A House for Rs. 170.18 Crore!

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

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The Indian Rich want to show their huge wealth and also to enjoy the same.
Look in to the report in the Economic Times ( 8th June) on the front page. Sandeep Jajodia, owner of the Monnet Ispat and Energy has purchased a bungalow in South Delhi for Rs. 170.18 crore! It comes to Rs.80,000 per square foot. The stamp duty comes to Rs. 20.21 crore!
The number of super rich in India is increasing every day. But on the other side, there are crores of people who barely earn Rs. 20/ per day. This inequality is increasing by leaps and bounds.
The neo-liberal policy adopted by the Central Government has given every chance for the rich to become super-rich. But no benefits to the down trodden and toiling masses!
There is no other way but to fight against this inhuman discrimination and injustice.

Post Office SB interest rate to be increased to 4%

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

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The interest on the Savings Bank Accounts in the Post Offices may be increased to 4% from the present 3.5% if the report of the government committee headed by the RBI Deputy Governor Smt. Shyamal Gopinath is accepted. The committee has recommended to increase the rate to 4%. In fact, the interest in PO SB, which are mostly used by the employees and the common people has been very low comapared to the loan rate which has been going high and higher.The recommendations will give some relief to the SB Account holders.
Another recommendation is that the annual investment limit in the Public Provident Fund (PPF) has been increased from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. one lakh.

Central Trade Unions plan protest actions

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in TU News - India

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The Central Trade Unions, viz.AITUC, CITU, INTUC, HMS, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC and SEWA has decided to continue sustained struggles on the five point demands it had raised and on which Rasta Roko, one day strike and a massive Parliament March on 23rd February 2011 were organised. The Unions noted with serious concern that despite several round of all-in united protests by the entire trade union movement of the country, the govenment has remained totally unresponsive to the major concerns of the working people.
The Meeting of the Central TUs held on 29th May 2011 has called for observation of Protest Day through demonstrations, rallies and dharna at all the workplaces, state capitals and headquarters on 23rd June 2011 against the hike in petrol prices and the contemplated move of the government to incraese the prices of diesel, kerosene and LPG which will further fuel a rise in the prices of all commodities.
The Central Trade Unions also conveyed its support and solidarity to the strike of bank employees proposed to start on 5th July and the united struggle of the coal workers which will be decided by the 28th June Convention.
The Central Trade Unions urge upon the working people and the trade unions, irrespective of affiliations, to make the above programmes a success. All of us have to ensure that the programmes are effectively organised and observed.

Another Corruption? Chidambaram, Raja involved in Posco clearance?

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

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The people in Orissa are agitating against the Environment clearance given for POSCO project which will not only take away the forest lands and lands of the poor people but also is an environmental hazard. Jayram Ramesh, Environment Minister, who opposed it earlier has now cleared it, probably under pressure.
But more news are coming. It is alleged that former Minister A.Rja, who was Environment Minister before he came to Telecom, is also involved as well as Minister P.Chidambaram.
In a statement issued by many save environmental organisations, they have exposed the role played by Raja and Chidambaram in giving clearance to Posco earlier and pressurising the concerned authorities.
In these circumstances, it is very much necessary that these allegations are enquired in to by the CBI.

Evidences against Minister Dayanidhi Maran piles up

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

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More and more evidences are piling up against former communications and present textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran in the 2G scam.
Now the CAG has given evidence before the JPC that it was Maran who compelled the government to give full powers regarding the spectrum pricing to the Telecom Ministry cutting the rights of the other ministries like Finance. The statement of Sivasankaran, former Aircel owner, that Maran arm-twisted him to hand over Aircel shares to Maxis. It is understood that through this deal the Sun TV, owned by the Marans, got crores as kickbacks. Justice Shivraj Patil Committee has also pointed out its fingers against Dayanidhi Maran on irregularities. It specifically mentioned the former minister ignoring the Group of Ministers while taking decisions on spectrum etc.
One more minister of the UPA II may be charged by CBI and taken in to custody. But till the last moment, the Prime Minister is trying to save his corrupt ministers. What a tragedy!

Former Communication Minister Dayanidhi Maran in real trouble

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

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After Mr. Sivasankaran, former Aircel owner has stated to the CBI charging the former Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran with adopting armtwisting methods for selling his stakes in Aircel to Maxis, the latter is in real trouble. In addition, certain issues pertaining to the textile ministry are also coming up.
How many ministers in th e UPA government are already on corruption charges? How many more are coming? It is time that the Prime Minister has to take stock of the situation which is already alarming and take immediate action. But unfortunately he also seems to be supporting the corrupt till the last moment.Vey unfortunate!

