24^th November 2020 – The 67^th Foundation Day of NFPTE

66 years are over after National Federation of P and T Employees (NFPTE), the mighty organization of Posts and Telegraph workers was formed on 24^th November 1954.

But it was not the first organization of P and T workers. Trade unions started in the P and T in the first and second decades of the 20^th century under the leadership of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton  and V.G.Dalvi, Bar-at-Law. Militant struggles were organized in 1908, 1919 etc. for immediate demands of the workers, some of which succeeded.

The Postmen Strike which started under the leadership of V.G.Dalvi from 11^th July 1946 continued for 22 days and engulfed all sections of the P and T workers. The British government was compelled to come down, negotiate and settle all the 12 major demands of the worker. Lakhs of workers in the major cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras etc. under the leadership of AITUC, the only central trade union in the country then, marched in support of the striking workers. 1946 P and T strike is considered as part of the Independence struggle as in the case with the Royal Navy Mutiny and Debhaga struggle.

The strike and the retrograde recommendations of the First Central Pay Commission (1946) resulted in an urge for a single organization and Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) was formed before India got Independence. O.P.Gupta was one of the Joint Secretaries. But still some unions were out of UPTW. A re-amalgamation of all unions were patiently organized, with the initiative of the then Communications Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram. Thus National Federation  of P and T Employees (NFPTE) and 9 affiliated All India Unions were formed on 24^th November 1954 in a grand convention held at New Delhi. History was being created in the trade Union movement itself. V.G.Dalvi was the first President and B.N.Ghosh (Dada Ghosh), the first Secretary General. UPTW was affiliated to AITUC since formation and at that time the President of both AITUC and UPTW was the same person, Com. Mrinal Kanti Ghosh. After formation of INTUC in 1947, UPTW disaffiliated from AITUC and continued as an independent Federation. NFPTE also continued as such.

A strike was called for by NFPTE for the appointment of II Central Pay Commission and since it was agreed, the strike was withdrawn. But against the retrograde recommendation of the II CPC, legendary 5 days strike was organized by the central government employees under the  leadership of Confederation, AIRF, AIDEF and NFPTE. The Jawaharlal Nehru Government promulgated the Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance and arrested and jailed tens of thousands of workers and leaders including many M.P.s and All India leaders of AITUC and other left TUS for leading and supporting the strike.  14 comrades became martyrs being shot dead and purposely over-run by trains.

Again a historic one day token strike was organized on 19^th September 1968, which has no parallel in history. 17 comrades became martyrs of the wrath of the central government. Again tens of thousands were arrested and jailed. In Kerala alone, 300 workers were terminated and about 500 suspended. The all India figure was much more. It is to the credit of the Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad Government in Kerala, that it openly supported the strike and refused to implement Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance promulgated by the Central Government, even braving the threat of the Centre of being dismissed.

In the Federal Council held in 1970, the beloved leader of the P and T employees, Com.K.G.Bose was elected as the President of NFPTE, which heralded a new era of progress and militancy.

Again the Strike of 1974 for Bonus, in which the Railway Workers took the leading part.  The result came later that in 1979 Bonus for the first time was granted to Central Government employees and later to state government employees. The struggle on demands of Extra departmental employees by the entire Postal workers created another history.

Consequent to the bifurcation of Post and Telegraphs as separate departments, NFPTE was also bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in 1986.

Telecom was made in to a Corporation and BSNL was formed in October 2000. NFPE continues in Postal department while BSNL Employees Union (BSNLEU) formed in 2001 is the recognized union in BSNL. They continue to work in the historic tradition of NFPTE.

NFPE and BSNL Employees Union participated in all the General Strikes organized by the central trade unions since 1981. They have given call for participation in the 26^th November 2020 strike also. BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation also has given call for strike.

All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA), All India Postal and RMS Pensioners Association (AIPRPA), National co-ordinating Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) have expressed solidarity to the strike and called the organize dharnas and demonstrations of 25^th November.

On this 67^th Foundation Day of NFPTE, we pay homage to the great leaders who led the movement, lakhs of workers who built up the organization and the martyrs who sacrificed their valuable lives in the altar of struggle.

NFPTE Zindbad! NFPE Zindabad! BSNLEU Zindabad! AIBDPA Zindabad! AIPRPA Zindabad! NCCPA Zindabad! BSNLCCWF Zindabad!

