The Central Executive Committee Meeting of AIBDPA held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019 has decided a phased program of agitation culminating in  Parliament March during the budget session to exert pressure on the Government to settle the burning issue of Pension Revision of BSNL absorbed retirees. It was also decided to seek the cooperation of all the important pensioners organizations to have a united struggle.

Accordingly, the following letter has been sent to AIBSNLPWA, AIRBSNLEWA, AIBSNLREA, BDPA AND SNEPWA.;

ALL INDIA BSNL DOT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION

(Registered No.68836/2010)

CHQ, 2151/1, Dada Ghosh Bhawan, New Patel Nagar,

New Delhi-110008.  email: mail.aibdpa@gmail.com

AIBDPA/ AGN-JAC/2019                                                                                       29^TH November, 2019

Dear Comrade,

Greetings from AIBDPA.

I am writing this as per the decision of Central Executive Committee Meeting of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019.

Our CEC has unanimously decided against seeking legal remedy for Pension Revision of BSNL retirees at present, as we feel that it should be the last option. Further, it is our considered opinion that the government has at no point rejected the demand and we should wait for the post VRS scenario.

Meanwhile, the CEC has decided to wage the following phased programme of agitation to exert pressure on the government, for which we are seeking the cooperation of all the important pensioners organizations to make it a joint struggle. The proposals are subject to modifications, to consider the opinions of all the oraganisations.

1. Signature campaign in the memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention for Pension Revision of BSNL retirees – December,2019.
2. Meeting the Parliament Members , irrespective of their political affiliation to muster maximum support,  by District wise delegation.—January, 2020
3. Mass Hunger Strike at CCA offices-  February, 2020.
4. Parliament March during the Budget Session of Parliament-  March,2020.

It would be better to have a joint meeting of the organizations to give the final shape of the agitation with dates of each programme, preferably in the 3^rd week of December,2019. In case, if it is not possible to attend the meeting, your opinion may please be communicated through email.

Awaiting your early positive response and

Thanking you,

Yours fraternally,

K G Jayaraj (Mob.9447455633)

General Secretary.

It is really heartbreaking that we lost a committed and sincere leader, Com.K.Ramachandran, Area Secretary, Karunagappally in a road accident on 26-11-2019.  CHQ conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family , comrades and friends.

Com.Anupam Patra, District President presided in the Special General Body meeting of Cuttack District on 27-11-2019. Addressing the meeting Coms.A.Dhupal, CHQ Vice President and A C Mohanty, Circle Secretary gave a detailed report on the Central Executive Committee meeting held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019. The serious discussions and decisions on the important issues of pension revision and nonpayment of medical bills/allowance were narrated. They also appealed to approach all the VRS optees and enroll them as our members. Com.Sreedhar Mallick, District Secretary welcomed the large number of pensioners and the VRS optees who enthusiastically participated in the meeting.

The Central Executive Committee Meeting held at the BSNL Multi Purpose Hall, Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019 has been significat that it took serious decisions on issues and oraganisation.

The CEC started with flag hoistings at 10AM on 24th November, 2019, National Flag by Com.P C Das, Chairman, Reception Committee, NCCPA flag by Com.S Rehman, Vice President, NCCPA and AIBDPA Flag by Com.Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee, President. Thereafter floral tributes were paid to the martyrs.

Open session started at 1030 AM and was presided over by Com.Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee, President. All the leaders and guests were honoured by the Reception Committee i typical Assam style. Com.P C Das welcomed the gathering highlighting the importance of Guwahati.

Com.Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Head of the Department of Political Science, Gauhati University inaugurated the conference with a educative and enthusiastic speech. He came down heavily on Modi government, acting like a subsidiary of American imperialism and resorting to fascist measures. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary in his address remembered that 24th November is the foundation day of the great organisation, NFPTE in 1954 and recalled the glorious strikes waged. He also spoke on the issues of Pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills/allowance, BSNL revival and VRS. Coms.Satanjib Das, Ex Convenor, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Assam,S.Rahman, Vice President, NCCPA, Shri.M K Gogoi, CGMT, Com.Sankar Kr Das,, General Secretary, Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations, Assam also addressed. Com.S N Sarma, General Secretary, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.

The subject session started at 3.30PM was inaugurated by Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor covering the current issues of pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills and VRS in the name of BSNL Revival. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary presented the report on activities and Com.R A Nair submitted the unaudited account for 2018-19. Initiating the discussion, Com.K G Jayaraj narratted the present position on the important issues of pension revision and nonpayment of medical bills and allowances. He also readout a letter received from Com.P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU conveying the decision of their CEC meeting to seek legal remedy, in coordination with AIBDPA for pension revision of BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017 and asked the CEC members to give their opinion on it. All the  20 circle secretaries and 12 CHQ office bearers  attended the CEC participated in the discussion. It emerged unanmously that we should wait for the post VRS scenario, considering the pros and cons of approaching the court. Meanwhile we should continue our agitatio on a phased manner.

On pension revision, it was felt that we should explore the possibility of a joint agitation with other pensioners organisations, and subject to modifications if required, the following phased programme was decided.

1. Exhaustive campaign among the pensioners and signature campaign in the memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister- December, 2019
2. . Meeting the Members of Parliament, irrespective of party affiliation, by District/Circle Secretaries and to seek their help in the settlement.- January, 2020.
3. Mass Hunger Strike before the CCA offices – First week of February,2020
4. . Parliament March during the Budget Session,2020.

