Reports received so far from different circles indicate that the BSNL DoT pensioners have responded massively with large participation in the observance of Call Attention Day on 20-04-2017. The decision for the two phased agitation was taken by the Central Executive Committee meeting held at Mysuru on 23,24 February, 2017. The 18 point charter of demands include Mandatory Pension Revision from 01-01-2017 along with pay revision in BSNL, 50% IDA merger with pension, Grant Fixed Medical Allowance of Rs.2000 to both BSNL and DOT pensioners, Scrap PFRDA Act, Settle the anomaly in pension, Pension be 50% of last pay drawn for the pre 2006/2007 pensioners etc.

Meanwhile three demands are achieved after the Mysuru CEC meeting, viz,

(1). Gratuity ceiling of Rs.20 lakh extended to BSNL pensioners.

(2). Night Free Call facility extended to BSNL pensioners. But once again the DOT pensioners are denied it, as in the case of broadband concession. So we have to further pursue to end the continued discrimination to DoT pensioners.

(3) Quarterly Medical Allowance restored partially. How ever AIBDPA is for monthly uniform medical allowance of Rs.2000 to all BSNL and DOT pensioners.

No doubt these are great achievements gained through sustained struggle. But we have to continue the path of agitation for the realization of other important demands.

CHQ heartily congratulate all the comrades for their active participation and making  the Call Attention Day on 20-04-2017, a great success. So, let us focus on the 2nd phase of agitation, Mass Dharna at SSA level on 25-05-2017.

Com.K.G.jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurating demonstration program at GMT office , Alappuzha.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurating at Kozhikode.

Com.G.G.Patil, AGS inaugurating at Hubli, Karnataka.

At Erode, Tamil Nadu.

Circle Branch, Gujarat.

At Aligarh, U.P.(W)

At Palakkad, Kerala.

 

At Belgaum, Karnataka

At Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

ERNAKULAM, KERALA

AT NAGERCOIL, TAMIL NADU. COM.K.KALIPRASAD, CHQ ORG SECRETARY INAUGURATING.

AT AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT.

CHENNAI TELECOM DISTRICT, COM.C.K.NARASIMHAN,CS INAUGURATING.

AT COIMBATORE IN TAMIL NADU.

AT KOLKATA TELECOM DISTRICT.

AT KHARAGPUR, WEST BENGAL

AT KOLKATA BY KOLKATA TELPHONES AND CORTO.

.

AT KOLLAM,KERALA. COM.R.A.NAIR, CHQ TREASURER INAUGURATED

AT PATNA, BIHAR.COM.N.K.SHRIVATAVA, CS, INAUGURATED.

AT RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH; COM.R.P.ATMAPOOJYA,CS INAUGURATED.

 

 

Central Branch, Kolkata under Kolkata Telephones Circle has held its district conference on 11-04-2017. The conference was formally inaugurated by Com.Snajib Banerjee, Circle Secretary with an elaborate speech covering the recent developments. Coms. Ananta Bhattacharjee, CHQ President, Supriyo Mitra, Circle President, Biplab Das, Secretary, BSNL Co-Ordination Committee and  Arup Sarkar, Secretary, BSNL Casual,Contract Wokers Union addressed the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.P.M.Das (President), Com. Biplob Datt (District Secreatry) and Com. Samirendu Sarkar (Treasurer)

The 3rd biennial conference of AIBDPA Berhampore District was held on 9th April 2017 at Telecom Recreation club room. After flag hoisting and garlanding martyrs’ column, portraits of Com KG Bose and Moni Bose the inaugural session commenced.

Com Pijush Chakraborty Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference. Other speakers in the inaugural session were Coms Tapan Bhowmick (BSNL Officers’ pensioners welfare Association), Jamaluddin (AIBSNLEA), Sekhar Sarkar and Mamata Sarkar (BSNLEU), Amal Saha (AIBDPA) and Laltu Roy (CMU).

The subject committee started with report and accounts placed by Coms Avijit Sen and Santosh Maitra respectively. Coms Avijit Sen and Pijush Chakraborty summed up at their respective levels.  The report and accounts adopted unanimously after some amendments.

Among others the conference adopted two resolutions -1) The BSNL officers pensioners’ welfare association will be merged with our Association as proposed by the former and 2) rigorous well planned campaign will be made to increase the membership as no of members is far less than those of retirees.

The conference  unanimously elected  Coms Kalidas Biswas, Manoranjan Ghosh and  Dipankar Dutta as President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The conference was conducted by the presidium consisting of Coms Kalidas Biswas, Samir Dutta and Biswaroop Hazra.

As part of the campaign week, called by the Mysuru CEC, Nagercoil District branch has conducted a special general body meeting on 01-04-2017. Com.K.Shahul Hameed, District President presided over the meeting. Com.S. Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President, inaugurating the meeting, explained the issues on which decision was taken to launch agitational programme. Com.K.Kaliprasad, CHQ Organising Secretary and Com. A Meenakshisundaram, District Secretary also addressed.

