The appeal of the private telecom companies Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Telecom and some others for extension of their 20 years spectrum licence for 10 years more has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The SC stated that it is the prerogative of the executive to decide, whether the licence is to be extended or not and the court will not interfere.
Reserve Bank Governor, Raghuram Rajan ha sexpressed concern over the whopping increase in the Non Performing Loans of the banking sector.He added that there are concerns about the effect on banking system and on tax payers. A recent IMF report said the domestic banking sector was in trouble with a whopping 36.9 per cent of the country’s total debt being at risk.
According to Crisil Ratings report total bad loans or gross performing assets of Indian banks will rise by a Rs. 60,000 crore to Rs. 4 lakh crore in the financial year 2015-16.
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.Yesterday night and today, I have been getting a lot of SMSs, telephone calls and e-mails with regard to my decision to step down from the post of Convener of the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations. Many comrades conveyed their disapproval stating that I should have continued, since the present situation require the leadership. Some others have asked why a personal decision has been taken without wider discussion in the organisation. Some comrades have appreciated the work done by the Forum for the last many years and also congratulated for having taken a decision for a generation change. Some comrades who contacted were emotional and very unhappy at my decision.
I express my sincere thanks to all these comrades who appreciated and wanted me to continue. Such opinions and pleading are all natural. Change is also natural and is necessary for the progress and advancement. This basic understanding is most important.
Why I wanted to be relieved from the post of Convener, Forum? First of all, I have been the Convener of the Joint Forum/JAC/Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations from its formation in 2004. Name of the organisation has changed, but I continued. It is more than 10 years and that is an adequate time to be in a post. Secondly and generally I have not continued in the important posts more than 4 terms, whether it was Branch Secretary, District Secretary, Circle Secretary, Asst. General Secretary or General Secretary. Every time, it has been on my insistence that a change has taken place, despite the fact that most comrades did not want a change. Then why a different criteria for this post?
Further, during this period almost all unions and associations have become part of the Forum and it has strengthened. The smooth functioning of the Forum is expected to continue. This is the time when there should be a change.
A very successful strike has taken place on 21-22 April 2015 on the demand of revival of BSNL and Better Service to the people. Though the demands are yet to be achieved, this is a special occasion after a good strike and naturally the time for a change.
The last 10 years have been a period of struggle and agitations of all sorts by the BSNL Employees,which was heralded by the JF/JAC/Forum. Ten strike calls were given out of which five fruitifIed in to complete successful strike, while the others were deferred after successful agreement. 5 Parliament Marches were organised with thousands of participants. Three All India Conventions were held in Delhi which were addressed by the veteran trade union leaders and Parliament members who supported our programme and agitations. Savingram, Telegram, Signature, Black Badge and Post Card campaigns were conducted effectively. During this period of 10 years about 80 dharnas, protest demonstrations were organised. Almost all these were for the cause of the telecom PSU, BSNL. For some period, joint programmes were organised with MTNL also. The JF/JAC/Forum met the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, Secretary DOT etc. several times to ensure that the workers demands are settled.
Because of the unity of the workers and united struggles, we were able to stop disinvestment, VRS, Unbundling of cables and privatisation. We have also been able to stop further attacks on the workers.
These 10 years was a period of continued struggle with the full support of the workers and leaders alike. All the unions/associations stood together to defend the workers and the company. I am really proud that we all together could do all these, which was an impossible task. Yes Comrades, we have done the impossible for the workers and the company.
Hence it is with full satisfaction that I have stepped down from the post of Convener. During this joint functioning many veteran leaders like Comrade O.P.Gupta were part of this joint movement. All the leaders of the various unions/associations have jointly built this umbrella organisation and the credit for the same goes to every body, not to the Convener or Chairman alone. If, during these activities or discussions, I have caused any displeasure or harm to any body, it may kindly be excused. I thank all of our comrades for the support and solidarity given to me in running the organisation.
The coming days are more difficult. There are many challenges which we have to face. Though I may not be Convener or office-bearer, I am always with all of you and any task allotted to me will be sincerely attended to.
I once again thank all of you for your appreciation and kind words. We shall march ahead with dedication and determination.
The meeting of the Forum of BSNL unions/Associations held on 13th May, 2015 in New Delhi under the presidentship of Com. Chandheswar Singh, Chairman has unanimously elected Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU as the Convenor. The proposal in this regard was made by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri who had been the Convenor and architect of the joint movement ever since its inception in 2004.
