Remember Jalianwala Bagh Martyrs – Martyrs Day, 13th April

11 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by in History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

One of the darkest chapter in the British Rule was the Jalianwala Bagh massacre of hundreds of innocent Indians who had assembled to protest against the Rowlett Act/hear the speeches of the freedom fighter leaders. This was on 13th April 1919.

The Rowlatt Bill, which curtails the rights of the Indian people and enable the government to impose stringent punishments was strongly opposed by the Congress and the freedom movement. Mahatma Gandhi called for observance of protest strike and disobedience movement against the same. It was also decided to observe 30th March 1919 as protest day by fasting, hartal etc. Five people died in the firing by police in Delhi on that day. Protesting against this countrywide demonstrations were held participated by thousands all over the country.
The entire country was in a protest move.

In Punjab, the situation was more tense. Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal, who were the leaders who were organising the 1919 All India Session of the Congress in Punjab were arrested and taken away to some secret place. The people who started protesting were fired upon and some were killed.

A big public meeting was organised to protest the atrocities of the British on 13th April 1919 ay Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar. More than 20,000 gathered in the place to hear the leaders. When the meeting has started and leaders started speaking, all of a sudden, General Dyer came there with about 150 troops both British and Indian. Immediately he ordered fire against the people gathered there. It is recorded that 1600 rounds were fired and was stopped only when they ran out of ammunition.

It was terrible. Hundreds of people were killed on the spot and thousands were seriously wounded many of whom died later. There was no warning before the firing or at least the people did not know. And even if known, there was no way to disperse. The maidan was surrounded by walls/ houses and there was only a narrow path to go out through which even a vehicle could not pass. According to Government there were 400 killed and more than 1000 wounded. But this is far less than the actual casualty. General Dyer later told arrogantly that he wanted the people to be punished for defying the law. The British cut the water and power supply in the whole of Amritsar. People were fogged for coming out in to the streets. A terror was let loose.

The entire country rose in anger. Protest actions continued for days together. Revolutionary activities increased against the British. General Dyer who returned to England was shot dead by Udham Singh, a youth from Punjab who went to England to avenge the Jalianwala Bagh massacre.

92 years have passed since this brutal massacre of the Indian people. We have got freedom. Every year on 13th April, the day is observed at Jalianwala Bagh, where a martyrs column is erected in memory of those killed, with massive participation, speeches, homage to the martyrs etc. I had the privilege to attend and pay my respectful homage to the martyrs there, two years back.All over Punjab and many centres in India, the day is observed as Jalianwala Bagh Martyrs Day.

I also pay my respectful homage to those martyrs who have sacrificed everything at the altar of the freedom of the country. They will always be an inspiration in our future struggles and advance march.

NCCPA – AIBDPA call to observe 20th April as Demands Day

10 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

The National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners (NCCPA) and All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) has called upon the Pensioners to observe 20th April 2011 as Pensioners Demands Day. The demands focussed are:
1. Withdraw the anti-pensioner New Pension Scheme as also PFRDA Bill from the Parliament
2. Recognise Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC) which is the umbrella organisers of Pensioners. Form an effective Joint Consultation machinery for settling issues of pensioners.
3. Full Parity to all pre-2006 Pensioners
4. Medical Facility for Pensioners
5. Merger of 50% DR / Pension for fixation of pension and grant of DR
6.Grant of Full pension @ 50% of pay of pre-2006 retirees after 20 years of service and computed on the basis of last pay drawn or 10 months average pay whichever is higher
7. Restoration of commutation portion of pension after 12 / 9 years
8. Implement all 6th CPC recommendations w.e.f. 01-01-2006
9. Full revised ex-gratia payment to SRPF/ CPF retirees
10.Enhanced Faily Pension for 10 years also to those family pensioners whose spouse / parents had died after their retirement
11.Full revised pension to PSU absorbees.
12.Pension Revision of pre-2007 BSNL retirees ( since orders issued)
13.50% IDR merger for BSNL retirees
14.Anomaly in fixation of pay of BSNL optees retired during 1-1-2000 to 31-7-2001
15.Delay in payment of IDR, BSNL
16.Grant of HRA to pensioners and allotment of vacant staff quarters to pensioners.
17.Grant of ex-gratia one month pension for festival to all pensioners
18.Grant of LTC once in four years to pensioners to any place in India
19.Count 50% of service rendered by contigent, casual employees and EDA after regularisation to pension.

Details of the memorandum will be furnished in the AIBDPA website. Give maximum propaganda to the demands.

