Observe Foundation Day of AIBDPA on 21st October.

20 Sunday Oct 2013

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It was four years earlier, on this day, 21st October 2009, that the mighty organisation of the pensioners, All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) was born. In the National convention of BSNL-DOT Pensioners held at New Delhi on 21st October 2009, this new organisation was formed.It was a long waited dream of the BSNL-DOT Pensioners.
During the last 4 years, the organisation has strengthened and is now the biggest organisation of BSNL-DOT Pensioners. It has taken up the issue of the pensioners in general and that of BSNL-DOT pensioners in particular. AIBDPA organised several agitational programmes including a Parliament March and focussed the attention of the Government and the BSNL Management on the urgent and long pending demands of pensioners.It participated iin all the programmes of BSNLEU and BSNL Forum, with which it has got close association.
The First All India Conference of AIBDPA has been a historic event both in view of the high level of discussions, massive attendance and the decisions taken. The CEC held at Jaipur recently has charted out the path ahead.
AIBDPA CHQ has called upon all the units to observe 21st October, the birth anniversary of the organisation in a suitable way by hoisting the Union Flag, holding meetings etc.
We have many issues to be settled and we will certainly ensure that the same are achieved.
AIBDPA Zindabad!

UK Teachers struck work for better wages

19 Saturday Oct 2013

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The School teachers in UK numbering thousands struck work on 18th October demanding better wages and service conditions. 2600 schools are closed due to strike. The striking union claimed that more than 80% of schools were closed due to strike.

Declare Phailin ‘National Calamity’ – CPI(M)

19 Saturday Oct 2013

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Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 : With Odisha incurring huge
loss of property and standing crops due to cyclone Phailin
and resultant floods, CPI(M) today demanded declaration of the situation as a National Calamity besides waiver of
agricultural loan for the year 2013-14.

“The devastation caused by Phailin be declared as a
National Calamity and the Central Government should shoulder
the lion’s share of the responsibility of relief and
restoration,” the CPI(M) in a memorandum to the Odisha
Governor said.

Stating that the central government should send a team
immediately to assess the loss, the CPI(M) said that the
people who have lost their houses in the calamity should be
provided with safe houses to be built at an expense of Rs 1
lakh each. The central government should share 90 per cent of
responsibility for the project, they said.

Asking the Centre to provide financial assistance of
Rs 12,000 per acre of crop loss, the Left party said that the
farmers need to be provided with free inputs and interest free agricultural loan.

The party also suggested several measures including
steps to check migration of affected people, employment for
artisans, support for students and others for the welfare of
the cyclone-flood affected districts.

BSNL Employees Strike deferred

19 Saturday Oct 2013

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The one day strike on 25th October 2013 called for by the United Forum of BSNL Unions demanding settlement of the 30 demands included in the Charter of Demands, has now been deferred after detailed discussions with the Director (HR) BSNL and other officers.
The meeting with A.N.Rai, Director (HR) was held for about 4 hours from 1600 to 2000 hours yesterday, 18th October in which all the demands were discussed. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU, P.Abhimanyu, GS BSNLEU, Suresh Kumar, GS BSNLMS and R.L.Moudgil AGS BSNLEU participated.
The meeting of United Forum held today, 19th October 2013 reviewed the entire situation and considering the advance we could make through the discussions unanimously decided to defer the strike.It thanked the workers for the best preparation for the strike which compelled the management to come for talks and settlement

Meeting of Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation

19 Saturday Oct 2013

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Meeting of the Working Committee of BCPC
A meeting of the available members of the Working committee of BCPC was held at 13-C, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi on 19th October 2013. Shri S.C.Maheswari presided. On behalf of AIBDPA Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor attended.
The meeting considered the resignation of Shri S.S.Ramachandran from the post of Chairman and accepted the same with reluctance. Shri S.C.Maheswari, Secretary General, Bharat Pension Samaj, was unanimously elected as the new Chairman, BCPC.
Shri D.Balasubramanian, General Secretary All India Federation of Pensioners Association, Chennai and a representative to be decided by the National Federation of Railway Pensioners Palakkad may be elected Vice-Chairmen of BCPC.
The next AGM may be held soon after Holi at New Delhi, the date for which will decided later.
The Draft Terms of Reference for the VII Central Pay Commission with respect to Pensioners were discussed and finalised in the meeting. In addition to general demands, it was mentioned that these recommendations should apply to all Central Government Pensioners, Ex-Servicemen, Pensioners of those PSUs like Prasar Bharati, BSNL, MTNL, FCI etc. constituted by absorbing the respective departmental employees.

