The Annual General Body Meeting of Hubli Branch under Dharwad District was held successfully on 08-06-2014 at the conference hall of GMTD Sanchar Bhawan,Hubli. Com. B. C. Doddamani presided. Com. G. G. Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary inaugurated.

Office bearers were elected with the following important functionaries.

President: Com. S. Anthonyswamy. Secretary: Com. A. D. Kulkarni. Treasurer: Com. A. R. Kulkarni. 

BSNL MRS INDOOR TREATMENT-(click to view)

General Secretary, Com.K.G.Jayaraj had gone to DOT on today,the 13th June,2014. But Secreatary,DoT, Member (Finance), Member(Services),whom he wanted to meet were in a meeting. Com.Jayaraj ,however met Shri.Prachish Khanna, Director (Establishment) and had a detailed discussion on 78.2% IDA merger to the BSNL pensioners.

The Director has assured that the file with the required clarifications,sought by the Department of Expenditure will be sent to them today itself.

The following points are cleared.

1.Cabinet approval will be sought for the pre 2007 pensioners,as they were not given 50% IDA merger,consequent on which the IDA has increased from 68.8% to 78.2%.

2.PSU section in DOT has ruled out arrears as per the condition in order of BSNL dated 10-6-2013,to the effect that “NO arrears will be paid”.They have not considered the DO letter written by CMD,BSNL to Secretary,DOT in this regard. So notional fixation only will be given from 01-01-2007 and actual payment will be made from 10-06-2013.

The Union Labour Ministry has come out with proposals to reform labour laws for ‘conducive environment for investors’ through flexible mechanism like hiring and firing. On its website,the ministry has invited comments or suggestions on proposed amendments to the factories act,1948.

The BJP led Rajasthan state government has cleared crucial amendments to Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour Act and Factories Act. The move elicited stiff opposition from all the Central Trade Unions,including BMS.The Central Trade Unions,Cutting across political affiliations,have slammed the move. They have strongly criticised linking labour law reforms with creating investment friendly environment.

Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU stated that 8 per cent of the country’s work force is only in the organised sector and covered by labour laws. Despite huge percentage of the work force being in the unorganised sector and subjected to cruel exploitation, corporates investment has been consistently going down to 28 per cent by the end of 2012. It is the public sector that is making the bulk of the investment.

So,it is time to strengthen the resistance movement with utmost unity of the working class in which the pensioners also have to play their due role. 

FMA for Family pensioners– order of DOP&PW-(click to view)

Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary had a talk with Shri.Prachish Khanna, Director(Establishment), DOT on today,the 9th June,2014 and got the following information.

1.The file is being processed and certain clarification is again being sought     from BSNL regarding exact conditions of the agreement with BSNL managment and the unions on 78.2% IDA merger.

General Secretary pointed out that CMD, BSNL had already written to the Secretary, DOT explaining the conditions of the agreement and seeking modification in the presidential order in respect of arrears. But the Director replied that the same is not in the file. To avoid delay,  GS suggested that he would give a copy of the letter.However the Director is of the opinion that he should get it officially

2.DOT has decided to seek cabinet approval for extending the benefit to pre 2007 BSNL pensioners.

Most probably the Presidential order may be modified since there is no provision to revise the pension notionally. Therefore,even if some more delay may occur , the pensioners are assured of the arrears from 01-01-2007.

 Fasting encourages body to replace old and damage cells, especially if the immune system has been damaged by aging or cancer treatment, researchers have said.

 “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged” explained Valter Longo, a longevity expert form the university of Southern California. During the study, the researchers found fasting for two to four days every six months forced the body into survival mode using up stores of fat and sugar and breaking down old cells.

 The body sends a signal telling stem cells to regenerate and rebuild the entire system, with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate new immune system.

 [Source: TOI]

CHQ has received more reports of observation of Protest Day on 5th June.
In Hubli mass Dharna partipted by large number of pensioners was addressed
by Com.G.G.Patil, CHQ Org Secretary.
Bangalore, Dharwad, Gadag, Ranibennur, Bellary, Gulbarga,Hassan, Mandya
and Mangalore districts also observed Protest Day by holding dharna/rally
and sending Saving gram to the hon’ble Communications Minister
and Secretary, DOT.

Reports from two districts of Karnataka circle have been received at CHQ.

KARWAR :Demonstration has been successfully held with good participation of pensioners and Com.C.R.Kalmane, District Secretary addressed the gathering. Saving gram also was sent.

HAVERI : Com.H.B.Naik, District Secretary addressed demonstration held and saving gram also sent.

CHHATTISGARH CIRCLE :  Protest Day has been observed by all the district branches by holding rallies/demonstrations and sending saving grams. BSNLEU members also participated in the program. In Raipur a huge rally organised by the district branch was addressed by Com.S.C.Bhattacharjee,Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Com.R. P. Atmapoojya, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA.

HARYANA  CIRCLE : Demonstrations were held at all the SSAs in Haryana. The demonstration organised at Hissar witnessed large participation of pensioners and was addressed by Com.H.K.Sharma, Circle Secretary.

KOLKATA TELECOM FACTORY & STORES : Large number of pensioners participated in demonstration held at Telecom Factory, Alipur which was addressed by Com. S.Siiddiqui, Circle Secretary. Saving gram also has been sent.