SCHOOL DAYS

I was admitted to the Lower Elementary School, Kara, which was near my home, in my sixth year. It was only about half a mile from home and was the same school where my elder sisters and brothers studied. After breakfast, I used to go to school with my elder brother. In the first standard, there was no bench and the students used to sit on wooden planks placed on the floor. The alphabets, simple arithmetic etc  were taught by writing with hands on the soft sand which every students used to bring in the full coconut shells with only one opening through which the sand can be put in or taken out. Later, slates and were used.

At noon recess, we will return home, take bath, eat food and again go to school. One was not allowed to take food from outside. After going out and mingling with others, you had to take bath before entering the house. This superstitious system was meticulously followed. In the evening, after returning from school, one more bath.

Text books were not available. The teachers will write the lessons on the black board and explain. Important things you have to write in your note book. Almost all the students belonged to poor families, and many left even before completing 5^th standard due to poverty as also to do some work to help their parents.

At the age of 7, I was ordained as a Brahmachari, a ritual followed by the namboodiris. This put so many restrictions in the life of the young boy. One have to get up early, take bath, perform a lot of pujas, kriya etc before taking any food. The same in evening also. Not allowed to wear dhoti. Even while going school, one was allowed only to put on a folded towel, instead of shirt. All these restrictions changed later, after many years.

Brahmachari was not allowed to climb the trees, speak with outside women etc. etc. A lot of nonsense restrictions which were difficult to observe. Three years passed like this. During this period an initial study of Veda also was necessary. Daily, two-three hours were spent for this. But how could at this young age one could learn vedas which are in Sanskrit, except repeating what the Guru teaches you.

After three years, Samavarthan ceremony will be conducted and you become Dwija, Namboodiri. All the restrictions are happily over. You can travel, meet with anybody. You can wear dhoti, trousers, shirts etc. The suffocation was over.  You can have your hair cut also. But these concessions did not come easily. Even while going to school, my eldest brother had to keep kuduma ( long uncut hair). Disobeying the instructions, he one day got his hair cut. It was a big revolt at that time. Gradually hair cut was accepted and I had no difficulty in that matter.

I completed my fifth standard in due course. I was admitted in the VI standard in the Mattanur Higher Elementary School, about three miles away from home, but which was the nearest. The school authorities insisted that admission can be given only in V standard since that is the usual practice for admission. Other students were admitted like that only. But my eldest brother insisted that I will be able to manage in VI standard itself. Any way I was admitted in VI Standard.

In fact, I was worried. Two of my relations were admitted in V Standard only who have come from similar schools. The first class was English and the teacher started speaking in English. I knew the English alphabets, nothing more. Anyway, I was determined to study and not lag behind.  I have to keep the prestige of my elder brother. Within six months I caught up with other students. In the half yearly examination, I was first or second. My fears were over. I was helped by two of the brightest students in the class, who were my bench mates.

While studying in the Mattanur School, the earlier restrictions on food continued. No food till you return home and take bath. Even restriction on drinking water. It was somewhat difficult, but became accustomed.

Passed the VIII Standard examination with good marks. The Elementary School Leaving Certificate (ESLC) given after passing in the VIII Standard public examination was sufficient to get training and teach  in the Lower Elementary School ie. up to Vth  Standard.   I was admitted to the III Form in the Kuthuparamba High School, which was about 7 miles from home. There was no other High School nearby. My elder brother was studying in VI Form in the same school.

There were a large number of students from nearby area studying in Kuthuparamba High School. Walking was the only way since it was difficult to afford the bus charges, the minimum of which was 4 annas ( ¼ of the rupee). In group of 5 or ten, students, both boys and girls, can be seen walking on the road to the school and return. After taking meals in the early morning, we will walk to the school. Since no chappals were worn, the sole of the feet will be very thick, which even thorns could not pierce. After reaching back home and taking bath only, you can have food. Almost 10 to 12 hours we had to manage without any food. Study was more important than food. After one year or so, we were allowed to take water and beaten rice and banana during the lunch recess, as a special case. One of my close friends and relative, Shri  K.N.Namboodiri had to walk more than one more mile to reach his home.

Even if you are late in reaching school, the teachers will not complain or punish. They understood that we were coming walking long distance. We were also not compelled to stay for sports and other programmes after school time. Teachers were considerate.