BSNL reduces International Tariff, while Private Telcos increase

18 Friday Oct 2013

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This is the difference between PSUs and private companies. While the private companies. While the private telecom companies have started increasing their tariffs, BSNL, though in loss is reducing the same, for the benefit of the customers. See the PTI report below:

New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI) State-run BSNL has launched
special tariff vouchers (STVs) wherein its customers would get over 75 per cent cheaper rates for making international calls.

The public sector firm has launched STVs in the range for
Rs 23 to Rs 41 for prepaid customers whereas postpaid users
have to pay a fixed monthly charge (FMC) of Rs 20 to Rs 40 to
avail the cheaper rates.

The company has divided the countries into four groups.
“BSNL is providing its customers the cheapest international call rates. It has launched STVs, which are offering ISD calls rates similar to the normal calls,” the company said in a statement.

With a STV of Rs 41, prepaid customers can call USA,
Canada and Singapore for Rs 1.49 per minute whereas the normal rate is Rs 6 per minute. Users can call China at Rs 1.49 per minute against the normal tariff is Rs 10 per minute.

Postpaid customers too can avail the same rates with a
FMC of Rs 40. The SMS tariff has been reduced to Rs 3 from Rs
5 per SMS. For countries including France, Germany and UK, the rate has been reduced to Rs 4.49 per minute as against Rs 6 with a STV of Rs 38 for prepaid users and FMC of Rs 35 for postpaid customers.

BSNL customers can call Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong
and Thailand at Rs 2.99 per minute with STV of Rs 27 as
against a normal price of Rs 10. For calling Australia, the rate has been reduced to RS 6.49 per minute with Rs 23 STV and a FMC of Rs 23 while SMS can be send for Rs 3.

Recently some players have increased international
calling rates by up to 80 per cent mainly due to the impact of depreciation.

A Social Revolution gaining momentum in T.Nadu

18 Friday Oct 2013

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There is an article in “People’s Democracy” in its September 30 – October 6 issue (last page), about the social revolution that is being brought in T.Nadu through the hectic efforts of the people under the leadership of the “Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front” (TNUEF). The movement has been functioning for a few years and could make a lot of change for removing untouchability and connected malpractices.

The present article reports about the Direct Action Programmes organised in various parts of T.Nadu on 30th September, the death anniversary of Com. B.Srinivasa Rao, who was a crusader against untouchability and atrocities against Dalits in T.Nadu.
Some of these Direct Action Programmes were the following:

1. Temple Entry for dalits: For about 100 years, dalits were not allowed to enter Chathiswaran Temple in Village of Erode District.As per announcement made earlier the TNUEF workers under the leadership of TNUEF President Comrade P.Sampath and other leaders marched to the temple. The administration has no other go but to allow the temple entry of dalits then and there.
2.In the same way Dalits under the leadership of TNUEF also entered Narayana Perumal Temple in Tirunelveli District.

3. Entry in to own Land: In Kudalingapuram in Dindigul District, patta was given to 48 Dalit families, but they were not allowed to occupy the land since it was not handed over. The TNUEF workers came in large numbers and the administration was compelled to hand over the land to the dalits.

4. Untouchability Gate demolished in Ooty: The gate blocking the entry of dalits to the public road at Gandhipuram, Ooty was demolished on 30th September and the road opened for the dalits under the leadership of TNUEF.

