Aadhaar or Niraadhaar?

11 Sunday Feb 2018

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Reports are coming every day from many parts of the country about various kinds of services being denied to the people for want of Aadhaar. The latest is about a hospital Gurugram, near Delhi, which denied admission to a pregnant woman for want of the Aadhaar certificate. Earlier, there was a move by the Central government to make Aadhaar mandatory for issuing death certificate, but it was probably put in shelve due to strong protest.

And now the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) says to the government to not deny benefits for want of Aadhaar. On the one hand the UIDAI and government are compelling Aadhaar for all purposes despite clear instructions from the Supreme Court, and on the other hand issuing statements like the above to mislead the people and save themselves from criticism.

The privacy of people has been tampered with the mandatory of Aadhaar for almost all purposes and transactions. They are at the mercy of cyber-thiefs and crooks.

This is not Aadhaar for the people, but only Niraadhaar!

NALCO posts profit of Rs.722 crore

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Disinvestment, PSU

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National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) posted an increased Rs. 722 crore profit in the quarter ending December 2017. The profit in the same quarter in 2016 was Rs. 235 crore and in 2015 Rs. 144 crore. It is reported that there is 207% growth for the PSU. Hearty Congratulations to the workers and management of NALCO who made this profit!

It is to be remembered that the Bajpayee government wanted to sell NALCO in 2001, at the same time as it sold 51% of shares of Bharath Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) to Sterlite Industries. But the trade unions and the people of Orissa made such a strong protest and agitation that the government was compelled to turn back from the disastrous move.

Now the Modi Government is in a mad rush for selling the PSUs, the valuable assets of the people, to the corporates. It has to be fought and defeated as was done in the case of NALCO. It is not impossible.

Banks merger puts SBI in big loss of Rs. 2416 crore – a hard lesson for PSU workers

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in General, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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According to reports in the press, the SBI has posted a huge loss of Rs. 2416 crore in the three months quarter ending December 2017. This is the first time that SBI has posted any loss since the quarter ending March 1999, which was Rs. 115 crore. The loss is mainly due to the increased NPA (bad loans), reduce returns from bonds etc. But another major reason is the merger of the six associate banks including State Bank of Travancore, with SBI. The merger was implemented despite strong opposition by the workers.

Merger has been made a tool by Government to make PSUs in to loss making. While both the airline PSUs, Indian Airlines and Air India were profitable, the merger, among other reasons like purchase of large number of planes which were not at all required, made the merged Air India in to loss. The same policy is now implemented in the bank sector and made SBI posting loss.

Government is now planning and moving fast for merger of BSNL and MTNL in to one entity. BSNL is fighting for survival with the initiative from the workers and has earned operational profit for the last three years,though the net loss continues. MTNL is in a very difficult financial situation with increasing loss. The merger with out writing away the loss and repurchase of the disinvested shares to the tune of 46.5% of MTNL will be disastrous. That disaster is exactly, what the government wants to hand over the telecom sector completely to the foreign and Indian corporates. Why can not the government which is allowing the banks to write of lakhs of crores of rupees of loan taken by corporates, alow the same in the case of its own PSU MTNL?

The fact that the entire workers / unions in BSNL are on united struggle to save BSNL is a very welcome step. The privatisation of BSNL and MTNL is not only against the interests of the BSNL, MTNL workers and the customers of both the PSUs, but also of the entire telecom customers of all the private telecom operators. Once BSNL and MTNL is closed or privatised, there will be no limit to the charges for telecom service. India has one of lowest tariffs in the world and absence of the PSUs will result manifold tariff increase, which will be much beyond the capacity of the ordinary customer. India has got mobile connection of about 110 crore. The high tariff cost may perhaps reduce the telecom density, but the profit that will be garnered by the telcos will be manifold with reduced costs. This what the pro-corporate government wants.

The struggle against unwanted merger of PSUs as in the case of banks and telecom sectors, should continue and the government move should be defeated.

BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala circle.

10 Saturday Feb 2018

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BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala circle.
BSNL started it’s 4G service in Kerala yesterday. Initially the 4G service has been made available at five locations in the high range Idukki district. This service has been launched, with BSNL’s existing spectrum. The first call was made to the CMD BSNL. CGM, Kerala, Shri P.T.Mathew said that, by the year end, 4G service would be made available to all its customers in all the districts by the end of the year. It may also be recollected that BSNL is making serious effort to 5 MHz 4G spectrum in the 2,100 MHz band. Once BSNL gets this spectrum allotment, it’s 4G service will also be rolled out throughout the country. (BSNLEU Website)

Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association Hand Book

10 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, General

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The Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association (SCFWA) Kerala has published a handbook on the rights of the senior citizens as also the various schemes implemented/being implemented  by the Government for the senior citizens.  A helpful book for those engaged in the welfare of the  senior citizens. Congratulations to SCFWA!

Why the Communications Minister is not meeting the Unions?

10 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by in BSNL, General

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The entire BSNL workers are on  struggle for the last few months demanding their due wage revision and pension revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017 and also demanding that the government drop its proposal to form a Subsidiary Tower Company bifurcating the existing 70,000 or so towers of BSNL. The All Unions and Associations, a Joint Forum of all the unions in BSNL, has been demanding for a meeting with the Minister on this issue. But it is unfortunate that neither the Minister Manoj Sinha  nor the Secretary DOT has given any date for the meeting. This is completely objectionable and against the convention and practice hitherto.

Instead of compelling the workers to intensify their agitation due to which the service may be adversely affected causing difficulties for the consumers, the Minister should immediately meet the unions and discuss the issues and settle them.

