Muralidharan Nair, AGS, V.Bhagyalakshmi, Mahila Committee Convener, Jacob Thomas (NFPE) and other ledaers addressed. Com. Pratapan, Treasurer proposed vote of thanks.

P and T House Trivandrum, the Centre of TU Activities

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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After some time, today, 18th March 2014, I got an opportunity to be at P and T House, Thiruvananthapuram, the citadel of service trade unions in Kerala.
P and T House is the Union office of NFPTE/NFPE/BSNLEU for the last more than 50 years. It was inaugurated in 1961 after the formation of the Circle Co-Ordinating Committee of P and T Unions (NFPTE) to accommodate all the 9 unions of NFPTE in Kerala.At that time onwards it became a place where not only P and T Unions, but various unions/associations of Central / State government employees met and discussed various issues and prepared for struggles.
As the Circle Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III, I stayed at Trivandrum and functioned from the P and T House for about 4 years. All the 9 NFPTE unions functioned from there.
After formation of BSNL and BSNLEU, the latter is also functioning from P and T house which continues till today.
The rented house was purchased by NFPTE and constructed a new building in the 1980s. In this connection it is to be noted that all the District (SSA) headquarters in Kerala have their own buildings to accommodate the NFPE / BSNL union offices.
It was a joy to meet many senior comrades there. It was indeed an inspiration to me at P and T House, cherishing the memories of sustained struggles and organising the Union.