EPF under attack by Government

07 Monday Mar 2016

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Employees Provident Fund is under attack.Government is trying to take away the  hard earned money of the employees put in the EPF. This year’s Budget has proposed  to tax 60% of the EPF at the time of withdrawal after retirement. The right to withdraw the EPF fully, if you leave the job at any time, is also taken away. The EPF can be fully withdrawn only after you reach 60 years. The government has also been compelling the EPFO to put the savings in private mutual funds etc. to help the corporate  on the plea of getting more dividend.

It seems that the government want to hand over the huge funds at the disposal of the EPF to the private corporates for their benefit. This will be disastrous. Strong protest should erupt from the workers and their organisations. Government should be compelled to withdraw the enethical move to tax the EPF money.

It is also necessary that similar tax imposed on the NPS should be withdrawn.

Air India to post profit by 2016-17

07 Monday Mar 2016

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There is hope for Air India for better future. As per the revenue estimate put up by the board and the increase in traffic, it is pointed out that the airline may be profitable by 2016-17. The PSU has posted an operational profit of Rs. 8 crore in 2015-16 and the loss has come down from Rs. 5,859 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 2,636 in the current year.

It is learnt that large amount of airfare charges are to be paid by the government to the Air India during the last few years. The government should pay the same urgently to help the company.

Central Government resembling “Hitler’s Fascism Model” – Sitaram Yechuri

06 Sunday Mar 2016

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Mumbai, Mar 6 CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today said the present regime at the Centre would resemble “Hitler’s fascism model” if a parallel is drawn with history, even as he accused BJP and RSS of manufacturing the debate on nationalism to serve their agenda of “Hindu” rashtra.
“An aggressive nationalism debate has been manufactured by the BJP and RSS so that they can force their agenda on the nation. They want to convert a democratic, republic and a secular country into a Hindu rashtra,” he told reporters here.
The senior Left leader alleged that nationalistic feelings of people are being misused.
“If a parallel were to be drawn of the present government with history, the present regime resembles (Adolf) Hitler’s fascism model,” he said.
Yechury said the patriotism debate was manufactured for specific reasons as “the government is unable to handle the massive expectations people had. Also, people are grappling with financial stress of which the government can do nothing about”.
He alleged the government intends to let private banks take over their public sector counterparts who, as per conservative estimates, have lost around Rs 6 lakh crore due to non-payment of loans.
“There has been a 26 per cent rise in farmers’ suicides during two years of Modi’s rule. (Crude) oil rates have fallen drastically but consumers have not benefited. There is frustration among people. The government is scared that all this does not transform into an agitation and thus this nationalism debate is created,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said if Jawaharlal Nehru University is compared with its peers, “its contribution in IAS, IFS, IPS is large and people’s money is being used properly”.
“You will find a JNU product everywhere. So there is no wastage of taxpayers’ money. JNU students are also soldiers who are fighting for a better India,” he said referring to the criticism of the university and its students by the right-wing parties. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

 

Organise massive dharna on 10th March demanding 78.2% IDA Pension Fixation

05 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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The DOT and the central government is unnecessarily delaying grant of 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for pre-10-06-2013 and pre-2007 BSNL absorbed pensioners. The delay can not be justified at all. It is about three years since the 78.2% IDA was granted to the employees and to those retired after June 2013. But those retired before that date is yet to get the same.

The file is moving from desk to desk  in DOT without finalisation. Assurances are plenty that the file will be sent to Cabinet early, but every time some new problem or unnecessary question arises and the files continues to be in DOT.

This discrimination and injustice should end. The BSNL pensioners should be granted to the pre- June 2013 and pre-2007 pensioners.

AIBDPA has called for massive protest by Dharna on 10th March 2016 demanding 78.2% IDA Pension fixation. Participate in the programme fully by bringing all the pensioners to the dharna.

We shall fight! We shall win!  We shall not allow the government to cheat the pensioners of their hard earned right!

Reservation – Press Note by Government

05 Saturday Mar 2016

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RESERVATION IN PROMOTION 

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

02-March-2016 15:37 IST

Reservation in Promotion 

            The instructions issued by Department of Personnel & Training provide for reservation in promotion to persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in posts in the Central Government upto the lowest rung of Group ‘A’. These instructions are also being implemented by Central Public Sector Undertakings, wherever reservation in promotion is applicable.

            The Supreme Court in its judgment dated 19.10.2006 in the matter of M. Nagaraj & Others vs. Union of India and Ors., while upholding the validity of some of the Constitutional Amendments, observed that the concerned State will have to show in each case the existence of compelling reasons, namely, backwardness, inadequacy of representation and overall efficiency of administration before providing reservation in promotion. In order to provide impediment free reservation in promotion to SCs and STs, the Constitution (One Hundred and Seventeenth Amendment) Bill, 2012 was introduced in Rajya Sabha in September, 2012. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 17.12.2012 and transmitted to the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. The Bill could not be considered in the Lok Sabha and lapsed on the dissolution of 15th Lok Sabha. The issues emanating from the Supreme Court judgment in M. Nagaraj case are under examination.

