More than 300 comrades enthusiastically participated in the Foundation Day meeting on 21-10-2017 at Chennai Telephones. Many lady comrades also attended the meeting. Com.K.Govindaraj, Assistant General Secretary inaugurated the meeting. Com.Com.K.Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA was the chief guest and delivered the keynote address. Com.B.Subramoniam, Circle President controlled the proceedings. Coms. E.Ponmudi (CITU), M.Kanniyappan (CS,BSNLEU), E.Natarajan (CP,BSNLEU), T Kasi and S.Hemavathi addressed. Com.G.S.Narasimhan , Circle Secretary welcomed the gathering and Com.N.V.N.Balakrishnan, Circle Treasurer thanked.

From 19th October 2017 , BSNL announced No Monthly Fee and Reduced call charges to Soldiers . So there is no monthly fee will be taken for using DSPT service, that is, the current monthly fee of Rs.500/- will be ‘Zero’ from 19-10-2017. And also, the present telephone charges of Rs.5/- per minute is being reduced to Re.1/- per minute.

Diwali Gift to the Soldiers of the Country

Soldiers and officers of various army and para-military units like CRPF, BSF, BRO, ITBP, etc. are deployed in remote and far flung areas to protect Borders of India. The soldiers and officers are working day and night without bothering about difficult weather conditions and as they are posted away from their homes and headquarters, there is a constant requirement for them to speak to their family and also to their Headquarters. They use only DSPT service provided by BSNL because there is no other means of communications available in those areas.

Briefing the media here, the Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said that in order to use the facility of DSPT, the soldiers & officers at present are required to pay monthly fee of Rs.500/- and call charges of Rs.5/- per minute. But, looking at the requirement of Soldiers & Officers and also the heavy cost they have to incur for talking to their family members, government has taken an important decision on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. Shri Sinha said, from Diwali day (19th October, 2017), no monthly fee will be taken for using DSPT service, that is, the current monthly fee of Rs.500/- will be ‘Zero’ from tomorrow. And also, the present telephone charges of Rs.5/- per minute is being reduced to Re.1/- per minute.

With this special Diwali Gift from Government of India, Defence personnel can now talk without worrying for more expenses to their home and their Headquarter. The Minister also wished the jawans and officers and their family members A Very Happy Diwali.

NCJCM Standing Committee Discussion Points

S.No.7 — Scrap PFRDA Act and reintroduce the defined benefit statutory pension scheme.

The representative of Department of Financial Services informed that a committee has been constituted to look into the issue and suggest measures to streamline the NPS and make it more effective. It was informed that the Committee had also held discussion with the representatives of the Staff Side.

The Staff-Side stated that while discussions have been held, it has also been made clear by the said Committee that they cannot commit on a minimum pension. It was stated that although the defined benefit pension scheme has been re-introduced in many places and the experience of those organisations should be taken into account, the fact remains that employees are not getting any benefit of the New Pension Scheme though they are the people who have put in their money. It was informed that these concerns were expressed before the said Committee but there has been no response. Even a minimum assured pension as provided in CCS(Pension) Rules-1972, Family Pension, Disability Pension are not guaranteed and there is no provision for GPF.

Hearing the Staff-Side, Chairman remarked that the mandate of the Committee seems to be about the NPS and making it more effective. Noting that the Staff-Side are in favour of scrapping of the PFRDA Act and reverting to the old pension scheme, it was directed to the representatives of Department of Financial Services and Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare to bring the concerns expressed by the Staff-Side to the notice of the Committee set up to streamline the NPS.

It was also decided that in the light of discussions, the Staff- Side may await the report since the entire matter is with the NPS committee.

Alappuzha District Committee organised the Foundation Day in a befitting manner on 21-10-2017. AIBDPA flag was hoisted by senior leader Com.S.R.K.Panicker amidst thundering slogan shouting. The meeting thereafter held at BSNLEU hall was inaugurated by Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary delivered the keynote address. Com.K.N.Sivanandan, District Vice President presided. Coms. P.R.Shajimon ( BSNLEU), T.X.Zacharia (CGPA) and C.P.S.Babu (AIPRPA) addressed. Com.P.Surendran, District Secretary welcomed all and Com.T.Sobhanan, Asst. Secretary proposed vote of thanks. About 100 comrades including a good number of ladies participated with enthusiasm braving inclement weather.

( This beautiful poster is designed by Com.K.V.Balakrishnan, Area Secretary , AIBDPA, Vadakara, Kozhikode.)

NCCPA Circular on 25th Dharna in New Delhi

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

13.c Feroze Shah Road,

 New Delhi. 110 001

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECy. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

Dated 18^th October, 2017

Dear Comrades,

            Due to the judicial intervention and the unhelping attitude of the Delhi Police,  we are constrained to shift the venue of our Dharna Programme  slated for 25^th October, 2017 from Jantar Mantar, New Delhi  to Meghdhoot Bhawan, Puza Road, New Delhi.  Meghdhoot Bhawan is located at Puza Road (Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Road) and on the metro line between Rajiv Chowk (Cannaught Place) and Dwaraka.  The nearest Metro Station is Jhandewalan and is less than 2 kms from Rajiv chowk.   Those who come from Rajiv Chowk may please get down at Jhandewalan and walk back a few steps to reach Meghdhoot Bhawan and similarly those come from Dwaraka side, may also get down at Jhandewalan  and walk a few steps ahead towards Rajiv Chowk.  The Dharna will commence at 11.00 AM and we shall conclude the same latest by 3.30 PM.  Meghdhoot Bhawan is just opposite to Pillar No. 56 of Rajiv Chowk-Dwaraka metro line.  Those who do require accommodation for 25^th night, may kindly contact Com. Deep Chand, Com. Shankar Pal Singh, Com. Rajinder Prasad, whose numbers are given in our last circular letter.   Please make the programme a grand success. 

            With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty.

Secretary General