Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), is one of the first PSUs, termed as the Temples of Modern India, started in the country by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1948 in order to develop the telecom infrastructure in the country. ITI did a great job and the most of the telephone equipments, exchanges and accessories were manufactured by it for three four decades. After the neo-liberalisation policy being implemented by the government in the 1990s, like many other PSUs, ITI was also ignored including R andD resulting in a grim situation. The big MNCs entered the telecom area in India and the financial viability of ITI came down. ITI is in loss for the past few years, but the government has not taken any important action for revival except giving some meagre assistance for payment of salary etc.
The Unions in the ITI have been continuously pressing for modernisation, manufacture of latest telecom equipments etc. but the government did not act. The demand for merger with BSNL will not solve the problem, since BSNL itself is in a difficult situation and also that ITI is a manufacturing unit while BSNL is a service provider.
Now it is reported that the DOT has sought about Rs. 6830/- from the finance ministry for revival of the company. It is a good development. The Telecom Commission is yet to plan the revival. In my opinion, it should not be simple assistance only. A road map should be prepared how the revival steps are to be taken. The latest technology and marketing is necessary to ensure that it can compete with the MNCs operating in this country. As a PSU, it should be given certain concessions in the initial state at least. There should be continuous monitoring and the Unions in the industry should be involved in the revival plan.
ITI should be restored to its earlier glory. It is possible if the govenment takes necessary measures.

Onam is the most important festival of Kerala. It starts 10 days earlier with Atham. From that day onwards the children have a very good time. Collecting flowers, making beautiful designs with flowers in front of the house, singing and dancing etc. And the on the last day, big feast with a lot of sweet dishes like payasam and pradhaman. All the family members come from far and near to enjoy Onam together. Just like festivals in other states. This year Onam falls on 9th September.
But I do not know why, I never get a chance to celebrate Onam for the last so many years. My wife used to say that on most of the Onams I will be on tour. I do feel guilty sometimes that I am not with the family on these days. However, this year I am at my residence at Delhi. But it is just like any day for us.
But life and work are like that. Onam is a day of happiness and of celebration. Let us make the entire year as an year of happiness.
Best Wishes for a Happy Onam for all my comrades and friends!

Orders have been issued yesterday by BSNL allowing close relations of BSNL employees eligible for getting allotment in vacant staff quarters. Well and good.
At the same time a very reasonable demand of the workers for alloting vacant quarters for retired employees, although accepted in the National Council, has not been finalised and orders issued. This is discriminatory.
The BSNL Management should immediately issue necessary orders in this matter.

The meeting of the National Executive of the National C0-ordination Committee of the Pensioners Association is meeting at D-7, Gole Market, New Delhi on 4th September 2011 to review its activities and prepare for the next programme of action on the charter of demands raised by it.
However, the main issue is how the PFRDA Bill is going to be stopped from being passed by the Parliament. It has already gone to the Standing Committee. With both the ruling UPA II and the Main opposition NDA supporting the bill, nothing much can be expected unless a massive strong movement is unleashed against it. decisions on all these.
Let us hope that the meeting of the NCCPA will plan and finalise

The assurances now and then by the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission that the prices of essential commodities will come down has no relevance at all. it is only a very casual remark to console the people. The government is not prepared to take any action to control prices. It is completely left to the market forces, who want to increase the prices so tha they will get more and more profit. In August 2011, it has increased to 10.05%. The increase for all – vegetables, fruits, meat etc.
This is more than 15% of the same period last year. The increase in the price of onion in one year is more than 57%, for vegetables 15.78% and for fruits 21.58%.
The price increase has badly affected, especially the BPL families as well as the low-paid employees. Unless there is strong opposition and agitation, the central government is not going to take any action in the matter. Let us think over and go in to some action against the rocketting prices.

Employees outside Kerala may not believe the fact that the retirement age for Kerala State employees and teachers is 55 only. But it is the truth. The demand was there to increase it to 58 years as in the case of CG Employees. Now the Central Government employees retirement age has been increased to 60 more than 13 years back. But still it is 55 only for Kerala government employees.
The Unions have been demanding it to be increased. But on the other side, the youth organisations are completely opposed to it stating that job opportunities for them will be reduced.
Now it seems, that the state government is proposing to increase the retirement age. I am in full support for the same. If the Judges can have their retirement age as 65 years, IAS officers service can be extended to above 60 years and the CG employees are having 60 years, why the discrimination for the Kerala state employees and teachers.
My firm opinion is that it should be increased.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by Yeshwant Sinha has recommended up to 26% FDI in the New Pension Scheme(NPS). So far, FDI is not allowed in NPS. This will mean, if accepted by the Government, more problems for the NPS subscribers. At present there are seven Fund Managers for Pension Funds viz. LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Fund, UTI Retirement Solutions, IDFC Pension Fund Management Company, ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management, Kotak Mahendra Pension Fund and Reliance Capital Pensions Fund.
The Standing Committee has also recommended that the NPS should be extended to public and private companies. At present the scheme is for Central Government employees who are recruited from 01-01-2004 onwards. It has also suggested that the returns by the Fund Managers should not be less than what the EPF Organisation is giving ie.9.5%
The entire employees and their organisations are opposing PFRDA Bill and a historic National Convention has already been held in Delhi. The government is trying to get it passed early so that the lakhs of crores of rupees of Pension Funds can be handed over to the Fund managers who are mostly private.
The struggle against the PFRDA Bill has to continue till it is dropped by the Government.

Some startling news from Kerala. The birth-rate is coming down gradually. But that doest not mean the population will decrease.
The total birth in Kerala in 1998 was 5,91,508. In 2008, it was reduced to 5,35,738. a reduction of 55,770 in ten years.
The death numbers are increasing. In 1998 total registered death was 1,85,788. In 2008 it is 2,21,769.It has increased, but it may be more since all the deaths are not registered unlike births, which is compulsory.
So though population will increase for some more time since the number of births are more than the death numbers. But a stage will come where the number of deaths will increase and the number of births will be less. The present situation means that number of youngsters will reduce and the nuber of old people will increase.
(Inputs from an article in Malayala Manorama dated 01-09-2011)

I am in Kerala for the last few days. It is raining in Delhi. But the rains in Kerala is completely different. For the last three days, it has been continuously pouring rain in Kerala. Even with umbrella you don’t have a chance of going out without getting wet. But it is also pleasant to some extent to see the heavy down pour of water which is very much essential for the people to drink and other uses.
I enjoyed it even though it was very inconvenient when going out.

Today is Bakrid, the day of peace, sacrificice and fraternity! My Bakrid Greetings to all my blog readers!