All the comrades assembled at Chennai on 06-07-2016, most of them even without any communication from the leadership were in a jubilant mood and wanted to celebrate the big achievement of 78.2% IDA merger and waiving of 60:40 condition for pensionary benefits. So sweets were distributed, crackers fired, exhibited posters and slogans shouted. Com.K.Govindraj ,AGS delivered an inspiring speech focusing the importance of the great achievement and the continuous struggles waged by AIBDPA and the support of BSNLEU and Forum for the settlement of this vital issue.  Coms. G. S. Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, M. Kanniappan, Circle President, BSNLEU and B.Subramonian, also addressed.

A spar is going on between the Congress and BJP about the alleged scam of Rs.46,000 crore in telecom. The issue relates to the under-reporting of revenue by six private telecom companies during the period between 2006  and 2010. It is the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) unearthed the scam

The CAG in its report tabled in Parliamant in March, 2016 said the six privete telecom companies, Reliance Communications, Tata Telecom, Vodafone, Airtel and Aircel under-reported their adjusted gross revenue by 46,045.75 crore leading to a loss os Rs.12,488.93 crore to the exchequer.

Now, the DoT is reported to be in the process of issuing demand notice of over Rs.12,500 crore  to the six private telecom companies.         (source: The Hindu)

However we have to wait and see as to whether the private telecos would pay it or not? And also the government action on it. 

The Kerala Circle Executive Committee meeting held at Thrissur on 08-07-2016 has decided to hold the 3rd Circle Conference in the first week of November, 2016 at Thrissur. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the meeting with a detailed speech covering the importance of the achievement of 78.2% IDA fixation and waiving of 60:40 condition for payment of pensionary benefits and the struggles and efforts conducted by AIBDPA,BSNLEU and Forum for the same. He also clarified the circumstances under which the proposed indefinite strike of central government employees has been deferred and appealed to implement the decision of NCCPA to hold Dharna on 11th July, 2016 demanding immediate implementation og option 1,recommended by the 7th Pay Commission, ensuring pension parity to a certain extent.

Com.R.Aravindakhan Nair, Circle President presided. Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report for the interim period. The meeting paid rich tributes to Coms.M.P.Kunhanandan, former CHQ Treasurer and Com.P.Balakrishnan, veteran leader of the P&T Trade Union movement. Coms.V.Kesavan and Karayi Sreedharan, Circle Patrons, Circle Office bearers and all the District Secretaries participated in the discussion that followed.

The meeting thereafter took the following decisions.

1.To hold Dharna at all the districts on 11-07-2016 as per the call of NCCPA.

2.To support the countrywide Strike of central trade unions and federations on 2 September, 2016.

3.To conduct the accounts verification of the district branches at the earliest.

4.To effectively conduct the membership and Tele Pensioner campaign from August 1 to 31, 2016.

5.To hold the circle conference in the first week of November, 2016.

Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA has called upon the pensioners to hold Dharna on 11-07-2016 at all important places demanding  immediate implementation of option 1 recommended by the 7th Pay Commission ensuring pension parity to a certain extent and for settlement of other genuine issues rejected by the pay commission.

A resolution passed in the Dharna (copy furnished below) be sent to the Finance Minister.

AIBDPA units are requested to contact other pensioners organisations like, CGPA , AIPRPA etc so that the Dharna could be held jointly with maximum participation.

After the news on cabinet approval of 78.2% IDA merger to the BSNL pensioners retired prior to 10-06-2013 was flashed on 05-07-2016, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor and Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary are overwhelmed with telephone calls, mobile, sms messages ,whatsup and email from hundreds of comrades through out the country conveying their joy ,congratulations and thanks for the historical achievement. Though they have tried to respond individually initially,it became absolutely difficult later as the number became so high. So they request all such comrades to bear with them for this unavoidable lapse and to please treat this as an individual response.

AIBDPA is of the firm opinion that the genuine demand was achieved through sustained struggles and crucial interventions at the right time. AIBDPA itself has conducted seven country wide struggles on this demand including the massive and impressive Sanchar Bhawan March on 20-11-2014. The employees’organisations under the leadership of BSNLEU supported the demand greatly by including this demand also for their two strikes, one by the Joint Action Committee of Non-Executive employees unions on 27-11-2014 and another two days strike by Forum of BSNL unions/Associations on April 21,22, 2015.   

AIBDPA started pursuing the issue right from 14-06-2013 itself by meeting the top officers and demanding early extension of this benefit to the BSNL pensioners retired before 10-06-2013. But the efforts were confronted with so many twists and turns some of them quite unexpected too. So we had to  resort to agitational path and to meet the hon’ble Minister for Communications twice.   Coms.M.B.Rajesh and Shankar Prasad Dutta both MPs of the Lok Sabha also discussed the issue with the Minister. We had met the DoT Secretary ,Shri.Rakesh Garg many times and after his transfer the new DoT Secretary Shri.J.S.Deepak twice at crucial junctures.

The achievement is of double delight, as the 60:40 ratio for payment of pensionary benefits to absorbed BSNL pensioners is also waived by the cabinet. At the time of our struggle for pension revision for the pre 2007 BSNL pensioners itself AIBDPA had demanded scrapping of this condition since it will be a road block and head ache every time when ever the demand of pension revision is raised. AIBDPA also took up the issue in the memorandum to the 7^th Pay Commission for their intervention to get it scrapped. At a particular stage, it was Ms.Annie Moraes, Member(Finanace), DoT who initiated to include the proposal of  waiving  60:40 condition in the cabinet note. But it attracted strong objection from the Department of Expenditure and  therefore delayed the issue the maximum. Still it proved to be quite advantageous with the approval of the proposal by the union cabinet.And now, the entire responsibility rather liability for payment of pension and pensionary benefits to absorbed BSNL pensioners rests with the Central Government which is the significant achievement.

So Comrades, it was no magic or individual heroism but the fruit for the joint efforts by all of us and the credit also goes to all the comrades who have contributed what ever little they could. We have more to be achieved and let us march forward with unity and added vigour. Unity for struggla and struggle for unity. Red Salute, Comrades.