Whether C-DOT can catch up with latest R and D?

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

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The C-DOT considered earlier as the most advanced in telecom R and D has not been heard for a long time after its spectacular success in the E-10-B equipment etc.The foreign manufacturers like Nokia,Ericsson have entirely captured the manufacturing markets. The C-DOT could not do much or even nothing with regard to the 2G and 3G.
But it seems that the C-DOT is coming back with its proposals to start with for the 4G for which it can do a lot according the reported statement of Shri V.V.R.Sastry, Executive Director,C-DOT.
He is reported to have stated as follows:
“Todays telecom networks are swamped by imported products and services, based on foreign technology. From a national security perspective, it is very important to have home grown India IPR and technologies in the telecommunication and information technologies.
” To avoid foreign outflow of stupendous magnitude due to telecom gear imports in the near future and revive the national telecom equipment manufacturing base which in turn will create employment opportunities for semi-skilled and skilled workforce of this country, it is very important to go the C-DOT way ie. to create India IPR, develop products and services which can revive the Indian Telecom Manufacturing bse in this country.”
Well stated Shri Sastry! But will the government allot funds,infrastructure and manpower for the same? Is the government really interested in R and D? But of course, I fully support the proposals of C-DOT. The government should be pressurised to act upon it.

Midnight arrest at Ramlila grounds – Severe critisism by Supreme Court

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

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In addition to the strong protests of the political parties, democratic movements,intellectuals, social activists etc. , the Supreme Court also made stringent remarks on the midnight attack of the police on the people in the Ramlila grounds. It asked the government to explain its behaviour in the matter.

The Prime Minister was compelled to state openly that the incident was unfortunate. But his justification that it was inevitable will not be accepted by any body. The Prime Minister who is supposed to defend the rights of the people, should have condemned the attack on the people. But leading a government fully immersed in corruption, the Prime Minister is unable to tolerate the protest against corruption. How unfortunate!

Pay Commissions /Wage revisions only with prospective effect? – No arrears?

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in TU News - Telecom specific

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The anti-worker machinery of the Central Government is planning to take away the rights of the workers one after another, gained through sustained struggles. One such crucial issue is the proposal being discussed in the finance ministry that in future no arrears need be paid after the wage revisions / pay commissions and that only wages will be increased prospectively.The government wants to deny the arrears to the employees.

If such a decision is taken, it will mean that even if the CG Employees are eligible for pay revision w.e.f. 01-01-2016, they will get it only from the date the orders are issued. There will be no arrears. The case with the PSU employees who are eligible for next wage revision after five/ten years will be the same.
The Trade Unions have to convey strong protests immediately to stop the government moving ahead with this anti-worker proposal.

The Historic Strike of Railway Workers in 1974

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in History

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The 22 days strike of the Railways and Central Government Employees of June 1974 was historic in more than one count. It was the biggest strike by the Railways employees so far. Further, the Central Government under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi treated it as a rebellion and tried to suppress it with all its mighty state power. The later developments witnessed the fall of the Congress government.
The strike was organised under the leadership of the National Co-ordination Committee of Railwaymen’s Struggle (NCCRS), which included all the major unions/federations of the Railway workers except congress led INTUC. The Confederation of Central Government also joined, but it was partial since the Confederation was split by the revisionist group led by OP Gupta, which did not participate in the strike.
The strike from 8th May 1974 completely paralysed the nation. No train moved. The entire cargo movement was halted. It was a thumping success. The government retaliated with a brutality never seen before. Thousands of workers were arrested and jailed, dismissed and suspended, the families were forcibly removed from staff quarters, lathi charge and firing took place in many centres killing the striking workers. It was terror let loose. The Central government employees withdrew the strike after the third day. The Railway strike went up to 22 days facing all terror. There was no other way but to withdraw the strike in the face of the state terror. The strike was withdrawn on 28th May 1974.
The strike had its impact on the political level. The struggle against the government’s anti-people and anti-democratic policy continued by the united opposition. The movement under Jayaprakash Narayan became a mighty force. Afraid of the movement, Indira Gandhi declared Emergency on 25th June 1975. All opposition political leaders were arrested and jailed. Democratic movements were stalled. Free speech was silenced. But it could not continue for long. Emergency had to be called off and election declared. The Congress party which ruled the country since 1947 on its own was utterly defeated in the 1977 general election and the Janata Government was formed.
In all these developments, the mighty strike of the Railway workers had its impact.