Bandh and Massive Protest Demonstration in Bhopal by Left Parties

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Corruption, General, Neo-liberal policy

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subh_150716034233605A Massive Protest demonstration was organised by the CPI(M), CPI and other Left Parties in Bhopal today, demanding impartial inquiry in to VYAPAM SCAM and resignation of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The demonstration was led by Com. Subhashini Ali, PB Member of CPI(M) and other leaders. A Bandh was also organised in the state.

The continued exposures of the BJP Ministers and leaders in the Vyapam Scam compelled the state government to refer the matter to the CBI, but the CM who allegedly tried to cover up the scam still continues in the CM position.

400 Railway Stations to be modernised/developed with private participation

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in CG Employees, Disinvestment, General, Neo-liberal policy

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The NDA Government has decided to develop and modernise 400 Railway Stations with private participation. Railway stations in the Metros, big cities and pilgrimage centres will be the priority. For this purpose, the stations will be categorised as A and A1.

This private participation is the first step for privatisation of the Indian railways, the biggest service/industry in the country. AIRF, the major Federation of employees in Railways had organised strong demonstration on 30th June against the privatisation move of the government. CITU and other central trade unions had also protested. BSNL Employees Union organised solidarity demonstration on 30th June.

Strong and massive protests should arise against the railway privatisation move of the government.

Protest against Austerity Measures in Greece

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

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The following report from Athens, Greece indicates that the people are not happy with the bailout plan signed between Greece and Eurozone and there are strong protests from the party of the Prime Minister itself. The situation seems to be grim. It has to be seen how the Tsipras Government is going to face the revolt within its own party.

“Athens, Jul 15 Anti-austerity protesters hurled petrol bombs at police guarding the Greek parliament today as MPs debated deeply unpopular reforms they need to vote in to clear the way for a eurozone rescue of Greece’s failing economy.

Riot police used tear gas to push back dozens of hooded protesters and secure the area in front of the parliament building after the demonstrators’ Molotov cocktails set ablaze parts of Syntagma square in central Athens.

The street violence reflected broad public anger at measures now backed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras despite a July 5 referendum rejecting near-identical terms from Greece’s creditors.

Tsipras is facing a revolt over the reforms from his radical left ruling Syriza party, which came to power in January on anti-austerity promises (AFP)”

 

At last, long awaited funds from DOT may be released

16 Thursday Jul 2015

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The sustained efforts of the Forum as also the 2 days strike by the BSNL employees on 21-22 April 2015 are showing results. The Secretary, DOT in its meeting with the Forum on 16th July has assured that the Rs. 1,250 crores allotted for 2012-13 will be paid after the Cabinet approves the same. In the same way the balance of the BWA spectrum refund is also on the anvil.

With the Save BSNL Campaign by the BSNL employees along with the new schemes started by BSNL Management and also the funds coming from DOT, it is a golden opportunity to ensure that BSNL bounces back to efficiency and profit.

An all out effort is required by the government, the DOT, BSNL and the employees for reviving this stellar PSU to its formal glory. BSNL Employees led by Forum should take the lead.

 

Meeting with Secretary DOT by the Forum on 16-07-2015

16 Thursday Jul 2015

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

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Meeting with Sri Rakesh Garg, Secretary DoT on 16.07.2015: Core committee members of the Forum met Secrtary DoT and had a review meeting of the issues raised in the agitation notice and the discussions held on 01.05.2015.

On payment of USO subsidy, Secretary informed that Telecom Commission in the last meeting approved the proposal of payment of Rs 1250 recommended by TRAI for 2012-13. Now the proposal will go to the cabinet for effecting the payment. We thanked him for the settlement of this issue as assured to us.

BWA spectrum refund: The proposal of refund of Rs 830 Crores for which budget allocation received from Finance Ministry is under process for reimbursement to BSNL. By this all the payments upto 2013-14 will be completed and the total reimbursement will be Rs 930 Cr including the earlier payment of Rs 100 Cr. BSNL didn’t paid licence fee etc due for 2014-15 which comes around Rs 2200 Crores.

Proposed merger of BSNL and MTNL, media news: Secretary informed that Govt not taken any decision in this regard and in case Govt takes a decision for merger, the concerns raised by the employees will be addressed and no decision will be taken which is harmful to BSNL or MTNL.

78.2% benefit to Pensioners: On this matter, Secretary immediately spoken to Member(Fin) and directed to send DO letter to concerned Secretaries under the signature of Secretary, DoT.

