The seminar on “Contributory pension and the challenges” was held on 31/01/2013, 5pm at Stadium Corner, Kannur. The seminar conducted in connection with 1st Trinial All India conference of AIBDPA was inaugurated by Com. K.N.Ravindranath, Vice president, CITU, Kerala with an apt and educate speech.

Com. P.V.Chandrashekaran, All in patron, AIBDPA presided. Com. C.P.Sathosh Kumar, AITUC, Com.T.I.Sudhakaran (GS), CGPA, Com. Premkumar, FSETO, Com. K.Sudheer, SNEA, Com. K.J.Sebastian, AIBSNLEA, Com. K.Mohanan, BSNLEU, Com. N.Sahadevan, Confederation of CGE&W spoke.

Com. K.Kunhiraman, General Convenor, Reception Committee welcomed and Com. P.Manoharan, Convenor, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.

Com. K.G.Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA, Com. N.Rameshan, CS, AIBDPA, Kerala and Com. K.P.Sahadevan, State Sectretary, CITU participated.

Yes,our continued efforts have some effects on the most burning issue of anomaly in pension

to those retired within ten months of formation of BSNL. During his stay in Delhi in December/

January, Com.K.G.Jayaraj,general secretary and Com.V A N Namboodiri,our advisor had met a number

of top officers in DOT including Shri.S C.Misra,member(services), Ms.Sadhana Dikshit,member(finance),

Ms.Rita Teaotia, joint secretary and urged them to settle this long pending case with out furthur

delay and they had assured us to consider the case.

Now Bsnl has asked for certain information from circles regarding the issue as sought by DOT.

We have got some reservations on this and will be writing to DOT. However it is a welcome move,

that the things have started moving.

Corporate Office calls for informations

Office memorandum

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, order on Eligibility of disabled children for family pension after marriage and Eligibility for two family pensions – clarification

View Order

In yet another significant judgement,the Supreme Court ruled that differential treatment in fixing pension is unfair.
In a ruling that will benefit thousand of employees,a bench of Justices D.K.Jain and J.S.Khehar quashed an August
9,1989 Tamilnadu Government order to the extent that it extended to the employees who on or after June 1,1988 a
lower componenent of “dearness pay”as against those who have retired prior toJune 1,1988,holding that the GO is
violative of Articles 14(equality before law) and 16 (equality in matters of public employment) of the constitution.

The bench said that there was no valid justification for the government “to have classified pensioners similarly situated
as the appelants who retired after 1-6-1988 from those retired prior thereto”
The judgement furthur stated that the purpose of adding the component of dearness pay to wages for calculating
pension is to offset the effect of inflation.Therefore,the classification inthe impunged GO placing employees who
retired after 1-6-1988 at a disadvantage,vis-a-vis th eemployees who retired prior thereto,by allowing them a lower
component of dearness pay ,is clearly arbitrary and discriminatory.

(Source The Hindu)

THE VERMA PANEL FORMED TO LOOK INTO CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND RECOMMEND REFORMS

IN THE LAWS HAS LAMBASTED THE POLICE FOR GENDER INSENSITIVITY.IT FURTHUR ACCUSED THE AUTHORITIES THAT

FAILURE IN GOVERNANCE IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.-

THE PANEL HAS RULED OUT DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE BUT SAID THAT MINIMUM SENTENCE FOR A RAPIST

SHOULD BE ENHANCED FROM 7 TO 10 YEARS.

IT HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT LIFE IMPRISONMENT MUST ALWAYS MEAN JAIL FOR THE ENTIRE

NATURAL LIFE OF THE CONVICT.

THE PANEL ASKED THE GOVT. TO CONSIDER FORMING A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL BODY SUCH AS THE CAG

FOR DEALING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO EDUCATION AND NON DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THE COMMITTEE HAS ASSERTED THAT NON REGISTERING CASES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY POLICE OFFICER

IS AN OFFENCE.

THE PANEL HAS CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF ARMED FORCES SPECIALPOWERS ACT(AFSPA) AND SIMILAR PROTOCOLS FOR APPLICATION IN AREAS OF INTERNAL CONFLICT.SERIOUS ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY

ARMED FORCES IS CAUSING ALIENATION IN REGIONS LIKE NORTH EAST

In a well-attended meeting of BSNL-DOT Pensioners at Chandrapur on 9th December 2012, presided over by Com. Abdul Sattar Shaikh, the District Union of AIBDPA was formed.Coms. B.P.Petkar, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, V.G.Dware, Ex-Asst. Circle Secretary and other leaders addressed the meeting.

Office-bearers with Com. D.S.Nagrale as President, Com.A.B.Pendharkarndhar as District Secretary and Com. G.R.Bankar as Treasurer were unanimously elected.

PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES,BHARATI AIRTEL AND IDEA CELLULAR HAVE INCREASED MOBILE

CALL CHARGES ALMOST DOUBLE WITH EFFECT FROM 23RD JANUARY,2013. THE REASON FOR THE HIKE

IN RATES IS ATTRIBUTED TO RISING COSTS..

THESE COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY WITHDRAWN SEVERAL PROMOTIONAL OFFERS.

OTHER PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES ALSO ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW.

YES,THE TRUE COLOUR OF THESE PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES HAS STARTED TO COME IN OPEN.

THIS IS THE IDEAL TIME FOR TH E BSNL AND MTNL TO INCREASE THEIR MARKET SHARE.