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Meeting with Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour

21 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Today I met Shri Hemanand Biswal, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, at his residence to submit a memorandum on the issues connected with the Casual and Contract labour engaged in BSNL.

After submitting the memorandum, I explained to him in detail about the inhuman exploitation of the Casual/Contract labour by denying them their rights with regard to wages, social security measures etc. I also brought to his notice the refusal of the management to regularise about 4,000 casual labours who are working for about 15 to 20 years in the DOT/BSNL. The BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation had already submitted a memorandum to the Committee and the latter is taking evidence from all parties. Myself, Com.Tapas Ghosh, Secretary General and other leaders have already given evidence before the committee earlier. The management has started retrenching workers after it is compelled to pay minimum wage as per government orders. I requested for an early submission of the Committee’s report.

Shri Biswal heard my submission with patience. He said that he is fully aware of the problems and the BSNL management has been asked to give all details in this connection. He assured me that the report is being finalised and will be submitted to the Parliament shortly.

 

AIBDPA has a strong base In Kolkata

29 Sunday Jul 2012

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Yesterday, I got a chance to attend a meeting of the All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association at Kolkata. It was a meeting of the leading comrades of AIBDPA in Kolkata which was urgently called to have interaction in connection with my visit. Com. Ananta Kr. Bhattacharjee, All India President, presided and Com. Supriyo Mitra, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA welcomed all. When I spoke, I narrated the struggles organised by the AIBDPA separately and also jointly with NCCPA, BCPC as also BSNLEU. During a short period, we could achieve the Pension Revision to pre-2007 retirees, Allotment of quarters to retirees, Braod Band connections on concession basis  and some other issues. At the same time, there are other major demands which have to be settled. The growth of the organisation through  out the country was narrated. There was active discussion. It was clear that the pensioners in Kolkata are completely well organised and strongly behind AIBDPA.

My hearty congratulations to the AIBDPA Kolkata Telephone Circle.

Pranab is President – What we can expect.

23 Monday Jul 2012

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Shri Pranab Mukherjee, one of the senior politicians in the country with about four decades of experience in the central government behind him is the new President of India. I heartily congratulate him on his election to the highest office in the country.

The President  is the constitutional head and is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, including army, navy and airforce. But the fact, as every body knows, is that he is the nominal head only and have to generally function on the advice of the Central Cabinet. He is non-political but has to act as per the advice of the government run by the elected political party/parties.

I had the opportunity to meet him three – four times during the 1970s when he was the State Minister of Finance ( or Dy. Minister of Finance?). It was in connection with the upgradation of Calicut City from a C class city to B Class for the grant of House rent Allowance for the Central Govt. Employees etc.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers took up the issue with the government. 5 lakh population is required for declaring a city to B Class but Calicut was having only 3,33,000 population at that time. But there were other considerations like urban agglomeration etc. As the Convener of the Confederation, along with other comrades, we met Shri V.V.Giri, President of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and the concerned Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. And within three years, with the same population, we got the city upgraded. The decision was taken by the latter.

I hope that Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as President, will keep up the high tradition of the post of President and use his high office for improving the conditions of the poor and working people of the country.

I wish him every success in his new responsibility.

Re-engage the retrenched contract labour in BG TD

22 Sunday Jul 2012

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I  express   my strong protest  against the retrenchment of the 300 and odd contract labour in Bangalore Telephone District in the past few days and demand the BSNL management to reinstate them without any delay.

The more than 600 contract labour employed in the Bengaluru Telephone District were only  getting almost half of the minimum wage that is to be paid according to the rules and government notifications. After sustained struggles the management was compelled to pay them minimum wages as per the conciliation before the RLC. But as a retaliation, within months of its implementation, 300 and workers are retrenched and they are without any work. These labours have been working in the BSNL for the last many years. The discontinuation of the engagement has resulted in adverse effect on hundreds of families who were fully dependent on the retrenched workers.

While I was in Bengaluru on 21st June for the attending the District  Conference of the BSNLEU, I went to the place in centre of the town where the retrenched workers were sitting on dharna demanding reengagement.  Along with me Coms. K.N.Umesh, Secretary, CITU and GB Salakki, AGS BSNLEU were present.  While addressing and supporting the agitation, I assured that BSNLCCWF will take up the matter with the Corporate  for reinstatement.