Reimbursement of salary etc from TERM Cell etc: Secretary informed that it is under process.

On the proposal of referring pension revision to next PRC, meeting with Member(Services) will be held on Monday. (SNEA Website).

 

 

 

Indian Railways buy oil from Reliance.

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in General, Neo-liberal policy

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Indian Railways, the biggest industry/service in the country, will not buy oil from the biggest corporate in India. This is part of the gradual privatisation/ private entry of the railways. Till now, Railways was purchasing oil from the PSUs only. BJP government is repaying the corporates for the support and election funds given by them. The press report in this connection is given below:

“NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries Ltd, controlled by India’s richest man, has started selling diesel to the state railways for the first time since 2005/06 after pricing of the fuel was freed, a company source said on Wednesday.

Indian Railways, the country’s biggest diesel guzzler, consumes up to 2.5 million tonnes of the fuel each year. Until last year, it received supplies from state refiners who used to be compensated for selling fuel at below-market rates.”

Central Pensioners’ Convention at Hyderabad on 31st July 2015

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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The Central Pensioners’ All India Convention called by the National Co-Ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (*NCCPA) will be held Sundrayya Vigyan Kendra, Hyderabad on 31st July 2015. Notice for the same has been issued by NCCPA CHQ. The Convention will discuss the issues of the Central Pensioners and take suitable decisions. From AIBDPA, General secretary Com. K.G.Jayaraj and other leaders will participate.

 

78.2% IDA pension fixation – Latest position

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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It is understood from the DOT that most of the Departments have communicated their comments to the DOT on the 78.2% IDA Pension fixation. As soon as the approval from the DPE is also received, the Cabinet note will be submitted to the Cabinet.

AIBDPA is continuously pursuing the case.

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 ( 29 )

16 Thursday Jul 2015

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

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Memorandum to the  Communications Minister

In the general elections, UPA was  defeated and the NDA government was formed with Shri Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad is the new Communications & IT Minister. Immediately on taking over charge, he stated that revival of BSNL and MTNL is his priority. He criticized the earlier government for not attending to the requirement of these two PSUs.

In these circumstances, the Forum in its meeting on 22-05-2014 took the decision to submit a Memorandum to the Communications Minister.

The Memorandum dated 26-05-2014 with the following demands was submitted to the Communications Minister .

  1. Honouring of Assurances given to BSNL at the time of Corporatisation
  2. Providing Financial Assistance to BSNL
  3. Refund of Spectrum charges paid by BSNL to government
  4. Formation of new / subsidiary companies disintegrating BSNL to be stopped.
  5. Filling up of directors of BSNL Board
  6. Pension Contribution on the basis of actual pay instead of the maximum of the payscale.
  7. BSNL/MTNL Services to be made mandatory for Central/State/PSU establishments
  8. Absorption of ITS officers
  9. 78.2% IDA Merger for BSNL Pensioners

The Memorandum was signed by Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), Islam Ahamed(NFTE), Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA), R.P.Sharma(BSNLOA), Sunil Gautam(SNATTA), R.K.Ram(BTU), Gajendra Kumar(BTEU), R.K.Kohli (NFTBE), P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU) Jayaprakash (FNTO) and K.Sebastin (SNEA(I).

Passive Infrastructure Agreement between BSNL and Reliance

When it came to the notice of the Forum that an agreement has been made between BSNL and Reliance for passive infrastructure of the BSNL towers, it held a meeting immediately on 18-07-2014 and discussed the issue. The Forum decided to demand the management to immediately provide it with all details of the agreement, after which the Forum will discuss again.

M/s Deloitte Committee Recommendations opposed

In the meanwhile  M/s Deloittee Consultants, which was engaged by the BSNL Management gave its recommendations with regard to the financial viability and revival of BSNL. There was no discussion or consultation with the unions/associations. The recommendations including VRS, combing SSAs, reducing the sanction of staff etc. were completely against the interest of BSNL as well as its workers. The meeting of the Forum held on 04-08-2014 strongly opposed the recommendations and decided to organize agitational programmes for rejecting the same.

  1. Protest demonstrations on 12th August 2014 at Corporate office/Circle/SSAs.
  2. A Press statement to be issued against the retrograde recommendations of Deloitte Consultants
  3. Meet the Communications Minister on this issue.

The demonstrations in Delhi was held on 21st August  2014 so as to adjust with the meeting of the Heads of BSNL Circles at that day at Corporate Office. All the programmes were successfully organized. But however, no meeting with the minister could be arranged. (To be continued)