Tag Archives: kozhikode

Trade Unions oppose privatisation of Kozhikode Railway Station

13 Saturday May 2017

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The trade unions and the people of Kozhikode are strongly opposing the government decision to hand over the Kozhikode Railway Station to private business. It is being done in the name of modernising the station, but in fact is a real estate business offered to private companies. 4.39  acres of railway land will be allotted on lease for 45 years or more to the company at the rate of Re.1 for one square metre.  The company can built malls, hotels and other such facilities. But the charges will be sky high as already seen when the airports were privatised. There will be no space to develop the infrastructure of the station. This is nothing but a sell out of this important 129 years old station to the private.

In the massive meeting held at the railway station premises on 11th May 2017, all the trade unions and service organisations, except BMS, participated and opposed the privatization move. CITU, INTUC, HMS, AITUC and other Central trade union leaders were present as also the service organisations. I also spoke on the occasion and mentioned about the struggles organised in BSNL against disinvestment and privatization.

The Action Committee formed against the privatisation of the Kozhikode Railway Station has planned many agitational programmes. The ill-move of the government has to be opposed and defeated.

Kerala Circle Conference of BSNLEU – A step in the right direction

06 Sunday Dec 2015

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One of the strongest units of the BSNL Employees Union, Kerala Circle held its Circle Conference from 2nd to 4th December 2015. The Conference was organised in the same way as the All India Conference. A lot of preparations and campaigns were organised before the start of the Conference. Five seminars on various social and trade union topics were held with hundreds of people and important personalities participating in the nearby stations within the Kozhikode SSA. Hundreds of pamphlets on telecom development issues were circulated.

On 1st December, one day before the Conference, two processions participated by hundreds of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF comrades reached the Mudalakkulam maidan, near the Telephone exchange bringing the Union Flag and the Flag mast which were received Coms. MV Sadananadan and K.Sarojini, senior leaders  and by a large number of workers. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron of BSNLEU hoisted the union flag. The Conference was being held in the aftermath of the  heroic 4 month agitation on the casual-contract labour issues, against corruption and against victimisation.

The conference was inaugurated by Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, All India Presidet, CITU, who spoke in detail about the 2nd September strike and the tasks of the working class. During the three days Conference, in addition to the delegates session, Inaugural Session, Cultural Session, Cultural programmes, Trade Union Session and Open Session were held participated by prominent trade union leaders, leaders of friendly organisations, cultural luminaries etc. The participants of the cultural programmes were BSNL Employees themselves. A session was held to honour the All India and Circle leaders of the union who have recently retired, including Coms. R.Muralidharan Nair, former AGS.

Delegates actively participated in the discussions on organisation and also the issues of the telecom workers. Com.P.Abhimanu, General Secretary BSNLEU, inaugurated the Delegates Session and was through out in the Conference afterwards. He explained the all India issues and connected matters and replied to the questions raised by the delegates. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, P.V.Chandrasekharan, Senior leader, K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, N.R.Somasekharan Nair, Secretary, BSNLCCWF (CCLU) and other leaders were present and addressed the Conference.

The Report and the Accounts presented by Coms. K.Mohanan, Circle secretary and S.Pratap Kumar, Circle Treasurer were approved after discussion. A good number of delegates effectively participated in the discussions.

Coms. A.V.Kuriakose, K.Mohanan and S.Pratapkumar were unanimously re-elected as President, Circle secretary and Treasurer respectively.

The conference was held in Com.S.K.Vyas Nagar (Tagore Centenary Hall), where excellent arrangements were made for the holding of the conference. The Reception Committee headed by Com.Pradeep Kumar, MLA, M.Bhaskaran, K.V.Jayarajan, District Secretary, M.Vijayakumar, All India org. Secretary, K.G.Sanjeevan, DS AIBDPA and other leaders made all arrangements for the successful conduct of the conference.

An amount of Rs. 40,000  on the spot donated by the delegates to the Chennai Flood Relief was handed over to Com. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU.

The 8th Circle Conference of BSNLEU Kerala Circle was memorable on all counts.

 

 

 

Sea change in Calicut (Kozhikode)

10 Thursday Mar 2011

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For the last one week I am in Calicut (Kozhikode). I have left Calicut for New Delhi in 1991 after being elected as President in the All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III held at Bhopal.For the last twenty years, first as President, then as General Secretary of AITEEUnion Class III, General Secretary of AITEEU Class III(Namboodiri), General Secretary of BSNL Employees Union and now as President of the same, I am working at New Delhi and don’t get much chance to come and stay at Calicut. Now I got the chance.

A lot has changed in Calicut during these 20 years. Of course the town has grown big, which is natural. But its face has completely changed. Multi-storied buildings in large numbers have come up, mainly for business. As in big cities, many stories apartments have also come up. The neatness has improved. Population also increased.

The business have increased many fold. Not only the jewellery and textile shops, but all kinds of goods are displayed in an attractive for the customers to come and buy.

What attracted me most were the beautification of the city done by the Corporation. Whether it is the beach or the Kanoli canal and park, the places have been changed in to places where the people can go, relax and be happy. IN the morning when I went for a walk, I could see a number of people on morning walk and enjoying the beach and the calm atmosphere. We can really appreciate the Calicut City Corporation.