In many places such disengagement is resorted to by the Management and the Contractors when they are compelled to pay minimum wages to the workers. This is violation of the rules and regulations and has got to be opposed. BSNLEU leaders and workers at the field level are requested to help and support the struggles of this exploited section of workers.

Queen Marie Antoinette and Minister Chidambaram

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

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” If they can not get bread, let them eat cake” – Queen Marie Antoinette of France (18th century,  who was guillotined in 1793).

” If people could spend Rs.15 for a bottle of water or Rs. 20 for an ice cream, why they make a big issue if the price  of wheat or rice were increased by Re. one” – Minister P.Chidambaram. (21st century, Cabinet Minister in UPA-II government).

What a disdain and inhuman attitude to the  genuine problems of the common people by those in power despite the difference of two centuries!

Tour to Scotland – a beautiful experience

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

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A Tour of Scotland – the Natural Garden of British Islands

I have been on a tour of Scotland for the last four days since 7th July. It was an experience worthwile. It was enjoyable to say the least.

I and my wife started the journey by the early morning of 7th July by a Star Tour Coach from Wembley, which is part of London. My son, Shaji, arranged everything for the journey. There were 55 passengers and interestingly they were all from India. Mostly they were the parents or in-laws of youths employed in London and nearby. Some were the youths themselves working in UK. The tour consisted of four days and stopped at Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh, important cities of Scotland.

As you know, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, which consists of England, Scotland and North Ireland. There have been continued wars in the earlier centuries between England and Scotland for supremacy. Now Scotland is having its own Parliament with 129 Members. To a certain extend it is like our states in India. Scotland covers the northern part of the British Islands and is famous for its natural beauty.

07-07-2012

Started from Wembly (London) at about 0700 hours and proceeded to Glasgow. Both the sides of the road were full of green scenery. Now and then, there are villages with small houses and a lot of cattle and horses feeding in the expansive grass land. At noon the coach stopped at Gretna Green for lunch. It is  a small town which is famous for iron foundries and expert blacksmiths. Another major attraction is that it is very special for conducting marriages. Young people come here from all parts of the country for holding marriages.

InsiIde Glasgow Cathedral

InsiIde Glasgow Cathedral

We reached Glasgow in the evening. It is one of the 4-5 big cities in U.K. The University of Glasgow is worth visiting and we had a small stop there. Then we visited the Glasgow Cathedral which is a double church, one above the other consecrated in the 12th century. It has withstood centuries of conflicts within the church, between the Catholics and the Jacobites, the latter being  prominent in Scotland.  It is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Glasgow, St. Mungo. We had a tour of the city in the coach till about 1900 hours after which we had a good Indian dinner in Indian Restaurant with  tasty food. Arrangement for stay was made in a good hotel.

08-07-12

The break-fast in the hotel was sumptuous with many vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and fruits. In UK and other European countries the hotels provide ‘Bed and Break fast’. The hotel charges include the breakfast also. We started at about 0900 hours and reached Fort William, a tourist centre. We had lunch there and a few minutes to see the place. Next point was Nevis Range, very beautiful scenery with mountains all around. We enjoyed the cable car which takes you to the high mountain and back, the entire operation for about 15 minutes for each side. It was very cold on the upper side. Many adventurous cyclists were going down the dangerous slopes. In fact the shops down were renting cycles for the same.

In front of Glasgow University

In front of Glasgow University

On the way toInverness, you will be passing on the side of the great Loch Ness ( big lake for a length of many miles ) which was enchanting. There are a number of such lochs in Scotland.

We stopped at Inverness for the night at a good hotel after dinner from an Indian restaurant.

09-07-2012

Now the journey started from Inverness to Edinburgh ( It is pronounced as Edinburr ). The first stop was at a Whisky Distillery. The staff of the factory showed us how whisky is being made. The process is not easy. Barrels and barrels of whisky produced decades before are kept in the storage. The tourists were offered small dose of sample of very old whisky for tasting. On our way we passed through the spectacular Forth Rail Bridges, old and new. By afternoon, we reached the historical city of Edinburgh, which is the capital of Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

The coach went through the many roads of the old and new city. Old city comprises the fort and the historical places, while the new city constructed in the 19th century is well planned and modern. We could spend about one hour in the historical Edinburgh Fort, which has always been the headquarters of the Scot kings. It is not very big, but is well-built and kept till this date. Many antiques and symbols of royalty are kept there as also a memorial building for the Scots martyrs of the 1914-1918 First World War. The panoramic view from the Fort overlooking the entire city and the Loch is enchanting. There are a lot of good shops nearby selling woollen clothes/dresses, souvenirs etc. There are many old churches here having very high and pointed spires.

