26 Tuesday Nov 2013
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DOT has issued a circular stating that a short code ‘1037’ has been allotted to the Public Grievances Cell in DOT as a telecom consumer helpline.
Subscribers of any telecom service provider can complaint to this number about the services and other complaints.
26 Tuesday Nov 2013
Posted in General, Uncategorized
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It is reported that the National Security Agency(NSA) of USA has hacked more than 55,000 computers and infected them with malware. This is according to the classified documents revealed by the whistle blower Edward Snowden, who is being haunted by the US government.
There is no limit to what the US imperialists will do to continue their top position in the world. For the US, there is nothing except their world hegemony position. Anything can be done for that purpose, murder, attacking other nations, drone attacks, economic blockade of any country etc.
There should be an end to this inhuman and barbaric aggression.
25 Monday Nov 2013
Posted in Obituary, Tributes
With great sorrow it is intimated that Com. Shyamali Gupta, till recently President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association and a senior leader of the CPI(M) passed away today at Kolkata. She was 68 years old.She had just returned from Bodh Gaya to kolkata after attending the National Conference of the AIDWA.
She was in the student movement and later took active interest in the women’s movement. She became the General Secretary of the AIDWA in 1990 and later as its President and continued till this Conference. Her death is a big loss to the Women’s Movement.
We express our deep sorrow and convey our heartfelt condolences to the family members and party comrades!
25 Monday Nov 2013
The double face of the Government has been exposed more than once. It speaks about the poor, but always does things for the rich. Once again its pro-rich, pro-corporate dark face has been exposed.
According to the media reports, during the 8 financial years from 2005-06 to 2012-13, the Central Government has foregone an Amount of Rs. 33,80,799 by way of Corporate Tax, Personal Income Tax, Excise and Custom duties which was to be recovered from the corporates etc. may be numbering a few lakhs altogether. But the subsidy etc. given to the crores of common people in the country is only about half or less than that. The break-up of the rebates etc. to the rich and corporates are given below:
Corporate Tax Rebate : Rs. 4,74,346 crore
Personal Income Tax : Rs. 2,71,512 crore
Excise Duty : Rs.11,45,337 crore
Customs Duty : Rs.14,89,604 crore
Total : Rs.33,80,799 crore
This government is not the government of poor and toiling people, but the government of the crorepatis.
25 Monday Nov 2013
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, had a talk with Shri Prachish Khanna, Director (Estt.), DOT on 25th November. Regarding 78.2% IDA, he stated that the file is yet to be sent back to DOT by the Department of Pension & Pensions Grievances.
The file on the Pay Anomaly of 2000 conversion of CDA to IDA is returned to DOT seeking certain clarifications by the Dept. of P& PG.
AIBDPA and BSNLEU are pursuing the case effectively.
25 Monday Nov 2013
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
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All India BSNL DOT Pensioners’ Association (AIBDPA) General Secretary Com.KG Jayaraj has given call, as per the decision of the Jaipur CEC Meeting, to organise massive CCA/Circle office march on 28th November 2013 demanding settlement of the issues mentioned in the 23 point Charter of Demands submitted already.
BSNL workers and their organisations are sure to support this just and reasonable demand. Give all solidarity and support to the agitation by the Pensioners.
25 Monday Nov 2013
Posted in TU News - International
The 15th International Meeting of the Communist and Workers Parties, which was held at Lisbon Portugal on 8-10 November 2013 was participated by 77 Communist Parties from 61 countries. 14 Communist Parties which could not attend send letters expressing their inability to attend.
The International Meeting discussed about the present world situation and other relevant issues. After the discussions, defined the following guidelines for their common and convergent action and mandated the Working Group to plan for implementation of the following guidelines:
1. Commemorate the 100 years of First World War (1914-18) and 75 years of the II World War (1939-45) through alerting the people about the dangers of war and the new international military clashes and the need to enhance the struggle for peace which is closely connected with the struggle for socialism.
2. Mark the 15 years beginning of criminal imperialistic NATO aggression in Yugoslavia and the development of of military imperialistic strategy for occupation of countries by NATO.
