The Telecom Factories have been the suppliers of the equipment to the Telecom Services in India for a very long time. There was only one factory earlier which was the Alipore Factory in Kolkata. When the II world war broke out and Japan started advancing to India through Burmah, the British Government shifted a portion of the TF to Jabalpore so that the manufacturing of equipment for telecom will continue. Five more factories were started afterwards at Gopalpur, Kharagpur, Bhilai, Richai and Bombay. Much importance was given to the production. The telecom stores were arranging for the supply of the same.

But after the introduction of high technology in the telecom, the importance of telecom factories waned, since the production items were not upgraded and new production of equipment for the latest technology were not started. But the factories are still in profit. The continued pressure from BSNLEU has atleast resulted in some modenised equipments manufacture, but this is completely inadequate. A well planned strategy for manufacture of the required equipments is necessary. Skilled engineers and skilled workers for these are also necessary.
Will the BSNL take any action?

M.P.Circle JAC Meeting at Jabalpur

A meeting of the JAC of M.P.Circle was held at Jabalpur on 17th May 2011 presided over by Com. B.S.Rajput to discuss about the implementation of the “Customer Delight Month” and review the work so far done. All the constituents of the JAC in the circle were present. Com. S.R.Nayak, Convener, Circle JAC welcomed all and briefed the house about the issues to be discussed. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri , Convener, National JAC addressed the house and explained the decisional of the JAC at the national level in this respect. All the participants actively participated in the discussion.
It was decided to actively implement the decision to observe the “Customer Delight Month” effectively in the circle. A Press Conference will be held in Bhopal shortly. Meetings of the SSA JACs will be held immediately for implementation. The JAC will meet the CGM and other officers for full co-operation from the management.

On, 16th May 2011, I was completely engaged with the two Telecom Factories, Richai and Jabalpur. By about 0930 hours, along with Comrade D.K.Pal, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Jabalpur Telecom Factory, I started for Richai Telecom Factory, which is about 08 km away from the town. We reached there by 0930 hours. The District President and District Secretary Coms. Faiz Ahmed and Suraj Bhan along with a good number of workers were waiting at the gate of the factory to receive us. Many comrades garlanded us and welcomed.
Without waiting much time, after introductions etc. we proceeded to the main two plants, galvanisation plant and tower plant.
In the tower plant the tower is being made by cutting the iron angles for manufacture according to the measures of the particular type of tower. It is hard work. The one big plant shed is not sufficient for the purpose and some of the workers were doing their job outside the shed. Inside and outside the plant was full of dust inch deep since the cemented floor is completely damaged. In the galvanisatin plant, the parts of the tower already cut in to size, are put in the large tanks of acid and cooled. This is called galvanisation. It is also dangerous work. Chemists are appointed to test to the mixture of the acid etc. The galvanisation plant is also full of dust. In addition the many metric-tons of the zinc-ash stored in iron baskets are safety risks. These zinc-ash is valuable and will get good amount when auctioned. I was wondering why it was kept there instead of selling it. The boundary wall of the factory on the back side is still not completely repaired as recommended by the Joint Committee DDG (TF) and myself a few years back.
The workers in both the plants met for a meeting which I addressed and told them about the JAC decision to improves the services, make BSNL financially viable etc. I heard their complaints and suggestions and replied.
Afterwards we met the General Manager of the TF and discussed about the issues raised by the workers. Certain issues which have to be immediately atended to were also mentioned to him.
We also visited the Telecom Factory, Jabalpur.Later we met the CGM Shri Rakesh Kumar and had detailed discussion with him on the various points we raised. Regarding the compound wall he assured that it will be repaired without any delay. On the issue of compassionate appointments his suggestion was that TF may be given the powers for appointment which will solve the issue to a c certain level. He mentioned about the action being taken against the encroachment of the factory land by outsiders and the Municipal Corporation.
A meeting of the United Forum was held in the Conference hall which was presided over by Circle Union President Com. Fiaz Ahamed. I spoke briefly about the decision of the JAC to strengthen BSNL and to provide better service to the people. I also explained the decisions of the JAC to observe May month as Customer Delight Month and the actions to be taken. Coms. D.K.Pal, Circle Secretary, Holmes Moses, former Circle Secretary, J.P.Nanhead (BSNLMS), Sunil Patel, Dist. Secretary and other leaders spoke.The doubts rcaised were cleared by Com. Namboodiri.
The Telecom Factories have a good future and can manufacture many modern items, if only the top management takes interest. Anyway, the union have to give suitable suggestions and pressurise for action.

Inspection Circle and BRABRAITT

ON 16th itself I visited Installation Circle. A combined meeting of the Installation Circle was held in the office premises which was addressed by me and other leaders.