Three years were over without any important incident. Passed the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) public examination with meritorious marks, first in the school. Received merit certificate and so many books as present. The school days were happily over. ( to be continued).

 

 

Dear Comrades, Friends and Well-Wishers,

I have completed 82 years on 24^th July 2020. Many of you had suggested earlier that I may write my experiences in life, but I was reluctant, since there is not much to write which will be of any consequence. Later, I had a re-thinking on the subject. There will be something in every body’s life, which may be of importance to some others.

Hence I have decided to write about my experiences. My memory has always been weak and I do not know whether I will be able to do justice to me and my well-wishers.

I have been fortunate to be amongst you, participated in your happiness and sorrow. My story may not be much different from yours. But anyway, I will present my life-story to the best of my memory and ability.

I hope you will appreciate, support me and also correct me on facts when I am on the wrong.

Yours Sincerely,

V.A.N.Namboodiri.

 

HAPPY AND SATISFIED -1

EARLY DAYS

I was born on Sunday, 24^th July 1938, as the youngest child of my parents Shri V.A.Kesavan Namboodiri and Smt. V.A.Sreedevi Anterjanam. They had five children elder to me viz. Kesavan Namboodiri (Jr.), Parvathy Anterjanam, Sankaran Namboodiri, Sreedevi Anterjanam and Parameswaran Namboodiri. And I, Narayanan Namboodiri, was the sixth and last. According to Malayalam calendar my birth was on Makeerya Nakshatram in Karkkidaka month. The initials V.A. derives from the name of the house (Valiyapalathra) and the family (Attattuvalli).

My house, Valiyapalathra Illam, is situated in Perincherry Desom, Pazhassi Amsom (Village), in the former Tellicherry Taluk, Malabar District (now in Kannur District of Kerala) of Madras Presidency. It was far away from any town and in an interior area. The house was on the side of a large paddy field, in the middle of which there is a path for the people to travel.  The compound was about four acres, full of coconut, mango and other trees and some portion looked like a forest. The family burial ground was on one side of the compound. The way to the house was from the paddy field. After crossing a small wooden bridge across a narrow stream, which will have running water only during the rainy season, and climbing up the ladder to the compound, one can walk through the broad path for about fifty metres to reach the house. There was a broad court yard before stepping up to the lengthy the verandah.

The illam ( as the house is called) is a two storied building constructed in the typical old style ettukettu ( with 2 court yards), but which was reduced to nalukettu( one court yard) after partition of the family. Widow of my father’s younger brother with her son, stayed in the house in the nearby compound, constructed with the stones and wood of the demolished portion of the original house.

The house was constructed according to strict vasthu plan. There were five six rooms in the ground floor including the kitchen. There was a big granary in one room made of wood covering from the floor up to the roof, to store the paddy being brought by the farmers, who cultivated our paddy fields. The first floor was almost like the ground floor. The second floor was a big hall with no separate rooms and with thatched roof. It was mainly used to keep timber, coconuts, coconut leaves, other stores etc. There were wooden ladders to go to first and second floors. After a few years, the roof and the veranda were covered by tiles, since the cost of maintaining and yearly thatching was very costly.

There was a small stone structure in one side of the compound which was dedicated to a great, great, grandfather and his wife, who were considered as Brahmarakhas. Every month puja will be conducted for them with offerings.

The story goes like this. May be about 150 years back. My great, great grandfather stayed with his family, but had also married a Rani of  the royal family of Pazhassi,  as was the custom then. The Kshatriya Rajas married from Nair families and Brahmins married Kshatriya girls. After some time, my ancestor stopped going to the palace. The Rani sent messengers with palanquin to bring him to the palace, but he refused. That angered the Rani who sent soldiers to capture and bring her husband to the palace. My family had its own security forces of Kurichya tribe (a warrior tribe of the forests) with bows, arrows, swords etc. There was heavy fight and both my great grandfather and his wife were killed. The soldiers burnt the house and destroyed everything.

Their children constructed another house on the opposite side of the paddy field and started staying there. They constructed this small stone structure in memory of their parents and continued puja etc. It continues even now.

The present house, constructed of local red stone, will be about 130 years old now. It is an old type house, planned for strength and defence. There were many big bows, sharpened arrows, war-axes etc. at home, a memory of the past.