  •  This was stated by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Kaushal Kishore in the Lok Sabha today.

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Withdraw the unjustified tax on PF withdrawal, Mr. FM

05 Saturday Mar 2016

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As pointed out earlier in this blog, there is no justification to tax the withdrawal from Provident Fund, the hard earned funds of the employees. It is inhuman and cruel to steal the funds from those retiring workers, who have deposited the same for utilising after their retirement.

Strong and wide protests have erupted from all sections of workers against this tax proposal. The Central trade Unions have strongly opposed. Most of the newspapers, in their editorials, have criticised the government move.

Accept the mistake Mr. Finance Minister and withdraw the unjustified tax proposal!

A revisit on Telecom Sector needed

05 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, General

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Telecom is one sector which had outgrown all other sectors during the last few decades. The private sector has outgrown the public sector companies in telecom due to the massive capital investment through FDI and loans from the banks. Another reason is the division of the Telecom services under the DOT in to many companies through corporatisation, like  BSNL,MTNL and VSNL. They  would have grown much more than the private telecom companies had the government has not continued its anti-PSU, anti BSNL-MTNL-VSNL policy. VSNL is privatised and is now Tata Telecommunications. More than 46% shares of MTNL have been sold.

In between, further division of BSNL has taken place by forming BBNL by bifurcation of the former. Move is afoot to form a Tower Company out of BSNL with the intention of privatising the same. Making all these PSUs in to loss is in preparation for privatisation.

This is a critical period. While through the initiative of the  BSNLEU, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations and the BSNL Management a gradual change for the revival of BSNL is taking place, such a move is yet to take place in MTNL.

It is in this context that the workers and their unions/associations have to revisit the entire strategy to strengthen the public sector telecom companies and providing an excellent service to the customers.  The following points needs consideration.

  1. What is the possibility of merging the telecom PSUs including BSNL, MTNL and BBNL as also C-DOT? What will be the impact of such a merger? What should be the criteria and conditions for such a merger, if the same is to be demanded.
  2. What is the pros and cons of such a merger?
  3. The employees in most of the private telecom companies are  not organised as far as the available information. Much exploitation is taking place. Is it not necessary to organise the workers in these companies? What is to be done in this matter? Why can’t the unions/associations in BSNL/MTNL take the initiative?
  4. Is there any possibilities of forming a composite union for both the executive and non-executive employees in these PSUs? The example of Unions in Nepal Telecom can be examined.
  5. Workers participation in Management is not only an idea. it is to be practiced. At least one post of Director in these PSUs should be granted to the recognised union/s.

Many such suggestions may come if a fruitful discussion take place in the matter. There is no doubt that a revisit is necessary for saving the telecom PSUs.

Why not one union for both executives and non executives?

04 Friday Mar 2016

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Presently there are separate unions/associations for executives and nonexecutives in the PSUs. This in reality is dividing the working class in to separate compartments.
This system should go. All the workers should be united.

Parliament March by Bank Contract Workers

04 Friday Mar 2016

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A massive Parliament March was organised jointly by the Bank Contractual and Contract Workers Union and Bank Employees federation of India on 3rd March 2016. Coms. Rana Mitra, Joydeb Dasgupta, Tridib Kumar Ghosh  and other leaders were in the dais. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF attended and addressed the March. He greeted the workers and shared his experiences in organising the contract workers, which was appreciated by the comrades. He supported and extended solidarity to the fighting Bank Contract Workers against victimisation and for their justified demands like Minimum wage etc.

Com.N.P.Padmanabhan, the Architect of Kerala P and T Movement

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes, P&T TU History

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Com.N.P.Padmanabhan, the Architect of Kerala P&T Movement

5th March 2016 is the 22nd death anniversary of Com. N.P.Padmanabhan, former Secretary, NFPTE and the Convener of the powerful Co-ordinating Committee of P and T Unions, Kerala, for a tumultuous period of more than 10 years. Meetings will be held in all centres in Kerala to pay homage to this great leader.
Com. Padmanabhan, who was respectfully called Pappettan, even by his elders, was a charismatic and revolutionary leader.

Com.Padmanabhan was born in 1926 in Eramala Pachayat in Badagara Taluk of Malabar district. Shri Gopala Kurup and Smt. Ammalu Amma were his parents. After passing matriculation he joined Brennen College, Tellicherry  and passed FA.

Padmanabhan was appointed as a Postal Clerk at Calicut in 1945. He became very active in the union without delay. Along with Coms.T.M.Janardhanan,  N.O.Anandan Master, P.Narayanan, K.Bhaskaran Nair and others, Com.N.P.Padmanabhan led the Central Government employees strike of 1960 July in the Malabar area which was part of the Madras P and T Circle. He was arrested from the Panoor Post Office, where he was employed at that time and was punished with 6 months rigorous imprisonment for participation in the strike.

