The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by Yeshwant Sinha has recommended up to 26% FDI in the New Pension Scheme(NPS). So far, FDI is not allowed in NPS. This will mean, if accepted by the Government, more problems for the NPS subscribers. At present there are seven Fund Managers for Pension Funds viz. LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Fund, UTI Retirement Solutions, IDFC Pension Fund Management Company, ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management, Kotak Mahendra Pension Fund and Reliance Capital Pensions Fund.
The Standing Committee has also recommended that the NPS should be extended to public and private companies. At present the scheme is for Central Government employees who are recruited from 01-01-2004 onwards. It has also suggested that the returns by the Fund Managers should not be less than what the EPF Organisation is giving ie.9.5%
The entire employees and their organisations are opposing PFRDA Bill and a historic National Convention has already been held in Delhi. The government is trying to get it passed early so that the lakhs of crores of rupees of Pension Funds can be handed over to the Fund managers who are mostly private.
The struggle against the PFRDA Bill has to continue till it is dropped by the Government.

Some startling news from Kerala. The birth-rate is coming down gradually. But that doest not mean the population will decrease.
The total birth in Kerala in 1998 was 5,91,508. In 2008, it was reduced to 5,35,738. a reduction of 55,770 in ten years.
The death numbers are increasing. In 1998 total registered death was 1,85,788. In 2008 it is 2,21,769.It has increased, but it may be more since all the deaths are not registered unlike births, which is compulsory.
So though population will increase for some more time since the number of births are more than the death numbers. But a stage will come where the number of deaths will increase and the number of births will be less. The present situation means that number of youngsters will reduce and the nuber of old people will increase.
(Inputs from an article in Malayala Manorama dated 01-09-2011)

I am in Kerala for the last few days. It is raining in Delhi. But the rains in Kerala is completely different. For the last three days, it has been continuously pouring rain in Kerala. Even with umbrella you don’t have a chance of going out without getting wet. But it is also pleasant to some extent to see the heavy down pour of water which is very much essential for the people to drink and other uses.
I enjoyed it even though it was very inconvenient when going out.

Today is Bakrid, the day of peace, sacrificice and fraternity! My Bakrid Greetings to all my blog readers!

Comrade J.Sampth Rao, the dynamic Circle Secretary of A.P.Circle, BSNLEU has retired from service today, 31st August 200. The hard work, commitment and inspiring leadership of Comrade Sampath Rao made A.P.Circle, the biggest in the country.

I salute comrade Sampath Rao and Wish him a Happy and Healthy Life. But I also expect him to be in the leadership for more years!

A very happy news! BSNL has topped in the number of connections provided in July 2011.
BSNL provided 17,72,670 while Airtel provided 15,10,279 and Vodafone 14,91,167 connections. Other companies provided less than the above. For the first time in many years BSNL has come to the top in new connections.
The interesting fact is that BSNL has got the top position, mainly because the leading telcos provided fewer numbers than in the previous months. The increase in charges by these companies may be one reason. However, once you reach at the top, it becomes your responsibility to maintain that apex position.
Let us ensure that we keep the first position and work hard for the same.

A few comrades have posted comments stating why there are no posts in my blog for the last two days ie. 29th and 30th August.
The fact is that I am away from Delhi. On the tour I took the laptop but forgot to take the data-card. I found that only after I reached Calicut in Kerala.That is why there were no posts. Now I have purchased a BSNL data card and has started my work. The Calicut comrades were quick to give a connection.
I hope to continue with my blog without break in future. Thank you friends!

Whatever critics may say, Anna Hazare has been able to make a change in the situation. The peoples wrath against corruption has been channelised and as a result the Parliament has reached a consensus on certain important issues connected with tackling corruption. The people are fed up with corruption which hazzles them at each and every moment of their life. Corruption has become a part of life and the maximum sufferers are the people at the lowest strata. That is why the Anna movement got such a massive support. The Parliament has understood that to ignore such a mass movement will be dangerous. And it is good that a consensus has reached on the major issues.

The ruling party, Congress, has utterly failed and bungled at each and every stage dealing with the Anna fast. That may cost them in future.
Now the question is what will be the final decision of the Parliament after getting the recommendations of the Standing Committee? Let the government keep its words, otherwise further struggle will certainly start.

It was a marathon session for both Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. Both of the sabhas discussed for hours on the statement submitted by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the Lok Pal Bill and suggestions by Anna Hazare.
The discussion was very interesting.
At the end of the discussion in both the houses Pranab Mukherjee finalised the discussion and agreed to the main three demands of Anna Hazare, framing a citizen charter, bringing the lower government officials in the ambit of the Lok Pal Bill and also forming Lokayuktas in all states.
Anna Hazare stated that he had succeeded half way and has declared to end his fast tomorrow.
It has been a fight against the reluctancy of the government to bring a strong Lok Pal. And the civil society has succeeded. But unless the bill is adopted nobody can predict what will happen. So far so good.

“There is large-scale exploitation of contract labour by way of payment of less than fair wages, bad working conditions, non-payment of social security and long working hours. We are trying to amend the Contract Labour Abolition Act to ensure level field. We are in the process of consultation. Once it is complete, we will place it before Cabinet.”
“When we talk about fair wages and social security, expenses of industry and establishment will naturally increase. Our study on amendments is with the Committee Secretaries. On approval, we will move the proposal forward. The Labour Ministry feels that this is the need of the time because contractualisation is increasing day by day. We have to ensure that workers are protected, not exploited.”

(P.C.Chathurvedi, Secretary, Labour Department, in an interview with correspondent Economic times)