The Asian Development Bank on Friday cut India’s growth forecast to 5.4 per cent in 2012-13.Just two months ago it had made a projection of 5.6 per cent growth. This is the fourth time that the ADB has slashed the growth estimate for India.In the month of April ADB had projected India to grow at 7 per cent,but lowered it to 6.5 per cent in July and furthur to 5.6 per cent in October.Therefore even after resorting to so many anti people measures in the name of the so called economic reforms.the economic growth of the country is going down and down.

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The joint Action Ccommittee of BSNL and MTNL Unions/Associations has decided to conduct mass Dharna on 17th and 18th December,2012 demanding settlement of the following issues.

1.Immediate repatriation of ITS officers continuing in BSNL on deputation.

2.Repayment of BWA spectrum fee.

3.Adequate compensation for BSNLs land line operations.

4.Immediate releasing of fund from USO fund.

5.Excempt BSNL and MTNL from payment of additional spectrum charges and spectrum refarming.

6.Issue immediate Presidential Directive for 78.2% IDA fixation etc.

CHQ calls upon all the AIBDPA units to join the programme enmasse and make the Two Days MASS DHARNA a great success.

The Central Government Employees have decided to conduct a country wide STRIKE on 12th December 2012.The following are the important demands put forward by the unions.

1.Revise the pay wef 01-01-2011

2.Merge the DA as on 01-01-2011

3.Departmentalise the GDS and grant them all benifits entitled to CG employees.

4.Stop all kind of outsourcing.

5.Withdraw PFRDA Bill and ensure statutory pension to all.

CHQ calls upon all the AIBDPA units to support the strike in every repect and conduct demonstration at SSA level on the day of the strike in solidarity.

Manmohan Singh govt which had become a minority govt after the Trinamool Congress withdrew support got another reprieve with the opposition motion on FDI in multi brand retail was defeated in the Loksabha on 5th instant.This was possible only with the walk out of SP and BSP which are known fot their sheer political opportunism but not before the Congress indulging in large scale political horse trading.However the discussion on the motion proved that 14 parties with a combined stregth of 282 MPs in the Loksabha which has got 543 effective MPs,are opposed to FDI in multibrand retail which is sure to throw the lives of 20 crore people to disarray

All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association has been formed in Gujarat Circle. In connection with the formation, a convention/seminar on “Save BSNL, Save the Nation” was held at Nadiad on 1^st December 2012 which was participated by more than four hundred comrades, including pensioners. Com.VAN Namboodiri and other leaders were given a grand reception. The Seminar was addressed by Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU, P.K.Thakkar, Circle President, BSNLEU, Gujarat, M.B.Chaniara, Co-Ordinator, AIBDPA, Shri Ashuthosh Sharma, GM, Nadiad, S.S.Meena, DGM Nadiad, T.V.Gelani, DS, Nadiad and other leaders. A large number of women comrades also participated.

The meeting of the pensioners met in the presence of Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA and elected Com. A.C.Shah as Patron, Com. T.V.Gelani as President and Com. M.B.Chaniara as Circle Secretary. Co-ordinators for the districts were nominated. All the comrades assured that within one/two months, district unions will be formed. District unions are already functioning in Bharuch and Surendranagar.

Hearty Congratulations to the new office-bearers!

Circle Conference of AIBDPA West Bengal has concluded successfully on 28th November at CTO Hall,Kolkata.The biennial report presnted by Com.Susanta Kr Ghosh was adopted after discuussion,so also the accounts.A 18 member office bearers with Com.D.K.Mitra(President) Susantha Ghosh(Secretary)P.K.Nandi(Treasurer) have been elected unanimously

Nagaon,the historical city which is famous for its rich tradition of heroic struggle in the freedom movement hosted the Biennial Circle Conference of AIBDPA Assam Circle with excellent arrangements for the two days conference on 30th November and 1st December.The Conference kick started at 1130 on 30th Novemver with flag hoisting by Com.Manabendra Saha,Circle President,followed by floral tribute to the martyrs.The Conference was formally inaugurated by Com.K.G.Jayaraj,General Secretary appealing to stregthen the organisation to meet the challenges ahead.Com.Manabendra Saha presided.Com.S.N.Sarma ,Circle Secretary presented the report and the audited account by Com.K.Sinha,treasurer which were adopted after discussion by 17 comrades.

The open session was held at 1500hrs on 30th November and was addressed by Com.K.G.Jayaraj General Secretary,Bejoy Deka,Circle Secretary BSNLEU,Sankar Kr Das,General Secretary,CGPA Assam,H.S.Raja,Circle President,BSNLEU,D.Purakasta,AGS,BSNLEUand D.Saika,Secretary,Assam State Govt Pensioners Association. Com.S.N.Sarma welcomed and Com.L.Handique,General Secretary Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.
The Conference continued on 1st December and office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.Manabendra Saha(President)S.N.Sarma(Secretary) K.Sinha(Treasurer)

On the occasion of two Circle Conferences of Calcutta Telephones Circle and West Bengal Telecom Circle, the Joint Open Session was held on 27th November 2012 at the Kolkata CTO Conference Hall. Due to massive and enthusiastic participation of large number of pensioners, the hall was not only full, but many comrades were standing outside. Except a few leaders of BSNLEU etc. all others were the DOT-BSNL retirees. A good number of women pensioners were also present.

The meeting was presided over by Comrades Ananta Kr. Bhattacharjee and P.Roy, President of Kolkata and Vice-President of W.Bengal Circle Unions of AIBDPA. Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU & Advisor AIBDPA, .K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary,AIBDPA, S.S.Ray, Jt. Convenor, 12 July Committee (WB), Animesh Mitra, Dy. GS & Circle Secretary, BSNLEU (W.B.Circle), Saibal Sen Gupta, AGS & Circle Secretary, BSNLEU (Kolkata), Supriya Mitra, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA (Kolkata), Sushanta Ghosh, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA (W.B.Circle), Prasun Mukhopadhyaya (Cicle Secretary, AIBSNLEA) and other leaders addressed and greeted the Open Session. Speakers called for strengthening the organisation to protect the rights of the pensioners and employees. They stressed the need to defeat the anti-people, anti-worker, anti-pensioner policies of the government. Pensioners were called to play their due role in making the ensuing two-day nationwide strike called by all Central Trade Unions and Federations on 20-21 February 2013, a grand success. Shri S. Maity, CGM, Kolkata Telephones also greeted the conference. He congratulated AIBDPA for its growth and activities.

The Circle Conference of West Bengal Telecom Circle has also started on the same day and continued on 28th November.

Central govt ,it is reported in the press,to reduce the base price of GSM Spectrum in the second round of auction proposed to be held in March 2013.The Supreme Court had pulled the govt for not auctioning the spectrum in full in auction conducted on November 12-14 which became a flop.The court had warned the centre that it will not allow the govt even 0.1 per cent of spectrum unauctioned.With the reduction in the base price the govt wants to appease the big telecom companies and at the same time to prove desperately the presumpative loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore estimated by the CAG was wrong.