The annual generalbody meetings of Dhenkanal and Cuttck, were held on 04-11-2023 and 05-11-2023, respectively . In Dhenkanal, Com.Rabinarayan Sahu, District President and at Cuttuck Com.Sreedhar Mallick, District President controlled the proceedings. Addressing the meetings, Com.A Dhupal, CHQ Vice President and Com.Pravanjan Kumar Panigrahy, Circle Secretary gave a good account of the important issues and the struggles conducted. District Secretaries , Coms.Pitamber Patra and Sk Hoshen presented the reports.

Gujarat Circle Branch has held its Circle Executive Cpmmittee meeting at Ahmedabad on 27-10-2023. om.N N Patel, Circle President was in chair. Initially, International Pensioners Day and 15th Foundation Day were celebrated by the Circle Branch and Com. J G Nayak, Circle Patron delivered the special address in the inaugural session. Coms. M B Chaniyara, CHQ Vice President and Circle Secretary gave a good account of the importance of the Foundation Day and other issues of pensioners, including pension revision and delay in medical payments. Leaders of BSNLEU, Coms. M K Dave (Circle President), V P Prajapati (Circle Secretary), Amit Chauhan (Circle Treasurer) and a host of leaders spoke. Com. M B Chaniyara presented the report and accounts. 15 comrades participated in the discussion after which both report and accounts were adopted. The CEC decided to hold the next biennial Circle Conference in April, 2024 at Mehasana District,

The 15th Foundation Day of AIBDPA has been celebrated throughout the country with great enthusiasm on 21-10-2023. Flags were hoisted with thunderous sloganeering, cakes cut, sweets distributed, meetings held where the great tradition of struggles, achievements, current situation explained, seniors honoured. In Kerala , the district wise release of the book on PVC was also done. In some district branches like Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu food items were distributed to the children of the orphanage.

The central Cabinet has approved the 4% hike in DA/DR for the central government employees and pensioners from 01-07-2023. Now the total DA/DR will be 42+4= 46% from 1st July, 2023 and payable after issuing necessary orders.

The Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF gave a call to organise protest action on 18-10-2023 in solidarity to the Palestinian people in their right for a sovereign country. In the name of war between Israel and Hamas thousands of innocent people are being killed. The real issue is illegal occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel and majority of the people being driven away and made refugees.In retaliation of regular attacks by Israel, Hamas in Gaza resorted to rocket attacks against Israel, killing innocent civilians which is condemnable. However, taking it as a cover, Israel has let loose attacks , bombing even hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza and several thousands are mercilessly killed. The imperialist forces led by USA is blindly supporting Israel of its atrocities and even vetoed a UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire.

CHQ WHOLEHEARTEDLY CONGRATULATES ALL THE COMRADES WHO MADE THE PROTEST ACTION A RESOUNDING SUCCESS BY HOLDING THE PROGRAMME THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AIBDPA, the mighty organisation is completing 14 years and moving on to the 15th year with pride . Yes, it was on 21st October, 2009, All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association was formed in the Convention held in New Delhi, as per the decision of BSNLEU.

The formation of the organisation and its vibrant functioning by conducting countless struggles to achieve the demands had positive impact on other class conscious pensioners organisations also. This has naturally resulted in strengthening the main stream of Pensioners movement in the country.

AIBDPA continues to be one of the important affiliates of both NCCPA and Trade Union International (Pensioners & Retirees). NCCPA included pension revision also in the 15 point charter of demands and launched agitations, the last one being the four phased agitational programme culminated in the Parliament March on 21st July, 2023. We are the dominant participant in the struggles of the Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. AIBDPA took the leading role in successfully holding the 2nd Asia Regional Conference of TUI (P&R) at Thiruvananthapuram on 1st October, 2023.

When we celebrate the 15th Foundation Day, there are serious concerns about the settlement of the most burning issue of pension revision consequent to the Delhi CAT judgment. Actually, DoT had almost completed the process with a new proposal based on the calculations of financial implications of 5,10, and 15 per cent of fitment. However, final decision was deferred when the cases filed by certain pensioners Associations moved to the final stage. Now, the DoT, according to some of the petitioner organisations, has decided to file appeal in the High Court against CAT judgment. So uncertainty looms large while some people are busy in glorifying the CAT judgment, as if the order is being issued by DoT.

So let us explain the situation to the general members while to be proud of the significant achievements made during these 14 years.As far as, AIBDPA is concerned, we are committed to continue the struggle until pension revision is achieved both to the pre 2017 and post 2017 retirees without any anomaly . We will definitely discuss it with all the seriousness and take appropriate decision in the ensuing Central Executive Committee meeting being held at Pune on 19-20 November, 2023.

CHQ calls upon to observe the 15th foundation day on 21-10-2023 in a befitting manner by hoisting the flag, holding meeting/seminar and distributing food and clothes to the needy.Please send the reports and photos to CHQ.

The book on Com.PVC named “PVC,the Celestial Glory in the History of Struggle ” was formally released on 11th October, 2023 by Com.Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala by handing over a copy of the book to Com.Shaini Sekhar, daughter of Com.PVC. Coms.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor, K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS & Convenor, Memoir Committee , M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer, C Santhoshkumar, ACS,Kerala, S Prathapkumar, Ms.Athira Chandran (Grand daughter of PVC) were present on the occasion. The book contains memoirs of several leaders and those close to Com.PVC, rare photographs and some of the important articles by PVC. The contents are both in Malayalam and English.