5. First time hair cuts for dalits: The dalits in Echenkottai village of Thanjavur District, were not allowed to have hair cuts in the village and they were compelled to go far away for the same. Further in the tea shops the ” two tumbler system” existed whereby the dalits were given separate tumblers for supplying tea in the shops. This system was put an end to after the TNUEF agitation and massive demonstration on 30th September. The dalits were allowed hair cuts also in the village.
6. Hair Cut allowed in Vadipatti town in Madurai District also in the same way for the first time after many years.

7. Bath in the Common tank by Dalits: Dalits were denied permission to take bath in the common tank in Muthulingapuram, in Virudhunagar. On 30th September, the dalits and TNUEF volunteers together went to the tank and took bath, breaking the years old system of denying bath to the dalits.

These developments are a great victory for the dalits and the people of T.Nadu. It is not an easy matter to break the caste barrier and get justice for the dalits. It is only through sustained struggles that the injustices could be removed. The TNUEF should be congratulated for the revolutionary task they have undertaken. The movement is getting more and more support from the people and we hope that it will be able to advance further for the cause of the dalits. My Hearty Congratulations to Com. Sampath, President TNUEF and thousands of its activists and supporters. Really, a turn around is coning in T.Nadu.
(For details see “People’s Democracy” September 30- October 06 issue)

NOFN network will be completed by 2014-15

18 Friday Oct 2013

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It was stated earlier that the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), which will be able to provide internet connectivity to about 2,50,000 villages, will be completed by 2012-13. But as per the latest input from DOT, it will have to wait till 2014-15. Since the work is being prolonged, the estimated allotment for the project may be increased from Rs. 20,000 crore to Rs. 25,000 crore.
In some countries like China, the projects are usually completed much before the time limit. But in India, it seems, that almost all projects take more time than the estimated time. Think about the Shivaji Stadium in Delhi, which was to be completed before the Common Wealth Games in Delhi. Even after more than 2 years, the work is yet to be fully completed.

United Forum Strike discussion today, 18th October

18 Friday Oct 2013

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The BSNL Management has intimated that discussion on strike issues will be discussed with the United Forum/ BSNLEU at 04.00 PM today, 18th October 2013. The leaders of the United Forum will participate in the discussions.

US Shut Down ends temporarily

17 Thursday Oct 2013

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AFP

Washington, Oct 17 : US President Barack Obama early this morning signed a bill into law to end a disruptive 16-day government shutdown and increase the current debt ceiling of USD 16.7 trillion to prevent the country from a debt default with potentially worldwide economic repercussions.
Obama signed into law, the “Continuing Appropriations
Act, 2014,” which provides fiscal year 2014 appropriations for projects and activities of the Federal Government through
Wednesday, January 15, 2014, White House Press Secretary Jay
Carney said in a statement in the wee hours today.

“The effective time for the continuing resolution begins on October 1, 2013,” Carney said, adding that the law also extends the Nation’s debt limit through February 7, 2014.

The signing of the bill came just in time to prevent an
imminent default as the US would have exhausted its borrowing
power by the end of today.

“This is good news for developing countries and the world’s poor. The global economy dodged a potential
catastrophe,” said World Bank President Jim Young Kim,
reflecting the sigh of relief that the international community now has after the passage of the bill by the Congress.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said looking
forward, it will be essential to reduce uncertainty
surrounding the conduct of fiscal policy by raising the debt
limit in a more durable manner.

Soon after Obama signed the legislation, the White House
Office of Management of Budget issued a notice to federal
agencies asking the furloughed employees to resume their
duties today.

“Today, the President signed a continuing resolution that
brings employees back to work and reopens many government
functions. All employees who were on furlough due to the
absence of appropriations may now return to work,” Sylvia M
Burwell, OMB Director, said in a memorandum.

Earlier, the Senate passed the legislation by 81-18
votes, while in the House of Representatives it was passed by
285-144 votes to end the government shutdown.

This means that the Democrats and the Republicans have a
few months time to come out with a lasting solution to their
sharp differences over budget issues, or else the country
could very well plunge into another political and economic
crisis as seen over three weeks.

Before the Senate and the House were to pass the legislation in quick succession, Obama had said he is willing to work with anybody to overcome this crisis.