The All India Kisan Sangarsh Co-Ordination Committee which is spearheading the great and grand Farmers’ Struggle has given a call to boycott the products of the corporates, particularly that of Reliance.

Modi government is wholly responsible for the sorry state of affairs in the telecom sector for pursing a pro- Reliance Jio policy incurring huge losses to all the telecom companies except Reliance Jio. BSNL is not being allowed to start its 4G services despite declaration of a revival package on 23rd October, 2019. When all the private telecom companies are free to purchase equipments from foriegn companies and started the 4G service well in advance and now Jio has declared about the launching of 5G services in the near future, hurdles are purposely created to stall the 4G service of BSNL.

It is a known fact that BSNL is the only telecom company still capable of competing Reliance Jio, adding new mobile subscribers while all other telecom companies loosing lakhs of subcribers regularly. So the Modi government is bent upon to kill BSNL for the sake of Reliance Jio. AUAB is fighting against this nefarious onslaught which is supported by AIBDPA.

We can do more in resisting the greedy Jio by boycotting their services and swithcing over to BSNL by those availing Jio services for whatever reasons. Also we have to undertake a campaign for boycotting Jio services among the general public in the wake of the call of the farmers.

Amravati District in Maharashtra has held its District Conference befittingly on 10-12-2020. Sufficient Covid-19 protocol was maintained in the physical conference. Coms.R N Patil, Circle Secretary and A S Choudhary, CHQ Organising Secretary addressed and guided the conference. Both leaders congratulated the District Branch for its active functioning and holding the conference. They also explained the issues confronting the pensioners, particularly VRS retirees, and the relentless efforts of CHQ and Circle for settlement.

Office bearers have been elected unanimously with the following important functionaries;

President : Com.Abdul Shamim

District Secretary : Com. R S Raut

Treasurer : Com. G R Gadge

A joint delegation of AIBDPA and BSNLEU, Punjab joined the struggling farmers at Singhu , New Delhi on 10-12-2020 and assured full support and solidarity to the genuine struggle of the farmers. The deleagation was led by Coms.H S Dhillon, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Balvindr Singh, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA.

The farmers who are on struggle for the last two weeks have decided to intensify the struggle due to rejection of their just demands by the Modi government. Kisan Sangarsh Co-Ordination Committee consisting of several farmers’ organisations irrespective of political affiliations have taken a determined stand that nothing short of repeal of three anti-farmer acts will be accepted. They deserve special congratulations for their firm stand and thwarting the nefarious game of Modi government to split them.

CHQ congratulates the noble gesture and camaraderie of our Punjab Comrades and once again affirm that we are with the farmers.

CHQ is saddened to report the unexpected demise of Com. Pradip Saha on 07-12-2020 due to cardiac arrest. Com.Saha was very active in the union activities from the very beginning of his service and held various positions. He retired as JTO officiating in 2016 and joined AIBDPA. He took up the responsibility of District Secretary, Krishnanagar just one year ago. We have lost a sincere comrade.

CHQ pays homage to the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to the family and comrades.

Organise National Pensioners Day on   17^th December.

 It was on 17^th December 1982 that the historic judgment on pension was delivered by the Five Member Bench of Supreme Court, consisting of Chief Justice Y.V.Chandrachud, Justice V.D.Tulzapurkar, Justice D.A.Desai, Justice O.Chinnappa Reddy and Justice Baharul Islam,which  is called  as the ‘Magna Carta’ of the  Pensioners. The judgment was delivered in the case filed by ShriD.S.Nakara, a civil servant, who retired as Financial Advisor in Defense Ministry.

Shri. D S Nakera was compelled to approach the court, as the liberal Pension System, comparatively beneficial to the pensioners,  implemented in 1979 was limited to those retired after 31-03-1979.

