02 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in General
The latest reshuffle of the Cabinet consequent to the elevation of Shri Pranab Mukherjee to the highest post of President of India has almost shocked the country.
Promotions to the ‘power failed’ Minister Shinde to the high-profile Home Minister and the ‘2G connected’ Home Minister Chidambaram to Finance Minister is nothing but a mockery to the common sense of the people.
02 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in General
The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report once agains confirms the well known fact that despite total growth, the inequality between the rich and the poor are increasing in high proportions.
According to the 68th Survey by this government organisation, the poorest 10% in rural India spend on an average Rs. 16.8 only per day to survive and half of the rural population in India spends less than Rs. 35 per day.
The urban rich are spendinguch more than the rural rich. The monthly expenditure of the urban rich are 221% of the rural rich. If that is so, the urban rich will be spending 1000% or more of the rural poor. What the “Occupy Wall Street” movement in US stated that the 1% Bankers and Corporates control 99% of wealth will become true in India also if the preent anti-people neo-liberal policies are continued.
It is against these anti-people policies and decisions that the Central Trade Unions organised the strike on 28th February 2012. The present 5 day dharna all over the country organised by the Left parties are also in the same direction. Let us be part of this great national movement!
02 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
.All will agree that after the formation of the BSNL, there is more delay in decision-making and implementation on all matters. Of course, it is true that, DOT being the owner of the company, in most of the cases, approval of DOT is necessary which causes delay. But is it the only delay? Presumably NO. The decision-making in BSNL itself takes undue delay, completely violative of the corporate decision-making process.
Take for example the supply of equipment like cable, GSM lines, Broadband Modem etc. which are urgently required at the field level to provide connections and also for maintenance of the services. At the time of the 15 December 2011 strike, it was assured that all these will be provided at the earliest. Workers are waiting and waiting. Corporate Management has informed months back that every material required have been made available. But the report we are getting from the field is otherwise. Barring some exceptions, none of these, GSM lines, Cables, phone Instruments, Modems etc. have been received at the field levels. The field level managements are telling that these have not been received.
In such a critical sector like Telecom, where there is die-hard competition, can the BSNL survive if such delay takes place hitting the development and expansion? The market share of BSNL is continuously reducing. There may be other reasons also, but delay in procurement is the number one reason for the reduction. Unless the management act fast, it will be very difficult to gain the earlier position.
This lethargy is also seen in the settlement of the staff problems. It takes unusually long time for the management even to settle simple issues. The last 12 years’ experience is sufficient example. The latest is the implementation of the assurance given by the management that the 78.2% IDA fitment will be implemented for the staff. The agreement was made on 12th June 2012. Almost two months are going to be over. But so far even the BSNL Management Committee has not discussed the same, leave alone adoption. Management cannot be unaware that the workers are expecting for a quick resolution of the issue. The Forum of BSNL Unions, which is party to the agreement, has met the management several times for getting the matter expedited, but so far there has been delay only. The workers are asking when it will be approved and implemented. There is no excuse for the delay in finalising and issuing the order, of course after a quick process.
My point is that BSNL Management has to move fast, take quicker decisions and faster implementation, both in the case of development and expansion as also in the settlement of the workers issues. This is a must for the survival of BSNL.
01 Wednesday Aug 2012
Posted in Obituary, Tributes
Red salute to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet on this 1st August, his 4th death anniversary! He was one of the tallest leaders of the CPI(M). His life and struggles for the toiling masses of the country and against the British rule will inspire all the progressive section of the society.
I have my own memories of the great leader who supported the CGE as also the BSNL movement. His support to the cause of the BSNL workers is well-known.
Red Salute again to Com. Surjeet!
01 Wednesday Aug 2012
The above is the caption given to the editorial in the ‘Peoples democracy’, the official weekly of the CPI(M) in its issue dated 23-29 July 2012. The CPI(M) along with other Left parties like CPI, RSP and Forward Block has decided to organise dharna for 5 days from 30th July to 3rd August at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and many centres all over the country demanding supply of 35 kg of food grain at Rs.2 per kg every month. The Dharna has started and two days are over with massive participation. Top leaders of all the Left Parties along with many comrades are sitting on dharna daily. I used the opportunity to be part of this great struggle by participating in the dharna at Delhi.
It is more than 6 decades after India got Independence from British imperialism and declared itself as a Sovereign Republic. Many Five Year Plans have been implemented. Despite all these, about 80% of the people are still living from hands to mouth. Their daily expenditure is below Rs 3o – 20. This is as per the statistics of the government itself.
On the one side about 20% is in the upper strata that have all the benefits. On the other side is the 20% which do not have sufficient food even. These are the Two Indias which are before us.
