Gold-smuggling reach 3,000 kg in a month – FM

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The Finance Minister P.Chidambaram has stated today, 28th January, that the gold-smuggling has reached about 3,000 kg per month. This is an admission of the inability of the government to check this unauthorised and illegal smuggling to the country. He also stated that the higher duties and other curbs might have resulted in increase of smuggling and after a few months the restrictions can be revisited.
Two things come out of the statement. One, the smuggling has increased and the government has failed to curb the same. Second, the Government is rethinking on reducing the duties, curbs etc. on gold import. Instead of taking strong action against the illegal smuggling, the government is thinking of reducing the duties etc. to please the offenders and try to reduce the smuggling that way. Wonderful! The government has utterly failed in this respect; or otherwise, the government want to help the offenders. Both way, it is a failure of the government.

Com.P.Abhimanyu GS and Com. R.L.Moudgil AGS felicited

A largely attended meeting at Chandigarh on 27th January 2014felicitated Coms. P.Abhimanyu GS and R.L.Moudgil AGS who have retired on superannuation from service on 31st December 2013.
The meeting was held at Bhakna Bhawan auditorium which was full with comrades who have come from all parts of Punjab.
The retired leaders were felicitated by garlanding and offering shawls and presents. Com. Balbir Singh, Circle secretary, BSNLEU, Punjab, welcomed all.
Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU, Raghunath Singh, General secretary CITU Punjab, Swapan Chakraborty, Shri Julka, CGM Punjab and other leaders addressed. Coms. Abhimanyu and Moudgil thanked all for the grand felicitation.
Com.Balbir Singh, Circle Secretary BSNLEU Punjab and other leaders have organised the programme successfully.

EGoM decides for 5% fee as spectrum charges

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The Empowered Group of Ministers(EGoM) headed by Finance Minister,which met on 27-01-2014 decided to charge 5% fee as spectrum charges. Earlier it was from 3% to 8% according to the usage. The Broadband Spectrum charges will continue 1%, who have already got the same.
While the Reliance Jio has welcomed the decision, the COAI which includes Reliance, Vodafone etc. has protested against the same depending upon their own interests.
However, it is a fact that the present decision of the government favours the private companies more or less. How it will affect BSNL and MTNL has to be examined.

Certain thoughts on Republic Day

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The 65th Republic Day celebrations has taken place in the usual way. The President received the salute from the 3 Armed Forces, Prime Minister paid homage at India Gate Amar Jawan, the might of India as also the cultural heritage was paraded in the Janpath, Republic Day Awards were given, State and District level celebrations were also held and people had a holiday.
These are all good and necessary to enthuse the people about our democracy, the national pride and so on.

But whether any serious study is being made about the condition of the country after 67 years of Independence and 64 years of the experience of a democratic Republic? These are not long period in the history of a nation, but sufficient to make big changes.

The hard facts tell their own story. Out of the 121 crore population, about 30% are illiterate. People who are below the poverty line are more than this. Crores of people do not have their own house. Even those who have some shelter do not have a toilet or wash room. Unemployment is increasing every year. Purchase power of the people are going down. Women are not safe from harassment and sexual assault.
Corruption has been institutionalised and the governments are not prepared to tackle the same. instead the government is completely merged in corruption. Public institutions are handed over to private corporates to maximise their profit. No serious effort is being made to increase literacy, probably the ruling class are afraid of a fully literate population. Natural resources are being allowed to be exploited by corporates. Prices have gone rocketing beyond the reach of the common people. It is not that progress is not there, but even after 67 years of independence things have not gone correctly.
Communal forces are dividing the society for their narrow interests. Terrorists have raised their heads in many parts of the country. The working class are tried to be marginalised and their rights are being denied.
Unless there is a change for the better from this unsatisfactory situation, the situation will become worse. The working class and the common people have to come out and fight for their cause and for a better India where there is no poverty, people are educated
and democratic process is strictly followed and communal harmony is established. It is such an India that the people wants. Let us try to create such an India to come out of the present unenviable situation.

Meeting of EGoM on Revival of BSNL/MTNL on 27th January 2014

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The EGoM on Revival of BSNL and MTNL is scheduled to meet tomorrow, 27th January. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have written several times to the Chairman of the EGoM about the urgency of taking favourable decisions in this respect. The Declaration adopted at National Convention on Revival of BSNL/MTNL was forwarded with request to concede the important demands. Out of that some issues have been settled.The Rs. 1,500 crore from USOF is already paid; but the Rs.1,250crore from USOF is pending due to some report from BSNL is to be received by DOT/USOF.The mandating of BSNL/MTNL services for ll central/state establishments is reported to have been recommended for decision.
Now one important decision the EGoM has to take is changing the criterion for payment of pension contribution to the government by BSNL. At present it is on the basis of the maximum of the pay scale. This is unjust. It should only be on the basis of the actual pay. This is not settled so far. On the contrary, now when it has been decided that MTNL employees are also granted Pension as in the case of BSNL, the contribution on the basis of maximum is insisted.

