As per reported statistics India lost 1,54,732 valuable lives in 2019 alone, in 4,37,396 rod accidents. During Covid period this was comparatively less. Now that restrictions are being removed, accidents have started increasing. The maximum victims are two wheeler riders, either through their direct accidents or through cars, buses, heavy vehicles hitting them. A most condemnable part is the role of those vehicle drivers who speed away, without stopping and helping the victims, well knowing that the accidents were due to their mistakes.
Neither the central government nor the state government seems to take serious note of these accidents and deaths even though their number is increasing every year. It is also a fact that the people themselves are much worried on the spot, but forget all the trauma in a short time.
The Central – State governments has to enforce the traffic rules strictly, roads should be improved, public should be enlightened how to avoid accidents etc. Will it happen in India in the recent future ?
COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON23-24 FEBRUARY, 2022 Call of the NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS held on 11TH November 2021, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
6th December, 2021, New Delhi:
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent sectoral All India Federations and Associations met in Delhi on 3rd December, 2021 and finalized the dates for the Countrywide 2-days’ General Strike, on 23-24 February 2022 during the budget session of the Parliament as announced by the National Convention of Workers held on 11th November 2021 at New Delhi, against the anti-people, anti-worker and anti-national destructive policies of the BJP Govt. at the centre.
The main slogan of the strike will be SAVE THE PEOPLE AND SAVE THE NATION.
It was decided to hold joint preparatory public meetings in co-ordination with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leadership, especially in the states that are to go to polls in the beginning of 2022, to strengthen the call of “Mission UP”, “Mission Uttarakhand” given by the SKM. The Joint Platform of Trade Unions & Federations reiterated its continued proactive support to the programmes and struggles decided by SKM, following repeal of the Farm Laws.
The State Units of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations will carry out intensive campaign jointly through various forms – such as state conventions, human chains, torchlight processions, signature campaigns, sectoral and area-based joint campaign and agitation etc- to expose the consequences of the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti–people, pro-corporate and anti-national destructive policies by the Govt. of India which have brought the lives and livelihood of the entire people and also the country’s economy to the brink of disaster. Already many struggles and agitations are going on in many sectors on the same issues at the initiative of the constituents of Joint Platform. The Joint Platform also welcomes and supports the decision of two days countrywide strike in Banks on 16-17 December 2021 as decided by United Forum of Bank Unions and also the strike decision by Electricity Employees’ joint forum on 1st February 2022-all against privatization move and retrograde legislative move in that direction. Our United Struggle is not only to save the rights and lives/livelihood of people but also save the country’s economy and the entire democratic system and the society as a whole from disaster and destruction being engineered by the authoritarian forces in governance with the active support of private corporate, both domestic and foreign and decisively defeat the disastrous policy regime and their political operators in governance.
The farmers’ movement has snatched a historic victory by forcing the arrogant Modi govt. to repeal the 3 farm laws. Now the cross sections of the Working People must heighten their united intervention further to demand a halt to this process of assault on lives and livelihood, employment, alarming intensity of impoverishment and hunger, assault on democracy and also unity of the people and thereby save our dear nation from disaster.
We have to demand from all political parties of the nation to incorporate “protection of right to work, living wage, free quality health-care and education-facility to all citizens and all legitimate constitutional rights” as a firm commitment in their political manifestos for the coming assembly elections in 2022 and for the elections scheduled for 2024 and take oath publicly to fulfill their assurances and to support the demands of workers, farmers and all people of the country if they come to power.
The recent repeal of 3 Farm Laws and marginal reduction in central taxes on petrol/diesel in the face of determined long-drawn united struggles by the farmers along with countrywide solidarity actions by the working people and people at large demonstrating rising popular anger and unrest, is also a reflection cum reaction under compulsion of the debacle faced by the ruling party in the centre in the recent by-elections. And therefore, intensification of the united struggle in continuity determined to combat and defeat the anti-people policies and the regime is the way before us. Let that determination be demonstrated in the forthcoming countrywide two days’ general strike.
We have to heighten our united struggle resolutely pressing for our demands, particularly for
Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA (Essential Defence Services Act)
Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha,
No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all
Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme
Along with other demands already formulated and being pressed for and pursued by the Joint Platform of CTUs and Federations/Associations.
