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Casual Contract Labour issue raised in Parliament by Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. (Kerala) on 29-11-2019 supported by many other M.P.s

NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES TO CASUAL CONTRACT LABOURERS OF B.S.N.L.,

KERALA SHRI K.K. RAGESH (KERALA): Hon. Chairman, Sir, the casual contract labourers of BSNL have not been paid wages for the last ten months. Last month, in Kerala, two workers committed suicide due to non-payment of wages. One Ramakrishnan, an employee working as a sweeper in BSNL, after completing all his work, committed suicide inside the office as he had not been paid wages for the last ten months by BSNL. Not just in Kerala, but throughout the country, casual contract labourers in BSNL have committed suicide. Ten such workers have already committed suicide in our country. I would request the Government to listen to the agony of casual contract labourers, because yesterday the hon. Minister while responding to the issue said that it was due to the contractors. In fact, BSNL did not pay the contractors and that is why contractors were not in a position to pay the workers. Apart from non-payment of wages to the workers, massive retrenchment is also going on. The Government had decided to reduce 80 per cent of the regular workers and also 50 per cent of the contract workers. That means, regular workers are compelled to take VRS and one lakh jobs have already been lost. Fifty per cent of the contract labourers have been asked not to work. Then, who would work, Sir?

MR. CHAIRMAN: What is your suggestion?

SHRI K.K. RAGESH: I don’t know if BSNL is going to be wound up. My point is that since the inception of BSNL, thousands of contract workers have been working on meagre wages. We don’t know what would be the future of those poor workers. I would request the Government to intervene immediately and ensure payment of wages to the BSNL workers, which is due for the last ten months. Otherwise, we would be witnessing mass suicides among the poor casual contract workers.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Let us not hope such a thing happens.

SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member
SHRI B.K. HARIPRASAD (KARNATAKA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI JOSE K. MANI (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA (BIHAR): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRIMATI VIJILA SATHYANANTH (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI BINOY VISWAM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI AHAMED HASSAN (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI ELAMARAM KAREEM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI K. SOMAPRASAD (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member. (End)

Com. Elamaram Kareem. M.P. (Kerala) raised the issue of BSNL Revival and contract workers in Rajya Sabha on 01-07-2019. Report is given below:

SHRI ELAMARAM KAREEM: The financial condition of BSNL is precarious and it is deteriorating day-by-day. Presently, the per month revenue collection of BSNL comes to only 1,200 crores. However, the per month wage bill of the employees comes to Rs. 1,300 crores and other expenditures come to Rs. 900 crore. Thus, every month BSNL is facing a deficit of Rs.1,000 crore.

Due to this, BSNL is not even able to pay its electricity bills. In all the circles, gradually the electricity connections of BSNL are getting disconnected, due to non-payment of bills. Similarly, BSNL has not paid wages to its contract workers, for the past six months and the families of these workers are facing starvation. Contractors have also stopped the works and vendors do not want to supply equipments, due to non-payment of bills.

Thus, BSNL is urgently in need of both short term as well as long term capital infusion by the Government. That is my submission. The submission was supported by Com. K.K.Ragesh, M.P., Binoy Viswam M.P. and Jose K. Mani, all from Kerala.

DONATE LIBERALLY TO BSNL CONTRACT WORKERS RELIEF FUND

Dear Comrades,

As you are well aware, BSNL contract workers have not been paid wages for the last one year or more, on the plea that BSNL is in loss and is not in a position to pay the wages. Many contract workers have been retrenched. 

BSNLCCWF has been on continuous struggles all over India demanding wages and against retrenchment.  AIBDPA has been supporting the struggle, by participating in the agitational  programmes as also raising funds for the contract workers. In Kerala Circle, funds were collected by AIBDPA especially at the time of Onam festival and handed over to the contract workers.  Strike for many weeks was organized in the Kerala Circle and similar agitations organized in T.Nadu, W.Bengal, Karnataka, U.P. etc. Dharna continued for many months in various circles.

M.P.s were met and the issue was raised in the Parliament by a large number of M.P.s including S/Shri K.K.Ragesh . Elamaram Kareem, Jose K.Mani, Binoy Viswam, K.Soma Prasad ( Kerala), T.K.Rengarajan, Tiruchi Siva, Smt. Vijila Sathyanath (T.Nadu), B.K.Hari Prasad (Karnataka), Manoj Kumar Jha (Bihar), Subhas Chakraborty, Ahamad Hassan (W.Bengal) and others. But the government /DOT/ BSNL did not settle the issue.

Ten contract workers committed suicide during the period unable to bear the mental agony of being unable to look after their family, including children. Even these tragedies could not move the DOT/BSNL.