According to documents, the family owned large acres of paddy fields and many compounds full of coconuts and other trees. But by the time I remember, almost all these have been sold or mortgaged and we were poor, of course poor landlords. Brahmins were not expected to do manual work in paddy fields. We were somehow managing on day to day basis.

My father will be away for six months as first priest in a temple in Trichur District and will be at home for the next six months. In his absence, mother looked after the family affairs. She was very capable and affectionate to the children, thus making up for the absence of father. After some years father stopped going to Trichur and settled at home. There was only a few years difference between me and my direct elder brother, Parameswaran and we were mostly together.

According to local historians, Perincherry is one of the 64 villages instituted by Sage Parasurama. Our home is about one mile from the Sree Lakshmana Swamy Temple, our family deity. We used to go daily to the large temple tank to take bath and will return after offering prayers at the temple. The Attattuvally family was partitioned and two branches had settled near the temple. Azhakath Illam, where my mother was born as well as two-three other illams were near the temple. There were relations at Neerveli about three miles from Perincherry on the Tellicherry route, at Mattanur as also at Kara-Peravoor on the Cannanore route. All these families were closely related and depended upon each other. Children of these families were also close and played together. Marriages, festivals etc. were occasions to come together and enjoy each other’s company. (to be continued).

 

 

 

Chicago May Day Martyrs remembered.

It is 133 years back on this day, 11th November 1887, that Comrades Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolf Fischer and George Engel were hanged in coonnection with the allegged incidents in Hay Market on May 4th, 1886. In 1893, remaining three comrades were pardoned and released by Governor of Illinois. One Comrade, Louis Lingg was found in his cell face half blown away by dynamite. Police said suicide, others charge police with murder.

These Martys sacrificed their lives for the working class. Thousands of years may pass, but the Chicago Martys will be remembered for their struggle and sacrifice.

RED SALUTE TO CHICAGO MAY DAY MARTYS!

“THE DAY WILL COME WHEN OUR SILENCE WILL BE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE VOICES YOU ARE THROTTLING TODAY” ( Final words of Martyr August Spies)

PRESS STATEMENT.

Dated: 28.10.2020

Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers notes with distress that the Government has made yet another attempt to depress the wages of the workers this time in the organised sector.  The indexation of wages and the consequent grant of compensatory allowance  had been the product of bitter  and prolonged struggles of the workers. The present system of computing the dearness compensation, though varies from sector to sector, is based on the consumer price index brought out in stipulated periodicity by the Ministry of Labour.  There had been varied and wide ranging criticism over the manner and methodology adopted in the computation of the index figures.  Instead of addressing those genuine and legitimate deficiencies, the  Government has gone now to create a new series which would further accentuate those very defects to the utter disadvantage of the workers. It is all the more deplorable as the Government has chosen the pandemic days to usher in the new series of CPI.

The Government will bring out the new series with 2016 as the base year.  2016, in so far as Indian economy is concerned, is an extremely extra ordinary year when the economic activities almost came to a grinding halt over the grand declaration of demonetisation.  It is an established dictum that base year selected must be a normal year, sans political, social and economic upheaval.  Why then 2016, has no logical explanation. 

The Government has also decided to change the components of the basket.  Post justification had been an afterthought, conceived to cover up.  Had there been a consultation with the stake holders, many of the controversies that have arisen could have been avoided.  By depressing the food content in the basket, the lower rung in the working class will lose out more.  In the past, the base year change used to be effected once after two decades.  Why then the periodicity was reduced and bring out a new series now begs reasoned explanation.

Another important decision that would further depress the dearness compensation to the workers is that the Government has chosen the PDS prices of the commodities for computation.  Universal PDS was disbanded when the new liberal economic policies were ushered in years back.  The present truncated PDS targets only a segment of the population and most of the Central Government employees are excluded from the PDS in almost all States in the country.  This apart the prices of the commodities sold in the PDS is highly subsided.  Consequently, the prices of commodities included in the basket are nothing but imaginary and often below even the cost of production of such items.  Since dearness compensation as an accretion to wages is available for the workers in the organised sector, the new series will bring about drastically reduced  salary packet.  The Centrals Government employees especially will lose out heavily once the new series are put in operation, which is announced to be with effect from September, 2016 onwards.