In the Kerala P and T Circle union formation Conference held at Trivandrum in 1961, Com.N.P. was elected as Asst. Circle Secretary of Postal Class III Union and in 1966 Kollam Conference as the Circle Secretary. Next year at the Palakkad Conference, he was elected as the Convener of the Circle P and T Co-ordinating Committee.

Many militant struggles were organized by the Circle P&T Co-ordinating Committee under the leadership of Com. N.P.Padmanabhan. Local struggles were organized on the important issues of the workers. These included the ‘Food Agitation’, Strike against police verification, for regularization of EDA/RTP/Casual employees, against police atrocities, Kanjirappally and Baliapattam Telephones agitation etc. etc.
The Historical One Day Strike of 19th September 1968 for Minimum Wage and grant of Dearness Allowance according to cost of living index became a battle ground between the Central Government and Communist Government in Kerala. Central Government wanted all state governments to crush the strike of the Central Government employees with an iron fist using the drastic Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA). But Kerala Government led by Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad bluntly refused to implement the ESMA against the striking employees. Enraged, the Central Government was proposing to dismiss the state government. However, this did not happen. But the Indira Gandhi Government at Centre saw to that maximum victimisation was imposed on the employees of Kerala. Hundreds of criminal cases were filed, thousands of Rule-14 Charge Sheets issued, 290 workers terminated and hundreds of employees suspended. Even in 1960 strike, such victimisation did not take place.
The situation was tense. All the Circle and district leaders were either under suspension or termination. To face this brutal attack was not easy. The P and T Co-Ordinating Committee under the leadership of Com. N.P.Padmanabhan organised sustained and continuous struggles against victimisation. The union organized relief fund to pay salary to the terminated employees. It took about three years to take back all the terminated employees and to reinstate the suspended. During the entire period the terminated employees were given relief. Even if full salary could not be paid in the last few months, the relief continued till their reinstatement as per the judgment of the Kerala High Court. However Com. Padmanabhan who  was dismissed from service was not reinstated despite High Court order to that effect. It was only after the Janata Government came in the centre that he was reinstated.

The P and T House, the office of P and T Unions at Trivandrum, became the centre point of many unions to get advice and support for their struggles. It was a period of militant struggles.  Many such struggles including the strike of CRPF in Trivandrum which continued for months was fully supported and guided by Com. Pappettan and made it a success by getting most of the striking personnel reinstated.

There used to be a joke at that time that it is ‘Three Padmanabhans’ who controlled Trivandrum – Com.N.P.Padmanabhan, Convener of P and T Co-ordinating Committee, Com.E.Padmanabhan, General Secretary of the mighty Kerala N.G.O.Union and Shri Padmanabhan, the deity of the famous Padmanabhaswamy temple. The joke was an indication of the high influence that Com.Pappettan was having in Trivandrum.

N.P.Padmanabhan was a powerful speaker and mingled freely with everybody. His strategy to face the post-strike situation and victimization of large number of employees was appreciated by all.

Com. Pappettan was elected as the Secretary of  NFPTE in 1978 and shifted to New Delhi. He continued in that position till 1981.
As the Secretary of NFPTE, he, along with Coms.K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and other leaders continued the inner fight in the organization against the reformist policy of Com.O.P.Gupta, Secretary General NFPTE and inspired thousands of workers all over the country for adopting a progressive policy in the organization. His health started deteriorating due to the hard work and strain and went back home to Kannur in the late 1980s. He continued his activities from there.

On 5th March 1994, Com. N.P.Padmanabhan left us forever. He was ailing for some time. He is survived by his wife Smt. Sasikala, son M.C.Sathyraj (Retired from Postal Accounts) daughter M.C.Subhashini, employed in Department of Posts and married to Com. Janardhanan, who is working in BSNL. N.P.Balagopalan, brother of Pappettan worked in Deshabhimani paper during the 1940s.

In respectful memory of Com.Padmanabhan, the Conference Hall in P and T House, Trivandrum is named as “Com.N.P.Padmanabhan Hall.”
Since 1958, when I joined the P and T and got transfer to Cannanore(Kannur) from Kottayam, Com. Pappettan had been my leader and guide. It was under his indomitable leadership that we all went on in the Glorious  Five Days strike of 1960. I had the opportunity to work with him at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) during my tenure as Circle Secretary.
Com. Padmanabhan was a real leader in all respects. The entire P and T movement and especially Kerala comrades lost a revolutionary leader in his early death.

His body was cremated in the Payyambalam Beach, Kannur, where a memorial is constructed for him among the memorials of leaders of the working class like Coms. A.K.Gopalan, E.K.Nayanar and others. Whenever I get an opportunity to visit Kannur, I make it a point to visit the memorial and pay my respectful homage.

Red Salute to Com. N.P.Padmanabhan, the Revolutionary leader! His memory will always be with us.