The dinner was from an Indian hotel as usual. Stay at a good hotel near Airport.

10-07-2012

Resting place of William Wordsworth

Resting place of William Wordsworth

 

Today is the last day of the tour. Started from Edinburgh at 0800 hours and stopped at Grasmere, the village where romantic poet William Wordsworth lived and is put to rest. The village has kept its charm all these years. William Wordsworth is laid at the local church which we visited and paid our homage. In the corner reserved for the Wordsworth family, William and his wife Mary are laid to rest. The place is well maintained and there is a plaque with a small poem of Wordsworth. It was a memorable day for all of us to have visited this village which gave inspiration for his great poems. There is a museum in memory of the poet.

Next stop was at the great lake in the Lake District. The lake and the beautiful gardens were a treat. We went on a one hour tour in the lake in one of the many tourist boats. It was also a nice experience.

Next it was the long journey back to London. The youngsters sang and enjoyed. TV was on and a cinema was shown, but most were sleeping. BY 2100 hours we reached back to Wembley. Relatives of the passengers had been waiting. My son had come to pick me up. We all parted after greeting each other.

The tour was enchanting and memorable. The driver and the guide Mr Vazid and Mr Viral were very helpful and cared for all our needs.  Thanks to all, including the co-passengers for the very good tour.

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Neo-liberal policy vs. need of the people

05 Thursday Jul 2012

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I have been going through the newspapers and the TV channels. Some of the main issues focussed are the floods in Assam, the power shortage in Delhi and other cities, the severe drought in Rajasthan and some other states and also the export of wheat when the poor people of the country are starving without food.

The floods in Assam has taken many lives and lakhs of people have lost all their belongings including their homes. Kaziranga sanctuary is flooded and hundreds of animals have died. In Rajasthan the drought has been serious and there is no water even for drinking. These are, of course,  natural  calamities. But through out centuries,mankind has been able to at least reduce the adverse effect of these calamities to a certain point. Water is made available even in deserts. Immediate action to save the lives of people in case of floods can be done, since these are annual occurences in the Assam region. But unfortunately, no such precaution and prior arrangements are not at all made even though it is well-known that such disasters may happen. And the sufferers are mainly the poor and lower middle class people. The rich and the well to do people can move away during these times and have some cushions to face the disasters. But what about the poor people? The Central and State governments have utterly failed to face the situation. The plea that there are no sufficient funds does not stand scrutiny since lakhs of crores of rupees are snatched away by corrupt politicians and usurped by the super rich, corporates and MNCs.

While the poor people do not get food, wheat is being exported in thousands of tons as fodder to the developed countries. Some times food grains are rotten in the godown of the government. But it will not be supplied to the hungry people. The situation is worse than at the time of the dictators of the past.

The situation has become worse after the implementation of the neo-liberal policy in the country since the 1990s. While crores of people have not even huts and stay in the dirty and muddy areas of the cities, on the other side are the posh areas where the super rich stays in big mansions bigger than the palaces of the kings in the past with all facilities and amenities. 20% rich people owns more than 80% of the assets in the country, while the 80% don’t have even 20% of the total assets. The situation is worsening every day.While Ambanis and Jindals have Rs.50-60 crore salaries, the poor somehow survives with less than Rs.20 per day.  The policies being adopted by the government is increasing the discrimination each and every day.

It is high time that the people as a whole has to raise their voices against this discrimination and complete neglect of the poor and downtrodden in the country and fight for a reversal of the anti-people policy of the government. The government should be compelled to change its wrong policies.

Physicists celebrate evidence of new particle

05 Thursday Jul 2012

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GENEVA – To cheers and standing ovations from scientists,  the world’s biggest atom smasher claimed the discovery of a new  subatomic particle Wednesday, calling it “consistent” with the  long-sought Higgs boson — popularly known as the “God particle” — that  helps explain what gives all matter in the universe size and shape. We have now found the missing cornerstone of particle physics,” Rolf  Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN), told  scientists… »

BSNL can not become a bad and exploiting employer.

