Telecom Factories – name them BSNL Factories

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At present there are seven telecom factories under BSNL. They are at Alipore, Gopalpur, Kharagpur (all in Kolkata/W.Bengal), Jabalpur,Richai, Bhilai(all in M.P.) and Mumbai.

The telecom factories were earlier called P and T Workshops. They were manufacturing  equipment, instruments etc. for the Telegraph, later P and T Department. There were a total of about 15,000 workers employed in these factories. Now it is reduced to less than half, due to retirement and non-recruitment. Recruitment should take place to fill up the vacancies. There is need to modernise and start production of latest equipment from these factories.

Nowthat  they are under BSNL, it should be appropriate to call them as BSNL Factories, instead of Telecom Factories.

Return all the stolen artifacts and antiques to India

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A report by PTI on the stolen artifacts and antiques of India in foreign countries is given below:

“New York, Mar 12  Two stolen Indian statues dating back to as early as the 8th Century and valued at over USD 4,50,000 were seized in the US from premier auction house Christie’s, just days before an auction next week.

The artifacts made from sandstone were recovered from the auction house following an international investigation with assistance from the Indian government and the Interpol.
Special agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office seized the statues here yesterday, believed to be from 8th and 10th centuries AD.
The seizure comes days before the March 15 ‘Asia Week New York’ festivities as part of which Christie’s had included the two artifacts in the auction entitled ‘The Lahiri Collection: Indian and Himalayan Art, Ancient and Modern’.
The artifacts are a Buff Sandstone Stele of Rishabhanata, believed to be from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh belonging to the 10th century AD. It depicts a stele carved with the first Jain Tirthankara and is valued at approximately USD 1,50,000.
The second artifact is a Buff Sandstone Panel depicting Revanta and His Entourage from India in the 8th Century AD, in a very rare representation of the equestrian deity and valued at approximately USD 300,000.” (PTI).
There are tens of thousands of such artifacts, statues, jewels, swords and other armaments etc. stolen or taken away by the British and other imperialists during their reign in India. Thieves have stolen such things  from temples etc. and sold to foreigners. These can be seen in the museums, royal houses etc. in abundance. These are the heritages of India and has to be returned to Indian Government. The Government of India should form a high level committee to find out all about these antiques and demand the concerned governments to hand over them to the Indian government. These are historical and national property and have to be returned to India.
Will the Government of India take immediate action ?

 

The unity of the executives and non-executives in BSNL

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The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Unions/Associations formed in 2005 was a new experiment to have joint programmes and actions of the total executives and non-executives for strengthening BSNL and settlement of common issues. Though name changed to Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, it is fulfilling the responsibilities and moving forward.

In this connection a question arises. Is it not possible to have unions/associations with both executives and non-executives. In DOT, there were separate  unions for Group C and Group D. In BSNL, these two are combined and there is  only non-executive unions. I feel it is time to think about merger of the executive and non-executive unions and to have only such combined unions of executive and non-executives. This will help the employees as also the company.

A discourse on this issue may be fruitful. Even if not immediately, it can be a long-term target.

Telecom Factory Mumbai workers will continue with BSNLEU

The massively attended meeting of BSNL employees held at Telecom Factory, Mumbai today, 15 March 2016 has assured the CHQ leadership that they will fully support BSNLEU in the VII membership verification and will get majority  in Telecom Factory, Mumbai and increase from last verification position.
Com.S.A.Tendulkar, Circle President presided and Com. S.D.Choudhary, Circle Secretary, TF Mumbai welcomed.  All the CHQ leaders present were received by garlanding and presenting shawls. Retired senior comrades were also fecilitated.
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, Animesh Mitra, Vice-President, Nagesh Nalwade, Circle Secretary Maharashtra,   Balachandra Mane, V.Parande and other leaders addressed. They spoke about the need  to provide better service to the people, the achivements made by BSNLEU, the immediate demands like wage revision, end to stag ation, Five years promotion, the issues of new recruitees, contract workers etc.
The issues of Telecom factories were also focussed.
The workers were fully convinced about the important role of BSNLEU and assured full support in the verification.
The meeting honoured retired senior comrades P.R.Shinde, S.M.Jadhdav and Y.S.Nagre.

Inspiring joint meeting at Mumbai on 14th March 2016

A joint meeting of the BSNL Employees Union and Contract and Labour Contract Union was held at CGM Offices premises, Santa  Cruz Mumbai. More than 1,000 workers participated, including a number of women workers. Before start of the meeting, a huge procession was held. The workers garlanded the statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Dr.B.R.Ambedkar before the commencement of the meeting. Coms. Appa Saheb Gagre and G.Mathpati, Circle presidents of the unions presided. Com. Balachandra mane, ACS, welcomed all. Coms. Wankhade, Nana Chauhan, Circle Secretary, Contract workers union, Nagesh Nalwade, Circle secretary, BSNLEU,  Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF, V.A.N.Namboodiri and other leaders addressed.  They spoke in detail about the demands of the regular employees and also contract workers. They called upon the workers to strengthen the organisations. The question of wage revision, payment of minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. were explained and prepared the workers for further struggle. The VII verification and the need to make it  grand success for BSNLEU were stressed.

Though the meeting continued till 03.00 PM, all the participants remained in the hall hearing the speeches. After the meeting the leaders met GM(HQ) and presented the demands of both the unions.

The joint meeting and the deliberations inspired the entire workers. They are prepared for sustained struggles to achieve the demands.

Karl Marx remembered

Today, 14th March 2016 is the 133th death anniversary of Karl Marx, the greatest ever philospher and co-author of Communist Manifesto. Marx was not only a philosopher and writer but also was an activist of what he preached.

I remember now my visits to the cemetary where he was cremated and where his memorial stands as also the Marx Memorial Library in London. His memory is always an inspiration.

Marx will ever be remembered for his contribution bt the working class.

BSNLEU Comrades should support the casual contract workers

The casual and contract workers in BSNL are in struggle through out the country for getting implemented the law of the land  with regard to minimum wage, EPF, ESI and other social security measures. Brutal exploitation is taking place. Agitating workers are being retrenched inhumanly.
It is the time to assist and support them. They are your co-workers and comrades and need your active help. Do not fail them.
Join the fight against injustice!

Soft gloves for the rich, powerful

Vijay Mallya, M.P. , liquor baron and ownner Kingfisher, with compalints against him, leaves the country unchallenged. Beedi baron, convicted criminal, Nisham, gets king’s treatment in Jail and dines at top hotel attended by police.
Money and power seems to be stronger than law and justice. Law tilts towards the rich and powerful. It should stop.

‘Judiciary faces credibility crisis’ stated Chief Justice T.S.Thakur yesterday, in another context, while inaugurating the 150th anniversary of Allahabad High Court. The same is applicable in the above instances also.

Upper and Lower

Railways always declares that senior citizens will be provided with lower berths as far as possible. But my experience is some what different. Although I always opt for Lower Berth when boooking, most of the times I get upper only. Today is not different. And in the train, I can see many lower berths allotted to youngsters while women and old people have to climb up. The railways should revisit their reservation system.