The Joint Council of Action of the Postal federations/ Unions have called upon the Postal workers for an Indefinite Strike from 17th January 2012 on the major issues and demands pending settlement. It is also against the anti-worker anti-Postal decisions of the government in closing down Postal and RMS offices. They have focussed the demands of the Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual, contract, Part-time and Contingency workers also. In preparation for the strike the General Secretaries of the Postal Unions are sitting on hunger strike on 26th December in front of Dak Bhawan, at New Delhi.

My solidarity and support to the fully justified agitation. The government should discuss and settle the demands.

After the magnificient strike of  15th December 2011 and the Concilliation proceedings by the Chief labour Commissioner on 22nd December 2011, in which the representatives of the DOT and BSNL management participated,  the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations / Unions of Executives and Non-Executives will meet on 27th December to take stock of the situation and plan out future course of action.

Another item that will come for discussion is the call of the Central Trade Unions to organise one day nation wide General Strike on 28th February 2012 on the general issues of the working class. As the Convener of the JAC, I am sending letters to all the General Secretaries of the BSNL Associations/Unions requesting them to participate in the strike. BSNLEU, NFTE, BTEF, TEPU etc. have already decided to participate in the strike. The BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation also will participate. I hope that all the unions/Associations in BSNL will take decision to participate in this general strike.

Are the Dalits getting justice?

The UPA government has been continuously making big propaganda about the benefits being given to the Dalits in the country. But what exactly is the situation in the field is not told.

Actually the situation of Dalits have not improved, or improved marginally only.  A look in to the schemes and their implementation will help one to find out the actual situation.

1. 1.       Caste oppression and untouchability

Untouchability and caste suppression exist and continue in the country. Dalits are denied elementary democratic rights. They are forced to work as manual scavengers, despite legal ban on this shameful practice. Atrocities against Dalits continue. Equal opportunities in social and economical sphere are denied.

1. 2.       Constitutional safeguards violated.

Under Part XVI of the Indian Constitution, Dalits are guaranteed protection and promotion of social, economic, educational, cultural and political interests  in order to bridge the disparities with other sections of the society. Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Rights and V and VI Schedules of the Constitution guarantee certain safeguards. In Article 330 of the Constitution, reservation in jobs is enshrined.

But what are the realities? Most of these guarantees are in paper only. No reservation is given in the private jobs. At the same time, the jobs in government sector are coming less and less. The allocation to Dalits is reduced and even whatever is allotted, don’t reach the Dalits.

1. 3.       Non-implementation of assurances – discrimination

16.6 % of total population are Dalits/ SC-ST.  In graduate education Dalits position is 8.37% while others is 91.63%. 60% of Dalits depend on wage labour, while it is 25% for others.  36% are poor  among Dalits while it is 21% among others. The discrimination against Dalit women is more

4.   Plan Allocation

Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (Special Component Plan) has been implemented for Dalits. As per this plan, the Central government budget for Dalits should be according to their population. But this is more violated than implemented. For the 16.6% Dalits, only 8.4.of the plan outlay was allotted in 2010-11. An amount of Rs. 744-35 crore was diverted from the fund allotted for Dalits to the Common Wealth Games! The discrimination continues under the state governments also.

1. 5.       Discrimination continues

The main reason for the non-implementation of the constitutional safe-guards and schemes are the lack of political will and pressure from vested interests.

1. 6.       What are the main demands?

a)      Strengthen and expand the policy of empowerment and equal opportunity to Dalits.

b)      Enact suitable legislation to enforce constitutional provisions. Proper utilisation of the funds allotted to Dalits.

c)       Make the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (Special Component Plan) and TSP enforced through suitable legislations.

d)      A White Paper on the status of Dalits and implementation of the SCSP and TSP

e)      A Special Session of the Parliament to be convened to discuss issues related to Dalits.

f)       Distribution of land to all landless, a large majority of whom  are Dalits and Adivasis. Separate budget heads for Dalits in all Departments.

g)      A Nodal agency to co-ordinate and monitor implementation.

h)      Social auditing to be done on the Dalit Schemes.

i)        Social Justice Division to be set up under the Planning Commission.

j)        Dalit Women should be equally treated. Abolish Devadasi system and rehabilitate them.

k)      More residential schools for SC/ST children

1. 7.       What is the programme?

a)      Nation wide movement for proper allocation and effective implementation of SCSP.

b)      State level conventions before Budget Session and submission of memorandum to Government.

c)       The issues to be  taken  up  at local levels.

d)      Broad-based united action.