According to the United Nation’s Global Hunger Index (GHI), India ranks 67 among 80 countries which suffer acute hunger of its people. 25% of hungry people of the world are in India. The condition of many so-called poverty countries in Africa etc. are above India in the GH Index. How shameful for this country! Not over, go through the shameful list given below:
One-third of the world’s children suffering from malnutrition are in India. 44% children in India are underweight. 72% are suffering from anaemia. 55% pregnant women are also suffering from anaemia. Every day thousands of children are dying due to various diseases and malnutrition. The list continues.
The main focus of the Government should be for supply of sufficient food grains. It is not that food grain is not available in the country. As on 1 June 2012, the government has a stock of 82.3 million tonnes, while the buffer stock required is only 50 million tonnes. In fact there is not even space to store them, resulting the food grains are put in the open and got damaged and destroyed. Sometimes it is exported as fodder to animals. But even then the excess food grains are not supplied to the poor at a minimum price.
The newly elected President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on his assumption of office declared that “there is no humiliation more abusive than hunger”. He also stated that the curse of poverty should be eliminated.
But the policy and practice by the Central Government only increases poverty and poor in the country. It is against this humiliation and denial of food to the poor that the left Parties are organising dharnas all over the country for 5 day from 30th July demanding that 35 kg food grain should be provided to every family at Rs. 2 per kg. to ensure food to the needy people.
The workers cannot sit idle. They should fully support this struggle in the interest of the people of this country.
31 Tuesday Jul 2012
Posted in BSNLEU
Every month about thousand workers are retiring from the BSNL on superannuation. Many of the senior comrades of the union are also among them.
On this day, 31st July 2012, I have the information about two such senior leaders of the BSNLEU who have retired.
One is Com. P.Asokababu, Dy. General Secretary of BSNLEU and who was an office-bearer of the All India Telecom Employees Union, then AITEU (N) and BSNLEU during the period from 1994. He is a wholly committed comrade who have made big contributions to the union and have been fully at CHQ for the last two years and have contributed much to the wage revision, promotion policy etc. ( Please visit BSNLEU website for details). He retired from Vijayawada.
The second is Com. Chaniara, senior leader of BSNLEU in Gujarat. A very committed leader who was always in the forefront of the movement, his contribution is well appreciated by all. He had worked in many posts including Circle Vice-President.
I convey my Best Wishes to both of them for a continued service to the working class and toiling masses. I also wish them a fully active healthy life!
My Best Wishes to all those retired today from BSNL all over the country! I thank them all for the excellent work done for the BSNL and the union!
31 Tuesday Jul 2012
Posted in BSNLEU
I am herewith reproducing a news received from the Circle Secretary Kolkata Telephones with regard to the inauguration of Union Building:
In accordance with the decision of the Circle Union new building inaugural ceremony held on 29th July 2012. In a very big gathering of more than five hundred workers All India President of BSNL Employees Union Com. VAN Namboodiri hoisted the union flag. After garlanding the Martyrs column and observing silence to pay due homage to the Martyrs, Union office inauguration ceremony started. Com. Biswanath Chatterjee as proposed inaugurated the new union office. Circle Secretary delivered a welcome speech. Com. P Abhimanyu, General Secretary BSNLEU could not attend the function due to some urgent union work at New Delhi. Circle Secretary, Saibal Sengupta read out the greeting message sent by the GS. Com. Sisir Bhattacharya, the senior most leader initiated the ceremony by his valuable speech. Com. Shib Sankar Roy, JT. Convenor 12th July Committee delivered his speech. Com. VAN Namboodiri, All India President BSNL Employees Union, the Chief Speaker addressed the mass. He appreciated the organisers and workers for their disciplined act and adept performance which brought this success. He also expressed that the Calcutta Telephones Circle with its past glory of fight from Olympia House would be able to upkeep the tradition of undaunted struggle from this new union office. Alok Nandi, Deputy GS FNTO. Dilip Saha, State Secretary SNEA, Subhasis Mitra , Asst. Secretary AIBSNLEA, Amit Gupta, leader AIBSNLEA, D K Sahoo, Circle Secretary, AIGETOA, Timir Bhattacharjee, Circle Secretary, AIBSNLOA, Shyamal Ghosh, cIrcle Secretary, NFTE BSNL. Assistant Circle Secretary from SNATTA addressed the house. Alok Nandi announced that he will donate Rs. 5000/- Shyamal Ghosh said that he will donate Rs. 1000/- and Amit Gupta declared that he will donate a wall clock to our union. Howrah District Secretary, Com. Prabir Dutta handed over Rs. One lakh twenty four thousand plus to the Circle Treasurer Com. Tushar Mukherjee. Many a comrades donated to union building fund. Com Animesh Mitra, GS BSNL Co ordination Committee, Com. Pijush Roy, GS CG Co ordination Committe, Com. Manab Sensharma, GS CG Pensioners Co ordination Committee, Com. Tapash Ghosh, Secretary General BSNLCCWF, Originator Com. Supriya Mitra, Ice breaker Com. Biswanath Chatterjee, Com. Ananta Kr. Bhattacharjee, All India President, AIBDPA, Com. Adhir Kr. Sen, Vice President, BSNLEU CHQ and Shri Tamonesh Chandra on behalf of the landlord made their deliberations. Decoration, Sub Committee comrades Manisha Biswas, Asit Bose, Samar Sarkar, Reception Sub Committee Comrades Ash Md Khan, Subrata Majumder,Bhajan Sarkar, Transport Sub Committee comrades Jayanta Ghosh, Ashoke Sengupta worked effectively. A very good delicious dish was served under the Leadership of Comrades Paritosh Dutta, Swapan Biswas and Nipen Sikdar with suitable support from Bidhan Nagar District Comrades who cooked food and made all arrangements for lunch.Com. Subhasish Roy, Convenor of all functionaries supervised every affairs. Many a organiser and members including non regular and retired workers put their support for successful conduct of the inaugural function. The entire programme was presided over by our respected Circle President Com. Aghor Sikdar.