On the advice of the Technical Advisory committee, the geometrical mean will be employed instead of the arithmetical average .  The conversion factor of 2.88 is devised possibly without taking this factor into account.  The conversion factor will be employed in the case of Central Government employees for a very long time to come from September, 2020 onwards. The ruling class was always opposed to the grant of dearness compensation, rather the very concept itself.   In the long run, they want the wages to remain static and the prices dynamic to ensure that the Corporates are happy.  The resentment against this arbitrary, unilateral and anti-employees decision must be manifested by the increased participation of the Central Government employees in the ensuing one day general strike slated for 26^th November,2020, which is organised by the Central Trade Unions on behalf of the Indian working class. 

                                                             R.N. PARASHAR

                                                             SECRETARY GENERAL.

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

DoPT reforms regarding Child Care Leave

Posted On: 26 OCT 2020 7:11PM by PIB Delhi

 While briefing about some of the major reforms brought by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) under the Modi government, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said today that the male employees of the government are also now entitled to Child Care Leave.

However, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the provision and privilege of Child Care Leave (CCL) will be available only for those male employees who happen to be “single male parent”, which may include male employees who are widowers or divorcees or even unmarried and may therefore, be expected to take up the responsibility of child care as a single – handed parent.

Describing it as a path-breaking and progressive reform to bring ease of living for government servants, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the orders regarding this had been issued quite some time back but somehow did not receive enough circulation in the public.

In a further relaxation to this provision, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that an employee on Child Care Leave may now leave the head quarter with the prior approval of Competent Authority. In addition, the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) may be availed by the employee even if he is on Child Care Leave. Elaborating further, he informed that Child Care Leave can be granted at 100% of leave salary for the first 365 days and 80% of leave salary for the next 365 days.

Based on the inputs over a period of time, Dr Jitendra Singh said, another welfare measure introduced in this regard is that in case of a disabled child, the condition of availing Child Care Leave up to the age of 22 years of the child has been removed and now Child Care Leave can be availed by a government servant for a disabled child of any age.

With the personal intervention and indulgence of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and his special emphasis on governance reforms, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it has been possible to make several out-of-box decisions in the DoPT over the last six years. Basic purpose behind all these decisions has always been to enable a government employee to contribute to the maximum of his potential, although at the same time there will be no leniency or tolerance toward corruption or non-performance, he said. SNC (Release ID: 1667647)

BEST WISHES AND GREETINGS TO ALL ON THE EVE OF DURGA PUJA, NAVARATRI AND DUSSERAH FESTIVALS!

It was on 24th October 1851 that the telegraph services was first introduced in India. It was in a small route between Calcutta, then capital of British India, and Diamond Harbour.

The history of telegraphs started long back. The electrical telegraph was invented in 1775. The first commercial telegraphs were introduced by the Western Railways in Britain in the 1830s. It was introduced in India in 1850s along with the railways. The telephones were not invented and the fastest communication system was the telegraphs. Only the Britishers were employed as telegraphist both in Railways and in Telegraph Offices in the initial stages due to its utmost importance and secrecy. The Britishers used the Telegraphs and Railways effectively to crush the First Independence War of 1857, which they called as ‘Sepoy Mutiny’. The Telegraphs grew fantastically during the second part of the 20th century and there were telegraph offices in all important cities and towns. In small places, the services were manned by the Postal officials called ‘Singnallers’, who kept the connection between the cities and the villages through telegraph wires.
Telegrams were sent by government as also by public to inform urgent and important news. The CTOs in the metro cities used to have about 100 or 200 telegraphists at the same time and round the clock. The telegrams were taken as official records in the court etc. It was authentic and clear. Since the charge for sending telegram was on the basis of the number of words, the message was constructed briefly with minimum number of words. The message may be of great happiness or that of sorrow like death or disease. The unions used to organise ‘telegram campaigns’ as a method of protest sending the same in large numbers to the concerned authorities.

After the growth of telephones and mobile services, the importance of telegraphs started to wane. By the second decade of 21st century it was almost limited to certain official messages. According to the government and the BSNL, there was much loss and it can not be continued as a viable service.

When the government decided to close the telegraph offices and telegraph/telegram services from 15th July, BSNL Unions put up strong protest and organised protest meetings. As President of the Union, I went to Mumbai and Kolkata offices and held press conferences for getting the support of the people at large for continuing the services.

Telegraph is a heritage service and accommodated in heritage buildings in the big cities. CTO buildings in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata etc. are heritage buildings, which have to be maintained as such. Lakhs and lakhs of documents connected with the history of the Mughal, British rule etc. are there in the old documents of the telegraph offices. Just like Western Court building in Delhi is occupied by a hotel, there are proposals to turn these heritage buildings also in to such posh hotels. You can see that many of the historic palaces have already been converted in to hotels.