The Forum has again written to the Finance minister that this injustice should be removed and the pension contribution should only on the basis of the actual pay. Copy of the letter is given below:

FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
D-7, TELEGRAPH PLACE, GOLE MARKET, NEW DELHI – 110001
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Forum/GL 25th January 2014
To
Shri P.Chidambaram,
Finanace Minister & Chairman,
EGoM on Revival of BSNL/MTNL,
North Block Central Secretariat,
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Revival of BSNL/MTNL – Pensionary Contribution from BSNL/MTNL to be on the basis of actual pay instead of maximum of the pay scale – requested
Respected Sir,
We are happy that the Government has considered the question of revival of BSNL and MTNL and the EGoM appointed under your chairmanship is examining the various aspects of reviving the two ailing PSUs. In this connection We would like to bring to your notice one most important issue, which if favourably onsiderd, will give much finanacial relief to both the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL.
The issue is about the payment of pensionary contribution that is to be paid to the government by the BSNL and MTNL for the DOT employees who have been absorbed in BSNL and MTNL. In the case of BSNL employees, it was part of the agreement that pension will be paid by the Govenment and that pension contribution for the employees will have to be paid by BSNL to Govenment. In the case of MTNL absorbed employees, the government has now decided the same method.
But the pension contribution to be paid by the BSNL and MTNL is caculated in an unjust manner. The BSNL and MTNL are directed to pay on the basis of the maximum of the payscale of the employee, instead of his/her actual pay. In the case of government employees on deputation, the government orders are that the pension contribution is to be paid on the basis of the actual pay. This should be the criteria for the payment of pension contribution by BSNL and MTNL also. By paying on the maximum of the payscale, the PSUs are compelled to pay many hundreds of crores of rupees from the loss making companies.
In order to reduce the loss of the companies and also as equalising the pension contribution as in the case of deputation of government employees, we request that the EGoM/Government may kindly take a decision to reduce the pension contribution by directing that it should be paid on the basis of the actual pay instead of the maximum of he pay scale.
An early favourable decision in the matter will be highly appreciated.
Thanking you,
Yours Faithfully,
sd/-
V.A.N.Namboodiri
Convener.

GREETINGS ON REPUBLIC DAY!

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On the eve of Republic Day, I wish all comrades, friends and well wishers a very Happy Republic Day!
Let us all try together to make India a better place for the common people and the toiling masses!

EGoM will decide on Spectrum Charges on 27th Meeting

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On the basis of the recommendations of the TRAI and on its own consideration, the Telecom Commission has recommended three methods of charging spectrum, which the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) are expected to consider and take decision in its meeting to be held on 27th January. The private telecom companies have been pressurising the government to reduce the charges to the lowest %. No doubt, the government will be favourable to them, as in the past.

Dept. of Personal and Trg. calls for details of casual labour

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The Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension vide its OM No.4901/31/2008-Estt(C) dated 2nd december 2013 has called for details of the casual labours in all departments for an assessment of present status of the Casual Labour (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularisation) Scheme of 1993. Why the assessment is being made is not specifically mentioned. But at the same time, it mentions that there has been representations from many departments for regularisation of the casual labour.

In the BSNL, the management is completely against regularisation and is utilising the Umadevi case to deny regularisation even to those who have been working for more than 20-25 years for DOT/BSNL. Instead of trying to somehow give a job to these workers who have served the nation, the management is trying to find out reasons for denying them a livelihood.

Nothing else can be expected from a management which has taken decision to impose VRS to retrench 1 lakh employees to reduce the number of staff. Only through sustained and sacrificial struggles, the workers will be able to get themselves regularised.

Minimum Pension increased to Rs. 1,000

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It is reported that the government has decided to increase the minimum pension to Rs.1,000 for the pensioners under Employees Pension Scheme.This was a demand of the Central Trade Unions. At present many are getting pension less than Rs.500; even some are getting Rs.10 or Rs.20 per month.

It is also reported that the government had decided to increase the eligibility wage ceiling under EPF scheme from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 15,000/-

We welcome the above decisions which have been the longstanding demands of the trade unions on which many struggles have been organised by the CTUs.

An Appeal to the General/Circle/Branch Secretaries of BSNL Unions/Associations

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Dear Comrades,
As you are well aware there are about one lakh casual and contract workers engaged in BSNL who are working in various capacities for the last 30 to 15 years in DOT/BSNL. Out of them about 3350 are casual workers who were eligible to be regularised as per the agreement at the time of formation of BSNL, but were not regularised due to administrative delay by the Circle/SSA heads. Minimum Wage as per Government/BSNL C.O. orders are denied to them at the field level. Social Security measures like EPF and ESI are not implemented though they are to be provided as per the laws of the country. The casual contract workers in BSNL are brutally and inhumanly exploited.
BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation has been continuously taking up the issues with the BSNL Management, Contractors, Parliamentary Standing Committee of labour, Communications minister, Labour Minister and even Prime Minister. While there has been some improvement, the situation continues more or less the same. In addition, the leaders and workers of the union are being retrenched and victimised.
It is in this context that the Central Executive Committee of the BSNLCCWF has taken a decision to resort to agitational programmes to achieve the long pending demands and put an end to the continuing exploitation and against retrenchment and victimisation.
We seek support of all of you in our struggles and agitations so that our justified demands are conceded by the authorities.
The immediate programmes being organised are 1) Demonstration at SSA level on 26th February 2014 and 2) Dharna at SSA level on 26 th March 2014.
Thanking you,
Yours Comradely,
V.A.N.Namboodiri Tapas Ghosh
President Secretary General