24th November 2022 is the 68th Anniversary of the formation of National Federation of  P  and T Employees (NFPTE), the mighty organisation of the Posts and Telegraphs (including Telephones) Employees. it was formed at New Delhi on 24th November 1954, by merging all the existing P and T Unions, under a reorganisation plan. 

NFPTE was in the forefront of the major historic Strikes of the Central government employees in 1960, 1968 , 1974 etc. Comrades Dada Bhosh (B.N.Ghosh,), O.P.Gupta, K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana, D.Gnaniah, were some of the prominent leaders, who gave inspiring leadership to the movement. Of course, there were serious inner struggles on ideology and also on how to organise struggles etc., that continued for many years. Many disputes also arose. Unity was restored by the end of seventies.

The government did not want the  P and T Department to continue. Posts and Telegraphs were made in to separated departments. Naturally, NFPTE was also bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in  the Calcutta Federal Council held on 17-21 March 1986. NFPTE as such existed only for 32 years, but its impact is still in the trade union movements. 

After formation of BSNL, BSNL Employees Union continues as the progressive union following the great tradition of NFPTE. In the Postal side NFPE continues as the torch bearer. 

On the 68th Anniversary of NFPTE, we salute all the comrades who led the movement, worked sincerely sacrificed every thing for the upliftment of the workers and also who sacrificed their lives in the many heroic struggles !

As a comrade who entered the department in 1958 and participated and was victimised in all the heroic struggles, I express my thanks to the organisation and leaders for allowing me to be part of this great organisation. !

NFPTE Zindabad ! 

In the meeting on 17th October 2022 with the pensioners Associations and also later during meeting with certain individual pensioners associations, the DOT has made it clear that wage revision and pension revision is delinked as also that pension revision will be made on the basis of 3rd PRC with 0% fitment. All associations have rejected 0% fitment. It is now the responsibility of the DOT to ensure that pension revision is finalised with 15% fitment, as per the demand made by AIBDPA and some other associations since the government is bound for the same as per the agreement at the time of formation of BSNL as also since the required amount has already been collected from BSNL. Do justice to the pensioners who has served the nation for three four decades. Already many pensioners have passed away since 2017 without getting their due pension revision.

While the country is celebrating the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 14th November as Children’s Day, my memory goes about 70 years back.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime minister was on tour to Kerala and was excepted to address a meeting at Tellicherry. I was working as Teacher in Peravoor, eastern part of Cannanore District. I was about 20 years. I came to Tellicherry and waited along with thousands of people to see and hear him. Collecting autographs was a craze at that time. I wanted to get an autograph from the Prime Minister. What to do ?

I had a small box camera with me which was gifted by a pen friend from Germany. I went to the security police and told them that I wanted to take photo of Nehruji. They allowed me to stand nearby. When Nehruji came, I went and took a photo and asked for autograph, which he gave smilingly.

I used to show both the photo and the autograph to friends as a great accomplishment. Over the years , shifting from place to place, I lost both. But the small box camera is safe and decorates the show case .

14th November, Birth Anniversary Day of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, is celebrated as Children’s Day. Nehru was very fond of children and many photoes are there which shows him with the children.

Children are the future of mankind and continuation of its legacy. A civilized society gives maximum priority to the children.

Best Wishes to all on Children’s Day !

It is almost one month after the meeting between DOT and the Pensioners’ Associations have taken place. The minutes are also released. Almost 6 years have elapsed. Further delay is unacceptable. Demand immediate decision by govt revising pension with 15% fitment as per III PRC.

The Kerala State Convention of SCFWA will be held at Kottayam on 26th November 2022. The biggest organisation of senior citizens in Kerala formed in 2006 has been able to focus the attention of the Central and State governments on the burning issues of the aged persons and has been able to achieve many demands. Its demand to increase the pension for the senior citizens from the present rs. 200 /- has fallen on deaf years. Kerala LDF govt is paying old age pension @ Rs. 1600. SCFWA has demanded for Vayojana Commission as well as separate portfolio for Vayojana issues.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

President, SCFWA

Yesterday night while travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode in Mangalore Express, I had a disturbing experience. It started at 20.50 house from the capital city. I was in the Sleeper compartment. By the time the train reached Kottayam, everybody was fast asleep.

At Ernakulam some four or five passengers got down and some others got in. They had reservations in the nearby berths. They were in their middle ages and well dressed. Instead of settling down and going in to their berths for lying down and sleeping / taking rest they started talking rather loudly about about so many small-small issues. They were not stopping at all. Most of those sleeping were disturbed and woke up. But nobody requested them to stop, hoping that they will stop talking and go to sleep. But not so. Out of courtesy and to avoid unpleasantness, nobody complained about their misbehavior. I thought once or twice to speak, but controlled myself.

Fortunately they got down at Thrissur. Everybody was happy and smiled at each other. This was a bad experience and I lost my sleep thinking about it. Are we too patient and accommodating ?