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BSNL employees in thousands marched through the janpath and Jantar Mantar in Delhi protesting against the negative approach of the central government in reviving BSNL for enabling better service to the people. It was an impressive and enthusiastic show by the Forum of BSNL Unions which is spearheading an indefinite strike from March 17, 2015. In the meeting held after the march Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Convenor, Forum explained the demands. Com. Chandeswar Singh, Chairman presided. Com. Tapan Sen M P, General Secretary, CITU, Com.Brajesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, BMS, Com. Amarjit Kaur, Secretary, AITUC, Dr. Dharamveer, M P of AAP, Com. Shivgopal Mishra, Secretary General, AIRF and General Secretaries of all the unions,including, Com. P. Abhimanu, BSNLEU addressed the March.

A good number of pensioners belonging to AIBDPA ,including, Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, Com. P. Asokababu, Vice President, Com. M. P. Kunhanandan, Treasurer, Com. B. P. Petkar, AGS & Circle Secretary, Maharashtra, Com. Ramachandradu, Circle Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, Com. H. S. Thakur, Circle Secretary, Madhya Pradesh, Com. Abdul Rasheed, Circle Secreatry, UP (West) and Com.R.Prabhakar, Circle Secretary, NTR participated.

40 lakh signatures collected from the people all over the country were submitted to the Prime Minister by the delegation of Forum leaders.

Com. M. P. Kunhanandan, Treasurer has joined CHQ on 24-02-2015. He will be available in New Delhi up to March 4, 2015.

The proposed 4 days bank strike from 25th February has been withdrawn following the agreement reached with Indian Banks Association and the United Forum of Bank Unions on 23-02-2015. The IBA agreed for a wage hike of 15% with effect from 01-11-2012, where as the last agreement was for 17.5%. However, this is a great victory for the bank workers for their complete unity and sustained struggle.  The offer of the IBA was only 6% initially and after three strikes only it came to 12.5% and now in the wake of the proposed 4 days strike, finally to 15%. Hearty congratulations to the UFBU and the bank workers.!

A well attended special general body meeting was held at Karwar on 23-02-2015. Com.S.J.Revankar, District President delivered the presidential address. Com. G. G. Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary and Com. S. A. Bilagi, Circle Secretary spoke elaborately on all the issues of the pensioners as well as the serious crisis in BSNL on which the Forum of BSNL Unions are going for an indefinite strike from 17,March, 2015. Com.A. M. Poojari, Circle President, Com. Manjunath Hegde, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. C. G. Annigeri, Circle Treasurer and Com. C. R. Kalmane, District Secretary also addressed the meeting. The meeting paid homage to Com.S.K.Vyas, Secretary General, BCPC & NCCPA. 

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Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has met Shri. V. Umasankar, Joint Secretary, DOT, Ms. Annie Moreas, Member, ( Finance) and Shri. Rakessh  Agarwal, Member (Services) on 23rd February, 2015 and seriously discussed the undue delay in settling the issue of merger of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners. The Member (Finance) told that the file has been sent back to Establishment section with directive to include certain additional points in the draft cabinet note and resubmit. The Member (Services) has confirmed the receipt of the file and suitable instructions are given to DDG (Establishment) for early redrafting of the cabinet note. The Joint Secretary was in full sympathy for early settlement of the issue and promised to do what ever is required at his end.

However, the fact remains, that after redrafting the cabinet note ,it has to be submitted to all the higher-ups in DOT,including the Secretary for final approval. Then it has to go to the nodal departments for vetting and after getting it back will be submitted to the Minister for Communications for cabinet approval.

CONSIDERING THE LONG STANDING DEMAND OF PENSIONERS ORGANISATIONS,THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE, MINISTRY OF FINANANCE HAS ISSUED ORDERS EXEMPTING PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF PENSIONERS AT THE DISBURSING BANK BRANCH FOR SUBMITTING LIFE CERTIFICATE. <<click here>>

The second biennial Circle Conference of Kolkata Telephones Circle was held at Com.S.R.Nayak Nagar and Alok Ray Manch (CTO, Kolkata) on 16th February, 2015 with great enthusiasm. The Reception Committee under the leadership of Central Branch made very good arrangements to hold the conference successfully. The conference started with flag hoisting by Com. Ananta Bhattacharjee, All India President as well as Circle President followed by offering tribute to the martyrs.

The delegates session started at 10 AM under the president ship of Com. Ananta Bhattacharjee. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary delivered the inaugural address  in which the important issues of the pensioners including 78.2% IDA merger, memorandum submitted to the 7th Pay Commission, the serious crisis being faced by the BSNL against which the indefinite strike proposed from March17 and the anti-people policies of the BJP government were dealt in detail.

Com. Supriya Mitra, Circle Secretary presented the biennial report and Com.P.M.Das, Treasurer the audited accounts which were adopted after discussion by delegates from all the branches. An open session with big gathering was also held at 3PM and Com. Samir Ghosh, Veteran leader of the bank employees and pensioners made the keynote address and exposed thorourghly the pro-corporate policies of the BJP government. Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, Com. Animesh Mitra, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, West Bengal, Com.Biplap Das, General Secretary, Co ordination of BSNL Unions, Com.Subhasis Roy, Asst. Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Kolkata Telephones, Com.Pabitra Chakraborty, Deputy Secretary General, NCCPA, Com.Susanta Ghosh, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, West Bengal and Com. Supriya Mitra addressed the open session. Com. Ananta Bhattacharjee in his brief speech exhorted to strengthen the organization at all levels to fight out the onslaught of the anti-people government. Com. Mihirdas Gupta, Asst. Circle Secretary presented the resolutions on important issues and were adopted. Com. Prabhir Dutta, CHQ Vice President and Com. Swastikadas Gupta, CHQ Organising Secretary also participated in the conference.

Office bearers were elected with Com. Ananta Bhattacharjee (Advisor) Com. Supriya Mitra (President), Com. Sanjib Banarjee (Circle Secretary) and Com. P. M. Das (Treasurer).       

With vote of thanks by Com. Sanjib Banerjee, the conference came to an end.