Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, N. Guruprasad, Circle Secretary, Com. K.P. Kesavan Nair, District President, Com. P. Surendran, District Secretary, Com. P. Sasidharan, Area Secretary, Com. Mariyamma T Abraham, former Circle Vice President, Com. P. Ramachandran Pillai and Com. R. Krishna Pillai visited Com. S. Divakaran, former Assistant Circle Secretary and Area Secretary Mavelikara at his house who is laid up for some time long due to serious ailment.  They spent about 45 minutes with Com. S. Divakaran and his family members.

General Secretary also utilized the opportunity to visit some other BSNL pensioners at their houses in Kayamkulam and enrolled them as life members of AIBDPA and subscribers of Tele Pensioner and BSNL Crusader. He was accompanied by Com. N. Guruprasad, Circle Secretary, Com. P. Surendran, District Secretary and Com. P. Sasidharan, Area Secretary. 

Mavelikara Area Branch under Alappuzha District held a well attended Pensioners’ convention at the Mavelikara Telephone exchange premises on 10th January, 2015. Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the convention and narrated the recent developments with regard to the pensioners issues, including 78.2% IDA merger and the serious crisis in BSNL and agitations by Forum of BSNL Unions/ Associations for revival of BSNL. He exhorted the pensioners to take an active role in ‘Save BSNL’ campaign, particularly in collecting the signatures of the people. Com. N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary, Com. P. Surendran, District Secretary and Com. P. Sasidharan, Area Secretary & Circle Organising Secretary also spoke. Com.K.P. Kesavan  Nair, District President presided. 

DPE HAS ISSUED ORDER FOR 2.2 PER CENT INCREASE OF IDA FOR BSNL EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS FROM 1ST JANUARY 2015. TOTAL IDA WILL BE 98.1 + 2.2 = 100.3%. ORDER NO. W-02/0002/2014-DPE(WC)-GL-I/15 DATED 5TH JANUARY, 2015.<<click here>>

The unprecedented participation of BSNL employees, both executive and non executive is a clear indication that the purpose of the dharna is almost served, ie the seriousness of the crisis being faced by the BSNL and thereby the employees is convinced to a great extent. The BSNL DOT pensioners also joined the Dharna in almost all the places as per the call of AIBDPA. CHQ congratulates all for the great success of the 3 days dharna.

Now, we have to focus on collecting the signatures from the people. This is an important task which should be undertaken in right earnest. It is a good opportunity to approach the people of all walks, interact with them and quell their doubts and concerns and finally to ensure their support for the struggle for the revival of BSNL.

The 5 days coal workers strike has been settled on the second day of the strike, ie on 7th January, 2015. The strike started on 6th January virtually paralysed the mining operations all over the country which badly affected the functioning of the thermal power plants. Therefore the government was compelled to talk to the unions for a reasonable settlement. The Union Coal Minister, Shri. Piyush Goyal took the initiative for the talks and agreed to appoint a committee to look into the concerns of the workers. The committee will be headed by a Joint Secretary of the government and one representative each from all the five trade unions that had called the strike also would be included in the committee. THe Minister also assured the unions that government has no intention to denationalize the government owned Coal India Ltd. No worker will be penalized for the strike.

It is a great victory by the coal workers and AIBDPA whole heartedly congratulate all the workers and leaders for launching such a massive strike against privatization.

AIBDPA, Kollam district branch has organized  demonstration through the Kollam city and sat on dharna before the GMT office in support of the 3 days Dharna being held from 6th January, 2015 by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations precedent to the indefinite Strike from March 17, 2015. Com. C. C. Pillai, CC member, CITU inaugurated the Dharna and was addressed by Com. R. Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President, AIBDPA, Shri. Rajeevan Nair (BMS) and Chavara Harish Kumar (INTUC). Coms. L.Krishnakumari, Circle Vice President, M. D. Rajan, District President and N. Sasidhran Nair, District Secretary gave the leadership. The separate program organized was impressive and well participated by the pensioners. AIBDPA members had joined the Mass Dharna of Forum on 6th January. 

The 5 days Strike by the coal workers has started on 6th January, 2015 against de-nationalization of the coal sector, the most retrograde move by the BJP government. All the five central trade unions in the coal sector, BMS, HMS, AITUC, CITU and INTUC have joined together to fight out the anti-national measure of the government.  

The strike has badly hit the mining activities through out the country. Mean while, The Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the trade union wing of the Rashtriya Swayam Sangh, has slammed the central government for promulgating the ordinance for allowing commercial mining of coal and further divestment of Coal India Limited. It has further stated that the government was telling lies to rule the country.

AIBDPA fully supports the strike and expresses its complete solidarity to the striking coal workers.

The cabinet on 5th January, 2015 has approved the largest ever telecom spectrum auction to be held in February, 2015. The central government is expected to generate revenue worth Rs. 64,840 crore towards the sale of 380.75 megahertz of second generation (2G) spectrum. These stretches in three bands-; the premium 800 MHz ,900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Spectrum in 2100 MHz may also be auctioned simultaneously if Defence Ministry vacates it.

The Cabinet has also approved the reserve prices of these bands of spectrum as follows-:

Rs.3,646 crore pan India per MHz in 800 MHz.

Rs. 3,980 crore for 900 MHz band pan India excluding Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and J&K.

Rs. 2191 crore pan India excluding Maharashtra and West Bengal in 1800 MHz.

How ever the reserve price for the 2100 MHz has not been announced. But it is expected to garner Rs.16,000 crore in the auction.

Now the question is as what the government is going to do with the proceeds of a whooping Rs.80,840 crore. Whether the government will utilize the amount for development of the telecom sector in the country or give a portion to the crisis ridden BSNL to bail it out? The answer is a big ‘No’ as the government has already made it clear that the amount would be utilized for its fiscal deficit.! 

Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union have met Ms. Annie Moreas, Member (Finanace ) DoT on 6th January, 2015 and discussed among other issues, the delay in extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to those retired before 10-06-2013. The Member (Finance) has stated that the draft cabinet note in this regard is being finalized.

Thousands of workers, both executive and non executive, participated on the first day, ie 6th Januarry, 2015, of the 3 days Dharna called upon by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations through out the country. AIBDPA members also participated in solidarity of the agitation for protecting BSNL and to ensure better service to the customers at affordable rates. In New Delhi, the Mass Dharna was organized before the BSNL Corporate office with massive participation. The Dharna was addressed by Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri (Convenor, Forum ), Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. K. Sebastin, General Secretary, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, General Secretary, AIBSNLEA, Com. Islam Ahmad, President, NFTE, Com. K. Jayaprakash, General Secretary, FNTO, Com.K. Thomar, AGS, BSNLMS.

Com. K.G. jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the well attended Dharna at Alappuzha. Com. Thomas Sebastian presided and Com.S. Prathap Kumar, AGS,BSNLEU delivered the key note address. Coms. Sreevas (AIBSNLEA), Najumuddin (SNEA), Mohanan (NFTE) Com. N. Mohanan Nair (FNTO), R. Balachandran Nair, P.R. Shajimon (BSNLEU) also spoke.