Some Interesting information about British Raj.

07 Friday Jun 2013

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I was reading a book on Rudyard Kipling, the celebrated writer who lived in India during the British Raj and wrote a lot about India and well-known as the author of the “Jungle Book”.

Many interesting facts about the British India can be found  in the book. It is stated that in the early stages of the British Rule, the term ‘Indian’ was meant for the British living in India. The Indian people were called as ‘natives’. This terms gradually changed after the  First War of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny according to British. The ‘Indian’ was changed to  ‘Anglo-Indian’ and ‘native’ to ‘nigger’.

It is stated that small children were generally entrusted to ‘ayahs’ to look after, who were Indian women. The children were even breast-fed by the ayahs and were much  more attached to the ayahs than to their parents, who were mostly engaged with their jobs and social functions.

With regrd to the name of Bombay, it is stated that the old name was Mumbai. It was the Portugese, who reached there for business in the end of the 15th century , who gave the name ‘Bom Bhai’ (Good Bay) which became Bombay. And now the name is restored to ‘Mumbai’ itself.

Kingfisher workers protest non-payment of salary

07 Friday Jun 2013

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Hundreds of workers of Kingfisher held a silent protest before its Mumbai Office yesterday against non-payment of salaries since July2012. They demanded immediate payment of salary. While the workers are in extreme difficulties due to non-receipt of salary for the last one year, its owner Vijay Mallaya is going on foreign tour for the Formula I Championship, of which he is a part-owner.

The workers have held a hunger strike a few days back. Many workers from out stations are also participating in the agitational programmes.

While the workers are in the streets to get their wages, the owner is in preparation to enjoy festivals and tournaments. The government and Labour Department stand as mute spectators.

Hire top scientists for R&D : Kapil Sibal, MoC.

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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  While speaking at a function at IIT Rourkee, Kapil Sibal, Communication Minister emphasised the need for hiring top scientists in institutions like IIT. He stated the need for IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) in the field of technology. He also stated the need for desired pay scales.

“Pick up research people of excellence from around the world. Bring them into your institutions. We now have system put in place that allows you to do that. Give them the scales of salary that you want…Young Indians around the world are very keen to come back to India,”  Communications Minister said.

I am very happy that the Minister has been frank enough to say the above. But what is happening in his own Ministry, Communications? What is the present position of the C-DOT, which was one of the best R&D institutions in the country, which invented and installed the C-DOT exchanges throughout the country, which still works efficiently. Are sufficient funds allotted to it, at least now? How many young engineers have left it in the last two decades?

Let us hope that the MInister will implement his own words in his own ministry. Let him also take necessary steps to modernise the BSNL Telecom Factories which will help in manufacturing many equipments required for telecom services. ITI is another PSU which can be revived.

Forum leaders meet Secretary DOT.

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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The leaders of the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations met the Secretary, DOT and presented the copy of the Memorandum submitted to the Finance Minister, Chairman of the Group of Ministers ‘On Revival of BSNL & MTNL’ and demanded for favourable consideration of the points raised by the Forum.

The leaders also raised the issue of 78.2% IDA fitment and requested for issue of early approval and orders.

Secretary, DOT agreed to look in to the matter expeditiously. His attitude was positive. He stated that he may be contacted again by tomorrow.

BSNL workers are requested to fully prepare for the Indefinite strike from 12th June 2013. If the issue is not settled before 12th, the management and DOT will have to face the wrath of the 2,55,000 BSNL workers who are going to hit back.

Unified Licensing system in telecom shortly, Secretary DOT

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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It is reported by PTI that the government may introduce Unified Licensing regime in telecom sector that will enable the users to get mobile, landline, DTH and cable TV services from a single service provider without the latter necessarily owning the full infrastructure. The Secretary, Telecom M.F.Farooqui said that the unified licence is likely to come within a month. According to the proposal operators will be able to provide all telecom services with one licence. However, spectrum licence will be separate.

It is felt that the users will get benefit out of the new decision. However, the details are yet to be understood.

5 year Wage Revision in CPSEs – Govt. Notification

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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The Government of India has issued a Press Note on 4th June stating that  PSUs which had made wage agreement for 5 years can have the next wage revision for the non-executives with effect from 01-01-2012, with certain conditions. A copy of the same is given below:

Policy for wage negotiations for workmen in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
“The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for permitting the management of Central Public Service Enterprises (CPSEs) to initiate wage negotiations generally effective from 01.01.2012, subject to the condition that negotiated scales of pay would not come in conflict with existing scales of pay of executives / officers and non-unionized supervisors of the respective CPSEs.   This will benefit workmen of those CPSEs which opted for 5 years of wage settlement w.e.f. 01.01.2007 and they can now go for another wage negotiation for 5 years w.e.f. 01.01.2012.

