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12TH MAY – INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY.

Today, 12th May is the International Nurses Day, which is observed on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing and the icon of nurses all over the world.  This year, it is also her 200th birth anniversary. The day started being observed since 1974, in her honour.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has selected the theme for International Nurses Day this year as “Nursing the World to Health”.

The day gets more importance this year which comes in during the pandemic of Covid – 19, in which more than three lakh valuable lives have been lost already and more than 40 lakhs are under found positive for it. The entire world is in grip of corona virus and the countries are battling against its spread.

On this day we thank nurses all over the world, the angels who care for the ill and give solace to them!

Curtailment of TU rights and benefits by BJP state governments.

Some of the states like U.P., M.P and Gujarat, ruled by BJP and states like Rajasthan ruled by the Congress are denying/curtailing the trade union rights and social benefits like EPF, ESI etc. utilising the COVID period.  The centre is thinking of increasing the working hours from 8 to 12 hours as demanded by the corporates and big business. An all-out attack on the working class is on the agenda of the BJP governments. The Central Trade Unions have expressed their strong protest.

We express our strong protest and demand the governments not to curtail the rights of the workers.

It is welcome in this scenario that the Labour Minister of Kerala has announced that there will be no curtailment of TU rights in Kerala.

Relief to BSNL Contract Workers.

As you are aware the BSNL contract workers are in dire distress due to non-receipt of wages for the last one year or more. They are in great difficulties to look after their families and are literally starving. AIBDPA CHQ has called upon our members to collect liberal donation and give relief to the contract workers.

CHQ is getting good reports from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kolkata, CORTO, Karnataka etc. where collections have been made and relief distributed. Other circles which have collected are requested to intimate the same to CHQ so that the same can be published in the website.

AIBDPA Kerala Circle donates Rs.23 lakhs to Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Kerala Circle, AIBDPA, has donated Rs.23,03,899 to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) and the same was announced in the daily Press Conference of the Chief Minister.  The amount was collected and paid to CMDRF as per the call of the AIBDPA (CHQ) in the COVID-19 situation to collect donation and pay to PMDRF or CMDRF.

During the floods in Kerala last year, similar donations were made by AIBDPA.

Despite the difficulty in collecting during the Covid situation, the district secretaries ensured that maximum collection is made. It is also to be mentioned here that the BSNL retirees have not been granted Pension Revision for the last three years which is due from 01-01-2017.

Congratulations to Kerala Comrades and Circle Secretary Com. Guruprasad for the best efforts in contributing to the Fund.

Visakhapatnam Gas Tragedy.

Gas leak in midnight yesterday at Visakhapatnam has resulted in the death of 11 persons and hospitalization of more than 5000 in serious condition.  The gas was leaked from a private chemical company. There has been serious security and safety lapse, and precious lives have been lost.

Our Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Let us hope that there is no further casualty.

Conspiracy to deny 4G equipment supply to BSNL – AUAB writes to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention.

The TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council), an association of the Indian Telecom Equipment Manufactures, has complained to the government that, BSNL has violated the “Make in India” policy, in the procurement of 4G equipments. In the 4G tender floated by BSNL on 20.03.2020, the BSNL is laid down the following two conditions.

The bidding company should have the previous experience of providing 20 million 4G line network. The bidding company should have Rs.8,000 crore turn over in the previous two financial years.

Both these conditions are very much required to ensure the quality of 4G equipments and also their prompt supply. Based on the complaint of the TEPC, the Commerce Department and the DoT have objected to BSNL’s tender. The whole intention of the TEPC is to see BSNL does not start it’s 4G service. If BSNL does not launch it’s 4G service expeditiously, naturally it is the private companies like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea which are going to get benefitted. So, we can understand whose hands are there behind the complaint of TEPC. Similar conspiracies have been hatched earlier also, to kill BSNL. Now, it has become the duty of the unions and associations of BSNL to ensure that BSNL gets 4G equipments from this tender. As a first step, the AUAB has written to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention. If necessary, the AUAB has to take more serious steps to ensure that, BSNL gets 4G equipments.

(courtesy: BSNLEU website.)

Pension Revision unduly delayed.

Granting pension revision to BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01.01.2017 is delayed for more than three years. There has been no increase in pension for last 13 years except increase of due DA. (It is also being denied to a section of pensioners).

Many pensioners have passed away since 2017 without getting their pension revision. Centre continuously speaks about the need to look after the aged people, especially during Covid 19. After meeting more than 200 Members of Parliament including Central Ministers by AIBDPA leaders, many of the concerned M.P.s have raised the matter in Parliament and also with Prime Minister.

It is unfortunate that the govt. is sitting tight on the issue without issuing orders. There is no other way but to continue our efforts as also struggles.

We demand the government to issue orders on Pension Revision with 15% fitment without any further delay.

AIBDPA writes to Hon’ble Prime Minister on Medical Reimbursement and Medical Allowance to BSNL pensioners.

AIBDPA/BSNL MRS-PM/2020                                                                                               May 2, 2020

To,

Shri Narendra Modi Ji

Hon’ble Prime Minister,

Government of India

South Block, Raisina Hill

New Delhi – 110 001

Respected Sir,

Sub: –    Medical Reimbursement and Medical Allowance to BSNL pensioners – reg.

On behalf of lakhs of BSNL pensioners, we respectfully submit the following for your kind consideration and early favourable intervention.

We thank for your address to the Nation during COVID-19 period, specifically mentioning about the extra care to be ensured with regard to the health and well being of the aged persons, who are more vulnerable to the pandemic.

In this connection, we would like to mention about the sad plight of the BSNL pensioners, who have served the Nation sincerely during long years of their service.

The medical reimbursement for hospital treatment and medical allowance for outdoor treatment are completely stopped by the BSNL Management on the plea of lack of funds. Patients suffering from chronic diseases like cancer, kidney ailments, cardiac problems etc., who require continuous tests and treatment are unable to continue treatment due to non- reimbursement, which endangers their life itself. Quarterly Medical Allowance is also stopped, causing extreme difficulties.

We had discussed the matter with CMD BSNL as also with officers of DOT. Getting no fruitful result, we wrote to Communications Minister, but so far no result.

Under these circumstances, we are compelled to approach your kindself to look in to the extreme difficulties of the BSNL pensioners and issue necessary instructions to the DOT and BSNL management to ensure that all the medical claims of the BSNL pensioners are reimbursed and the quarterly medical allowance with arrears are paid immediately.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary.

Copy to: Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad ji, Hon’ble Minister for Communications, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.