Most of these contract workers continue to work, serving the nation and people, despite denial of wage. For keeping the communication network in this Corona situation, they are doing their maximum effort.

They require all our support.  AIBDPA has supported BSNLCCWF agitations and donated earlier. Now also the contract workers have to be supported in their continued difficulties.

Hence we call upon all AIBDPA members to support the cause of the BSNL contract workers and donate liberally to the Contract Workers Relief Fund. The collected amount at Circle / District levels be handed over to the units of the BSNLCCWF at the respective levels with intimation to the CHQ. This is our responsibility to the suffering contract workers, who are part of the BSNL fraternity.

Yours Fraternally,

K.G.Jayaraj,                                                                            New Delhi, 2^nd April 2020

General Secretary, AIBDPA

AIBDPA welcome all the BSNL employees who retired on 31-03-2020!

After more than three decades of dedicated service, you are retiring today on superannuation. As usual, Farewell Parties, Receptions, meetings etc., would have been arranged. But for the Corona situation, some of you might have been working from home also. You would have also hoped to meet all your co-workers, exchange pleasant memories and leave the office. But we are sure that the workers will be remembering your excellent service to the Nation.

On your retirement, AIBDPA wishes you all the best! Now you are a pensioner. AIBDPA welcomes to you to become a member of AIBDPA, the biggest pensioners’ organization in BSNL and DOT. BSNL, DOT retirees with out any difference of class, rank etc. are its members. We function democratically, with progressive ideas. We are in close contact with the unions and associations in BSNL and participates in all the programmes and agitations called by them.

During the past 12 years of its existence, AIBDPA has been in the forefront of the struggle for the demands of BSNL DOT pensioners.  AIBDPA is a continuation of your work in BSNL. You may belong to any union/association in BSNL, but you are wholly welcome to AIBDPA.

Welcome to AIBDPA!

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COVID – 19 DONATE LIBERALLY

Lakhs of workers are affected by COVID-19 all over the world. More than 34,000 persons have died due to the pandemic.  India is also affected seriously.  31 persons have died in India so far. Almost all the states are affected. The central government has declared Lock Down and people are expected to stay wherever they are. Special arrangements are made for treatment of Corona patients in all the states. The Doctors, Nurses and para medical staff are treating the patients despite the risk and they deserve our greatest appreciation and thanks. The police and security personnel are doing an excellent job, controlling the traffic, enforcing Lock Down etc. The youth in the country is doing all help.

The central and State governments are making all out efforts to control the epidemic and save maximum lives. Supply of medicines, food, arrangements for stay, arranging hospitals and wards for treatment etc. are being done.

Senior citizens above the age of 60 have been specially advised to completely stay at home, as they are more prone to the corona attack. We have to obey this direction and keep ourselves at home.

Yes Comrades, the country is facing one of the biggest challenges for decades. Funds are required by the Central / State governments urgently. The Prime Minister as well as the State Chief Ministers have called upon the people, to donate liberally to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund / Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

AIBDPA calls upon its members to liberally donate to the Relief Fund of the Prime Minister / Chief Minister. We have donated liberally in the earlier period of natural and other calamities, we should donate now also. The amount collected and donated may be intimated to the CHQ.

K.G.Jayaraj

General Secretary, AIBDPA.

At a time when the entire nation is closed down, BSNL was urgently requested to provide 20 FTTH connections in the ‘make shift’ Corona Care Hospital, at the Kochi Naval base in Kerala. The team BSNL of Kochi has completed this task within no time. 20 FTTH connections have been made operational in the Kochi Naval base hospital. This has again proved the competence of BSNL to help the nation, in times of crisis. The CHQ of BSNLEU salutes and heartily congratulates the entire officers and employees of BSNL, Kochi, for this feat.

Courtesy:  www.bsnleu.in

After much delay, DOT has released the funds for payment of first instalment of Ex-gratia amount to VRS retirees in BSNL, coming to Rs.4,156 crore. According to the order dated 26th March, the payment is to be made within 21 days and that this fund cannot be used for any other purpose.  In the present circumstances of COVID-19, maximum efforts on the part of BSNL is required to ensure that the payment is made in time.

A special convention of Balasore District with VRS retirees has been held on 15-03-2020. Com.  Mangobinda Dalai, District President controlled the proceedings. Com.Purushottam Pradhan, District Secretary welcomed the gathering. Coms.A Dhupal, CHQ Vice President and A C Mohanty Circle Secretary addressed and explained the issues in detail including pension revision and the struggles being waged by AIBDPA and the efforts of AIBDPA on the issues of VRS retirees. Com.P K Nayak, District Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed the convention.

A large number of pensioners along with VRS retirees participated and 50 VRS retirees joined as life members on the spot.Com.Sridhar Das , ACS proposed vote of thanks.