Burdwan District Branch in West Bengal conducted an impressive sit-in demonstration before the office of the General Manager, BSNL on 08-03-2017 demanding settlement of 7 point charter of demands, including undue delay in payment of medical bills and processing of 78.2% IDA fixation cases. CORTO members also participated. The massive demonstration compelled the authorities to discuss the issue and settle. DGM held discussion with association leaders and came to a reasonable agreement. The powerful and continuous demonstration started at 10AM was concluded at 4.30PM successfully.

It is again proved that the path of struggle only would help settle the issues.

CHQ congratulates Burdwan comrades for the significant achievement. 

The 3rd biennial District Conference of Kolkata South Branch under Kolkata Telephones Circle was held at the Kalighat Telephone Exchange premises on 30-012017. Com.Dipak Datta  presided. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, CHQ President inaugurated the conference with an inspiring speech. Coms. D.Basu, CHQ AGS, Swastika Dasgupta, CHQ Org Secretary, Sanjib Banerjee, Circle President, Supriya Mitra, CHQ Vice President & Circle President and Sunil Datta, Org Secretary, CORTO addressed. The biennial report presented by Com.N.N.Das, Acting District Secretary was adopted after discussion.

The following are the important office bearers elected unanimously.

President : Com.Dipak Datta, District Secretary : Com.N.N.Das and Treasurer : Com. Sourindra Nath Ghosh.

 

 

7^th Central Pay Commission has quoted in para – 1.29 of ” Foreword ” , the following observations of the Supreme Court in the case of Bhupendranath Hazarika and another Vs State of Assam and others (reported in 2013 (2) Sec 516).

“It should always be borne in mind that legitimate aspirations of the employees are not guillotined and a situation is not created where hopes end in despair………. A sense of calm sensibility and concerned sincerity should be reflected in every step. An atmosphere of trust has to prevail and when the employees are absolutely sure that their trust shall not be betrayed and they shall be treated with dignified fairness ; then only the concept of good governance can be concretized. We say no more.”

Unfortunately, the NDA Government and the Group of Ministers consisting of Sri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Home Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Sri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Railway Minister who gave assurance on 30th June 2016 that Minimum wage and Fitment formula will be increased and a High Level Committee will be Constituted with a time – frame of four months , have given least concern for the above observations of the Apex Court. Now seven months are almost over. Further there is no guarantee that Allowance Committee will increase the percentage of HRA recommended by 7th CPC. Instead there is every chance, to deny retrospective effect from 01.01.2016 to the revised allowances and it may be implemented prospectively from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thus denying the eligible arrears for one year or more. It has become certain that the Option – 1 for pensioners recommended by 7th CPC, which is the one and only favourable recommendation, stands rejected. Orders on abolition of Advances including Festival advance and imposing “very good ” condition for MACP are issued unilaterally .

Request of the JCM National Council Staff side Secretary to give one more opportunity to present it’s case before the Allowance Committee is not conceded by the Finance Secretary, who is the Chairman of the Committee. The request of the JCM Staff side to modify the Terms of Reference of Anomaly Committee is also not yet considered by the Department of Personnel and Training. The Committee constituted for New Pension Scheme is only for streamlining the NPS by making some cosmetic changes as recommended by 7th CPC and not for considering the demand of the JCM Staff side to scrap NPS. Not even a single demand of the staff side submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015, requesting modifications in the recommendations of 7th CPC is settled by the Government. The so-called group of senior officer’s committee had, in fact, ridiculed and humiliated the JCM Staff Side standing committee.

The All India Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers held in August 2016 at Chennai had taken a decision to request all constituents of NJCA to revive the indefinite strike , if Government is not ready to honour it’s commitment before 30th October 2016.  The AIC had further decided that, in case NJCA is not ready to revive the deferred indefinite strike, then Confederation should organise independent trade union action including strike. Confederation strongly feels that there in no meaning in waiting indefinittely for Government’s decision. We cannot cheat the employees like NDA Government. As no consensus decision could be taken in NJCA, Confederation had decided to  go for one day strike and organised country wide demonstrations, mass dharnas and massive Parliament March. Strike notice for one day strike on 15th February 2017 was served on 28th December 2016. Due to announcement of assembly elections in five states by Election Commission of India and 15th February being a polling day, the strike was postponed to 16th March 2017.

Intensive campaign and mobilisation is going on in full swing all over the country. About 13 to 15 lakhs Central Government employees will participate in the strike, with the full support and solidarity of about 34 lakhs pensioners, Central Trade Unions, independent Federations of State Government employees, Bank and Insurance employees and other public sector employees.

After reviewing the participation of employees in the one day strike, Confederation shall explore the possibility of declaring higher form of trade union action including indefinite strike .

M. KRISHNAN 

Secretary General