At about 03.30 hours in the early morning today, I got an SMS from com. R.P.Joshi, Rajkot intimating that Com. R.T.Sharma, senior Trade Union leader of Vadodara has passed away . I was shocked. I could not believe the sad news. Only a few weeks back, I have met him at the Circle Conference of BSNLEU Gujarat Circle on 4th November 2011 and he was hale and hearty. Since the Conference was going on, we could not speak much, but  of course exchanged greetings and remembered about the old times. I contacted leaders of BSNLEU and got confirmed about the sad news. I contacted RT’s family and conveyed my condolences.

Com. R.T.Sharma was one of the senior leaders  along with Comrade A.C.Shah and other leaders who built up AITEU Class III, AITEU Class III(N) and then BSNLEU after corporatisation in Gujarat Circle. Comrades A.C.Shah and R.T.Sharma was a very strong team which changed the situation in Gujarat to the advantage of  BSNLEU and got majority. Even now I remember the Vadodara CEC meeting, when both of these leaders personally gave liberal donations for the work of the CHQ. In the earlier times, I have toured the entire Gujarat with these leaders.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet RT at the Gujarat Circle Conference due to obvious reasons. I never thought that this will be our last meeting. But it was to be so.

I express my deep grief at the untimely demise of Com.R.T.Sharma and convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades. My Red Salute and respectful homage to the departed leader and comrade!

A long cherished dream of BSNL Employees Union to have its own building at New Delhi is fulfilled. The three-storied building in Shadipur near Dada Ghosh Bhawan ( about 20 minutes walk) has been taken possession by CHQ today, 8th December 2011. The keys of the building was handed over to Com.P.Abhimanyu, Managing Trustee of  K.G.Bhawan Memorial Trustee by the previous owner of the building in the presence of Comrades V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, P.Asokababu, Dy.GS, G.B.Salakki AGS,  K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA and T.A.Biju, Office Secretary.

It is due to the combined efforts of all the members and leaders of BSNLEU that we have been able to purchase our own building. To purchase this building, including stamp paper, registration etc.  a good amount is spent. CHQ has taken about Rs.one and half crore loan from the bank and that is to be returned at the earliest. It can be done only with the full support of the workers. The Jaipur CEC meeting has called upon the workers for maximum donations towards this purpose. I am sure that the workers will respond to the call in an overwhelming manner  and ensure that the loan is returned at the earliest.

In preparation for the 15th December Strike, the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions have called workers to organise massive rallies on 8th December. The Circles were also called to organise rallies and submit memorandums to the Governers of the states with regard to our demands. JAC has already approached Members of Parliament of various political parties and conveyed the issues for taking up with the government. Many have supported our position.

A few weeks back Mallikarjun Kharge,Labour Minister expressed the hope that this year the interest on Employees Provident Fund may be increased from the present  9.5%. Workers were happy. It was fully justified since the interest rate has already been increased during the last year on loans etc.

But now the bolt from the blue. It is reported that the interest rate, instead of increasing may be reduced to 8.25%! What a non-sense! When the interest rate every where is increasing how it can be reduced for the EPF only? This should be strongly protested. Hope the Central Unions will take the issue seriously and make the government to decided in favour of increased rate.

Yesterday I had given some calculations of wage bills based on an estimated wage bills for T.Nadu circle for 2011-12. Now some of the officers in the corporate office has informed me that it is not fully correct. I have asked them to give the official All India information. Once it is supplied we will be able to find out the real position.

For the first time in history, a planet similar to earth has been discovered. It is 600 years away from earth and is 2.4 times the size of earth. The finding of this planet – named Kepler 22b- has been confirmed by the scientific community. The temperature is 22 degree celsius and indications of water availability is also noticed. Whether there is any life is yet to be found out. But all the findings so far indicates that life may be there.

So another Earth, another civilisation? The coming times will give the answers.

HIGHLIGHTS

v  In Wireless (GSM+CDMA) segment, monthly growth marginally improved to 79.04 lac in September’11, compared to August’11. Top three performers in net Wireless Subscribers addition in Sep’11 are: Uninor (19.16 lac), Idea (17.39 lac) & Reliance (10.2 lac). BSNL added 3.83 lac. Worst loser is HFCL (2.21 lac), followed by Videocon 1.13 lac.

v  Amongst BSNL Circles, Andhra Pradesh again recorded highest Wireless Subscribers’ growth of 2.4 lac in Sep.’11 followed by Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) 2 lac, Kerala 1.9 lac &. Karnataka 1 lac. Nine Circles posted negative growth in Sep.’11 viz. Maharashtra (2.6 lac), Haryana (61k), Bihar (51k), Rajasthan (40k), J&K (25k), MP (20k), Punjab (19k), Assam (8k) & UP-W (4k).  In VLR  position of Sep.’11,Andhra Pradesh Circle tops with 95.73%, followed by J&K- 66.59%, Kerala- 63.96% &Maharashtra- 63.52%. Kolkata TD continues to occupy the last position with 34.77%.

v  VLR – Visitor Location Register shows the actual number of active Wireless telephones. In September 2011, VLR report indicated that only 70.71% (61.78 crore) of all wireless subscribers were active. Company-wise detailed status is shown in the table.

v  Urban – Rural Divide on the Basis of Tele- Density: The gap i.e. Urban TD minus Rural TD is widening month by month as visualized from the consecutive six months’ figures : April’11= 125.2, May’11= 126.2, June’11= 127.5, July= 127.8%, Aug’11= 128.7% & Sep’11=129.6%.

Our continued efforts to bring the FNTO in to the 15th December Strike seems to have failed. It is reported in the website of FNTO that the Central Working Committee meeting of FNTO has decided not to participate in the 15th December Striek. The reason- JAC did not postpone the strike for two or three days.

It is true. The JAC could not postpone the strike now as it is already postponed twice. The information was given to FNTO immediately after JAC took decision to go onstrike on 15th December. The decision was to organise the strike during Parliament session. The Parliament may close at any date before 21st. Further after preparing fully, changing the date will not be possible. The CWC was held on 1-2 December and the strike notice could have been given on the date itself with 14 days notice. Even otherwise once the notice is given by a union, joining the strike 14 days notice is not necessary.

It has been a draw back for the UPA government and victory for the people. It is reported that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has informed the opposition leaders that cabinet decision on 51% FDI is being kept on hold. Well knowing the clever strategy of the government, the opposition has demanded a complete roll back of the decision.

The India Inc is all critisism of the opposition. They are asking the government to be firm and continue with its decision. They are not worried about the people or the small traders. They want only to get foreign investment and huge profit. MNCs in US and other countries want reaping profit by investing in India. All are angry at the Left and other opposition.

But the government has no numbers to face an adjournment motion. It has got no option but to accept the genuine demand of the opposition. The all party meeting called by the Finance Minister tomorrow is cruscial. Will the government  agree for roll back of FDI in retail trade. Let us wait and see.

It was expected from this government. In an effort to further weaken the C-DOT, the Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology which has been indigenously developed by C-DOT has been transferred to seven PSU-private companies.

C-DOT has been a premier organisation and it has at the initial stage developed many indigenous technology including suitable switching for India called C-DOT exchanges. There were hundreds of newly recruited Engineers with commitment. But instead of further developing this R and D institution, the government reduced its support. Most of the Engineers were compelled to leave due to less motivation including low wages.

Now, even the technology developed by it is handed over to others. The companies to which the technology is transferred are: ITI, Bharat Electronics, VMS Systems, United Telecoms, Sai Infosystems, SM Creative Electronics and Tejas Networks. Except the first two all are private companies.