The judgment clearly stated that “the pensioners for  receiving Pension form a class and there is no criterion on which  classification of pensioners retiring prior to specified date and retiring subsequent to that date can provide a rational principle co-related to the object viz. object underlying payment of pensions…”

It also pointed out “(i) that Pension is neither a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer and that it creates a vested right subject to 1972 Rules which are statutory in character, because they are enacted in exercise of powers conferred by the Provisio to Art. 309 and Clause (5) of Art. 148 of the Constitution; (ii) that Pension is not an ex-gratia payment, but it is a payment for the past service rendered; and (iii) that it is a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age, they would not be left in lurch…”

It also mentioned that “…A Pension Scheme consistent with available resources must provide that the pensioner would be able to live (i) free from want and with decency, independence and self-respect (ii) at a standard equivalent at the pre-retirement level..”

A good number such forceful statements are part of the judgment. But despite the judgment, the central government has not yet done justice to the pensioners, including non-implementation of the one-rank-one pension, in its true spirit, for the Ex- Servicemen of the Armed Forces despite sustained struggle by them. Option 1, which would have ensured parity in pension to a certain extent, recommended by the VII CPC was also rejected by the Government on flimsy grounds.

When we observe the National Pensioners Day this time, the pensioners are subjected to new form of attacks. The Government under the cover of Covid-19 pandemic is curtailing the existing benefits of the pensioners. Pension Revision to BSNL pensioners due from 01-01-2017 is being denied without any justice. The increased D.R installments for 18 months from 1^st January 2020 for central pensioners are frozen. Increased IDA from 01-10-2020 is not paid to BSNL retirees. BSNL pensioners are also being harassed by denying their medical benefits.

AIBDPA calls upon all its units to observe Pensioners Day on 17^th December suitably, jointly with other pensioners’ organizations, as far as possible according to local conditions, high lighting the judgment as also focusing on the present day demands of the pensioners.

11^th December 2020 is the 66^th death anniversary of Comrade K.G.Bose, the great inspiration of the entire P and T workers and Central government employees. Com. K.G. entered the P and T Department in 1942 and within no time became very active in union activities. He, along with Dada Ghosh, founder General Secretary of NFPTE, led the successful Postal Strike of July 1946 in Bengal. He, along with other progressive leaders took initiative in the formation of Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) and later that of National Federation of P and T Employees (NFPTE) in 1954.

Com. K.G.Bose was arrested, jailed and dismissed from service in connection with the proposed strike of 1949 and was never reinstated. But he continued his service to the union. He was elected as the President of NFPTE in 1970 at the Vijayawada Federal Council to re-elected  next year at Calcutta Federal Council. Already he has been elected as the Circle Secretary of Postal Employees Union Class III  and Telecom Employees Union Class III of W.Bengal. Also elected as the All India President of the Postal Employees Union Class III. He was a charismatic leader with massive popularity. He encouraged young workers to take more interest in union activities.

He was elected to the W.Bengal Assembly as also appointed as a Member of the Pay Commission for the state government employees.

Continued tour and hectic activities resulted in deterioration of his health. He was found to be affected by Cancer and was sent to London for expert medical treatment. But he could not be saved. Com.K.G.Bose passed away on 11^th December 1974 leaving his family, friends and comrades in deep grief. He was only 54.

AIBDPA pays its respectful homage to the revolutionary leader Com.K.G.Bose!

Circle Executive Committee meeting of Telangana has been held at BSNL Bhawan, Hyderabad on 05-12-2020. Com. Veeraswami, Circle President controlled the proceedings. Com. Ramachandradu, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report.

Com. D Shankar, CHQ Vice President addressed the meeting and explained the issues of pensioners. BSNL management has now allotted funds to clear the medical bills, both indoor and outdoor, up to 31-03-2019. The struggles conducted and the continuous efforts of AIBDPA has finally yielded the result. But the success is partial, as medical allowance or without voucher is not being paid and also the payment after 31-03-2019 has to be acheived. So also pension revision.

Com. G. Sambasiva Rao, Asst Circle Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed and gave a gist of the situation prevailing in BSNL and the nefarious game of the central government to kill BSNL. Thereafter, the District Secretaries and most of the Circle Office Bearers participated in the discussion.

The CEC decided to strengthen AIBDPA and reconstitute Adilabad Branch.