Background :   There are 260 CPSEs in the country employing 13.98 lakh persons (2.74 lakh executives, 0.31 lakh non-unionized supervisors and 10.93 lakh unionized supervisors and workmen) as on 31.3.2012.”

This is an achievement due to the continued struggles of the PSU workers. In BSNL, BSNLEU,  the recognised union, insisted for a 5 years wage negotiation at the time of the last negotiation itself. It has raised the demand later also. In the Central Executive Committee to be held at Kolkata in July 7-9, both the Wage Revision from 01-01-2012 and Merger of 50% IDA are notified as main agendas. BSNLEU will insist that the 5 year period wage revision should be implemented in BSNL.

GoM on Revival of BSNL & MTNL to meet on 11th June

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

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The Group of Ministers (GoM) appointed to recommend on the revival of BSNL & MTNL and headed by Finance Minister P.Chidmbaram, is scheduled to meet on 11th June as per media reports.

The Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations have already submitted its memorandum to the GoM, as also to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, DOT and CMD BSNL. Forum has approached the leaders of political parties as also many Members of Parliament to get support to the proposals.

Since the meeting of the GoM is now fixed for 11th June 2013, all the Circle and District Secretaries of BSNL Unions & Associations are reminded  to meet the MPs of their constituency, give a copy of the Memorandum and request to take up the issue with Finance Minister and the government for acceptance and implementation of the same. Our comrades should take this responsibility seriously.

 

 

Cabinet approves proposal to erect 2199 towers in naxal affected areas

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

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As we have pointed out a few days back, the Cabinet has expeditiously cleared the Communication Ministry proposal to erect 2199 mobile towers in the naxal affected areas in the nine states of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh,  Andhra Pradesh,  Bihar,  Jharkhand, Maharashtra,  West Bengal, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

The project will be entrusted to BSNL for implementation within one year. An amount of Rs. 3,046.12 crore will be allotted for this project from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

BSNL should take this project as a challenge and ensure that it is completed within the stipulated period. BSNL has to show to the country that it and not the private telcos are there to defend the country, when it is in difficulty or when it is facing security risks.

BSNL and DOT has to move fast to avoid a confrontation with the workers

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The massive dharnas in all the SSAs (Districts) and Circle HQs(State capitals) and Corporate Office of BSNL have been actively participated by thousands of employees giving a clear signal to the DOT and BSNL Management that if the issue of 78.2% IDA fixation issue is not settled as already agreed one year back on 12th June 2012 in the face of the indefinite strike by workers, another Indefinite Strike is going to take place from 12th June 2013, exactly after one year of the agreement.  The full responsibility for the confrontation and the adverse effect on the company will lie with the BSNL Management and DOT. BSNL workers and the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations, which gave the call for the strike, have very patiently waited for one year to get the agreement implemented. But there is a limit to patience also. It is to be pointed out here that  the DOT as well as  the BSNL Management took extra interest in implementing the government orders on the recommendations of the VI Central Pay Commission (CPC) in the case of ITS officers who are on deputation to BSNL, but with regard to its own workers, the orders on 78.2% IDA fixation stand not implemented. This is nothing but complete indifference, discrimination and an insult to the BSNL workers. This is intolerable and untenable.

Naturally, the employees are agitated. If the issue is not settled before 12th June, the BSNL management is going to face a complete strike and anger of the workers.

On behalf of the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations, we demand the management to honour its committment and ensure issue of orders on 78.2% IDA fixation immediately.

Massive Dharnas in BSNL against injustice

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

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As per the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations, massive dharnas were organised in all the state capitals, District capitals and at the BSNL Corporate office premises demanding immediate orders on 78.2% IDA fixation benefit to  the employees by honouring the strike agreement between the BSNL Management and the Forum on 12th June 2012, one year earlier. The Department of Public Enterprises(DPE) had already issued the orders on the same much earlier and have been implemented in almost all other PSUs. For the Central Government employees also the fixation has been done, as per CDA. BSNL Management itself has implemented all the VI CPC recommendations to the ITS officers (Group A) who are on deputation to BSNL. Denying the same to the executives and non-executives in BSNL is complete injustice and can not be tolerated. It is on this issue, the massive dharnas were organised today. Tens of thousands of workers participated in the dharna all over India.

We demand the management to honour the agreement and implement 78.2% IDA fixation immediately before the workers go on an indefinite strike from 12th June 2013, as given notice of.