It seems that the Central Government is bringing policies aftr policies. There are National Telecom Policy, New Manufacturing Policy etc. Now the latest seems to be the New National policy for senior citizens or older persons.
I welcome the decision of the government to bring a draft policy. But what will be inside is to be seen. In the NTP -2011 the draft is completely intended to support the private telcos and MNCs, while the New Manufacturing policy is to help the employers to maximum exploit the workers and deny their trade union rights. What is going to be inside the Senior Citizens Policy have to be seen. If it will help the senior citizens, well and good. Other wise we will have to expose the government even exploiting the old citizens, who have contributed a lot for the future of the nation.

Two days ago, I mentioned about the danger of the petrol price being hiked. Yesterday the oil companies have inreased it as mentioned. Rs. 1.80 has been increased for a litre of petrol. In Delhi the price is now Rs. 68.84, Kolkata Rs. 73.15, Mumbai Rs. 73.81 and Chennai Rs. 72.73
This is the 13th price hike since the petrol was decontrolled in June 2010. 13 hikes in 15 months. And the government is sitting silent or rather happy, since every time thre is an increase, the Central Government get more through taxes etc. How cruel! Benefitting out of the miseries of the people!

The Circle Conference of BSNLEU Gujarat Circle starts today. Myself, General Secretry P.Abhimanyu and Dy. general Secretary P.Asokababu have already reached Bharuch for the Conference yesterday itself. Gujarat is a big circle and had always been with BSNLEU, despite some vaccilations now and then.
I hope the conference will be conducted in a very good manner.

According to United Nations, the world population has crossed 7 billion ( 700 crores ) by 1st November 2011. While China stands first, India is in the second position. It is estimated that by 2035, the population is China may stabilise. But the population is increasing more in India and it is observed that India may out pass China by 2035.
Increase in population is not a crime. The nation should be able to provide basic requirements to all the people. Population control will naturally come when there is maximum literacy, jobs are ensured and there is an understanding on the subject. It can not be imposed as was tried at the time of the “Emergency” during 1975-77.

According to media reports one more petrol price hike is in the agenda of the petrol companies. On the plea that the value of the rupee has been devalued, the oil companies are planning to hike by Rs. 1.82 This will be the 4th consecutive hike of petrol price in 2011. The last was in September 2011, when the price per litre was hiked by Rs. 3.14.
After deregularisation, the oil companies have been hiking the prices with out any restraint putting the customers in to much difficulties. The government is not taking any action. By the proposed hike petrol price per litre in Delhi will increase from Rs. 66.84 to Rs. 68.66.
There should be strong protest against these unjustified hikes.

To an RTI application, the Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare, Government of India has intimated that there are a total of 8,20,578 pensioners in central services with out taking in to consideration the number of pensioners in Railways, Defence, Posts and Telecom / BSNL
This is the age wise numbers
1. up to 60 years 2,32,541
2. 60 – 70 3,32,021
3. 70 – 80 1,70,479
4. 80 – 85 40,812
5. 85 – 90 27,552
6. 90 – 95 11,403
7. 95 – 100 4,095
8. 100 and above 1,675
Total 8,20,578
This is almost equal to the working employees. This may almost be applicable to pensioners of Railways, Defence and Posts and Telecom (including BSNL). Another interesting factor is that there are 1,675 pensioners who have crossed 100 years. Congratulations!
But tomorrow, the pensioners may be more than the regular workers since there is almost no recruitment.

31st October is a day of big victory for Palestine and utter defeat for US policy. Palestine has been admitted to UNESCO with 107 countries support. 14 countries opposed and 52 absented from voting due US pressure. The US has been continuously opposing entry of Palestine in all United Nations Forums, including the UN General Assembly, by threatening to cut its funding. After it was decided to admit the Palestine to the UNESCO, us declared that its $ 60 million funding to UNESCO will be stopped. So far due to US veto, Palestine could not be admitted to the UN General Assembly, though huge majority are in support of admission. But there is no veto Power to stop entry to Unesco.
US has been taking an unjustified rigid position regarding admission of Palestine due to its close connection with Israel, who is the agressor and has been continuously attacking Palestine and its people. The present decision, if it will pave for the acceptance of Palestine by UNO, will be only a justice to the palestine people.

Government on the one side is asking BSNL to provide landline/mobile services in the remote and village areas as per its commitment to universal service. But on the other side it is not prepared to subsidise BSNL for the huge loss being caused by providing service in these loss making areas.( Private companies are not providing any service in local areas, because of the loss.)
But the DOT/Government is not prepared to give sufficient subsidies / fund to compensate BSNL. This is completely unfair and injustice.
BSNL has claimed about Rs. 4,000 crore towards this as per reports. But the government is yet to take a favourable decision. Government should stop this anti-PSU line and give the required subsidy with out any delay.

The JAC meeting held today, 31st October 2011 has decided to organise the deferred 0ne day strike by BSNL Employees to December to forge wider unity, for full preparation and effective implementation. Massive propaganda and campaign to be unleashed in support of the strike.

To a reply for an RTI request, the CPWD has informed that unauthorised occupants owe an amount of Rs. 63 lakhs to government. The occupiers are not ordinary people. They are either former M.P.s or top politicians or relations of them. Some of the occupiers and their dues are given below:
G.Venkataswamy, former Congress M.P. Rs. 29.4 lakh
Jagdish Tytler , former Congress Minister Rs. 19.1 lakh
Sangita Kumari Singdeo, former BJP MP Rs. 7.39 lakh
Jagan Mohan Reddy, Congress MP Rs. 3.00 lakh
A lot of former M.P.s of both Congress and BJP are the unauthorised occupants and they don’t pay the rent also.
This is the ethics and accountability of some of our Parliament Members from the ruling and main opposition parties.