Parliamentary Committee against allotment to private companies

03 Monday Sep 2012

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The government is again in trouble with the allotment of coal blocks to private companies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal has asked the government why the coal blocks were allotted to the private companies, when the Coal India Limited, the biggest coal company in the world, has to go to foreign countries  for mining coal for the requirement of the country. And further the private companies, even after years of allotment, had not started the operations for minim coal. The report of the committee is going to be a further head ache for the government. A report in this connection from the Ganashakti is given below:

“New Delhi, Sept 3 : A parliamentary committee has expressed unhappiness over allocation of coal blocks to private firms – most of which have failed to develop them – instead of Coal India Ltd (CIL), prompting the government to state that 116 mines will be allotted to the state-owned firm.      “A paradoxical situation is arising in the country wherein the coal blocks are being allocated to private parties most of which are failing to develop coal blocks in stipulated time frame, whereas CIL, is vying with foreign players in international market to acquire coal assets abroad to meet its requirements,” said the panel in its report tabled in the Rajya Sabha today.      The remarks of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal comes at a time when government auditor CAG has estimated undue benefits of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private firms on account of such allocations and uproar over it refuses to die down.      Coal India and its subsidiaries should be accorded top priority in allocation of identified 138 coal blocks, the panel said. To this, the government has said that it has identified 116 blocks to be given to the PSU.      “The proposal of CIL has been examined in detail by the Ministry of Coal. After examining the revised proposal of CIL, it has been decided to tentatively assign 116 coal blocks to CIL,” the government said in its reply.      The Committee said it is of the opinion that CIL, which is the country’s biggest coal organisation, responsible for meeting the coal demand of various sectors, “has to play a vital role in ensuring energy security of the country at a time where there has been continuous increase in the sector wise as well as overall demand for coal over the years.”      Battling low production, CIL has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore for acquisition of mines overseas and has also formed a subsidiary Coal India Africana Ltd for the such acquisitions.      CIL is the largest coal producer in the world and accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal output. It had recorded about 432 million tonne production in 2011-12, as against a revised down target of 447 MT.”

 

All India Convention on 4th September by CTUs

03 Monday Sep 2012

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An All India Convention of workers called by the 11 All India Central Trade Unions including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU etc. will beheld at Talkatora Stadium New Delhi on 4th September 2012. BSNLEU and other all India independent federations are also participating.

The Convention will be addressed by leaders of all the Central TUs. The convention is expected to take stock of the struggles conducted earlier including the one day strike on 28th February 2012, in which more than 10 crore workers participated, and take decision for organising further struggles on the major demands raised by the unions. The demands include controlling of the price rise, stop anti-worker policies, implement the demands of the casual-contract labours, drop the PFRDA bill etc.

 

Ho-Chi-Minh remembered

02 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in History

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Today, 3rd September 2012, is the 43rd death anniversary of the great revolutionary and father of the Viet-nam nation, Comrade Ho-Chi-Minh. He not only led the people towards freedom, but also gave a crushing defeat to the US imperialists who attacked the nation and even used napalm bombs against the people of Viet-nam. The defence by the Viet-nam army and people was one of the greatest saga of courage and determination against the mighty army of the US.

I pay revolutionary homage to the great leader Comrade Ho-Chi-Minh!

LIC completes 56 years of glorious service to the nation.

02 Sunday Sep 2012

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Life Insurance Corporation of India, one of the jewel PSU, has completed 56 years of glorious service to the nation. It was formed on 1st August 1956 by nationalising certain private insurance companies for better service to the people.

During these 56 years, it has grown as the biggest life insurance company in the country with more than 70% market share. So far, even multi-national companies could not compete with LIC. The company with its 80,000 or so workers and lakhs of insurance agents through out the country gives about 98% satisfaction level to its subscribers.

In strengthening the LIC, the workers and their organisation, All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) has contributed a lot. AIIEA is also one of the most militant union having waged glorious struggles to defend the LIC and the interests of the workers.

I convey my Best Wishes for continued historic growth for both LIC and AIIEA!

Massive Dharna by Contract Workers in Mumbai

01 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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More than one thousand contract workers staged a massive dharna in front of the Maharashtra CGM Office at Mumbai on 1st September 2012 demanding payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures like EPF, ESI etc.  The workers reached the spot from different districts with the red flags and placards with the demands. The dharna was organised by the Maharashtra Circle union of BSNL Labour and Contract Labour Union, affiliated to CITU and BSNLCCWF.

