It is reported that 32% of the total workers in Central PSUs are contract workers. This information is based on a study by the V.V.Giri National Labour Institute conducted as directed by the Labour Ministry. It is also reported that while the regular employees get about Rs. 441.9 average per day, it is only Rs. 185.28 for the contract worker for the same kind of work.

There is much exploitation of contract workers even in PSUs. In BSNL also, it is not different. The situation in private sector is worst.
The organised regular employees’ unions have the responsiblity to end this exploitation and give all support and solidarity to the contract workers. (with input from a report in Economic Times, 10th March 2011)

The refusal of the Finance Ministry to approve the higher interest rate of 9.5% decided by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for its subscribers, for the year 2010-11, is most deplorable. In September 2010 itself after evaluating all matters the EPFO decided to increase the interest rate from 8.5% to 9.5% for the year 2010-11. This was a long pending demand of the Central Trade Unions which was at last agreed to by the EPFO on the basis of surplus finds discovered.

The Finance Ministry’s refusal to ratify this decision is completely unjustified. All the trade unions jointly have to agitate and make the government / Finance Ministry accept the decision.

The toll of the 9.0 Richter earthquake and Sunami in Japan on 11th March 2011, has reached more than 10,000 as per latest reports. The entire coastal areas have been devasted by the unprecedented earthquake, the biggest in the last 100 years, as per media reports. The details of more and more deaths and devastation of buildings, installations and everything are pouring every day. It is also reported that there have been explosions in the nuclear reactors which may cause huge radiation with drastic health hazards. The number of deads are increasing every day. The conditions of those are living are also very poignant with relatives, dear and near ones lost. Providing food and shelter to those who are alive is the immediate task.

The Japan Government is on the job. But it is the duty and responsibility of the entire world to assist and give support to the rehabilitation programmes.

I join in the grief of the people of Japan and entrie world in this sad moment. Let us hope that the with the support of the entire world, Japan will be able to pass over this great tragedy.

As per Economic Survey presented to the Parliament on 25th February 2011 by the Government, there are still 62,443 villages still unconnected with telecom services. As usual, the government promises to telecom-connect these villages by Village Public Telephones (VPT), with support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

BSNL in the last few years have installed VPTs in 40,101 villages, which helped to boost the telecom services in the villages. However, though there was licence stipulation that connections in village/rural areas are to be given, most of the private companies did not fulfil this condition earlier. They started providing village connections only after support from the USOF was assured. At the same time, BSNL had been giving such loss making connections continuously as a committment of the Government. If the private companies had also given connections like that, the number of unconnected villages would have been reduced drastically.

The Government should assist BSNL sufficiently for all the connections given in the villages earlier and at present.

While there is demand all over the country that the licence of the tainted telcos should be cancelled and criminal action tken against them in addition to severe penalty to be imposed. Now SwanTelecom, one of these companies which got 2G licence in 2008 for the rates fixed in 2001 ie. Rs. 1651 crore and is being proceeded against by the Supreme Court has offered that it is prepared to surrender the license and get back the licence fee of Rs.1651, if more amount is received through auction.

Very clever indeed. Swan wants to take back the money and get away scot-free. The Supreme Court, of course, will see through the mischievous offer and reject it.