The latest price hike of petrol has naturally enraged the people. The continued increases of the petroleum products by the oil companies have made the families to tighten their belts. It has become difficult to make both ends meets for the poor and the lower middle class. Along with the petrol price increase, the cost of every commodity has increased, that too without any limit. The Indian business community has understood that the people will suffer any thing and will not react. This is partly true. The Indians have been continuously through centuries been taught to accept sufferings as a virtue. Suffering and sacrifice are the road to salvation and a ticket to heaven. This philosophy has been a tool in the hands of the rich and powerful to keep the poor under control. The neo-liberalists and the politicians in power well understand this philosophy and use its to continue their loot of the poor. It is on this basis that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has fully justified the hike and given a clear indication that the petrol prices may be hiked again.
The common people has to react against these inhuman attacks on the them by the rich and powerful. Otherwise more drastic attacks are going to come.

After a long time I got the opportunity to meet an old comrade at the time of the Circle Conference of BSNLEU, Gujarat Circle held on 3-4 November. He is nobody else other than Comrade A.C.Shah, the first Circle Secretary of BSNLEU as also the first circle Secretary of AITEU Class III (Namboodiri) Gujarat in the 1990s.
After defeating O.P.Gupta and team in the Bhopal All India Conference in 1991, myself and Comrade Moni Bose came to Delhi and started working at Dada Ghosh Bhawan in the first week of November 1991. It was a very difficult period with OP Gupta and his team making all obstacles in the regular functioning of the Union. Dispute was created where there was no dispute with the connivance of the DOT. We had no other way but to form the AITEU Class III (Namboodiri) different from AITEU. Com.Moni Bose, myself and many comrades toured all over India and met leaders and workers to strengthen the union. After BSNL, we formed BSNL Employees Union. Now the BSNLEU is the biggest and only recognised union amongst Non-executives.
During all these period, Comrade A.C.Shah was the strong pillar of the Gujarat Circle Union as its Circle Secretary. His integrity and commitment helped to get more and more workers in the union. BSNLEU became the first union in Gujarat also.
After vacating Circle Secretary post, he continues as the District Secretry of Himmat Nagar SSA.
Meeting him again was a pleasure. During the Conference I honoured him and put a shawl on his shoulders as a token of respect and honour of the senior comrade.
He greatly appreciated my gesture.
Comrade Shah, we will meet again!

Today, BSNLEU purchased a new ALTO car for the use of its President ie. me. The last CEC held at Jaipur had decided to purchase a new car in place of the old car now being used.
When the new car has been purchased and I was travelling, I thought about the old car I was using for the last ten years. It is a Maruti 800, purchased in October 2001. The small simple car was very convenient, whether for parking or driving. Because both the earlier and the present drivers were maintaining it well, there was not much repair required even after full ten years. But, gradually faults were appearing and our comrades advised for purchase of a new car. I suggested for Maruti 800, but was informed that the production 800 is already stopped. The new avatar of 800 is the ALTO, already proved in the market. It is a small car and the price is also lower.
I like the old car with its memories of full 10 years. I like the new Alto also.
Of course, I thank the union for providing a car for my use.

At last there is some result for the continued agitation of the JAC for the last few years. DOT has issued clear instructions to the ITS officers to give their options. Probably understanding their reluctance to absorb in BSNL, all those who are not giving absorption in BSNL have been asked to report at Delhi by the last date of option ie. 8th November 2011.
It seems that DOT means business, to sort out the issue once for all.
Let us see in the coming days what is going to happen. I think the present move by DOT may be able to sort out the issue.

It seems that the Central Government is bringing policies aftr policies. There are National Telecom Policy, New Manufacturing Policy etc. Now the latest seems to be the New National policy for senior citizens or older persons.
I welcome the decision of the government to bring a draft policy. But what will be inside is to be seen. In the NTP -2011 the draft is completely intended to support the private telcos and MNCs, while the New Manufacturing policy is to help the employers to maximum exploit the workers and deny their trade union rights. What is going to be inside the Senior Citizens Policy have to be seen. If it will help the senior citizens, well and good. Other wise we will have to expose the government even exploiting the old citizens, who have contributed a lot for the future of the nation.

Two days ago, I mentioned about the danger of the petrol price being hiked. Yesterday the oil companies have inreased it as mentioned. Rs. 1.80 has been increased for a litre of petrol. In Delhi the price is now Rs. 68.84, Kolkata Rs. 73.15, Mumbai Rs. 73.81 and Chennai Rs. 72.73
This is the 13th price hike since the petrol was decontrolled in June 2010. 13 hikes in 15 months. And the government is sitting silent or rather happy, since every time thre is an increase, the Central Government get more through taxes etc. How cruel! Benefitting out of the miseries of the people!

The Circle Conference of BSNLEU Gujarat Circle starts today. Myself, General Secretry P.Abhimanyu and Dy. general Secretary P.Asokababu have already reached Bharuch for the Conference yesterday itself. Gujarat is a big circle and had always been with BSNLEU, despite some vaccilations now and then.
I hope the conference will be conducted in a very good manner.

According to United Nations, the world population has crossed 7 billion ( 700 crores ) by 1st November 2011. While China stands first, India is in the second position. It is estimated that by 2035, the population is China may stabilise. But the population is increasing more in India and it is observed that India may out pass China by 2035.
Increase in population is not a crime. The nation should be able to provide basic requirements to all the people. Population control will naturally come when there is maximum literacy, jobs are ensured and there is an understanding on the subject. It can not be imposed as was tried at the time of the “Emergency” during 1975-77.

According to media reports one more petrol price hike is in the agenda of the petrol companies. On the plea that the value of the rupee has been devalued, the oil companies are planning to hike by Rs. 1.82 This will be the 4th consecutive hike of petrol price in 2011. The last was in September 2011, when the price per litre was hiked by Rs. 3.14.
After deregularisation, the oil companies have been hiking the prices with out any restraint putting the customers in to much difficulties. The government is not taking any action. By the proposed hike petrol price per litre in Delhi will increase from Rs. 66.84 to Rs. 68.66.
There should be strong protest against these unjustified hikes.

To an RTI application, the Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare, Government of India has intimated that there are a total of 8,20,578 pensioners in central services with out taking in to consideration the number of pensioners in Railways, Defence, Posts and Telecom / BSNL
This is the age wise numbers
1. up to 60 years 2,32,541
2. 60 – 70 3,32,021
3. 70 – 80 1,70,479
4. 80 – 85 40,812
5. 85 – 90 27,552
6. 90 – 95 11,403
7. 95 – 100 4,095
8. 100 and above 1,675
Total 8,20,578
This is almost equal to the working employees. This may almost be applicable to pensioners of Railways, Defence and Posts and Telecom (including BSNL). Another interesting factor is that there are 1,675 pensioners who have crossed 100 years. Congratulations!
But tomorrow, the pensioners may be more than the regular workers since there is almost no recruitment.