04 Wednesday Jul 2012

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The P&T Department and DOT has a honourable past as one of the most efficient Department/s of the government of India.

While there was exploitation  of  Part-time, casual labour etc. , in stages they were promoted to Group D or regularised. Tens of thousands of workers thus reguarised are the backbones of the DOT/BSNL through whose continuous labour the telecom had spread over throughout the country passing hills and rivers, deserts and inaccessible regions. In installing the great telecom infrastructure all over the country, the Line/Sub-Inspector,Lineman and Casual Labour had a great role along with other officials. Thousands of these workers perished while erecting and maintaining  lines on the sides of the Ganges in the high  Himalayan ranges, in the expanding  deserts of Rajasthan, the Kashmir valley and in the great plains of India. It is true that the new generation is not aware of the same and the old generation might have forgotten them in the changed circumstances.

The present Telecom Mechanics, the Regular Mazdoors, the casual labour and the contract labour belong to that great tradition. Some of them have risen up to the post of executives and higher posts in the non-executives, but most of them still continues in their early position.

BSNL Employees Union and United Forum since formation of BSNL havemade  maximum efforts to improve their condition along with those of the higher level cadres, but as it is, the benefits will always be more at the top than at the lower levels.

The maximum sufferers at present in BSNL are the casual and contract labours engaged by the DOT/BSNL for the last many years. More than 4,000 casual labours who have been engaged in the DOT/BSNL for the last 15 to 20 years are still to be regularised though about 6000  similarly placed casual labour have been regularised till 2005. Only very few have been regularised/granted TSM status afterwards, that too only after contempt cases were filed against BSNL management.

There is no valid  justification for regularising these casual labour who have been engaged on the basis that they will be regularised after certain condition like working for 240 days in a year with out break etc. Almost all these 4000 casual labour have fulfilled these conditions. As far as the 2770 casual labour in W.Bengal and others in other circles have full record of their work maintained by the management itself. They are performing the duties of the regular mazdoor, TM, Sr.TOA etc. but at the minimum wages, though they are to be given equal wages( minimum) of the postsin which they are working. The Laws of the country passed by the Parliament on Minimum Wages, Social Security etc. are flatly denied to them.

This inhuman exploitation in BSNL should be put to an end. It is a shame not only to the management, but to all the employees and unions/associations in BSNL. The casual labour should be regularised with out any further delay.  The BSNL Management has to take immediate action for the same as other PSUs and government Departments have already done.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, the Great Fighter of First War of Independence.

17 Sunday Jun 2012

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It is on 17th June 1858 that Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi sacrificed herself on the battle field of Gwalior fighting against the British during the First War of independence. She was only 23 years at the time of her death.

Born on 19th November 1835 to a Maharashtrian warrior, she was brought up by her father since her mother died when Manikarnika (original name of Lakshmi Bai) was only four. She was given the name  Lakshmi Bai after her marriage to the Raja of Jhansi in 1842. Their son born in 1851 died in 1853 followed by the death of Raja also. Before his death, the Raja adopted child Damodar Rao, but the British rulers did not accept the adoption and annexed the kingdom to the British empire. Rani was given a pension of Rs.60,000 and dethroned.

The eruption of the First War of Independence ( 1857-58) was utilised by the Rani to recapture the Jhansi Fort and restore the kingdom. But however the large military force under the British Major Ross attacked the fort and she had to flee when her force could not stop the superior British force from taking over the fort.  Along with Tantya Tope, another great warrior, they took over the Gwalior fort and continued the struggle. Her early training in martial arts, horse riding, sword fighting etc. took her in good stead in her fighting with British. It is told that she fought with swords in both hands riding on the horse with the reins held by teeth and her small adopted son in the back of the horse. She was mortally wounded in the battlefield and as per wish was given funeral there itself. Thus ended the young life of the valiant fighter and leader of the First War of Independence.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi is remembered for her valour, fight for the country and patriotism. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose named the Women Regiment of Azad Fauj as Rani Lakshmi Bai Regiment in memory of the Rani.

On her day of sacrifice for the country, all of us pay homage to the memory of Rani Lakshi Bai of Jhansi!