One year after Delhi Gang Rape

16 Monday Dec 2013

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It is one year after the Gang Rape of Delhi Girl which shook the consciousness of the country and saw massive protest demonstrations in Delhi and else where.
The culprits of the heinous crime has been awarded with death penalty, but the process of appeal etc. continues.
The government was shaken to the core due to the massive agitation and took some steps. But as per a paper report the atrocities against women has not stopped, it is doubled.
An all out fight and strong speedy action is required against atrocities on women and Girls.

Total Telecom Subscribers 90.45 crore, Teledensity 73.32% – TRAI

16 Monday Dec 2013

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NEW DELHI, DEC 13:
The total number of telecom subscribers rose marginally to 90.45 crore at end of October this year, telecom regulator TRAI said today.

“The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 899.86 million at the end of September, 2013 to 904.56 million at the end of October 2013,” the TRAI said in a statement.

The total number of wireless subscribers increased from 87 crore in September to 87.54 crore in October, registering a monthly growth of 0.56 per cent.

About 85 per cent of total mobile user base were found to be active customers.

“The share of urban wireless subscribers has declined from 59.75 per cent to 59.65 per cent whereas share of rural wireless subscribers has increased from 40.25 per cent to 40.35 per cent,” TRAI said.

The overall tele density — number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals — in the country increased from 73.01 in September to 73.32 in October.

From October onwards, 105 out of 153 Internet service providers started reporting broadband numbers based on new definition of providing Internet with minimum download speed of 512 kilobit per second from 256 Kbps earlier.

At the end of October 2013, there were 14.91 million wired broadband subscribers in the country.

The total number of request from subscribers to change their operators using Mobile Number Portability facility reached 10.48 crore in October.

At end of October, private operators hold 88.41 per cent of the wireless market share (based on subscriber base) whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU operators held only 11.59 per cent market share, it said.

Airtel led the growth in both wireless and wired segment. The company added 14.88 lakh new mobile subscribers by in October taking its subscriber base to 19.48 crore.

The telecom major added 14,553 new fixed line customers where the overall segment saw decline of subscriber base from 2.92 crore at the end of September, 2013 to 2.90 crore at the end of October, 2013.

Vodafone and Idea Cellular were close competitors in October where they added 11.51 and 11.49 lakh mobile subscribers respectively.

Aircel added 4.97 lakh, Reliance Communications 4.5 lakh, Videocon 2.78 lakh (including HFCL), Loop Mobile about 42,000 and state-run BSNL added around 39,000 new subscribers during the month.

MTNL lost 1.55 lakh mobile customers, the most by any operator during the month. Tata Teleservices too continued to lose customers. The company lost 96,500 mobile customers during the reported month and Uninor lost 21,935 mobile customers.

(Courtesy : Business Line)

Bank Employees will go on Strike on 18th December

16 Monday Dec 2013

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The discussion between the Indian Bank Association and United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) held to day failed and the latter has decided to continue with the decision to organise the strike on 18th December 2013.
Our full support and solidarity to the strike of the Bank Employees.

Take Immediate Action to Reverse Price Rise – CPI(M)

16 Monday Dec 2013

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CPI(M) Central Committee Resolution against steep Price Rise

Price Rise and Callous Government

There has been no let up in the price rise for the common people. The overall retail inflation touched 11.24 per cent in November, the highest in the last nine months. The poorer sections are hit the worst by the unprecedented price rise in food items. Vegetable prices rose by 61.6 per cent in November from a year earlier. The prices of all other food items have also gone up steeply. The Manmohan Singh Government has set a new callous record in refusing to take steps to curb price rise. On the contrary, the government is promoting runaway increase in food prices by allowing speculation in the forward trading of essential commodities. The deregulation of petroleum pricing has also contributed to the inflationary spiral. Thus the UPA government is directly responsible for the price burden and suffering of the people. The Central Committee demanded the reversal of the policies which contribute to inflation and price rise.

BSNL pays Rs. 320 crores Rent – to whom and for what ?

16 Monday Dec 2013

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According to the unaudited accounts of BSNL for the year 2012-13 an amount of Rs.323 crore is shown as rent. In 2011-12 this was Rs. 321 crore.
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has been continuously demanding that all the rented offices should be vacated and the offices to be shifted to BSNL buildings. Of course there may be some places where BSNL may not be having buildings. But that alone can not come to such a big amount.
The BSNL Management should take immediate action in the matter so that the amount of rent being paid can be reduced to the minimum.