The dharna was addressed by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF who congratulated the workers for the massive gathering and their determination to settle the issues. He spoke briefly about the position of the demands and what the BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU have done to settle the issues.  Com. K.L.Bajaj, All India Vice-President CITU, Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Secretary Maharashtra CITU, Com. G.Mathpati, President, Com.Nana Chavan, Secretary Maharashtra BSNL Labour and Contract Labour Union and other leaders.

The leaders later met Shri Jayaraman, Sr.GM(HR) Maharashtra Circle in the absence of the CGM and demanded that the orders of the government and BSNL corporate office with regard to the payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures etc. be implemented without delay. He assured the delegation that these will be implemented.

The massive dharna has given confidence to the workers and they are determined to strengthen the organisation with forming the union wherever it has not been formed so far.

Meeting with Asst. Labour Commissioner, Mumbai

31 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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Today I got the opportunity to meet Shri Gunahari, Asst. Labour Commissioner, Mumbai and discuss about the non-implementation of labour laws and denial of minimum wages to the contract labour engaged in BSNL Maharashtra circle. He was sympathetic on the issue. Coms. G.Mathpati, President and Nana Chavan, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF, Maharashtra Circle were with me.

Why not cancel coal block allocations?

31 Friday Aug 2012

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When the 2G scam was exposed, the Government was compelled to cancel the licences to the private companies.

When the ISRO- Axis scam was exposed,the government was forced to cancel the agreement.

Why the government is not cancelling the coal blocks allocated to the private companies even after the scam has been exposed? Is it necessary that a Supreme Court verdict is necessary or a massive movement by the people is necessary.

Is there any hope of better sense prevailing on the government?

‘Coalgate’ – Left and Non-Congress, Non-BJP parties on Dharna

31 Friday Aug 2012

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New Delhi, Aug 31 : Opening a new front against the Government, UPA’s outside supporter Samajwadi Party joined hands with the Left parties and TDP today to demand a judicial probe into coal blocks allocation and cancellation of licenses failng which they threatened to launch a countrywide agitation.     SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav staged a dharna at the main entrance of the Parliament building along with leaders from the CPI, CPI(M), RSP, Forward Block and TDP.     They claimed to have support from eight parties for their demand.     More than 30 MPs from these parties staged the dharna which began around 10.30 AM. The MPs including Yadav, CPI leader D Raja and TDP’s Nama Nageshwar Rao shouted slogans and carried placards for inquiry into the coal scam and cancellation of allotments of coal blocks.     They demanded that the Parliament should be allowed to function and to put an end to the “match-fixing” of the Congress and the BJP to disrupt it.     After the 20-minute dharna, Yadav told reporters, “We demand that a sitting Supreme Court judge or the CBI should inquire into the scam. If they don’t order a probe, we will fight at the national level and go to the people on the issue”.     Asked if the parties would continue to be together in the future and whether this was the beginning of a Third Front, he said, “This will continue and whatever you want to think, you can do that.     “We want the coal block licences should be cancelled and there should be a discussion on the issue in Parliament,” he said. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said, “Both BJP and Congress want to avoid a discussion because they don’t want it. If there is no discussion, many of their secrets will remain safe. If a debate is held, many skeletons will tumble out of the cupboard.”     Asked if Yadav could be trusted, he said, “That is why we are saying that only time will tell what will happen in the future”.     CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said, “We have united to fight corruption and the efforts to destroy Parliamentary democracy. This will not only be in Parliament but outside also. This is the beginning of a new day and era”.     TDP leader Nama Nageshwara Rao said, “We want the government to cancel the allocation of coal blocks”.     He alleged that both Congress and BJP were involved in loot of iron ore in Karnataka.     Leaders of SP, CPI, CPI(M) and TDP met yesterday in the backdrop of Parliament failing to transact any business for almost two weeks, with the BJP continuing to create ruckus by pressing its demand for the resignation of the Prime Minister.

Casual and Contract Labour – Press Conference at Mumbai

31 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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A well attended Press Conference was organised in Mumbai Press Club on the issues of the casual and contract workers in BSNL. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President of both BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF explained about the inhuman exploitation of the casual/contract workers by the contractors and the BSNL management. He also briefed the press how the minimum wage is denied to them and that the social security measures like EPF, ESI etc. are denied to them. Casual labours are denied their due claim of  regularisation.

Com. G.Mathpati, Circle President and Com. Nana Chawan, General Secretary, Maharashtra Labour and BSNL Contract Labour Union were also present. They informed that a massive dharna will be organised tomorrow on the issues of the Contract workers.