Delegates Session

The Delegates Session of the all India Conference started by 0930 hours on 7th November 2014 with Com. VAN Namboodiri, president, in the chair. About 2000 delegates and Observers elected by the District Unions were present. After the Presidential address by the Chair, General secretary Com. P.Abhimanyu, welcomed all and presented the Report on activities of the union for the last two years since the last AIC at Ludhiana in September 2012. The printed report has already been supplied to all the delegates/observers along with the Conference bag and other documents.

Mahila Convention
At 1300 hours on the same day a Mahila Convention was organised participated by a good number of women delegates and employees. The male delegates also attended. The Convention was presided by Coms. P.Indira (T.Nadu) and V.Bhagyalakshmi (Kerala). Coms. Manisha Biswas and Banani Chatterjee (Reception Committee) welcomed the participants. The Convention was inaugurated by Com. Jagmati Sangwan, General Secretary, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). She called upon the women employees to be active in the organisation and participate in all the programmes. She narrated the atrocities, attacks etc. on women and the total negligence of the government in dealing with the same. A few delegate comrades also participated in the discussion. President and General Secretary of BSNLEU also addressed the Convention.

Inauguration of TU Exhibition

A Photo Exhibition on the Trade Union history of W.Bengal was inaugurated by Com. VAN Namboodiri, President. The same was organised by the Reception Committee and the Co-Ordination committee of BSNL Unions, W.Bengal. It was a very educative exhibition and was watched by a large number of delegates.

Two pamphlets ” National Councils in BSNL” and “BSNL – Better Service to the Nation”, written by VAN Namboodiri and published by CHQ BSNLEU was released during the delegates session.The delegate session continued till about 2000 hours.

Procession and Massive Rally

Kolkata is a big city, once capital of India till 1911, where big and long processions are a regular feature for many years. But after the Trinamool government has taken over, it is difficult for other parties and trade unions to organise processions and jathas. As such, the reception Committee took prior permission for holding procession and rally in the city on 6th November 2014.
Since the procession and rally are to be held in the city and the AIC is being held on the outskirts of the city, buses were arranged to take the delegates from the Conference site to the Telecom Factory, from where the procession will start. Hundreds of delegates and observers participated in the long procession which went through the city roads and reached Rani Rashmony Avenue, where the rally will be held. Another huge jatha by the local BSNL employees had already reached the avenue. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Animesh Mitra, Sahdev Biswal and other leaders led this jatha.
The large area of the Rashmoni Avenue in the centre of the city was full with workers. The road on the side of the avenue was also full. The stage was erected high so that workers in the backside also can see state and the speakers.

The Rally started at 1530 hours as scheduled. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presided. Com. Animesh Mitra, Dy. GS and Jt. Convener, Reception Committee welcomed all. Com. Tapan Sen, MP, General Secretary CITU, inaugurated the rally. He called upon the workers to resist the onslaught on the working class by the new NDA government. He also pointed out the necessity to continue sustained struggles for achieving the demands of the workers. Coms. Shymal Chakraborty, President, CITU, W.Bengal, P.Abhimanyu, GS, Saibal Sen Gupta and Animesh Mitra, Circle Secretaries also spoke.

Cultural Programmes

Cultural programmes were organised at the Conference site in the evening, which was much appreciated by the delegates.