The struggle against corruption will continue – Anna Hazare

10 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by in Corruption, Politics India

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

The fast-unto-death by Anna Hazare has ended after the Government accepted the demands raised by the social activist. The Government has constituted a 10 member panel with Minister Pranab Mukherjee as Chairman and Shanti-Bhushan as co-chairman. 50% of the committee is from the government side and the other 50% nominated by the social activists. Anna Hazare is also in the committee. The government told earlier that the committee will be constituted after the withdrawal of the fast. But Hazare stood took the firm position that he will end his fast only after notification. Government had to surrender again. The Notification was issued yesterday morning, and after receiving the same, the fast ended.

Ending the fast, Anna Hazare told the massive gathering that the struggle has only started. If the bill is not passed in the monsoon session of the Parliament, further agitation will start. He is right. Unless there is a threat, the government will try to side line the issue as has been done for the last 42 years, since the bill was introduced in the Parliament for the first time.

Let us be vigilant. The fast has achieved the immediate demand. But those who are behind the corruption are powerful people and they will not allow the anti-corruption bill passed easily. Let us prepare for another struggle if the government and the main opposition dilly-dally in the matter.

Timely settlement of retirement benefits

09 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

BSNLEU was continuously pressurizing the management for timely settlement of the pension and other retirement claims. Now the BSNL Corporate office has issued orders directing the subordinate offices for early settlement of retirement benefits to pensioners.

The orders are placed in the bsnleu website: http://www.bsnleuchq.com

Congratulations, Anna Hazareji!

09 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by in Corruption, Politics India

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

The fast by Anna Hazare had its results. The spontaneous mass movement all over the country against corruption and in support of the fast by Anna Hazare had its results. The government which stood obstinate first had to climb down and concede the demands raised by Anna Hazare for a tougher and effective ant-corruption bill. Since the details are all in the papers and the TV channels, it is not necessary to give details.

I heartily congratulate Anna Hazareji and the lakhs and lakhs of people who supported this fight for justice.

Hunger Strike by Anna Hazare – The Fight against corruption

08 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by in Corruption, Politics India

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

The Hunger Strike by Anna Hazare, the noted social activist and Gandhian has reached the fourth day. This Satyagraha has captured the minds of the people of this country of all strata.

I visited the satyagraha site near the Jantar Mantar today along with Com.R.L.Moudgil, AGS BSNLEU and other comrades. Thousands of people are patiently sitting hearing the speeches of the various prominent personalities coming there. There are students, employees/workers, business people, intellectuals, cultural and social activists, a good number of them women also. Groups of people are coming and leaving after some time, others are coming. It is a continuing flow. In between, one person who was fasting was taken to the hospital. It was surprising how such a huge crowd was keeping excellent discipline without any coersion.

The fast has caught the imagination of the people, since they are angry with the continuous scams and corruption cases involving the high level politicians, business czars etc. The national assets are being looted. Hence there is alround support for the fast by Anna.

The Government is in the dock. Unless they take immediate action to discuss and accept the reasonable demand for constituting a real anti-corruption machinery as demanded by the fasting leaders, the struggle will take a nationwide struggle. Even now fast and dharnas are being held in many places and this will expand and strengthen every day.

JAC Circular issued on “Customer Delight Month”

08 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by in BSNL News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions after its meeting today has issued circular calling upon all employees to observe 1st to 31st May 2011 as “Customer Delight Month” in an effort to improve the customer service as also to ensure that the company is strengthened financially from its present deteriorating position. JAC has discussed these issues with the management and demanded that it should ensure all initiative and help in making the programme successful, which has been agreed.

The copy of the circular is put in the BSNLEU website : http://www.bsnleuchq.com

Remember Mangal Pande?

07 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Mangal Pandey was hanged on 8th April 1857 by the British.

Who was Mangal Pandey? Mangal Pandey was the person who fired the first shot against the British on 29th March 1857 which started the First War of Independence, “sepoy Mutiny” according to British rulers. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Infantry stationed at Barrackpore near Dum Dum. The British officers wanted the Indian sepoys to use cartridges greased by animal fat which was not acceptable to the sepoys. Protesting the insistence of British Officers compelling to use the greased cartridges , Mangal Pandey shot a British Sergeant and inflicted a wound on the Adjutant by sword in the parade ground at Barrackpore.

This was a starting point for the mutiny. Regiments after regiments revolted and the first war of Independence started.

Mangal Pandey was courtmarshalled and hanged on 8th April 1857.

I pay my respectful homage to this great hero who took the first herioic step for India’s freedom and became Martyr.

