During my visit of Tirupati in connection with the All India Convention of Postal Casual, Part-Time, Contingent and Contract Workers Federation on 13-14 November 2011, I could meet the leaders and workers of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. A largely attended meeting was also held on 14th November under the auspices of BSNLEU participated by JAC leaders and members also. Com. Y.S.Raju, District Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed. I addressed the meeting and spoke on the various issues being faced by the BSNL and its workers. The necessity of making all the oncoming organisational programmes successful was stressed.
The Union is very strong and has got more than 600 members out of about 900 workers. There is good co-ordination between the UF and JAC leaders. AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF are also functioning well. There are some left out casual labours also.

The National convention of NFPE for forming an all India union for the Postal Casual, Part-time Contingent and workers was held at Tirupati on 13th and 14th November 2011. I attended the open session of the same held on 13th. A large number of workers participated which was presided by Com. Nagabhushanam, leader of NFPE. Coms. M.Krishnan, SG NFPE, C.C.Pillai former SG NFPE, Raghavendran, former SG NFPE, MS Raja Secretary Confederation V.Balasubramaniam, MLC, Nageswar Rao, Secretary CITU and others addressed.
Addressing the session I congratulated NFPE for the initiative taken in forming the new union of the unorganised workers. I also explained the experience of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation for the last three years and the struggles organised for settlement of the demands.
The Convention formed the new All India Postal Casual, Part-time, Contingent and Contract Workers Federation and elected Coms C.C.Pillai as President and Mohanan (A.P) as Secretary General. My Best Wishes for the new organisation!

The meeting of the JAC to be held on 16th November has the task of finalising the strike action date etc. the charter for which has already been given to the management earlier. In addition it has to discuss about the new developments in connection with the issues of absorption/ non-absorption of ITS officers. The BSNL management utterly failed to make alternate arrangements despite continued demand by the JAC and allied unions. If the Management trainees had been recruited as assured earlier, the situation could have been saved. Even now, there seems to be no contingency plan for the management.
Management should call all the unions/associations and discuss the issue.
The present position is a challenge to the executives and non-executives. They should come forward to take more responsibilities to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the organisation. This also will be discussed in the JAC

The Joint Action Committee is scheduled to have its next meeting on 16th November to discuss and decide about deferred strike and fix the next date in consultations with all the unions. The issue of ITS absorption will also be discussd.

It was a meeting at short notice. In connection with my visit to Bengaluru on way back from Calicut to Tirupathy to attend the All India Convention of the Casual- partime workers of Department of Posts, I got the opportunity to adress a meeting of the JAC constituents at Bengaluru. From the speeches in the meeting as well as the discussions I could understand that the BSNL Bengaluru workers are ready for a serious strugle to save BSNL and its workers.

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The traffic jam is a major problem faced by all the cities, especially the major cities. It takes hours even to travel a few miles in these congested cities during the busy hours. The situation in Delhi is well known to me. Earlier, before the metro was introduced, the roads were so congested that it took hours even to reach from my residence in Gole Market to the office at Shadipur, a distance of 7-8 kms. To get in to the crowded bus was a mighty task; but to get out was almost impossible, before the bus starts again. So many accidents happened every day. Now after the Metro has been introduced in Delhi, the commuters are heaving a big sigh. It takes only 10 moinutes to reach from Gole Market to Shadipur, where it took more than one hour earlier. No dust, no pollution.
I am today at Bengaluru. For travelling from near Basava Nagar to the Central Telegraph Office where I had to attend a meeting, I got an auto after many autos refused, stating that they will not go that route. The charge was not based on metre but what the driver has demanded. I had no other choice. And it took more than one hour. The traffic was so much congested. If metro line is there it may take only ten to fifteen minutes
Fortunately, one metro line has been opened after much delay. If lines are opened connectiong various centres of the city it will be a boon to the people. I am told efforts are on for the same.
The above difficulties are same for all major cities. The Central and State governments should ensure that the Metros are introduced in all cities at the earliest. It is a must. The citizens have a right for the same.

The media and the political parties have been continuously propagating that Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister has not been taking a strong stand against corruption, black money etc. This is correct as we have seen for the last few years. Till A.Raj, Minister, was jailed, Prime Minister has been giving good certificate to him. Only severe criticism from Supreme Court ensured arrest of black money king pin.
But yes, Dr. Manmohan Singh can be firm on certain issues. Not only firm, but very very firm. That is when it concerns the super profit of the high and powerful in the country. There is continuous protest going on in the country against the continued price hike of petrol. After deregulation, petrol prices have been increased many times. From around Rs. 30 it has now gone up to Rs. 70. And when the issue has been raised with the Prime Minister instead of sympathising with the people and/or giving some relief the PM has arrogantly stated that he will not reduce the price. He did not stop there. He also warned that there will be further increase. Yes, PM is very firm against the interests of the people. There is no assurance now, there is no assurance for the future.

I have already mentioned earlier that the present draft of New Telecom Policy-2011 released by the Minister for Communications is only a continuation of the NTP -1994 and NTP – 1999 through which the Government has given undue and illegal benefits and special favours to the private telecom companies at the cost of the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL. Not only that. The 2G scam has exposed to what extend the UPA-II government has gone to favour the Indian and MNC telecom companies. The present draft is continuing the same policy and line. This will be a disaster for the country and the people as a whole.
Joint Action Committee had submitted to the Communications Minister certain good proposals earlier on the NTP -2011. BSNLEU, in its Jaipur CEC had decided to present an Alternative Telecom Policy(ATP) which will benefit the people as also the government companies like BSNL and MTNL. After detailed deliberation at CHQ level and consultation with some experts like Prabir Purkayastha, the draft of the ATP 2011 has been finalised and submitted to the Communications Minister. The same is put in the website of BSNLLEU.
CHQ has made many new proposals which will be favourable to the people as well as the company. Please go through the same and send your comments and suggestion quickly. I personally thank Asokababu, Dy.GS for the excellent work he has contributed in preparing and finalising the ATP 2011.

The Central Government and some of its ministers are very vocal about the programmes being implemented by it. They are also extra vocal when criticising the Left parties or the Anna Hazare movement. BUt why they are completely silent when the issues of the poor and down-trodden people are brought before them?
Even 60 years after independence, there are crores of people who are illiterate. There are crores of people who are starving. More than 2 lakh farmers have committed suicide during the last few years. There is no potable drinking water in many areas of the country. Crores are not having any shelter.
At the same time, about 10% are rich and have every thing with them. They have black and white money. The government is making policies for the benefit of these 10%. The ‘daridranarayanas’ have been completely forgotten by them.
The continued increase in prices have increased many fold the miseries of the people.
Is the government sleeping or deaf and dumb? Nothing of the sort. It is well aware of all these. It is that it don’t want to end their miseries. This government is the government of the haves. The have nots will not get anything unless they fight for it. The capitalist path of economy has ruined he world. Protests are rising against this in all parts of th world.
India has a long history of fighting against injustice. It is time to strengthen this fight to ensure justice to the have-nots and the suppressed.