A PLI case was filed in the court, but did not get any relief. It can only be said that the BSNL management had taken an unwise anti-people decision as also without taking in to confidence of the unions, which were trying to improve the services and make the company financially viable.

Despite all efforts to ensure that the telegraph services are kept as a token of the past, as in the case of trams in Kolkata, neither the government nor the BSNL agreed. It was finally decided to close it on 15th July 2013 forever.

Nobody expected what happened on the day. It was a pleasant surprise. Thousands of people gathered in front of telegraph offices to send their last telegrams to their near and dear ones. Even after midnight of 15/16 July, the queue did not stop and many people had to return disappointed that they could not send the last telegram. Their spontaneous response on the last day showed their love and appreciation of the telegraph services.

seven years are over after closure of telegraph services. The people have almost forgotten the ‘telegram’. The new generation may wonder what is ‘telegraphs’ and ‘telegram’? But those who knew telegram and sent or received them, still remember the same. For them it is nostalgia indeed!

THE BASE YEAR CHANGE FOR CONSUMERS PRICE INDEX FOR-INDUSTRIAL WORKER A DESIGN TO MANIPULATE THE REALITY OF PRICE MOVEMENT.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions expresses serious concern over the change in the base year of consumer Price Index for the industrial workers (CPI-IW) from 2001 to 2016 announced by the BJP Govt through its Labour Minister, arrogantly ignoring all the questions raised and suggestions made by all the trade unions in the country through their joint letter dated 25^th August 2020.

Entire exercise made by the Labour Bureau functioning under Ministry of Labour on this matter has been thoroughly arbitrary, deliberately designed to suppress the real impact of the price rise of essential items for human survival and also to deprive the workers of their entitlement for legitimate DA. The Labour Bureau deliberately ignored the very fact that even in the midst of economic slowdown, the prices of essential items, food items in particular always remain on the rise and did not hesitate to arbitrarily as well as drastically reduce the weight assigned to food items in the standard consumption basket from 46.2% to 39% for the purpose of computation of consumer price index. Minister’s statement justifying this arbitrary reduction as change in the consumption pattern of the working people away from food item is absolutely ridiculous and  cruel inhuman joke; this is done when the average consumption expenditure marked a sharp decline with the rural consumption expenditure falling by more than 9 per cent as per CSO estimate (suppressed by the Modi Govt); and also when in global hunger index, India has been ranked as low at 94 out of 107 nations under survey below Bangaladesh and Pakistan.

Manipulation by the Govt with a dubious intent does not end here. It is also done in the linking factor for converting the numbers of 2016 to 2001 series equivalent to suppress the impact of actual price rise. Two previous changes of base year witnessed a higher linking factor of 4.93 (1960 to 1982 -22 years gap) and 4.63 (1982 to 2001—19 years gap); now a 16 years gap (2001 to 2016) entailed a linking factor of only 2.88 (62% reduction for difference in 3 years in gap.). Can fraud go further ?

Then the choice of base year in 2016 is also designed for manipulation to suppress the impact of price rise. Originally till July 2020, exercise was being done with the idea of 2013-14 as the base year. Changing it to 2016 is an afterthought by the Modi regime as the same year, the notorious demoetisation was undertaken affecting negatively the price-level of the items in standard consumption basket for CPI-IW owing to virtual collapse of the economic operation in the country in the last quarter of 2016. This change is also done with the purpose of suppressing the real impact of price rise.     

The employers’ oranisations have long been demanding upon the Govt to freeze the variable DA payment to workers as a relief to them during the period of economic slowdown. Govt has now responded to that demand of their capitalist bosses through backdoor. The present exercise of changing base year of CPI-IW to 2016  with all its components, some of which are mentioned here, is meant for that at the cost of the working people.

It is reported that Com. Ravindran, a contract worker engaged in GMT Office Palakkad, Kerala, has committed suicide in the night of 21st October unable to face the trauma of reduced working hours and non-payment of wages for more than 4 months. He is working in BSNL for more than 20 years.

The BSNL employees and workers held protest demonstration, keeping Corona protocol, against the cruel attitude of the BSNL management and the contractors.

Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades!