Central Govt. to invest Rs. 15,000 crore in Panipat Refinery Ltd.- Why not in BSNL?

11 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNL

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Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stated that the government will invest Rs. 15,000 crores In Panipat Refinery to expand the capacity and to increase job opportunities.

Government is also investing funds in the PSU Banks in lieu of the loss due to the bad loans taken by the big corporates and business people, instead of taking firm actions to recover the lakhs of crores of rupees from them.

Well Indeed! But why the same government is not even allotting Rs.10,000 crores for the expansion, modernisation and increase of job opportunities to BSNL which is also a PSU, where competition is very high. Why it is not giving spectrum free to BSNL and MTNL, which do not have funds to purchase them, like the private companies, which have got huge funds or can raise money from bank loans (without paying them back).

The logic of the government is very clear. It wants to hand over the telecom PSUs, BSNL and MTNL to strategic partners, as was done in the case of VSNL, to facilitate the MNCs and corporate houses to garner huge profits from telecom business, which is one of the most profitable sector now. The security of the nation and such pleas which it raised objecting BSNL from purchasing equipment from China at cheap rates, was only a ploy to stop BSNL strengthening as can be seen by the fact that all the private companies are purchasing equipment from the Chinese companies. Privatisation of BSNL and MTNL is the prime objective of the government and it will adopt any tactics to implement it.

But they are missing one point. The two  lakhs and odd  workers in BSNL are determined to defeat the ignominious move of the government. They will make BSNL a shining example of service and improvement. They will certainly do it and bring BSNL to its past glory.

Gratuity to TSM/ Casual Labour and Contract Workers

10 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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As per government of India Orders and labour laws, TSM/Casual Labour and Contract Worker are eligible for payment of Gratuity. The issue was brought before the Parliament Standing Committee and the Management several times. After much persuasion, the Management Committee approved gratuity for TSM/Casual labours, but the BSNL Board is yet to approve the same. In this connection Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and Com.Animesh Mitra, Secretary General BSNLCCWF had met the Management and demanded for early discussion. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri met Shri N.Sivasailam, Additional Secretary DOT who is the DOT member in the BSNL Board and discussed the issue demanding for early decision. The issue is being pursued vigorously.

BSNL should pay bonus to contract workers

10 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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After much discussion and persuasion by BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF, orders have been issued for payment of bonus to regular employees and TSM/Casual labours on 07-10-2016. But no order has been issued for Bonus to contract workers engaged in BSNL. Contract workers are eligible for bonus as per labour laws. This has been brought to the notice of the BSNL Management several times.

We demand that BSNL management issue early orders for payment of bonus to the  contract workers also.

From the Past (32) – “Remain Indoor” Agitation by Bombay Postmen

09 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by in P&T TU History, VISIT THE PAST

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The coastal areas of Arabian Sea from Kerala to Bombay and north onwards used to get heavy rains. It is the same now also. In the recent years, it has become usual to have heavy floods in Bombay and the entire town under waters for one or more days.

I am going back to 1967, when the Bombay Postmen were compelled to go on “Remain Indoor” agitation to get umbrellas supplied for going out on duty during rainy season.

As per departmental rules, Postmen are supplied umbrellas. But before the rainy season in 1967, the department failed to supply the same. It was said that because of a typing mistake in the order, instead of 4750 umbrellas required only 475 were procured. The monsoon rains started in June and no umbrella for Postmen. There was a monsoon fury on 21st June 1967 and the Postmen remained indoors at Kalbadevi, Byculla etc. The Postmen Union demanded for the immediate supply of umbrellas, but the administration remained casual. The Union called for “Remain Indoor” agitation till umbrellas are supplied.

A massive demonstration was organised by the Postal workers on 27th June 1967 which went to the PMG and gave notice that the “Remain Indoor” agitation will start from next day. Nothing happened. On 28th, not a single Postman in Bombay went out for duty, but  remained inside the Post Offices. The administration arose from its slumber. By evening all the Postmen were provided with umbrellas and the agitation came to an end with a big victory. The local agitation was fully successful.

Such local agitations were organised in many places for getting rules implemented and benefits extended. It was part of the policy of NFPTE to compel the administration to get favourable orders implemented at local levels. The struggles brought out many active young comrades to the fore.

From the Past (30) – Tools Down Strike in CTX Delhi against molestation of lady T.O.

09 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by in P&T TU History

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The incident happened at 19.45 hours on Sunday, 5th March 1967, almost 50 years back. The place : In front of Central Telephone Exchange, New Delhi.  A young lady telephone operator on her way to duty was molested and  bitten on cheek by a miscreant. She ran down to the telephone exchange weeping and completely shattered.

The shocked, angered and agitated lady telephone staff (  Delhi Exchange was a feminised one) spontaneously  went on tool-down-strike. As at the wave of a hand, the trunk boards were unplugged, the headgear sets removed and the entire trunk and international telephone services were at a complete stand still. The hundreds of lady telephone operators reacted with all their anger at the insult, molestation and humiliation of their co-worker.

