One-time spectrum charges from 1st January 2013

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in Telecom

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The DOT is proposing to order one-time spectrum charges for all GSM telecom operators with effect from 1 January 2013 as per the earlier cabinet decision. The total amount thus collected is expected to come to Rs. 24,989 crore out of which the private companies share will be Rs. 13,171 crore. BSNL and MTNL together have to pay Rs. 11,818 crore. It is expected that the Government may find out some way to waive the same. The Joint Forum has already demanded that BSNL and MTNL should not be charged with the one-time spectrum charges.

Com. Suseela Gopalan remembered

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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A function was held at AIDWA office on 19th december 2012 in remembrance of the 11th death anniversary of comrade Suseela Gopalan, wife of Com. AK Gopalan and veteran trade union leader, CPI(M) CC member, foundation President of AIDWA and former Kerala Minister. I also participated in the function. All the comrades remembered about the glorious role played by Com. Suseela.

Share of world population of major religious groups

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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An interesting study by Pew Research Centre has assessed the % of world population to the religious groups as follows:
Christians 32%
Muslims 23%
Unaffiliated 16%
Hindus 15%
Budhists 7%
Folk Religion 6%
Others 1%
It shows that there are 16% who do not belong to any religion.
(based on a report in Economic Times)

GSM operators lose 9.38 million connections in Nov.

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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In the last few months, the GSM operators have been steadily losing connections. According to the statstics for November 2012, there has been a loss of 9.38 million GSM connections. Air-Tel lost 2.80 million, Vodafone 2.38 million and idea 1.56 million. Other companies have also lost.
The main reason is the latest proposal of the TRAI that the non-active connections be disconnected. To increase their connections in order to get more spectrum and for publicity purposes, the private companies have been providing connections with out full verification and also very liberally with out fulfilling the licence conditions. Now they are compelled to change that position and the drastic reduction in the connections. As per the report, it is only BSNL, MTNL and Loop which did not suffer the reduction. The present major GSM providers have the following connections and Market Share:

Air-Tel 183.61 millions 27.71%
Vodafone 150.77 22.76%
Idea 114.14 17.20%
BSNL 97.17 14.44%

$ 123 billion Black Money taken out of India in 2001-10

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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A study released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) has revealed that $123 billion has been siphoned out of india during the ten years period from 2001 to 2010. India is the eighth largest victim of the loss of black money to other countries.
There need be no doubt about the above report. Whether it is Swiss Bank Accounts or money put in other similar banks and countries, India’s money has been siphoned off in a big way. The government is not taking any action to recover the same even after some information are received about the Indian accounts is swiss banks. High profile politicians and corporates are involved.
The issue of black money need to be focussed and the government should be compelled to take stringent action to bring it back and also punish the culprits, however high he/she may be.

Insurance Bill will not come in this session of Parliament

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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Shri P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister stated that the Insurance Bill will not be taken in this winter session of Parliament. So far so good.
The Left Parties and the Insurance workers under the leadership of AIIEA have been continuously protesting against the proposed bill since the intention of the bill is to allow the MNCs to come to this sector in a big way with more FDI which is against the interest of the nation and the nationalised life insurance and general insurance companies.

Of course, there will be a big fight in the budget session if the bill is moved.

BSNL-MTNL Workers on Dharna -Report in Ganashakti

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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New Delhi, December 17: As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions/Associations, massive dharnasare organised today, 17th December 2012 in the circle and SSA headquarters all over India demanding immediate repatriation of the BSNL non-optee ITS officers, procurement of equipment and materials for BSNL & MTNL to provide better service, adequate compensation for BSNL land-line operations which are loss making, immediate refund of BWA spectrum charges to BSNL & MTNL, justified sanction of funds from USO Fund, Pension to MTNL retirees by Government as in the case of BSNL, Immediate Presidential directive for 78.2% IDA fixation etc. The dharna will continue tomorrow, 18th December, also.

Despite Delhi High Court directive to repatriate the BSNL non-optee ITS officers who are on continued deputation for 12 years in BSNL &MTNL in violation of the existing rules, the BSNL management and the government are trying to get a cabinet decision for their permanent deputation. This is completely against the interest of the companies and also for their development and expansion. The workers demand is that there cannot be two types of employees in these PSUs, one absorbed in the companies and the other on permanent deputation. One of the main reason for the present financial difficulty and loss for both the PSUs is that the top brass are all officers on deputation, who are not much worried about the loss to the company. It is, therefore, that the workers are demanding the immediate repatriation of these 1400 and odd non-optee ITS officers.

The non-procurement of equipment and materials has been another main reason for the posting of loss to both the companies, BSNL & MTNL. The assurance given by the Government that it will allot sufficient funds from USO Fund for loss making land line connections, reimburse the Licence Fee paid etc. have been stopped. The government took away all the Rs. 40,000 crore surplus cash with the BSNL towards 2G-BWA Spectrum charges etc. The Joint Forum is demanding that all these should be returned to the PSUs.

Memorandum has been presented to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, and Secretary DOT as also CMDs of BSNL & MTNL, but no action has been taken by them to settle the issues mentioned above. Not even a serious discussion has taken place in the matter. A Parliament March with thousands of workers was organised a few days back demanding the settlement of issues at the earliest.

In Delhi, the workers organised dharna in the BSNL corporate office premises which was addressed by M.K.Bagchi, Chairman, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions and Associations, P.Abhimanyu, Prahlad Rai, V.K.Tomar and other leaders.

(Ganashakti)

Homage to Comrade Suseela Gopalan

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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On this 11th death anniversary,I remember and pay homage to Com. Suseela Gopalan, senior CPI(M) leader, former Member of Parliament and also the founder President of the All India Democratic Womens Association(AIDWA) who left us on 19th December 2001.
As life partner to Com. AKG, she was always with him in the many struggles for the emancipation of the working class and had braved many difficulties. She took the issues of the workers in and outside Parliament and fought relentlessly for their cause. She was a fierce fighter for the cause of women.
I had long association with Com. Suseela Gopalan. She helped in taking up our issues and settling them with the government. In many of our conferences she came and addressed.
My respectful homage to the memory of Com. Suseela Gopalan!

Gang Rape – National Shame, Capital Shame

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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The Nation is shocked and outraged on the gang-rape in the bus in Delhi and the brutal attack. The girl is in the most serious condition in hospital. Delhi has become one of the most criminal cities in the world. It is not safe for women.
The situation has to be changed. There should be serious punishment for the culprits. The government and the police should come up with protective measures, stringent punishments for the culprits, fast-track courts. The society has to condemn and come to the defence of the victims. All of us have to jointly put strong effort to ensure that such harassment and attack on the women are put an end to.

More PSUs in Selloff line

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy

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After somehow managing to pass the FDI in retail resolution in Parliament, the UPA government is aggressively pursuing the disinvestment process of PSU shares. It is reported that the government may disinvest shares in NTPC, Oil India, SAIL, NALCO, and Hind Copper to mop up about Rs.23,000 crore by the end of this financial year.
The Central trade Unions have to continue with its anti-disinvestment protest and the unions in each of these PSUs have to strongly resist the disinvestment move. Selling the nation’s assets to the MNCs and Corporates has to be resisted and stopped.