PARLIAMENT MARCH ON 25TH FEBRUARY 2015 BY BSNL EMPLOYEES

PARLIAMENT MARCH  ON 25TH FEBRUARY 2015 BY BSNL EMPLOYEES

More than five thousand  BSNL Employees participated in the Parliament March held on 25th February 2015, by the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations demanding Revival of BSNL and for a better service to the people. In addition to the employees a large number of BSNL-DOT Pensioners joined the March as per the call of the AIBDPA. Casual Contract workers also participated in large numbers. The March started from the Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Corporate Office of BSNL at Janpath at 11.00AM. Under the banner of the Forum, the workers marched to the Parliament and held a rally at Jantar Mantar where they were stopped by the police.

The rally was presided over by  Com. C.Singh, GS NFTE, Chairman of the Forum and Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener  explained the demands contained in the memorandum to the Prime Minister, which was got signed by   lakhs of people demanding the revival of BSNL, which is in loss for the last few years due to the anti-PSU policy of the government and non-procurement of equipments. Coms.Tapan Sen, M.P., General Secretary CITU , Dr. Dharam Vira, M.P., Vrijesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, BMS, Amarjit Kaur, Secretary AITUC, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary General AIRF& Secretary JCM Staff Side and leaders of the BSNL Unions viz. Com.P.Abhimanyu (BSNLEU), K.Sebastin(SNEA), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Jayaprakash (FNTO), R.C.Pandey (BTEU), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), N.D.Ram(SEWA BSNL), Sunil Gautam (SNATTA), R.P.Sahu (AIGETOA)Ram Kishun Ram (BTU), Hari Singh (BTU) addressed the rally and extended all support to the Save BSNL Campaign.

The leaders of the Forum later submitted to the Memorandum to the Prime Minister  along with the signatures collected from the people all over the country.

BSNL workers have decided to go on Indefinite Strike from 17th March on the same demands.

Prepare for the Historic Parliament March by BSNL Employees

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The massive Parliament March by BSNL Employees demanding immediate steps for Revival of BSNL will take place tomorrow, 25th February 2015. Hundreds of comrades from distant places have already reached New Delhi. They have brought many big bundles of  Memorandum to Prime Minister signed by lakhs of people in their area.

The March will start from the BSNL Corporate Office premises at 10.30 hours and will proceed to the Parliament. If the police stop the same on the way, the meeting will be held there itself. Many MPs and TU leaders have agreed to come and address the Rally.

All participating comrades are requested to reach Corporate office in time to participate in the March. Strict discipline should be maintained in the march and the rally. Comrades should leave the venue only after the rally is over.

Let us make the programme a memorable one.

Land Acquisition Bill to be placed in Parliament on 24th February

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It is reported that ‘In an aggressive move, the Modi government plans to introduce in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, the Land acquisition amendment bill 2015, which seeks approval of Parliament for changes brought in the law through an ordinance or emergency executive order’ (NDTV).

This move is against the interests of thousands of farmers, whose land will be acquired with out their permission for industry purpose. There are strong opposition from all sides. Anna Hazare has decided to start Hunger Strike on the issue.

This anti-farmer move should be strongly opposed and defeated.

Life Certificate for pensioners -Physical presence not necessary

CONSIDERING THE LONG STANDING DEMAND OF PENSIONERS ORGANISATIONS,THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE, MINISTRY OF FINANANCE HAS ISSUED ORDERS EXEMPTING PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF PENSIONERS AT THE DISBURSING BANK BRANCH FOR SUBMITTING LIFE CERTIFICATE

78.2% IDA Fixation – AIBDPA meets DOT Officers.

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Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA has met Shri. V. Umasankar, Joint Secretary, DOT, Ms. Annie Moreas, Member, ( FINANCE) and Shri. Rakessh  Agarwal, Member (Services) on 23rd February, 2015 and seriously discussed the undue delay in settling the issue of merger of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners. The Member (FINANCE) told that the file has been sent back to Establishment section with directive to include certain additional points in the draft cabinet note and resubmit. The Member (Services) has confirmed the receipt of the file and suitable instructions are given to DDG (Establishment) for early redrafting of the cabinet note. The Joint Secretary was in full sympathy for early settlement of the issue and promised to do what ever is required at his end.

However, the fact remains, that after redrafting the cabinet note ,it has to be submitted to all the higher-ups in DOT,including the Secretary for final approval. Then it has to go to the nodal departments for vetting and after getting it back will be submitted to the Minister for Communications for cabinet approval.

Meeting of Forum on 23-02-2015

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Meeting of Forum on 23rd February 2015

A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations was held on 23rd February 2015 at BSNLMS office New Delhi. Com.C.Singh, Chairman, Forum presided. Comrades P.Abhimanyu, Swapan Chakraborty (BSNLEU), Suresh Kumar, Tomar (BSNLMS), K.K.Singh (NFTE), N.D.Ram(SEWA BSNL), R.K.Ram(BTU BSNL), K.Sebastin(SNEA), K.Jayaprakash, Mohinder Singh(FNTO) and  Sunil Gautam(SNATTA) attended.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, welcomed all and reported about the preparations already made for the Parliament March on 25th February 2015. Circle Conventions have been successfully conducted in about 15 circles with good participation. Memorandum to Prime Minister with lakhs of signatures has been received from some circles, and more bundles will be received on the day of Parliament March. TU leaders and M.P.s of various political parties have been invited to address. Other arrangements are also made. The details of the same have to be finalised in this meeting. We have to make the programme a big success.

