30 Friday Mar 2012
I am reproducing a report published in the Economic Times:
“The government is likely to declare some 400 officers in the telecom department as surplus following their refusal to consider re-employment in BSNL.
These Indian Telecom Service executives, who had transferred to the DoT from cash-strapped BSNL in November, are likely to be moved to a surplus staffers cell in the HRD ministry, according to a senior official of BSNL.”
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in General
Many friends and comrades have intimated through SMSs, mails, calls and comments their heartfelt condolences to me in the last two days for my bereavement, passing away of my beloved elder sister. I thank all of them for their sharing of my grief and condolence messages.
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in General, Uncategorized
The summit meeting of the heads of the five countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and S.Africa (BRICS) held in New Delhi in the last two days has been watched by the world over. These five countries are some of the major developed and developing countries and their co-operation in the field of economy, trade etc. will have important results. The developed countries like US and Euro takes this as an alternate grouping which may not be to their benefit.
One of the major decision is that despite the embargo for Iran, India, Brazil and S.Africa will continue to buy oil from Iran. Secondly they have called to US etc. to have talks with Iran on the nuclear issue. There were bilateral discussions between India and the heads of the participating nations.Thiese bilateral agreements will be beneficial to India. My congratulations to the leaders of the BRICS!
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in History
The religious head of the Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, met Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro during his visit to Cuba. This is not the first visit of the head of vatican with Cuba’s leader. Earlier, meeting had been held between Pope John Paul II and Fidel, while he was the President of Cuba.Pope was received in capital city of Havana at Revolution Square participated by about 3,00,000 people, a large number considering the cuba’s population.
Both octogenarians discussed issues of mutual concerns. One issue which was focussed was about the inhuman economic embargo of Cuba, by the US and connected countries. Pope in clear terms opposed it and demanded the US government to put an end to the blockade.
The meeting between the Catholic and the Communist is really historic.
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in BSNL News
With the increasing mobile telephones, DOT is trying to rearrange the number system for telephones. Considering the fact that landlines and CDMA lines are mostly on the decline, it is proposing to utilise these numbers for mobile phones. Accordingly landlines numbers will be restricted to numbers starting with 2 and 4. Series starting with 92 and 93, which are mainly for the CDMA numbers, will also be allotted to GSM telephones.
However, the proposal of the TRAI to allot ten digit numbers to landlines has not been accepted by the DOT.
30 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in BSNL News
The unwanted telemarketing calls, called pesky calls, are creating such a nuisance that it should not only be banned, but should be punished with heavy penalties and jail term. The latest technologies are being used by the market forces to impose these unwanted calls and SMSs on the subscribers with impunity. Valuable time is compelled to be wasted. Sometimes, the SMSs and calls are also cleverly charged on the receiver.
I appreciate the TRAI for its continued instructions and directions to stop this menace. May be it has been reduced to a certain extent, but the telemarketers are finding out new ways not to get caught and punished.
As per the earlier instructions TRAI has stated that it has penalised 22,000 users and 94 telemarket firms for earlier violations. But not much has been improved. Now the TRAI has reiterated again the instructions on this subject.
TRAI has asked the persons who does not want unsolicited calls/data to register with National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). If violations are found out it should also be reported. If individuals are sending these unwanted messages, their telephones will be got disconnected.
Let us hope these actions will at least reduce the menace.
29 Thursday Mar 2012
Posted in PSU
Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over the impending strike threat on Air India and urged Government to consider special relief for the national carrier to resolve the salary and arrear payment issues of its employees. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ram Chandra Khuntia (Cong) said the arrears of Air India employees have not been paid for four years and they have not received salaries also for a long time even as the government has been spending thousands of crores to bail out Air India. Drawing the attention of the Upper House to the notice given by Air India workers to stop work from April 2, he said the airline faces repeated strikes even as its Chairman has been changed. Pointing towards Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who was present, Khuntia said the minister should see into the matter and resolve the problem of pending arrears and salary dues of employees by April 1 so that the strike is prevented. “If required Government of India should give some special relief to Air India,” Khuntia said. As members from almost all parties supported Khuntia’s contentions, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan observed “it is entire House’s sentiment. Government should take notice.”
29 Thursday Mar 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Uncategorized
In the PSUs, upgradation of cities are decided purely on the basis of the population, unlike in the Central Government where certain other criteria are also considered. Those cities which cross 5 lakh poulation are treated as B class cities with 20% HRA and those crossing 50 lakh are treated as A class with 30% HRA. Less than 5 lakh are treated as C class with 10%.
Now the census 2011 has been released and some cities might have crossed 5 lakh. Comrades in those cities are requested to contact CHQ immediately with the figures. CHQ has already taken with the management for upgradation of the cities, which are justified.
29 Thursday Mar 2012
Posted in PSU
It is really surprising. On the one hand Air India is in dire straits even for paying salaries to its staff. The Air India unions have decided to go on strike if the pending salaries are not paid. The company has been made in to loss by the anti PSU policy of the government, especially the interference by the former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.
And yesterday to a question in the Parliament, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has stated that the government is to pay an arrear of Rs. 574.67 crore to the Air India as outstanding amount. Prime ministers office owes 200.40 crores, Defence Rs. 13-56 crore etc. This is, simply to say, non-sense. The Government should immediately pay its outstanding dues to the Air india.
29 Thursday Mar 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Yesterday was a sad day for me. My elder sister Sreedevi Anterjanam (81) passed away after a brief illness at her house Veetiyot near Perambra, in Kozhikode district, Kerala in the evening of 28th March. I wanted to go, but could not as no flight was available at that time. The cremation and rituals were over by midnight, as the body could not be kept for much more time. Almost all other relations were present including her son and daughters.
It is not the first time that this happened. My mother, two of my elder brothers and elder sister – all passed away after I had shifted to Delhi in 1991 having been elected as the All India President / General Secretary of the union. But somehow, I could reach in the above instances before the cremation. This time, I could not get a chance even for that. Naturally, I am sad.
Shifting to Delhi has resulted in almost cutting of the contacts with even close relations. I have not seen some of the children of my nephews and nieces even once, though they have reached the age of 10 to 12 years. I have missed my close comrades and friends who were with me for more than two-three decades in times of joy as well as sorrow. I have missed the many agitations and struggles which I was closely connected when I was in Calicut. I missed the marriages of many youngsters, whose parents were close friends and wanted my presence. At least now, I want to improve myself on famlily /social relations.
It is the responsibility of an individual to keep both the official/union/business functions and personal relations at the same time. I have almost utterly failed in that. After I came to Delhi, there was only one thought in my mind – to strengthen the union and sort out the issues of the workers. I was so merged in the union activities and tours, that I almost forgot every other thing. I feel sad to think that even once I did not visit the college in Trichy, where my son studied. I had gone twice or thrice only to the Engineering College, where my daughter studied. My wife looked after the young children alone while doing her official job also. I am thankful to them that all of them tolerated my absence and never criticised me.
This is not the case with me alone. Many comrades whom I know have suffered much more for the cause for which they stood. How many comrades had to sacrifice their lives for the cause or suffer their entire lives? Compared to all the above, my case is nothing even to mention. I am consoled that my comrades, friends and family understood me and tolerated and helped me. I am thankful to all of them.
I was thinking whether to post this write-up or not, since this is too personal and emotional. But it came to my mind that many other comrades like me will appreciate that the same thoughts in their minds are expressed by somebody else.