Forward to the 2-days countrywide General Strikes on 23-24 February 2022
The Central Trade Unions organised a National Convention of Workers at Jantar Mantar on 11th November, 2021. The Convention deliberated in detail about the pro-corporate, anti-people, anti-worker and anti-kisan policies of the Modi government. The Convention unanimously resolved to organise a two day General Strike in the budget session of the Parliament, opposing the wrong policies of the government and demanding settlement of the 12 point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions. Thereafter, the Central Trade Unions have discussed and finalised the date of the General Strike. Yesterday, the Central Trade Unions have issued a statement, announcing that the two day General Strike would take place on 23rd & 24th February, 2022.
Charter of demands
Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA.
Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all.
Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme.
It was on 17th December,1982,the constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice Y V Chandrachud delivered the historic judgment in the case filed by Shri.D.S.Nakara. The judgment being called as the Magna Carta of the pensioners declared in unequivocal terms that pension is not a bounty but a right of the pensioners and pensioners cannot be discriminated on the basis of date of retirement.
It is also a fact that the pensioners in the country started organising themselves after this important judgment and fought against many injustices and won many a battles. But the government continues the attacks on the genuine rights of the pensioners and the PFRDA Act is the real challenge to the entire pension community. Attempts are also being reported to curtail the pension and to hand over the the pension fund to the private entities.
As far as BSNL and DoT pensioners are concerned many of the just demands, including pension revision, are still to be settled due to the negative stand of the government. So let us affirm to continue our fight against all injustices being meted out to the pensioners and the onslaught against the people.
Let us also remember the great man, D S Nakara for his heroic and relentless fight and observe the National Pensioners Day in a befitting manner. (AIBDPA Website)
The Central Government is paying only Rs. 200 as old age pension to the senior citizens ie. those who are above 60 years and are not having any income. No increase of the pension amount since it started about 10 years back.
Senior Citizens Friend Welfare Association, Kerala has demanded that the Old Age pension should be increased to Rs. 5,000 so that they will be able to manage their daily life.
Women above 58 years of age and men above 60 years of age were getting 50% and 40% concessions respectively in train ticket charges. This was withdrawn in 2020 during the Covid period on the plea that senior citizens are not expected to travel during Covid period. Now trains have started running. Senior citizens will have to travel for medical treatment, visiting their children working in other places etc as also visiting tourist places.
The Central Government should immediately restore the concession in train charges for senior citizens. Do not ignore the senior citizens.
BSNLEU CHQ has decided that the next All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union, the majority Recognised Union in BSNL, will be held at Guwahati from7th to 10th March 2022. The earlier AICs were held at Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Guwahati, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Chennai and Mysuru respectively.
Is nonpayment of salary to BSNL employees in time and non-payment of medical bills and reimbursement to pensioners deliberate on the part of Govt and BSNL Management? It seems so.
It is estimated that Govt / DOT is due to pay Rs.39,000 crore to BSNL on various counts including refund of payment for WIMAX & CDMA Spectrum, refund of leave encashment, compensation for BSNL for loss incurred for providing rural telephones and various other services rendered. Govt is not in short of funds. If the same is paid to BSNL, the claims of staff can be easily paid.
In not paying the dues to BSNL, govt is deliberately creating unrest among the employees and pensioners. It is not understood whether strong pressure is made by BSNL management or is it sitting idle and submissive waiting for kindness from govt. AUAB, BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF have strongly protested and demanded for early payment of salary, medical bills/medical allowance and wages to contract workers. The DOT and BSNL Management should act without delay.
When state PSUs are in financial difficulty, Kerala LDF Govt supports, grant financial assistance and take necessary action for their revival.
When PSUs are unable to pay pension to its retirees, Kerala LDF government gives assistance for payment of the same.
When central govt wants to disinvest / sell its PSU in the state, Kerala govt offers to take it over. Gradually it is made viable and workable.
While almost all of the state PSUs were made loss making by corrution and inefficient management under UDF rule, the LDF in Kerala during the last five years have strengthened and made almost all of them profitable.
This is the difference between BJP / UDF governments and Left governments. The Left always safeguard the interests of the people and the PSUs, asset of the people.
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