67 years of independence has not  improved the lot of the common people in India. Millionaires, Billionaires and super rich have grown in India, but not the ordinary man. India is at the 101st position among 133 countries in social progress index. Even Sri Lanka (88), Nepal (98) and Bangladesh (100) are above India. All the other BRICS countries ie. Brazil, S.Africa, China and Russia are also above India.

This is a sorry state of affairs.It is a shame. The Congress /UPA which ruled the country for a long period and the NDA/BJP which also ruled for sometime and is in the rulers position now, have to answer to the people for this pathetic position. The rulers are rather interested in  blatant corruption and systematic exploitation of the toiling masses. These anti-people rulers have to be thrown out by the people.

BSNL is a fully government owned company. At the time of the formation of BSNL, it was assured by the government that all help and support will be provided to the telecom PSU to maintain its financial viability. All those promises have been broken by the government.

At least the spectrum can be given free to the BSNL. The government has got more than Rs. 1.10 lakh crore from the recent spectrum auction. This is much more than expected by the government.

In these circumstances, the government can easily allot spectrum to BSNL free. It will help revival of BSNL in a big way. We are demanding that spectrum should be granted free to government company, BSNL.

A news report states that the government is considering a proposal to dissolve the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE), according to Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete.

“We are in discussions to create a new entity for sick PSUs,” he said on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) function. According to a government official, a cabinet proposal to shut down the BRPSE is being prepared.
The move is significant. It seems that the government does not want the systematic approach of declaring a PSU sick as at present. It wants for quick disposal of the PSUs and hence the new entity. The private lobby is putting pressure on the government to finish the PSUs and the Modi Government is on the job.

The government can easily make a profitable PSU into loss making as in the case of BSNL, then declare it sick and consequent privatisation or closure. The BRPSE may be being dissolved to quicken the process. Let us wait for the details

78.2% IDA fixation

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA today, 6th April 2015, met Shri S.S.Sirohi, Member(Technology) who is in charge of the Member (Services) also and discussed about the preparation of the Cabinet note on 78.2% IDA fixation. He patiently heard the issue and told that the new incumbent for Member (services) will join tomorrow and the issue will be brought to his notice. Com.Namboodiri met Ms. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance) and discussed the same issue. She assured that the cabinet Note will be finalised without further delay.

e-money order, Money Order

It seems that the age-old and traditional system of Money Order is coming to an end. In the new technology era, the method of Money Order has also changed. Now it is e-money order or i-money order.

Earlier the same Money Order form filled up by the sender will go by post to the addressee. The Post Man will pay the amount to the payee and the a portion of the same signed by the latter will be  returned to the sender as proof that it has been paid. The counterfoil with the signature was a document even to be produced in the court to show that the money has been paid.

In the P and T Department earlier, salaries of many telecom employees out of the headquarters of the Division/Sub-division were paid their salary through M.O.s, in which the details of their salary, deduction etc. will be mentioned. This portion can be retained by the payee as a proof of his salary payment and details. It is with such a piece of M.O.coupon that I could help the widow/family  of a Line Inspector  get the family pension after 20 years of his death. That was the only evidence the family had, which helped to find out the office of making payment and then to the records of the deceased official. Families /relatives of government officials/military personnel etc. used to wait for the Post Man/Woman, in the first week of the month for the M.O. sent by their family member working somewhere else. The letter in brief sentences written in the back of the counterfoil will be read out many times by the family.

All these are gone now. Even if the sender fills up the M.O. in the old way, that form does not travel and reach the payee. For early receipt, it is sent by the Post Office through e-mail / i-mail to the payees’ Post office, which takes the print out and send the Postman to pay the same. Neither the message from the sender nor the address of the sender is not there in the counterfoil to be kept by the payee. The payee has to note down the same from the M.O. print out. Of course, the M.O. reaches fast.

Yes, the old traditional Money Order is almost dead without anybody knowing it. The Telegram was stopped by the Department of Telecom on 15th July last year despite strong protest from the people and staff unions. Now the M.O.is also going the same way.

Changes are inevitable in the forward march. But those who are familiar with the earlier M.O. will certainly remember the old days and the thrill of getting the M.O. (Courtesy: Hindu)

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister has stated that he will not allow BSNL to die and all support will be given for its revival. He can do one thing immediately.

It is the refund of the amount of BWA spectrum which BSNL has surrendered to DOT two years back. BSNL had paid a total of  Rs. 18,500 crore to the Government  for both 2G and BWA spectrum. Out of this BWA spectrum worth about Rs. 6,700 crores has been returned back and it was assured by the government that this amount  will be refunded. Though it is more than two years, the government is keeping the money with them without refund.

In the same way, an amount of Rs. 1,250 crore has already been allotted to BSNL for 2012-13 from USOF in lieu of ADC, but that also has not been paid for no reason at all.

BSNL is  in financial difficulty to purchase equipment urgently required for expansion and development.  The Government should immediately disburse these amounts to BSNL for the above purposes.

As stated above, Communications Minister can ensure that these amounts are paid to the BSNL immediately so that it can purchase equipment.

Minimum wage from 01-04-2015

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chief Labour Commissioner (C) vide Order No. 1/3(3)/2015-LS has revised the Minimum Wage with effect from 01-04-2015:

The revised rates are given below:(Daily Wage)

Unskilled: A class city ( Rs. 348.00) B class ( Rs. 290.00), C Class (Rs.233.00)

Semiskilled: A Class (Rs. 385.00), B Class (Rs. 328.00), C Class (Rs.272)

Skilled: A Class ( Rs. 424.00), B Class (Rs.385.00), C Class (Rs.328.00)

Highly Skilled: A Class (Rs. 461.00), B Class (Rs. 424.00), C Class (385.00)

The copy of the order is posted in the BSNLCCWF website bsnlccwf.com

All Union functionaries concerned are requested to take up the matter with the GMs for getting it implemented.