JAC Meets tomorrow to fianlise “Customer Delight Month” programme

07 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations and Unions will be meeting on 8th April 2011 to finalise the programme of “Employees Awareness week” from 18th to 24th April and “Customer Delight Month” from 1st to 31st May 2011.

Detailed Circular will be sent by concerned General Secretaries to their units.

Let us prepare for a better service to the people.

Increase of 2.02 crore mobile in Janaury 2011

07 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

2.02 mobile connections have been added in January 2011 bringing the total mobile lines to 79.13 crore. The wireline segment lost 70619 connections this month. The total connections including wireline and wireless is 82.62 crore. BSNL lost 99284 landlines and added 14.90 lakh mobiles. This is less than earlier month which was 21.09 lakh. In the mobile sector Vodafone added 35.56 lakh, Reliance 33.05, Bharti Airtel 32.02 lakh, Idea 25.11 lakh and Aircell 16.69 lakhs.

The Teledensity increased to 69.29 %.

In this connection the statistics prepared by Com.Mihir Dasgupta, former Asst.General Secretary, BSNLEU and sent to me is attached below:Telephone Subscribers’ Base in India
for the month of February 2011
SERVICE
PROVIDER
COMPANY Wireline Wireless Total Wireless
VLR
Proportion
%
Number Market Share
% Number Market Share
% Number Market Share
%
Bharti Airtel 3280658 9.41 158998869 20.09 162279527 19.64 92.52
Reliance 1232060 3.53 132176914 16.70 133408974 16.15 65.36
Vodafone 0.00 130920732 16.54 130920732 15.85 78.41
BSNL 25378036 72.79 90309414 11.41 115687450 14.00 53.22
Tata 1289179 3.70 87654472 11.08 88943651 10.76 49.82
Idea 0.00 86800809 10.97 86800809 10.51 92.65
Aircel/ Dishnet 0.00 53500469 6.76 53500469 6.48 57.21
MTNL 3458399 9.92 5454846 0.69 8913245 1.08 36.16
Loop Telecom 0.00 3079281 0.39 3079281 0.37 43.87
HFCL Infotel 188943 0.54 1386618 0.18 1575561 0.19 44.59
Sistema 38037 0.11 9612738 1.21 9650775 1.17 50.68
Stel 0.00 2692462 0.34 2692462 0.33 38.64
Uninor 0.00 21577497 2.73 21577497 2.61 50.66
Videocon 0.00 6564083 0.83 6564083 0.79 46.62
Etisalat/ Allianz 0.00 652370 0.08 652370 0.08 37.52
Total 34865312 100 791381574 100 826246886 100 71.14
Tele Density: 2.92 66.36 69.29
Broadband = 11.47 million
Source:
TRAI Press Release
dated 6th April 2011
HIGHLIGHTS

 In Wireless (GSM+CDMA) segment, BSNL’s Subs-base crossed 9 crore landmark in February’11 and its growth in 11 months in 2010-11 crossed 2 crore. But its growth in February’11 has further come down to 14.9 lac from 21.09 lac in January’11. Top 5 performers in net Wireless Subscribers addition in Feb.’11 are: Vodafone (35.56 lac), Reliance (33.05 lac), Bharti (32.02 lac), Idea (25.11 lac) & Aircel (16.69 lac).

 Amongst BSNL Circles, Andhra Pradesh again recorded highest Wireless Subscribers’ growth of 3.39 lac followed by Karnataka 2.01 lac. As expected, UP(E) Circle has become the first BSNL Circle to cross one crore land mark in Wireless subscribers’ number in February’11 (1,00,10,669).

 VLR – Visitor Location Register shows the actual number of active Wireless telephones. In February 2011, VLR report indicated that only 71.14% of all wireless subscribers were active. Company-wise detailed status is shown in the table.

 Urban – Rural Divide on the basis of Tele Density (Feb’11): Urban Rural Total
Wireless 146.72 31.90 66.36
Wireline 7.29 1.05 2.92
Overall 154.01 32.95 69.29

