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AFTER INDEPENDENCE 56 MINISTERS OF COMMUNICATIONS.

56 Ministers in Communications during the 68 years after Independence.

There are 56 Communications Ministers since Independence of the country ( 1947) till now. These include Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri,  Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi, V.P.Singh, Chandra Sekhar, A.B.Vajpayee and Dr.Manmohan Singh, all for brief periods.

These Communication Ministers include prominent leaders like Rafi Ahmad Kidwai (first Communications Minister),  Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, Jagjivan Ram, H.N.Bahuguna, Brahmananda Reddy, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (who later became President of India), Prakash Singh Badal, George Fernandez (leader of the Railway Strike 1974), C.M.Stephen, V.N.Gadgil, Arjun Singh, K.P.Unnilkrishnan, Rajesh Pilot, Sushama Swaraj, Ram Vilas Paswan, Promod Mahajan,  Kapil Sibal and the present Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The government has always given prominence to the Communications Ministry. But some how in the last two decades, many of the ministers like Sukh Ram, Dayanidhi Maran, A.Raja etc. has been connected with scam and corruption cases.

Jagjivan Ram is the Communications Minister who served for the maximum period, 4 years 7 months and one of the most prominent leaders. None has served for full  5 years. In addition to the Prime Ministers, there are few other ministers  who functioned as Communications Ministers for one or two months, or even a few days only.

 

NOFN- NOW IT IS BHARATNET.

 

The Central Government has renamed National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) as BharatNet. The decision was taken in the committee specially appointed to analyse the structure of NOFN. The BharatNet aims at providing broadband connections to villages at monthly rate Rs. 150 in poor villages and at Rs. 250 in other villages. The speed will range from 2Mbps to 20 Mbps.

Decisions have been taken by UPA and now NDA government. Name is changed. But when it will be implementd?

FAKE ORDER FOR DA FROM 01-01-2015-CLARIFICATION BY FINANCE MINISTRY.

Fake Order for Payment of Dearness Allowance is being circulated : Finmin Clarification

No.1/2/2014-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi.
Dated the 1st April 2015.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees – Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2015 – Fake Order/Instructions – Clarification regarding.

It has come to the notice of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance that Office Memorandum bearing F. No. 1/2/2015-E.II(B) dated 30th March, 2015 under the signature of Shri A. Bhattacharya, Under Secretary, Department of Expenditure, regarding Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees – Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2015, is being circulated amongst Government Departments/Offices.

2. It is clarified that the O.M. dated 30.03.2015, purportedly issued by the Ministry of Finance, is a fake and that no such instructions have been issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Accordingly, all Ministries/Departments and Central Government offices are hereby advised not to take cognisance of these fake instructions being circulated in Government offices.

sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Director

Source-http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/fake_DA

GREECE- SEMINAR ON WOMENS’ RIGHTS WITH PAKISTANI TRADE UNIONISTS.

27 Mar 2015
 

A delegation of women trade unionists from Pakistan is visiting the Central Offices of Greece and are participating in a seminar of women workers rights since March 26th, 2015.

The seminar will be discussing the current rights of working women, the developments in world economy and the response of the class-oriented trade union movement in coordinating the struggle against exploitation and inequality.

MEXICO: FISE EXTENDS SOLIDARITY IN ANTI-PRIVATIZATION STRUGGLE.

 
31 Mar 2015
 

Independent trade unions and organizations have proceeded in massive mobilizations in several cities in Mexico, reacting to the anti constitutional reform about the energy policy, that paves the way to the privatizations of the oil production units of the country, which was deposed last year, after the President’s Enrique Pena Neto proposal.
The workers and the teachers that participated in the rallies in Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacan states and elsewhere expressed their fear that the implementation of this reactionary cadre is going to lead to spending cuts in the public sector, resulting in employees’ dismissals in the energy sector, as well as to the deterioration of the energy infrastructure of the country.
The teachers’ action in Mexico to support the mobilizations against the privatizations is a great example for all the trade unions and indicates the need and the importance to struggle, to create workers’ fronts from different sectors against the common problems. Against the delivery of the resources and the means of production to the hands and the control of the multinational companies.

PENSIONERS MEETING HELD AT LUCKNOW- COM.V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI ADDRESSED.

A meeting of the active workers of AIBDPA was held at Lucknow on 01-04-2015. It was the opportunity effectively utilized, the visit of Com. V.A. N. Namboodiri to attend the Circle level convention of Forum of BSNL unions/Associations. Com.S. I. Ahamed, President presided and Com.G.R.Verma, Circle Secretary delivered the welcome address.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA spoke in detail covering all the issues of the pensioners including the present position of 78.2% IDA merger to the BSNL Pensioners. He also emphasized the importance of two days strike by Forum on April 21-22, 2015.

The meeting decided to strengthen the organization by enrolling more members and forming units in all the remaining SSAs.

 

PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES TO RAISE TARIFFS BY 12-15%.

 

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the association of the private telcos has stated that in view of the high bid spectrum auction, the tariffs will have to be increased by about 12% to 15%. This is against the  view of the Communications Minister that increase of about 1.30 paise per minute will be sufficient.

