Veteran Leader and founder General Secretary of BSNL Employees Union has penned his autobiography, My Life, Struggles. The book contains an interesting life story of Com. V A N Namboodiri filled with numerous struggles during a span of six decades and still continuing. Actually, it is the history of P&T Trade Union movement and Central Govt.Employees movement mixed with the glimpses of personal and family life of Com.V A N.

Karnataka Circle Branch headed by Coms.C K Gundanna (Circle President) and H V Sudarshan( Circle Secretary) has taken the initiative to publish the book and befittigly chose to release on 22-03-2021, the 20th Anniversary of BSNLEU at Bangalore, a fitting honour indeed.

Com Amanullah Khan, former President, AIIEA formally released the book in the jampacked hall of PGMT Office, Bangalore in the presence of a galaxy of leaders, including Coms. C K Gundanna, H V Sudarshan, Geetha, Muddaiah (Circle Secretary, AIBDPA), H C Prakash (AGS, AIBDPA), G G Patil (Former AGS, AIBDPA) N.Kuppusamy (Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, Tamil Nadu) .

The 4th Distrct Conference of Khammam , Telangana Circle has been held in a befitting manner on 22-03-2021. 20th Anniversary of BSNLEU, the mighty organisation was also celebrated on the occasion. Com.J Sampath Rao, AGS & Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the formation of BSNLEU at Visakhapatnam on 21-03-2001, its growth as the main recognised union, the sustained struggles conducted for the settlement of genuine demands of the workers and protection of BSNL from privatisation. He aslo reminded that AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF were formed by BSNLEU and appealed for srengthening these organisations to face the serious challenges ahead.

Coms.D Shankar, CHQ Vice President and Ramachandradu, Circle Secretary explained the issues of the pensioners and the recent struggles conducted for pension revision, medical benefits, DR and IDA and issues of VRS retirees.

A host of leaders, including, Coms. G.sambasiva Rao, ACS, BSNLEU, B S Veeraswamy, Circle President, Srinivas, District Secretary, SNPWA and Jaganmohan Reddy addressed the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Coms. Rajaiah (President) Thirumalachary (District Secretary) and Kiran Kumar (Treasurer)

Chennai telephones has held its Circle Executive Committee Meeting at BSNLEU Hall, Flower Bazar Telephone Exchange, Chennai on 20-03-2021. Com.E Manibalan, Circle Vice President presided over the meeting. Com.V Kuppan, Circle Secretary welcomed all and delivered the introductory speech mentioning the agenda items.

The CEC meeting reviewed the agitational programmes, particularly, the Dharna on 16-03-2021. Most of the comrades participated in the discussion. Thereafter the CEC meeting unanimously nominated Com. Senbagavalli Janarthanam as Circle Treasurer in place of Com. N Raju who resigned on personal grounds. The meeting also decided to form four district branches.

PROTESTS GALORED AGAINST NEGLECT OF SERIOUS ISSUES OF THE SENIORS.

THOUSANDS OF PENSIONERS PARTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BRAVING ALL ODDS INCLUDING COVID-19 PANDEMIC SITUATION.

YES, COMRADES, THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME, THE MASS DHARNA ON 16-03-2021 TURNED TO BE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

ALL INDIA POSTAL AND RMS PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION (AIPRPA) EXTENDD SOLIDARITY. IN SOME CIRCLES BSNLEU & BSNL CCWF MEMBERS ALSO PARTICIPATED. CHQ EXPRESSES THANKS TO THESE ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT.

THE PENSIONERS HAVE SENT A STRONG WARNING TO THE ARROGANT MODI GOVERNMENT AND BSNL MANAGEMENT AGAINST THE DENIAL OF PENSION REVISION TO BSNL PENSIONERS, MEDICAL BENEFITS, DR AND IDA AND ISSUES OF VRS RETIREES .

IT IS ALSO A GREAT VICTORY THAT TWO ISSUES , PAYMENT OF 8% EX-GRATIA AND ATTEMPTS TO LEVY INCOME TAX FOR LEAVE ENCASHMENT OF THE LEAVE EARNED IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, ARE SETTLED.

Some of the photos received at CHQ are posted hereunder;

NEELESWARAM, KERALA

PALAKKAD, KERALA

CHERPULASSERY, KERALA

KOVILPATTI, TAMIL NADU

KHAMMAM, TELANGANA

VISAKHAPATNAM, AP

THRISSUR, KERALA

KANPUR, UP E

JAMNAGAR, GUJARAT

A convention on “Ensuing Elections and our duty” was held at Memari by Burdwan District Branch on 14-03-2021. Com.Dhananjay Ganguly, Convenor, Pensioners Co-Ordination Committee, Durgapur inaugurated. Coms. Pijush Chakraborty was the main speaker and he underscored the necessity of replacing the present fascist government with a progressive government for the benefit of the people. A host of leaders, including Coms. Ashok Chatterjee, Convenor, Pensioners Coordination Committee, Burdwan, Sushil Ghosh (CORTO), Badre Alam (BSNLEU) Sahiful Jaman (CMU) and S P Ray (DS,AIBDPA)addressed. Coms.Manik Lal Das controlled the proceedings.

A new branch of AIBDPA, Memeari also was formed in the convention. An adhoc committee with Coms. Dibakar Das (President) Parthsarathi Roy (Secretary) and Subhas Sarkar (Treasurer) was elected unanimously.

The sixth biennial District Conference of Asansol, West Bengal was held on 07-03-2021 successfully. The Conference was formally inaugurated by veteran trade union leader and Convenor of Pensioners Coordination Committe, Durgapur, Com.Dhananjay Ganguly with an educative speech. Coms. Mridul Chatterjee, District Secretary and Dipak Chakraborty, Treasurer presented the report and accounts, respectively and was adopted after discussion. Com. Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary delivered the inaugural address covering the issues of the pensioners and the struggles being organised and the recent developments including elections to the West Bengal legislature and our responsibilities.

A new set of office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. Mrityunjay Bhattacharjee (President) Com.Mridul Chatterjee (District Secretary) and Com.Dipak Chakraborty (Treasurer)

The two day bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions on 15th &16th March,2021 has started and the entire banking services in the coutry has come to a complete halt. About 10 lakh bank employees and officers are participating in the massive and historic strike. The strike is warranted against the blind privatisation of Public Sector Banks and the retrograde banking reforms.

AIBDPA fully supports the strike and extends solidarity to the striking bank employees and officers.

CHQ has received a letter dated 12-03-2021 from Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU regarding formation of Co-Ordination Committee of the three organisations, BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF. We have responded vide our letter dated 13-03-2021, wholeheartedly welcoming the proposal and giving our suggestions.