3. Organise international seminar on the crisis of the capitalist and developed countries and also focussing on the issues of the developing countries.High light the ominous role of the monopolies in this connection.
4. Organise International campaign in solidarity with the ongoing processes and struggles in Latin America and Caribbean and in particular Socialist Cuba,against the Cuban blockade, the 4 Cuban patriots still in US jail etc.
5. Organising international working committee meetings to debate ideological offensive etc.
6. To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2014.
7. Observe 1 May 2014 as May Day in a befitting manner.
8. Examine the possibility of convergent actions on the combat against racism, xenophobia,fascism, stressing the importance of struggle against anti-communism etc.
9. To determine a day of action against the persecution of Communist parties and the ban on Communist symbols, affirming the solidarity with the communist parties banned in their countries.
10. Commemorate the 95th Anniversary of creation of the Communist International (March 1919) underlining, on the occasion of 90 years of Lenin’s death, his central contribution to the international communist movement.
11. Organise an international seminar on the social and national emancipation struggles of the peoples of Arab Countries and the Middle east expressing solidarity.
12. Continue to denounce the imperialist intervention against Syria and Iran and for an independent palestinian state.
13. To promote international front against and to support the anti-imperialist mass organisations, World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Peace Council(WPC), World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF).
24 Sunday Nov 2013
Posted in General
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New Delhi, Nov 24 Expressing concern over WTO’s permissible food subsidy limit norms, CPI(M) today said India should not give in to the “unjust pressure” of the world body and western powers and continue to press for “fundamental changes” in its rules at the next meet in Bali in December.
As per the WTO norms, a developing nation can provide food subsidy of up to 10 per cent of the total farm output.
While sources have indicated India is likely to agree for a four-year “peace clause”, which will provide immunity against penalty for breaching the food subsidy cap, the party’s polit bureau in a statement today said the clause should be rejected by India.
“The polit bureau demands that India should not give in to this unjust pressure from the WTO secretariat and the EU and the US and continue to press for fundamental changes in the WTO rules so that food subsidy programme are not designated as illegal,” it said.
It said the WTO rules will not only jeopardise present efforts in India to ensure food security for millions of hungry people, but will also make it impossible to further strengthen food security measures.
The G-33 nations, a group of emerging countries including India, are demanding amendment in the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) in order to implement the food security plan without attracting any penalty even after breaching the minimum subsidy cap.
The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Bali from December 3-6.
Talking to reporters yesterday, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had said the government would endeavour to work out a solution in the Bali meet to protect interest of the country’s farmers and poor.
Sharma said India has raised the fundamental issue pertaining to public stock holding and domestic food security programme and underscored that this is of critical importance for India, especially in the backdrop of the National Food Security Act.
Developed countries like the US and Canada have raised concerns over India’s food security legislation at the WTO.
They have asked India to explain the effect of the law on global stocks and commodity prices. (PTI)
24 Sunday Nov 2013
Posted in P&T TU History
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The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of NFPTE started today, 24th November 2013 at New Delhi. The function was held at the MPs’Club Hall at North Avenue near the NFPE CHQ office. The function started at about 1700 hours. The hall was full of CHQ leaders as also senior leaders who have come from all the circles.Com. Satyanarayana, Vice-President, NFPE presided. Com. Parashar, Dy.SG, NFPE welcomed all the leaders and workers.
The celebration was inaugurated by Dr. Prabhat Patnaik, the veteran economist and eminent writer. He analysed the present economic condition of the country, the influence of the international, specially, US finance etc. The pressure of the US to get the State Bank of India privatised was exposed by Dr. Patnaik.
Coms. S.K.Vyas, veteran leader of the CG Employees, V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU, KKN Kutty, Chairman, Confederation, P.Abhimanyu, GS BSNLEU, M.S.Raja, SG Audit and Accounts Association, K.P.Rajagopal, SG ITEF, V.Bhattacharjee, SG, Civil Accounts Association, Des raj Sharma, former SG NFPE and others addressed. Com. M.Krishnan, SG NFPE, who is also the SG Confederation spoke about the programme and also about the sacrifices made by the pioneers of the P and T Trade Union movement.Com.Giriraj Singh, President, NFPE proposed vote of thanks.