The private operators are utilisng the opportunity to maximise their profits. Though the Minister has stated that there is no justification for more increase, as usual, the private companies will have their way and the customers will suffer. How can a party which has got huge donations from the corporates, deny their demand?

 

CANCER TREATMENT UNDER CGHS- NEW GUIDELINES ISSUED BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE.

No. 1-1/13/Hospital Cell/R&H/CGHS (Pt.l)/CGHS (P)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhavan, Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi- 110 108

Dated : the 23rd February, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Cancer Treatment under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention to the Office Memorandum of even number dated 2nd September, 2008 and to state that in view of empanelment of several Cancer hospitals under CGHS the matter was re-examined, and it has now been decided to modify the Office Memorandum as follows:

i) CGHS beneficiaries and beneficiaries covered under CS(MA)Rules, 1944 shall be permitted to get themselves treated from any of the under mentioned 27 (Twenty seven) hospitals recognized by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the National Cancer Control Programmes that are funded by the Government of India, subject to the condition that the reimbursement will be as per the rates fixed in the Regional Cancer Centers under Central Government, if any or as per actual, whichever may be less.

1. Andhra Pradesh – M.N.J. institute of Oncology & Regional Cancer Centre, Hyderabad.
2. Assam – Dr. B. Borooah Cancer institute, Guwahati.
3. Bihar – Indira Gandhi institute of Medical Sciences, Patna
4. Chandigarh – Post Graduate institute Medical Education Research, Chandigarh.
5. Chhattisgarh – Pt. ,i.J.N Medical College & Dr. BR. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur.
6. Delhi – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, New Delhi.
7. Gujarat– Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ah medabad, Gujarat.
8. Haryana – Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak.
9. Himachal Pradesh– Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.
10. Jammu & Kashmir– Sher-i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar.
11. Jammu & Kashmir– Government Medical College -Jammu.
12. Karnataka – Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore.
13. Kerala – Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
14. Madhya Pradesh – Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Gwalior.
15. Maharashtra – Rashtrasant Tukdoji Regional Cancer Hospital Research Centre, Nagpur.
16. Maharashtra -Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
17. Manipur– Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
18. Mizoram – Civil Hospital, Aizwal.
19. Odisha – Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack.
20. Puducherry – Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research.
21. Rajasthan – Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment & Research Institute, Bikaner.
22. Tamil Nadu – Govt. Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Research Institute & Hospital, Kancheepuram.
23. Tamil Nadu – Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai.
24. Tripura – Civil Hospital, Agartala.
25. Uttar Pradesh – Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
26. Uttar Pradesh – Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital, Allahabad.
27. West Bengal – Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata.

ii) In cities where there are no facilities for cancer treatment in any of the empanelled private hospitals powers are hereby delegated to the Addl. Directors of CGHS of the concerned cities in respect of CGHS and to HOD/ Head of Office in respect of serving employees covered under CS(MA) Rules, 1944 for grant of permission for undergoing treatment at any hospital that provides treatment to cancer patients, subject to the condition that the reimbursement shall be limited to the prevalent CGHS rates or actual expenditure – whichever may be lower. Permission shall however be granted for the specific treatment procedures as advised by a Government specialist.

iii) Powers are also hereby delegated to the Additional Directors of CGHS of the concerned cities in respect of CGHS and to HOD/ Head of Office in respect of serving employees covered under CS(I\/IA) Rules, 1944 for grant of permission for post-operative follow up treatment from the same centre, where permission has been granted earlier for cancer treatment as per the terms and conditions of OM dated 10.04.2001 regarding Post-operative follow up treatment.

2. These orders shall be in force till further orders.

3. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Division vide CD No. 115650 /2015 dated 15-01-2015.

sd/-
(RAVI KANT)
UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF INDIA

 

STATIC CONSUMER PRICE INDEX- IS IT A TRUE REFLECTION OF EVERYDAY LIFE?

 

Today (31/03/2015), the Shimla Labour Bureau of Govt. of India has released the Consum…er Price Index (Industrial Workers) – CPI(IW) (Base 2001=100) for the month of February’15. The Index figure has come down by one point from 254 in January’15 to 253 in February’15. But the interesting feature is that the CPI(IW) remains almost static during last eight months. In July’14 the Index had shot up by 6 points in a single month to 252. Thereafter from August to December’14, it stood static at 253 points, only to rise by one point in January’15 and again came down to 253 in February’15.

When the common toiling people are suffering from sustained price rise of all essential commodities, the inevitable question comes, how the index remains static for the most part of the year? Is it a true reflection of the bitter experiences of everyday life of the common people? Or, is there any behind the scene machinations to exhibit the effectiveness of the Central Govt. in containing price rise (inflation) and simultaneously robbing the workers of their legitimate dues in form of compensation to price rise (Dearness Allowance) as a gift to the corporates as well as the governments? No doubt, if the Govt. succeeds to register albeit artificially a very low or zero inflation rate, it will have serious ramification on the common people at the advantage of the corporates and the super riches.

A brain-storming analysis/ review on the issue is urgently warranted.

– Mihir Dasgupta