Congratulations to Kolkata Telephones Circle union and its workers!
31 Tuesday Jul 2012
Posted in History
It was on the 31st of July 1959, that the President of India, on the advice of the Prime Minister dismissed the democratically elected EMS Government even before completing half of its tenure. It was a shock to the ruling Congress that in Kerala the Communist Party got majority in the 1957 elections. It could not tolerate this defeat and made all efforts at horse trade of MLAs and other methods to cause fall of the government. It completely failed in even getting a single MLA from the ruling party or the independents supporting it.
The Communist Government with Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad as the Chief Minister enacted much very important progressive legislations in the fields of Land Reforms, Education etc. which changed the entire situation in the state in favour of the common people and the toiling masses. The rich and the vested interests were desperate. The communal forces could not digest these progressive reforms. A ‘Vimochana Samaram’ was organised by all these disgruntled elements with the support of CIA and its funds to topple the Ministry, but again it failed. US Ambassador at that time confirmed later about the money given to the anti-government movement.
It is in this context that the Central Government directly intervened and dismissed the government misusing Article 356 of the Constitution. The Congress government later utilised this authority of to dismiss many other state governments opposed to it. The dismissal of the Kerala government was nothing but a murder of democracy.
53 years are over after that, but the shame and guilt of the same still hangs on the Congress. Kerala can never forget or forgive this assault on democracy.
29 Sunday Jul 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Yesterday, I got a chance to attend a meeting of the All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association at Kolkata. It was a meeting of the leading comrades of AIBDPA in Kolkata which was urgently called to have interaction in connection with my visit. Com. Ananta Kr. Bhattacharjee, All India President, presided and Com. Supriyo Mitra, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA welcomed all. When I spoke, I narrated the struggles organised by the AIBDPA separately and also jointly with NCCPA, BCPC as also BSNLEU. During a short period, we could achieve the Pension Revision to pre-2007 retirees, Allotment of quarters to retirees, Braod Band connections on concession basis and some other issues. At the same time, there are other major demands which have to be settled. The growth of the organisation through out the country was narrated. There was active discussion. It was clear that the pensioners in Kolkata are completely well organised and strongly behind AIBDPA.
My hearty congratulations to the AIBDPA Kolkata Telephone Circle.
29 Sunday Jul 2012
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
As a PSU, BSNL is utterly failing in its Human Resources Policy. I will focus on one issue particularly in this respect.
There are around 4,000 casual workers in BSNL who were engaged at the time of DOT and have completed more than 15 to 20 years of uninterrupted service. In the DOT, they were being regularised systematically, even though delay used to take place in many cases.
As per the agreement made between the DOT and Federations before the corporatisation to BSNL, all the left-out casual labours who fulfil the required conditions will be regularised. About 6,000 casual labours were regularised accordingly. But there are still about 4,000 yet to be regularised.
The plea of the management that they cannot be regularised in view of the Supreme Court judgement in the case of State of Karnataka vs Uma Devi, is not acceptable. Based on the same judgement both the Government Departments like Income Tax, Customs etc. as also PSUs have regularised their left-out casual workers. BSNL can also regularise the workers in the same way.
BSNLEU and BSNL Casual Workers Federation has taken this issue seriously. If the management does not act without further delay to regularise the employees serious struggle become inevitable. The management cannot refuse the legitimate right of the workers.
The meeting of the BSNLCCWF held at Kolkata yesterday which was attended by me along with Com. Animesh mitra, Vice-President, Com. Tapas Ghosh Secretary General, Tapos Banerjee, Treasurer and other leaders explained all the issues raised by the members. It was a very good discussion on all the issues of the casual and contract workers