Kerala, Odisha and J and K – Only Profitable Territorial Circles

16 Monday Dec 2013

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As per the Circle wise Income and Expenditure released by BSNL, only three territorial circles are in profit during 2012-13. They are Kerala, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, 2011-12, only the first two circles were having profit.
Kerala is the only circle which improved its profits in 2013. It improved from Rs. 157 crores to Rs.257 crores an increase of 64%. Odisha, though posted profit, it is reduced from Rs. 35 to Rs.30 crores. J and K which was in loss of Rs.26 crores last years made a profit of Rs. 2 crores this year.
The following circles have increased revenue from the year 2011-12 to 2012-13: Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, A.P., T.N. and Maharashtra, although they could not post profit.
10 circles have increased their losses in this year. 13 circles have reduced their losses.
BSNL in total has reduced its loss marginally from Rs.8,851 crore in 2012 to Rs. 7,884 crore in 2012-13.
The efforts by Management as well as the big campaign organised by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have shown some results, though very marginal. This is not sufficient.
More dedication, Commitment, determination are required on the part of the Management and Workers. Along with that, joint efforts are required to get maximum financial support from the Government.
BSNL has to be revived for Better Service to the Nation and for the benefit of the workers also.

Rs.500 crore wedding extravaganza by India’s Mittal in Spain

16 Monday Dec 2013

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The extravaganza by super rich Indians has no limit. The recent marriage of the daughter of Pramod Mittal, brother of steel baron Lakshmi Vittal, is such a case. It is reported in Times of India that about Rs. 500 crore was spent for the marriage which was celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. The 3 day extravaganza was attended by celebrities all over the world. More than 200 cooks from India and other countries were brought to Barcelona for the function. The Wedding Cake was 60 kg.
Laxmi Mittal has spent more than Rs.300 crores for the marriage of his daughter recently.

Such extravaganza and waste of money to show case their wealth, power and influence is similar to that of emperors and king in the past. While on the one side millions and billions of people can not afford one square meal in a day, marriages, birthdays
parties and other functions of such extravaganza are being organised. This is nothing but a mockery of social justice.

Nelson Mandela laid to rest

16 Monday Dec 2013

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Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon, the legend in his own life-time and the first Black President of South Africa was laid to rest in the village Qunu, where he was born, on 15th December 2013, in the presence of a large number of people. This was as per his last will.

Such persons are rare in history and will be remembered for eternity. The life and struggles of Mandela, has not only influenced people of S.Africa and the African continent but the entire world.

Chile – Socialist Michelle Bachelet wins Presidentil election

16 Monday Dec 2013

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Again the Socialists have won the Presidential election in Chile. Michelle Bachelet won the election with 62.2% votes. The rival candidate Conservative Evelyn Matthei, who got 37.8% of votes has conceded defeat and congratulated Bachelet.
Bachelet’s father was a top official in Chilean Air Force at the time of President Salvador Allende, who was toppled by a coup supported by the US and imperialists. Bachelet’s father was imprisoned and tortured and died consequently. In contrast, Matthei’s father was part of the junta which removed the Socialist Allende.
Michelle Bachelet was the President form 2006 to 2010 and as the same person can not be the President for the immediate next term, she could not contest and another socialist was the President.

BSNL Crisis – Not due to wage increase but due to less Revenue

13 Friday Dec 2013

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The government, BSNL Management, media and vested interests are continuously propagating that the crisis in BSNL is partly due to the increase in wages of employees which has shot up to 52% of the total revenue.
This propaganda is completely false and based on wrong premises. The fact is that for the last five years, there has not been any increase to be mentioned as such in the wages of the employees. Just go through the following figures showing the wages for the past few years:
2009-10 : Rs. 13455.04 crore, 2010-11: Rs. 13790.95 crore, 2011-12: Rs. 13406.04 crore, 2012-13 : Rs. 13757.82 crore
But the Revenue has been going down as can be seen below:
2007-2008: Rs. 32842.30 crore, 2008-09: Rs. 30169.42 crore, 2009-10: Rs.27913.44 crore, 2010-11: Rs. 27044.71 crore, 2011-12: Rs. 25982.13 crore, 2012-13: Rs. 25654.81 crore.
While the wage expense from 2009-10 to 2012-13 was almost the same with very minor difference, the revenue came down from 2007-08 to 2012-13 from Rs. 32842.30 crore to Rs.25654.81 crore,a reduction of more than Rs. 7,000 crore. If the revenue had increased or at least maintained its position, the percentage of wages should have been far less, say about 33%.
As stated earlier it is not that the wages have increased, but it is that the revenue has decreased. The Management and Government very well know this fact, but want to mislead the workers and public. But the workers are also aware of the facts.