KOLKATA TELEPHONES

As per the Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau of India on 01-10-2024, IDA for the 2007 Pay Scales is to increase by 6.5% with effect from 01-10-2024.Now, the total IDA will be 224.3% ( 217.8% existing + 6.5%). Payable after DPE issues the order.

Prakasam District Conference was held at Ongole jointly with BSNLEU on 29-09-2024. Com.Venkaiah controlled the proceedings. Coms.P Asokababu, CHQ Vice President, K Remadevi, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, K S C Bose, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA , K Prabhakara Rao, GS, BSNL CCWF and Krishna Balaji, ACS,BSNLEU addressed and explained the current issues on which struggles are being held. The report presented by Com. Shaik Aziz and accounts by Com.N Sastralu, Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

The conference elected the office bearers unanimously with Com.Shaik Aziz (President) Com.G Nageswara Rao (District Secretary) and Com.N Sastralu (Treasurer)

The capitalist system is in a deep crisis. The burden of this crisis is being shifted onto the shoulders of the working class. While the wealth of the capitalists gets multiplied every year, workers face denial of decent wages, social security, health care, trade union rights and increased work load. Throughout the world, the working class is fighting against this exploitation. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is spearheading these world wide struggles of the working class. October 3^rd, is the foundation day of the WFTU. Every year the foundation day of the WFTU is being observed as “International Action Day”. This year also, the WFTU has called on the trade unions throughout the world, to observe 3rd October as the International Action Day. The WFTU has directed to observe the day by highlighting the demand for better working conditions through implementation of a decent wage, reduced working hours, social security, healthcare, etc. Accepting the call of the WFTU, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU held at Kolkata, has decided to observe International Action Day programme in 8 cities, viz., Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Trivandrum, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Guwahati. Demonstrations and seminars will be organised on this day. The CHQ calls upon the concerned circle unions to immediately start the preparations for making the International Action Day programme a grand success. Reports and photos should be shared with the CHQ, which will be sent to the WFTU head quarters

The 3rd biennial Circle Conference of Bihar was held at Katihar on 25-09-2024 with good participation of pensioners from all over Bihar.

The open session was inaugurated by Com. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary. He explained the issues on which agitations are being held under the banner of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations and NCCPA. He appealed to observe October 1, the International Pensioners Day by all our units jointly with other affiliates of NCCPA, whereever possible. Prof. Ramprakash Mahto, Ex. Bihar Education Minister was the Chief Guest who delivered an inspiring speech appreciating the efforts being taken by AIBDPA for the cause of the pensioners and exposed the anti -PSU stand of Modi government. Shri. Shantosh Prasad Yadav, RJD leader also addressed the open session. Com S P Azad, Circle Vice President presided over the conference. Coms. N K Srivastava, Circle Secretary and B K Singh, District Secretary, Katihar and Convenor, Reception Committee welcomed all the participants

.In the subject session held in the afternoon, Com. N. K. Srivastava presented the report and audited accounts which were adopted after discussion. All the district Secretaries and some of the Circle Office Bearers participated in the discussion. Com. N. K. Srivastava, Circle Secretary explained well all the issues raised in the discussion.

The election of office bearers was unanimous and Com. B. K. Singh ( President )Com.N K Srivastava ( Circle Secretary ) Com. B. N. Rai (Treasurer ) are the important functionaries.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a communist has been elected as the 10th President of Sri Lanka in the election held on 22-09-2024. The island nation, in 2022 had witnessed large scale popular unrest against the serious economic crisis due to the deep rooted corruption and authoritarian misrule of Rajapakse brothers. Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his party, JVP( Janatha Vimukthi Perumana) was in the forefront of the uprising which resulted in the collapse of the Rajapakse regime.

It is a pleasant surprise that ,JVP which got only 3% vote and just one MP in the election held in 2019 ushered to power by securing 5.74 million votes(42% ) defeating opposition leader Sajith Premadasa who got 4.53 million votes. The incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe was relegated to a distant 3rd with 2.3 million votes.

It is not that much easy to bring back Sri Lanka to an healthy economy and the new President is committed to the common people and workers of Sri Lanka. Dissanayake has exuded confidence that with the support of all he will be able to fulfil the dream of Sri Lankan people. In a message to the people after the election results, Dissanayake said; ” The dream can only be realized with a fresh start. The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of this new beginning. The New Renaissance we seek will rise from this shared strength and vision. Let us join hands and shape this future together.”

So after Nepal in 1994, Sri Lanka also has turned red. It is a great and encouraging development for all the left and progressive forces all over the world.

According to the data released by TRAI, 29.3 lakh more customers have reposed faith in BSNL in the month of July, 2024. Yes, it is at the cost of the private telecom companies due to the steep hike in tariff made recently by these private telecom companies. As such, it is reported to be in the first time that Jio lost 7.5lakh customers, Airtel-16.9 lakh and Vodafone- 14.1 lakh. It underlines the importance and relevance of BSNL to provide telecom services to the people at affordable rates. So it is high time to launch 4/5G by BSNL and save the common people from sheer exploitation by the greedy private telecom companies..

56 years are over after the great historical one day token strike of the Central Government employees which took place on 19th September 1968.It was a strike which shook the government and the country. More than 30 lakhs of CG employees participated keeping the country to a standstill. The P & T , Railway and other workers with their strategical position ensured that the entire machinery of the central government was paralyzed.

It was a struggle for the dignity of labour, for the 15th ILC approved Need Based Minimum Wage, for full neutralisation in cost of living through Dearness Allowance and such other demands. The demands were well understood by the workers despite false propaganda of the government.The Indira Gandhi Government used the hated Essential Service Maintenance Act and other such anti-worker ordinances to suppress the struggle, instead of conceding the just demands of the workers.

The workers did not flinch; they had the bitter experience of the 1960 strike which was treated as ‘Civil Rebellion’ and tried to be suppressed by the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The workers had understood the anti-worker policy of the government, which was only to support the rich and ignore the justified demands of the workers.

It is to the credit of the Communist Government of Kerala, headed by Com.E.M.S. Namboodiripad, who declared that his government will not use the ESMA against the striking government employees, despite warning of the central government that failure to implement ESMA may result in dismissal of his government.

Thousands of workers were arrested, jailed, terminated, suspended, dismissed and heavily victimised. CGE unions were derecognised. The heroism shown by the ordinary workers was beyond description.Many years have passed since then. The workers are now getting DA automatically, whenever there is an increase in the cost of living. Strike victimisation has come down. Usually only dies-non is issued for participation in the strike, except in isolated cases. But still we are to get Minimum Wage implemented as per Dr. Akroyd formula which is around Rs.26,000 at present.

The present Modi government has completely ignored the just demands of the CG employees and workers. Demands like Restoration of Old pension Scheme, Appointment of VIII CPC which is due, Additional pension after 65/70/75 years, Increase in FMA etc. etc are denied without any justification. Hard-won rights of the workers are taken away to favour the corporates and the rich. On this 56th anniversary of the historical strike, we pay homage to the 17 martyrs of the 1968 September 19th Strike, who sacrificed their lives for the future generations. The great leaders who led the strike, the workers who implemented the call – we remember all of them, some still in the movement, all of them retired and some no more with us. We will always remember those comrades who were part of this great struggle and contributed for a better future for the working class. Their inspiring memory will certainly strengthen our future struggle for justice to the CG Employees and Workers !

V.A.N.NamboodiriAdvisor,AIBDPA. 17.09.2024