On Non-Payment of Medical Bills and Quarterly Medical Allowance , the CEC decided to launch a Mass Dharna at SSA levels on 17-12-2019, and the importance of National Pensioners Day also to be highlighted.

The resolutions on important issues presented by Com.Saibal Sengupta, Organising Secretary on behalf of Resolution Committee were adopted.

The proposal of General Secretary to assign charges to the CHQ office bearers for circle branches was approved by the CEC.

The performance of the Reception Committee with Coms.P K Das (Chairman) M R Das (Working Chairman) and S N Sarma (General Secretary) came in for the allout praise of all the participants and the Cultural Programpresented in the night of 24th November, worth mentioning.

Com. V A Harsulkar, former General Secretary, AITTEU Cl III passed away on 25-11-2019 at Noida. He was one of the prominent leaders of NFPTE and was the General Secretary, T III for a very long period. It is  sad that his wife also breathed her last the next day, ie 26-11-2019.  AIBDPA pays respectful homage to Com.V A Harsulkar and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Mehsana District Conference has been held on 24-11-2019 under the presidentship of Com. B S Rajput, Circle Vice President. Com.N N Patel, Circle President inaugurated the conference with an elaborate speech. Com.V M Darji, ACS and leaders of BSNLEU greeted the conference. The biennial report presented by Com.G B Darji, District Secretary and audited accounts by Com. G P Bhavsar, Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

Office bearers were elected unanimously and the following are the important functionaries;

President: Com.N N Patel, District Secretary : Com. G B Darji and Treasurer : Com.Bhavsar.

Guwahati, the historic city on the bank of the great Brahmaputra is gearing up to host the Central Executive Committee Meeting of the mighty pensioners organization, All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association on 24-25, November, 2019. It will be held at the BSNL Multi Purpose Hall, Camp Bazar, Guwahati. The comrades from far off circles have started reaching Guwahati and almost all the eligible participants are expected to reach by the evening on 23rd November,

The Open Session is scheduled to start at 10AM on 24th November. Com.Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee , President will preside and Com.P Abhimanyu, General Secretary , BSNLEU has kindly consented to inaugurate. Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, HOD, Political Science, Gauhati University, Coms.V A N Nambbodiri, Advisor, K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, Satanjit Das, Ex-Convenor,  Joint Council of Trade Unions, Assam will address.

The subject session which will be held on the remaining period of 24th and 25th will discuss the  issues seriously, confronting the pensioners including pension revision, non-payment of medical bills, wage revision and the post VRS scenario in BSNL  and appropriate decision taken.

The Reception Committee comrades with Coms.Prabin Chandra Das (Chairman), M.R. Das (Working Chairman) and S.N.Sarma (General Secretary) are taking all out efforts to make the CEC a grand success.

Massive hunger strike throughout the country on 25.11.2019, on the crucial issues related to VRS and other burning problems.

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BSNLEU has already expressed it’s unhappiness over the withdrawal of the 3 day hunger strike, which was to be held from 20.11.2019. Since there was no unanimity among all the constituents of the AUAB, to go ahead with the hunger strike, the programme had to be dropped. Still, BSNLEU strongly felt the need of an agitational programme to ensure settlement of the crucial issues related to VRS, as well as other burning issues of the employees. For the past two days, BSNLEU approached all the trade unions of the Non-Executives for organising a struggle. As a result of this, various organisations agreed to organise a one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019 at the Corporate Office, Circle and District levels. The BSNLEU has no intention to exclude any trade union from this hunger strike. All the organisations willing to raise their voice against the injustices in the matter of VRS and other issues have joined together for organising the hunger strike on 25.11.2019. All the circle and district unions are requested to immediately contact the other participant organisations for massively organising the one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019

(BSNLEU Website)

THOUGH THE IMPORTANT LEADERS OF AIBDPA WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING AT GUWAHATI ON 25-11-2019, OTHER AVAILABLE COMRADES AT EACH PLACE SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO ENSURE THE PARTICIPATION OF PENSIONERS IN THE HUNGER STRIKE.

Chennai Telephones Circle Conference was adjourned on 30-09-2019 without completing the agenda items, as the the venue, Saraswati Hall had to be vacated at 6 PM.  Now the adjourned Circle conference was held on 18-11-2019 under the presidentship of Com.B.Subramonian, Circle President. Com.G S Narasimhan, Circle Secretary wecomed all the participants. Com.R.Muraleedharan Nair, AGS addressed and stressed the necessity of unity and appealed to strengthen the organisation by enrolling more pensioners, particularly in the wake of a large number of BSNL employees opting for VRS. Com.M.Kanniappan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed.

Thereafter, a 25 member Circle Office Bearers were elected unanimously with Coms.K. Arumugam (President) , V. Kuppan ( Circle Secretary) and N.Raju (Treasurer) 

The outcome of the talks held yesterday, between the AUAB and the Director (HR), is not at all satisfactory. Only assurance given is that, salary will be paid on 28th. Then what about November salary? No answer. Most importantly, there is no improvement on the issue of remittance of recoveries, which is hurting the employees the most. Similarly, no improvement on contract workers’ wages. No improvement in any of the problems related to the VRS optees. What about reduction of retirement age to 58 years? What is the assurance on 30% superannuation benefit? The BSNL Management is only trying to save their skin, but not worried about the problems of the employees. However, there is no unanimity among the constituents of the AUAB to go ahead with the 3 day hunger strike. Hence, the 3 day hunger strike from 20^th November, 2019 stands postponed. BSNLEU will decide about the future course of action and inform shortly.

(BSNLEU Website)