All the members participated in the discussion. The following decisions were taken in the meeting:

  1. The question of admitting of new unions/associations to the Forum was discussed. It was decided that whichever union applies for admission to the Forum will be admitted. The admission of Casual & Contract Workers Federation is postponed for the next meeting.
  2. The arrangements for the Parliament March was finalised after detailed discussion. The March will start from 11.00 AM from Corporate Office. Complete discipline should be maintained in the procession as well as in the rally. In addition to the invited guests like MPs and TU leaders, the General Secretaries will address in the stipulated time. The received copies of Memorandum will be submitted to the Prime Minister. However, the Signature Campaign will continue till 31st March 2015. Serious preparation for the strike should continue.
  3. It was decided to hold a joint Circle Working Committee meeting of all the unions of Gujarat at Ahmedabad for preparation of strike. The date will be fixed later.
  4. The next meeting of the Forum will be held at 11.00 AM on 27th February 2015.

 

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Convener, Forum.

Corporates demand Disinvestment of BSNL, LIC, Air India

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The aggressive disinvestment policy of Modi Government has encouraged the corporates to demand disinvestment of further PSUs. Deepak Parekh, Chairman HDFC and top industrialist has demanded that BSNL, Air India and LIC be disinvested, as per a report in the TOI. He has also mentioned that despite some committees appointed by the government, in which he was a member, had recommended disinvestment of BSNL, due to strong opposition from the unions, it could not be implemented. Now, he wants the disinvestment of these PSUs, which according to him will get lakhs of crores of rupees for the government.

BSNL, LIC, Air India etc. are some of the biggest and flagships of the PSUs. This new attack by the industry is calculated. The unprecedented growth of LIC, the recovery being made by both Air India and BSNL through concerted united efforts of the workers did not go well with the corporates, who want them to slow down which will enable them either to take over or  closure.

The Danger is real. The workers in these PSUs have to immediately start fighting back these offensive against PSUs. BSNL workers are already in a serious campaign of SAVE BSNL, SAVE NATION.

We can not allow these PSUs to be destroyed. We shall fight back and defend them to survive and grow.

BSNL’s Roaming Agreement with Airtel.

Telecom operators Airtel and BSNL are likely to sign a pan-India roaming pact within a month to strengthen their 2G mobile services in areas where either of them has a weak or negligible presence.

“We are soon going to sign a pan-India intra-circle roaming agreement with Airtel with a focus to strengthen coverage in rural areas. Commercials are being worked out. This is most likely to be signed within a month,” BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava told PTI.

When contacted, Airtel did not comment on the matter.

Shrivastava said the deal is part of the BSNL strategy to spend carefully on building infrastructure and use sharing rules to bring down operational costs besides providing a good network to consumers.

“We have made ‘co-opetition’ (co-operative competition) one of the key strategies. Under this we are looking at opportunities where we can co-operate with other players to expand our business,” he said.

BSNL has invested about Rs 4,000 crore in the latest network expansion (phase 7). It is expected to be completed by June 2015.

Airtel claims its mobile network with 1,42,898 base stations covers an area of 87 per cent of India’s population.

BSNL’s mobile network covers an area of 72 per cent of the country’s population, which will further increase after completion of the phase 7 network expansion.

The State-run telecom firm will have 1,10,000 base stations after June this year.

Left Parties call for a countrywide protest against the killing of Com. Govind Pansare

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The Let Parties have issued the following statement:

We strongly condemn the murderous attacks on veteran Communist leader Com. Govind Pansare and his wife Uma Pansare in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on 16th February 2015.  Com. Govind Pansare finally succumbed to the grave injuries and died on 20th February 2015 at Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

Com. Pansare was a prominent communist theoretician and fighter who always led people’s struggles for the exploited and socially oppressed people from the frontline. The killing of Com. Pansare reminds one and all of the killing of Dr Narendra Dabaholkar in 2013 in Pune.  Despite widespread condemnation, the Maharashtra government failed to arrest so far the killers, suspected to be communal and reactionary elements. It shows utter inaction of the state government.

The lethal attack on Comrades Govind Pansare and Uma Pansare reflects the growing intolerance of the divisive communal forces against freedom of expression. We appeal to all left and democratic forces to rise against such onslaughts and defeat such inhuman and anti-democratic moves.

We urge the government of Maharashtra to take effective action and arrest the criminals who carried out such a dastardly attack on a senior communist leader. We call upon our respective party units to organise protests all over the country.

S. Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary 

Communist Party of India

Sitaram Yechury, Politi Bureau Member

Communist Party of India (Marxist) 

Debabrat Biswas, General Secretary 

All India Forward Bloc

Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary

Communist Party of India ML- Liberation

Abani Roy, Secretariat Member

Revolutionary Socialist Party  

Provash Ghosh, General Secretary

(Socialist Unity Centre of India Communist)

S.S. Bhusari, Office Secretary.