(This is a report based upon the Resolution of the Workshop on SC/ST Sub Plan held at New Delhi on 12^th December 2011)

The next three months are crucial for the political parties. The Election Commission has declared the election dates for the four states of U.P., Punjab, Manipur and Goa.The elections start from 28 January and will continue up to 3rd March 2012.

All other elections in states are one day while in U.P., it will be a 7 phase poll from 4 February to 28 February 2012. UP election is very important for Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party as also Mayawati, the present Chief Minister. Congress is playing a non-barred propaganda under the field leadership of Rahul Gandhi. The Senior Gandhi has seen to it that the quota for minority, Food Security Bill etc are passed and the Lok Pal Bill is also being finalised at the earliest. It is all done with the UP elections in sight.

But the people have their own thinking and they will vote accordingly.

Yesterday, 24th December was the coldest Day for Delhi in this season. It was 3.3 deree Celsius. The maximum was 20 degree. The X-mas was severe cold, but the Delhites did not bother much. There were youngsters and people celebrating the day. There were lots of people in the markets. In the day time the warm sun gave a pleasant climate.

For a few days the present climate may continue.

When it comes to the corporates and MNCs, action comes quick. Within hours of the termination of the illegal 3G roaming services of the three private operators Airtel, Vodafone and Idea  by  DOT in those circles where the companies did not have licence,  the companies went to the TDSAT  and got a stay order.  Yes, the court has not taken any final decision, but only stayed the order.

DOT will have to put up a strong case on its behalf to ensure that the order is correct and legal.

At last, the Lok Pal Bill has been presented in the Parliament. Those who expected a strong bill is disappointed. CBI is not under the Lok Pal and will be used as earlier for the interests of the ruling party as has been seen several times earlier. Many politicians are unhappy with the idea of the bill itself, since they want full freedom to do whatever they want.

The common people are completely dissatisfied and angry that in the day-to-day requirements they have to face the issue of corruption and bribe almost every where. They want an end to it. To what extent this Lok Pal Bill help to remove bribery and corruption ?

After introduction of the 3G services, there is the move for the 4G. It is reported that the major private mobile companies are preparing for the launch of 4G by the end of 2012. Though  customers have taken 3G services, many of them are stated to be inactive. The reason seems to be that most of the important regular  activities can be done by the 2G itself or so. However, the 4G may be different.

What about BSNL and MTNL. is there any preparation by them with regard to 4 G services?

At last the DOT has issued orders to the private operators to immediately terminate the 3G connections in those circles where they do not have licence and is roaming on agreement with other private companies who got licence there. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular have been asked to terminate the services immediately.

As expected the private companies have opposed the termination and have approached TDSAT for cancellation of the DOT orders. The appeal states that this cancellation will give a wrong signal to the business  community. It seems that they want the Court should give them permission to give service illegally?  In the capitalist society the corporates can demand anything from the government, even resort to irregular and illegal activities and try to justify it?

As I have pointed out earlier the licence should be cancelled, the specrtrum taken back and penalty imposed onthe erring operators. Nothing less than this.

Delhi Port Trust is proposing to retrench 500 of its employees through a VRS scheme similar to that of BSNL Scheme. The Port has posted a loss of Rs. 86 crore last year and Rs. 290 crore this year.  The plea of the management is that by sending out 500 workers, it will be able to save 12 crore rupees. The policy of the government seems to be to weaken the PSUs. make it loss making and then introduce VRS to reduce the staff. This is in preparation for the privatisation of the company.  The trade unions in Kochi Port have already decided to go on strike against VRS and other issues.

Our full solidarity and support to the striking workers of Kochi Port \