AIBDPA Kerala donates Rs. one lakh to Ockhy Relief Fund

10 Saturday Feb 2018

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AIBDPA leaders in Kerala handed over the cheque for Rs. one lakh to Kerala Chief Minister Com. Pinaryi Vijayan towards Ockhy Relief Fund on 6th February 2018 at the Chief Minister’s room. This was the amount collected from the members of AIBDPA. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron, R.Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President and N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary AIBDPA were in the delegation.

Congratulations to the KSRTC Pensioners and also to Kerala Government.

10 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by in General

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KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) Pensioners have been on struggle for the last few months demanding that their pension should be paid in time and that the arrears for the last few months also should be paid. Since the KSRTC is in loss, it was only through heavy loans that even the salary is paid to the employees. The pensioners have been sitting on dharna in front of the State Secretariat and in front of the KSRTC district depots for the last few months demanding the the government ahould take over the responsibility of paying pension. All the trade unions in the state, irrespective of political affiliations have been supporting the struggle. I had participated and addressed many of these dharnas with the latest in front of Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram on 8th February.

Two days back, the government had discussions with the pensioners’ unions and decision was intimated that all the arrears will be paid immediately and future pension will be paid in time. The government in its budget has allocated Rs. 10,000 crore for strengthening the KSRTC, for purchasing new buses and revamping the operations. The unions have called  off the agitation on this assurance.

Out of the total 40 state PSUs, which were almost all in loss during the UDF rule, 12 are already made profitable by maximum efforts of the government and the workers. The allocation of sufficient funds and revamping is expected to bring KSRTC to better position.

This the difference between the approach of the BJP ruled centre and the LDF ruled Kerala state. While the former is privatising / closing down the PSUs one after another through its anti-PSU policy, the LDF government in Kerala is making all out efforts to strengthen the PSUs.

Congratulations to both the KSRTC pensioners for their struggle and success and the government for its support to the pensioners!

BSNLEU Kerala Circle Conference a great success!

04 Sunday Feb 2018

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As usual. the Circle Conference of BSNLEU Circle Conference held at Ernakulam from 1st to 3rd February was a great success both in its deliberations and decisions.

The Conference was held at the spacious Town Hall Building, named “Com.Prabhakaran Nagar” in memory of Com.K.Prabhakaran, senior BSNLEU leader and who organised many a historic struggle in the Ernakulam – Kochi area.

After flag hoisting and  homage to  the martyrs, the three days conference was inaugurated by Com. Elmaram Karim, former Minister and General Secretary of CITU, Kerala  state. He spoke on the united movement of the trade unions and struggles against the anti-worker, anti-people policies of the Modi Government. He also spoke on the government move to disinvest/privatise BSNL and other PSUs and the need for united struggles to save it. He congratulated the BSNLEU  and other unions for their committed efforts to improve BSNL. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary BSNLEU, M.Krishnan, Secretary General Confederation, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary, BSNLEU, C.N.Mohanan, Chairman, Reception Committee, P.C.Mathukutty, General Secretary, Kerala NGO Association, A.S.Anil (BEFI), M.Kunhikrishnan(AIIEA) N.Guruprasad(AIBDPA) T.Santhosh Kumar(SNEA), M.Vijaya Kumar, CHQ Org. Secretary and other leaders addressed. Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle Union President presided and Com. P.S.Peethambaran proposed vote of thanks.

The Delegates session was inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. Com.K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary presented the Working Report and Com.S.Pratap Kumar, Treasurer, the audited accounts. After discussion by the delegates, the report and accounts were adopted. The discussion showed the maturity and trade union consciousness of the workers.

A cultural session was organised in the evening which was addressed by Shri Sunil P.Elayidam, a well known social critic and speaker.

On the second day, a Women’s Convention was held which was inaugurated by Com.P.Sathi Devi, Ex.M.P. and also General Secretary of AIDWA, Kerala. A large number of women comrades attended and participated in the discussion.

A procession was organised in the evening culminated in a rally. The Open Session was inaugurated by Com.M.V.Govindan Master, Chief Editor, Deshabhimani, who spoke on the main task of the working class in the present situation. Other leaders also addressed.

Cultural programmes were organised in the late evening.

On the third day, the elections were held. Circle Office-bearers with Com. P.Manoharan and Com. Santhosh Kumar were unanimously elected as President and Circle Secretary respectively. Com.Bhagyalakshmi has been elected as the Convener, Mahila Committee.

A farewell to the outgoing  office-bearers on retirement was given. Coms.A.V.Kuriakose, Circle president, K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, S.Pratap Kumar, Treasurer, Girija Kumari, Vice-President, S.Manikantan Vice-President and P.S.Peethambaran, Vice-President were given a warm send off by the Conference. Com.K.Mohanan has been leading the Circle for  long twelve years to the appreciation of all comrades. Veteran leader Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan presided in the session and Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presented the leaders with shawls and books. Shri Kadannappally Ramachandran,  Minister for Ports, attended the session and spoke.

The conference ended in the evening of 3rd February with shouting of slogans. One more feather in the cap of the Kerala circle Union.

Congratulations to the organisers of the conference and the newly elected office-bearers!

 

 

BSNLCCWF calls for Protest Day on 7th February 2018

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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All India Protest Day on 7th February, 2018 to achieve the genuine demands of the Casual Contractual Workers.

It was decided in the last CEC meeting, that  BSNLCCWF will observe  All India Protest Day on 7th February, 2018 in all BSNL exchanges/offices throughout the country. We have finalised the Posters and Charter of Demands on which we can organise a week long campaign programme among the workers in the First week of February, 2018. You are therefore requested to print out the posters and charter of demands in local languages. Massive demonstration programme should be organised on that day in the office of the Local BSNL Administration. Hope you will do the needful to make the programmne a grand success. (Courtesy: BSNLCCWF website)