The start of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of NFPTE was well done. My Hearty Congratulations to the organisers. IN the coming year, we expect a lot of such celebrations through out the country, which will educate the workers of the great heritage of the CGE and P and T TU movement.
23 Saturday Nov 2013
Posted in P&T TU History
There have been lakhs of leaders and active workers who have been in the forefront of the struggles of the P and T Workers and for strengthening the workers’ organisations.
There are certain comrades, who took initiative to form the union/s in the Posts and Telegraphs Department in the early 20th century, while still the country was under the British imperialist rule. The task was not easy. The workers were afraid to join the unions. But these pioneers took the initiative and by their dedicated and sincere hard work formed the unions and strengthened them.
Though there may be many leaders who took the initiative, the following three leaders are considered as the main Pioneers of the P and T movement.
1. Henry Barton (23rd June 1864 – 13th July 1938)
He was a Telegraphist in W.Bengal. He organised the telegraph workers and formed the Indian Telegraph Association in 1908, which became a strong organisation in no time. He was the General Secretary of the ITA for a long period.
He published a journal also. Through continuous struggles and discussion, he could settle many issues. He was interned for his TU activities. After he became ill in 1936 he went to Britain and settled there. He passed away on 13th July 1938.
“Barton’s memory shall remain as a beacon light to the Trade Union Movement”.
2. Babu Tarapada Mukherjee ( 1868 -20th September 1929)
Babu Tarapada Mukherjee entered P and T Department as a Postal Clerk in Calcutta on 1st February 1895. From the date he joined, he saw the worst working conditions and slavery of the workers and the meagre wages. First he organised the Postal Club in 1907, which functioned as almost a trade union which later was converted 1920 as the All India (including Burma) Post Office and RMS Union. This union became a militant organisation. For his historic Presidential speech in the Lahore All India Conference in 1921, in which he analysed the British rule, the condition of the workers and the need for sustained and militant struggle, he was charge sheeted. He was given the offer to apologise and save his job. But not Babu Tarapada. He fully justified his speech with valid points. He was dismissed from service on 20th November 1921. But he continued to serve the workers till his death 20th September 1929.
” You are men and not dumb driven cattle……..Organise this power, organise with a purpose, organise with determination, and i promise you success knock at your door” – Babu Tarapada’s Lahore Speech.
3.Dada Ghosh ( B.N.Ghosh) ( August 1898 – 7/8 July 1961)
The Founder Secretary General of NFPTE in 1954, Bhupendra Nath Ghosh, entered the Postal Department as a clerk in the GPO Calcutta on 18th March 1918. From day one he connected himself with the union, and became a leader of the All India Postal and RMS Union. He was one of the top leaders who led the historic successful 1946 strike which was also part of the Independence Struggle.Naturally when all the unions realigned and NFPTE was formed on 24th November 1954, he was elected as its first Secretary General.After vacating the post in 1960 and returning to Calcutta, he committed suicide on the night of 7/8 June 1961 putting the entire P and T fraternity is deep sorrow.
” Comrade B.N.Ghosh is an institution by himself who has ably guided the destinies of the P and T workers and through them the bulk of the Central Government staff for over four decades and thus he has joined the line of the revered leaders Tarapada and Barton” – From NFPTE Guwahati Federal Council Resolution, 19-25 April 1960 on farewell to BN Ghosh.
There are many other leaders like Comrades K.G.Bose, O.P.Gupta, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana who built and led the movement in the last many decades and are no more. New leaders have come. It is a continuing process.
We inherit a great tradition, a tradition of struggle and unity for the interest of the workers. In our own way we have conducted militant and revolutionary struggles, got victimised, but at the same time strengthened the movement and got benefit for the workers.
The life and work of the great Pioneers of the P and T Movement inspire and strengthens our determination to fight and advance for the cause. ( Posted in connection with the Diamond Jubilee of of NFPTE on 24th November 2013.)