This was not the first such incident. The way from the Connaught Place to the exchange was usually dim-lighted. There was a taxi stand in front of the telephone exchange and teasing of the lady telephone operators coming and going before and after their shift duty hours was not uncommon. Protests by the workers were unheeded by the administration and police. The above incident was the breaking point.

General Secretary of the union Com. O.P.Gupta and other leaders rushed to the spot. The workers demanded that unless the taxi stand is removed from there, more security and transport facilities are provided to the lady staff from the Connaught place to the exchange, the tools-down strike will continue. Negotiation took place with the top officers of the department and the police.

Th strike went on for hours. At last the tools-down strike was called off after the demands were conceded. It was assured that transport  will be arranged temporarily which will be made permanent and that the taxi-stand will be shifted from the place. Once the demands were accepted, the workers returned to their duty.

Hard working conditions, shift duties, heavy work-load, lack of minimum facilities – the workers used to be at the limit of their patience and many such spontaneous struggles took place to defend their right to work and to save their honour.

The P&T Workers have a glorious past of unity and struggles.

 

CG Employees – Existing Advances Abolished

08 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in CG Employees, Uncategorized

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Central Government has issued orders abolishing many advances. These are the allowances abolished.

  1. Bicycle Advance
  2. Warm Clothing Advance
  3. Festival Advance
  4. Natural Calamity Advance
  5. Leave Salary Advance
  6. Law Suits Advance

There was not even a discussion with the Central Government unions. Arbitrary decisions will be resisted by the CG Employees.

Confederation call – Prepare for Strike!

08 Saturday Oct 2016

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Confederation of Central Government employees and workers calls upon the workers to be prepared for strike against anti-worker actions of the Government.

“ANOTHER BLOW TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

· Festival Advance abolished.
· More stringent conditions for MACP imposed and promotional scale hierarchy rejected.
· No High Level Committee as assured by Cabinet Ministers.

REAL FACE OF BJP GOVERNMENT IS OUT

GET READY FOR STRIKE.

MAKE THE CONFEDERATION PARLIAMENT MARCH ON 15TH DECEMBER 2016
A HISTORIC SUCCESS

COME ONE ! COME ALL !! COME IN HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS !!!

CHALO DELHI……. CHALO PARLIAMENT”

Allot Spectrum free and implement assurances given to BSNL – Letter to Minister Communications

08 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Forum

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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor AIBDPA and Founder Convener of the JAC/Joint Forum/ Forum addressed the following letter to Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of state for Communications, requesting allotment of free spectrum to BSNL and also asking to implement the assurances given at the time of formation of BSNL.

AIBDPA/DOT-MIN/2016                                                                                                                                             October 07, 2016

To

Shri Manoj Sinha,                                            

Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications,                                                                                      

Sanchar Bhawan, 

20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub: Assistance to BSNL – reg

You are fully aware that BSNL is struggling to improve it’s finances, provide a better service to the customers and restore it’s past glory.

After 4 years of loss, it has posted operational profit in 2014-15 as also in 2015-16 and is expected to be profitable by 2017-18. The programmes implemented and continued to be implemented like “Customer Delight Year”, “Service With A Smile” etc. as also the beneficial packages for the customers, BSNL will improve it’s position, financially as well as providing service.

The main issue for BSNL is the scarcity of funds. For the last six months or so, BSNL has been providing maximum number of mobile connection, say 20 lakh or more and still continues to be the leader. It sufficient funds are made available, there will be much more progress.

It was not that BSNL was not having funds. The Rs. 40,000 crore surplus fund was mostly taken for spectrum charges to the extent of Rs.18,500 crores, refund of an imaginary loan of Rs.7,500 crore at high interest rate etc.

BSNL was assured financial assistance at the time of it’s formation, like ADC, refund of licence fee and liberal assistances from USOF for providing loss making services in villages and remote areas for implementation of the universal connectivity policy of the government. All these, except USOF support, are arbitrarily discontinued putting BSNL in a fix.

Now that the spectrum auction is over and the government have received about Rs.66,000 crore from the same, it is our request that a portion of the same, say about Rs.10,000 crore be given to BSNL as assistance or as refundable loan without interest. This will help BSNL in a big way for recovery. As promised earlier, either the licence fee for BSNL be waived or refunded. It is also requested that the government honour it’s assurances and commitment made at the time of formation of BSNL, on which 3.5 lakh workers got absorbed themselves in the PSU.

As a representative of the DoT & BSNL Pensioners Organisation, I may submit that many of our issues are also connected with the future of BSNL.
Expecting favourable decision

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully

V.A.N. Namboodiri

Advisor, AIBDPA

(former Convener of Forum of

BSNL Unions and Associations

Global Life Expectancy is 72 years

08 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in General

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It is good news! The life expectancy globally has increased from 62 years in 1980 to 72 years in 2015. This is as per the report of a United Nations Committee.

I remember that while I was studying in 1940s, it was told that the life expectancy in India was 30 years or so. It was mainly due to the large percentage of child death at the time of delivery.

India has also vastly  improved the life expectancy since then. But much more is to be done.