While coming from Delhi to Jabalpur in the morning flight today, 15th May, there was an interesting incident. I was reading the article on ‘Girl Child’ written by G.Mamatha published in the Peoples Democracy. One of the young air hostess was looking what I was reading. I told her that I was reading the article on ‘Girl Child’ and gave the weekly to her. She said she was on duty and there is no time to read. I left it at that. But when the plane landed and I was just going to get down, she came to me and asked whether I can give the weekly to her. I readily agreed and she was happy. I was happy on two counts. One she was committed to her duty and secondly that she wanted to read the article.

A trade union class for workers of BSNL, Railway, Banks etc. was held at Jabalpur today, 15th May 2011. Com. S.R.Nayak, Circle Secretary of BSNLEU acted as the Principal. Three classes here held one by Com.Dipankar Mukherjee, Secretary, CITU, another by Com. Saroj Badal, State Secretary, CPI(M) and the third by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU. The subjects were, 1) Public Sector and its challenges 2) Trade union issues and 3) BSNL – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. There were about 40 comrades present. After each class the participants raised doubts and questions which were answered by the teachers. The TU class was a good and effective experience.

All the results of the state assembly elections are out as also the opinions, comments, reviews and so on, on the same.
In W.Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress has got more than 3/4 of the seats ending the 34 years rule of Left Parties. It was expected that there may be a change. but the voting pattern was not expected to this extent. Of course 34 years is too long a period for any party to continuously rule and it is but natural that the people wanted a change.
In Kerala, where the LDF and UDF wins alternately, it seemed that this pattern may change this time with a consecutive victory for the LDF. The usual pattern was the ultimate result, but the LDF was almost fighting inch by inch and the UDF only won with a very narrow margin.
In T.Nadu, DMK has been snubbed out and AIDMK won with 5/6 seats. The people have given a drastinc punishment to DMK, especially for the massive corruption. Left has got 19 seats in T.Nadu.
The results in Assam was on the expected lines congress continuing its victory earlier.
Change is there. We have to make maximum out of the present situation.

The entire country is anxiously waiting to know the results of the assembly elections in Kerala, W.Bengal, T.Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The counting will start today morning and the results may start coming by 1100 hours. The results will have far reaching consequences for almost all the states concerned.

Let us wait for about 12 hours more as we have waited for the last two weeks.

The joint executive committee meeting of the JAC unions held today, 12th June 2011 at Calicut discussed in detail and decided day to day plans for reviewing the advance made during the “Customer Delight Month” and improve the services further. I was present and gave the detailed guidelines as decided by the National JAC.
Workers are now very much enthused about the JAC initiative. The comrades who spoke gave various suggestions for improvement and development.

This week I shifted my residence to a new flat at Calicut purchased by my son. The old house where we were staying beore I shifted to Delhi in 1991 has got a lot of repair to do.I shifted in 1991, my wife after retirement came to Delhi in 2003. In between our son and daughter have already left for UK and Bangalore respectively in connection with their job and settled there after marriage. There was nobody in the house for the last eight years, except the family of a comrade, who is staying with his family in the upstairs portion.

Due to busy union schedules, I was not able to come to Calicut even once in a year sometimes. I used to stay in IQ since the house was in disorder. Recently, when I came to stay at Calicut, the house was completely in disarray with a lot of repair to do. In the ground floor where we used to stay,many doors were damaged, all the wooden almirahs have been eaten by white ants, the store room was completely captured by them. The toilets were not usable, the geiser and washing machine were out of order. The gas stove was not working. The entrie electrical fittings have to be repaired. Corporation water supply was stopped. The mosaic floor was completely spoiled. However, all of a surprise, the fridge was working. The leaves from the nearby trees had accumulated on the roof, which may gradually result in leakage. The house looked very shabby. Staying there was almost impossible.

BUt fortunately my son has purchased a flat on loan and the work was almost over by the time. We thought that we will shift there. After consultation with our comrades we decided to shift to the unfurnished flat. The first thing was to install the fans and lights. Water supply was already there. The kitchen has got to be furnished. The stove to be purchased. Toilets to be equipped with geiser. One after another these were got done.
Next was the shifting of furniture, utensils, large number of books, almirrahs and what not ? There were clothes, of couse old, but useful. It required many days to pack all these things and shift to the new flat. I alnoe could not do much. Our Comrades, Balu, Prabhakaran, Punnassery and Damodaran helped much My nephew Dinesh looked after every matter and arranged things. So eventhough half furnished, My wife and myself shifted to the flat. I do not know how we managed all these. In fact it was our comrades and relatives who made it possible. My thanks to them for this help and guidance.
Now the major repair to the old house has got to be done. Day after tomorrow, I have to start for Delhi. This has to be entrusted to another person. Of course my brother’s son, Dinesh will look after and arrange for the repair etc. I only have to suggest what things are to be done.

I experienced how much it is difficult to shift. However it was a good experience. A rewarding experience indeed.