Analyst: Mihir Dasgupta, Kolkata, 06.04.2011

P-1/3

Growth of Telephone Connections in India during 1 month from January to February 2011
Company Wireline Wireless Total (Combined)
Jan.’11 Feb.’11 Growth in 1 month Rate of Growth Jan.’11 Feb.’11 Growth in 1 month Rate of Growth Jan.’11 Feb.’11 Growth in 1 month Rate of Growth %-ge w.r.t. Total Growth
Bharti 3268636 3280658 12022 0.37 155796598 158998869 3202271 2.06 159065234 162279527 3214293 2.02 15.98
Reliance 1226926 1232060 5134 0.42 128871507 132176914 3305407 2.56 130098433 133408974 3310541 2.54 16.45
Vodafone 0 127364342 130920732 3556390 2.79 127364342 130920732 3556390 2.79 17.68
BSNL 25477320 25378036 -99284 -0.39 88818859 90309414 1490555 1.68 114296179 115687450 1391271 1.22 6.91
Tata 1282082 1289179 7097 0.55 86052323 87654472 1602149 1.86 87334405 88943651 1609246 1.84 8.00
Idea 0 84289641 86800809 2511168 2.98 84289641 86800809 2511168 2.98 12.48
Aircel 0 51831796 53500469 1668673 3.22 51831796 53500469 1668673 3.22 8.29
MTNL 3462888 3458399 -4489 -0.13 5432314 5454846 22532 0.41 8895202 8913245 18043 0.20 0.09
Loop 0 3062120 3079281 17161 0.56 3062120 3079281 17161 0.56 0.09
HFCL 187676 188943 1267 0.68 1282971 1386618 103647 8.08 1470647 1575561 104914 7.13 0.52
Sistema 39403 38037 -1366 -3.47 9094752 9612738 517986 5.70 9134155 9650775 516620 5.66 2.57
Stel 0 2514777 2692462 177685 7.07 2514777 2692462 177685 7.07 0.88
Uninor 0 20305550 21577497 1271947 6.26 20305550 21577497 1271947 6.26 6.32
Videocon 0 6011233 6564083 552850 9.20 6011233 6564083 552850 9.20 2.75
Etisalat 0 452574 652370 199796 44.15 452574 652370 199796 44.15 0.99
Total 34944931 34865312 -79619 -0.23 771181357 791381574 20200217 2.62 806126288 826246886 20120598 2.50 100.00
Tele
Density: 2.93 2.92 -0.01 -0.34 64.74 66.36 1.62 2.50 67.67 69.29 1.62 2.39

Source: TRAI
Analysed by: Mihir Dasgupta, dated 06.04.2011, Kolkata

P-2/3

Growth of Telephone Connections in India during 11 months from March 2010 to February 2011
Company Wireline Wireless Total (Combined)
Mar’10 Feb.’11 Growth in 11 months Rate of Growth Mar’10 Feb.’11 Growth in 11 months Rate of Growth Mar’10 Feb.’11 Growth in 11 months Rate of Growth %-ge w.r.t. Total Growth
Bharti 3066859 3280658 213799 6.97 127619314 158998869 31379555 24.59 130686173 162279527 31593354 24.17 15.41
Reliance 1177412 1232060 54648 4.64 102422145 132176914 29754769 29.05 103599557 133408974 29809417 28.77 14.54
Vodafone 0 100858358 130920732 30062374 29.81 100858358 130920732 30062374 29.81 14.67
BSNL 27830560 25378036 -2452524 -8.81 69450012 90309414 20859402 30.04 97280572 115687450 18406878 18.92 8.98
Tata 1162276 1289179 126903 10.92 65942255 87654472 21712217 32.93 67104531 88943651 21839120 32.54 10.65
Idea 0 63824688 86800809 22976121 36.00 63824688 86800809 22976121 36.00 11.21
Aircel 0 36861174 53500469 16639295 45.14 36861174 53500469 16639295 45.14 8.12
MTNL 3496754 3458399 -38355 -1.10 5094016 5454846 360830 7.08 8590770 8913245 322475 3.75 0.16
Loop 0 2844583 3079281 234698 8.25 2844583 3079281 234698 8.25 0.11
HFCL 173407 188943 15536 8.96 328318 1386618 1058300 322.34 501725 1575561 1073836 214.03 0.52
Sistema 49416 38037 -11379 -23.03 3775144 9612738 5837594 154.63 3824560 9650775 5826215 152.34 2.84
Stel 0 1006827 2692462 1685635 167.42 1006827 2692462 1685635 167.42 0.82
Uninor 0 4264036 21577497 17313461 406.03 4264036 21577497 17313461 406.03 8.45
Videocon 0 32178 6564083 6531905 20299.3 32178 6564083 6531905 20299.3 3.19
Etisalat 0 354 652370 652016 184185.3 354 652370 652016 184185.3 0.32
Total 36956684 34865312 -2091372 -5.66 584323402 791381574 207058172 35.44 621280086 826246886 204966800 32.99 100.00
Source: TRAI
Analysed by: Mihir Dasgupta, dated 06.04.2011, Kolkata Tele Density: 52.74 69.29 16.55 31.38