AIBDPA wholeheartedly congratulate Com. P. Abhimanyu and wish him all success in the new role.
Com.K.Chandran, veteran leader of AIBDPA, Kozhikode has passed away on 12th May, 2015. He was 83 but very active in analyzing the current socio, political developments and sharing it to his younger comrades. Ever since his entry in the P & T Department ,Com. Chandran became active in the union activities and served the organization in various capacities. AIBDPA pays respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys deep condolences to the bereaved family and comrades in Kozhikode.
The CGHS dispensaries have all the medicines required in emergency. As per the CGHS guidelines, a provision is there to keep medicines available to counter any medical emergency that might arise within the Wellness Centre. There is an Emergency Tray available with the nursing staff which contains most of the medicines required under emergency situation. The availability of the medicines with their valid date of expiry in this Emergency Tray is checked on a regular basis and also during surprise checks.
A complaint was received on 07.09.2013 from Sh. R. C. Khuntia, the then Member of Parliament in respect of pensioner beneficiary, Sh. B. K. Joshi regarding non-supply of life saving drugs on time by CGHS Bhubaneswar. The delay in supply was due to non availability of cancer medicine with the authorized stockiest.
In case the medicines are not available at the Wellness Centre, they are procured through local purchase. If any medicine is prescribed by the treating doctor that is required to be used immediately and if that medicine is not available in the Wellness Centre, authority slip is issued to the patient to collect the medicine from the authorized local chemist free of cost.
The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Today, 13th May 2015, along with Com. Sankar Prasad Datta, Member of Parliament, Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA met Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister in his office in the Parliament House and discussed in detail about certain major issues of the BSNL/DOT Pensioners. Letters were handed over by MP as also AIBDPA on these demands.
With regard to 78.2% IDA pension fixation, the issue was explained and it was requested that the Cabinet Note and further actions be speeded up so that the pensioners will get the relief with out further delay. The background was also explained. It was also requested that Pension Revision should be automatic along with wage revision. Minister agreed to favourably consider both the points. Then he stated that he is getting a large number of SMS from pensioners on these issues and is it a planned action. We told that no such decision has been taken by our union, but it proves that the pensioners are restless and decision should be taken urgently.
With regard to restoration of Medical Allowance to BSNL pensioners and allotment of staff quarters at reduced rate instead of market rate, he agreed to consider the same. The Minister stated that he has got the letter from the Forum for a meeting with him and that such a meeting will be arranged along with the DOT officers. The Minister stated that government is making all out efforts to improve the financial position of BSNL and MTNL. We pointed out that the Forum is on a Save BSNL Campaign and the unions are taking all actions for the revival. Com.Namboodiri requested that such a meeting be held early. He agreed. The meeting was very cordial and the Minister patiently heard all our points. Thanks to Com. Sankar Prasad Datta, MP, for arranging the meeting.
Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, Advisor has met Ms. Annie Moreas, Member finance) and pursued the issue of 78.2& IDA merger to BSNL pensioners retired after 10-06-2013. He reminded the Memberfinance) about the assurance given by the Secretary, DOT to Forum leaders during the discussion of the strike issues on 01-05-2015,that the cabinet note on this issue will be finalized with out further delay. The Member finance) replied that the cabinet note is being prepared by the establishment section. Com.Namboodiri met the Member (Services) also and urged for early action in finalizing the cabinet note who agreed to do the needful early.
A high-level delegation of the WFTU headed by the General Secretary, George Mavrikos, is participating in the celebrations in Moscow, Russia to pay their respects to the people and the heroic working class of the Soviet Union who sacrificed the most with more than 20 million dead in the war against Nazism and Fascism.
Today WFTU took part in the demonstration organized to honor the 70th anniversary of the Antifascist Victory.
The General Secretary of WFTU spoke on behalf of the WFTU and the foreign delegations, who emphasized that:
“Anti-fascist victory was victory of socialism over imperialis
“And victory of socialism against capitalism. We pay the respects of the global working class to Joseph Stalin, to Georgy Zhukov and to all the soviet leadership of the Second World War … we condemn EU, US and their allies that support the Government of Ukraine and the fascists of western sector.
” It’s unacceptable for the workers and peoples to pay the contradictions and antagonisms of the imperialists …”, he also referred to the efforts of capitalists to rewrite history to hide the truth from the young generations.
“In the end he invited the world working class to fight resolutely for the abolition of exploitation of man over man
