VIJAYAWADA

The call of the Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Pensioners Associations to observe Demands Day on 02-07-2024 by holding demonstration at all levels and submission of memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT through respective CGMs and GMs have been implemented with huge participation of pensioners throughout the country.

The only demand put forward was Pension Revision with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017, delinking wage revsion has become a burning issue of BSNL/MTNL pensioners due to the neglect and apathy by the government and the DoT bureaucracy for the last 90 months. Therefore they have utilized the opportunity to express their strong protest , anguish and resentment braving inclement weather including heavy rain in many parts of the country. On behalf of the Joint Forum , we salute and congratulate all the participants.

Of course, the Demands Day is the first programme and the Joint Forum will meet shortly and decide the dates of the second and third phase, CCA Office March and Chalo Delhi. Some of the photos received are appended below;

HYDERABAD

VARANASI

KOZHIKODE

ERNAKULAM

KANNUR

HIMATNAGAR

KUTCH BHUJ

The TUI (P&R) Executive Council has met virtually on 26-06-2024. The meeting discussed for 3 hours about the three reports of General Secretary, Secretary, Organization and Secretary, Study & Ideology and Propoganda circulated in advance. The Executive was presided by the President comrade Dimos Koumporis. Comrade Quim Boix GS TUI(P&R) anchored. 35 Comrades from different countries attended. From India comrade K.G.Jayaraj (Vice Secretary Organisation) and comrade K.Ragavendran (Asia coordinator) attended and presented our interventions in the meeting.

Com. K GJayaraj had sent his intervention (speech ) in advance. So also some other Comrades as per the directive of Com. Quim Boix, General Secretary. Com. K. G. Jayaraj in his speech hailed the participation and the excellent performance of TUI(P&R) leadership in the recent 112 ILC at Geneva. He also highlighted the Indian situation aftet the Parliament election and decision of AIBDPA and NCCPA to résumé the struggle on important issues of pensioners including Restoration of OPS, BSNL Pension Revision, Bank Pension Updation and CGHS.The initiative taken by Com. K. Ragavendran, Asia Coordinator to convene a meeting of pensioners organizations of Bangldesh in September, 2024 was also reported.

The Executive Council analysed the 3rd World Congress and noted all positive points. The Work Plan for advancement was also discussed actively.

There was some interruptions in getting the English translation.Comrade Quim Boix assured that from next meeting, there will be better translation arrangement. He assured his presence in all Regional meetings too.

The President comrade Dimos concluded with the assurance that all decisions of congress will be enthusiastically implemented. The attacks on rights of pensioners and young workers will be fought. He also reported that the Greece Pensioners have met at national level and decided to strengthen our movement.

Dear Comrades,

The first program of the three phased agitational program decided by the Joint Forum for pension revision is Demands Day on 02-07-2024.

The Demands Day is to be observed by organising demonstration at all levels and submission of memorandum to the GM/ CGM. Two copies of the memorandum ( one for the Minister and second for the Secretary, DoT) already circulated may be submitted with a covering letter addressed to the concerned GM/CGM.

Specimen of the covering letter.

Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations, ( place ).

2nd July, 2024.

To

Shri……
CGM / GM
( Place )

Sir,

Sub: Submission of Memorandum to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, Department of Telecommunications for early settlement of pension revision due from 01-01-2017- request for forwarding.

As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners, New Delhi we are observing Demands Day on today,the 2nd July, 2024, expressing our strong protest and resentment against the unjust and huge delay in the settlement of our burning issue of pension revision with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017, delinking wage revision.

As part of the Demands Day, two copies of the memorandum are hereby submitted. We would therefore request you to kindly send the memorandum both to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT please.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerly,

Names and signatures of District / Circle Secretaries.

The 4th biennial District Conference of Kurnool was held on 22-06-2024 with good participation.Com.M Siva Reddy , District President presided. Com.K S C Bose, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with a detailed speech and explained the issues including status of pension revision and the Joint Forum agitation being launched , CHGS linking with ABHA etc. Coms.Radha Krishna (CITU), M Yacob, Circle President, N Rama Rao, ACS, M Rangaiah,COS, G Maheswara Rao,ACS and Ramalingam addressed. Com.M A Gafoor, State leader of CITU greeted the conference.

The report and accounts presented by Com.P Madduleti, District Secretary and Treasurer, respectively were adopted after discussion. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.A Ramalingam (President) Com. L Vijayabhaskar (District Secretary) and Com. Khaja Mohiddin (Treasurer)

Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurated the Kerala Circle Executive Committee meeting held at P&T House, Thiruvananthapuram on 22-06-2024 with a brief but educative speech. Com.K Mohanan, Circle President controlled the proceedings. Com.N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary in his address covered important developments at international level including the barbaric genocide of innocent people at Palestine by Israel , TUI(P&R) 3rd Congress, the importance of 18th Parliment election, proposed agitational programme of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations for pension revision, NCCPA agitational program on important issues including restoration of OPS, BSNL Pension revision, CGHS issues etc , BSNL MRS, BSNL offer in lieu of residential landline connection. While congratulating all the comrades for the improvement in membership, General Secretary appealed for further joint efforts for strengthening the organisation at all levels and successfully organise the struggles.

Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary was felicitated for his election as Vice Secretary of TUI(P&R) and Com.V A N Namboodiri presented the memento on behalf of the Kerala Circle.

Coms.R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS, MGS Kurup, CHQ Treasurer and Lucy Isac, Convenor, Womens Committee also addressed. In the discussion that followed, all the District Secretaries and most of the Circle Office bearers actively participated. The issues raised in the discussion were replied appropriately by Com.N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary. Important decisions were taken by the CEC including to implement the agitational programmes successfully.

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEEOF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS

(Registered under the T.U. Act RTU-01/2021)NCCPA /

Decisions of Executive

Dated 20th June 2024

To

All Office Bearers and Affiliated organisations.

A meeting of NCCPA Executive was held at 3.00 P.M on 19th June 2024. As the President Comrade Shiva Gopal Mishra was preoccupied the meeting was presided over by Working President Comrade A.K.Ghosh. Nearly 30 Executive Members participated including the three Patrons.The Executive started with observing a minutes’ silence for the departed.

After the agenda was approved the President called for initiating the first item of agenda by the Secretary General.Comrade K.Ragavendran stated that all appreciated the holding of 5th AIC at Chennai and called for opinions of members. He recalled the Chennai AIC had given the task to form NCCPA COCs in all States; to propagate formation of Confederation of all Pensioners Associations; and to strengthen the functioning of Trade Union International (Pensioners & Retired). He requested that NCCPA COCs be formed in all States so that all calls of NCCPA and TUI(P&R) are implemented effectively.

Thereupon the executive deliberated on the holding of Chennai AIC and the general opinion was that it was a good conference. Some comrades revealed that though NCCPA has not been functioning in their state, all calls are being implemented through the CGPA COCs. However, formation of NCCPA COCs in all States was insisted by the Secretary General so as to implement all calls effectively in the name of NCCPA.

Next item taken up was the TUI(P&R) World Congress held at Athens at Greece, Comrades who participated physically in the Congress Comrades A.K.Ghosh; D.K.Debnath; and K.Ragavendran and also virtually by Comrade K.G.Jayaraj explained the details of the Congress. The Executive congratulated all the Office Bearers and Commission Members elected in the TUI(P&R) World Congress especially from India.

The memorandum prepared by the Secretary General and submitted to the Cabinet Secretary by NCCPA and ‘Affiliates and the future Programme of action is discussed by the Executive. It was pointed out that though the memorandum was written in good shape, certain omissions were pointed out. Suggestions for future Programme of action also were suggested by the members,Ultimately it was decided that two memorandums (Memorandum 1 and 2) will be prepared by NCCPA; one for CGHS / RELHS medical issues and the other for general pension related issues. The respective associations will be consulted while preparing the memorandum so that the issues are correctly focused.

There will be submission of memorandum (1) by NCCPA and all Affiliates on 29.07.2024 to Minister of Health and to Director General CGHS by email.

State level Dharnas on August 6th (06.08.2024) in front of AD CGHS Offices and handing over of the same memorandum (1) to the AD CGHS to press the demands.

Memorandum (2) on Pension related issues to be submitted to the Prime Minister, Pension Minister and to Cabinet Secretary by email by the NCCPA and all Affiliates on September 5.9.2024.

Local (District) level Dharna on 13.09.2024 before a Central Government Office of local choice.

State level dharna in front of any Central Government Office or a place of choice to Circles on 25.09.2024.

Our branches should embark upon the meeting the Members of Parliament during early time of October and enlisting their support on both memorandums.

Dharna in New Delhi by NCCPA and Affiliates during the last week of October 2024. (The date will be shortly announced after fixing the date).

Delhi Dharna will be on all issues covering the CGHS/RELHS/Medicare Insurance and all other Pension related issues. NCCPA and Affiliates should take the initiative to organize a press meet before Delhi Dharna preferably during the third week of October 2024. The Press meet should focus on Health issues and Pension related issues. These decisions were due to the fact that without struggles no advancement to Pensioners could be achieved.

The Executive unanimously elected Comrade Sridhar (AIRRF) as the Vice President of NCCPA and Comrades Aram Singh General Secretary of AIRRF and K.V.Jayaraj General Secretary of National Forum for Atomic Energy Retirees to the executive committee as per the unanimous decision of the Chennai AIC.

Then the Treasurer CHQ Comrade G.Kumar presented the audited accounts of NCCPA for the year 2023 and the same was unanimously approved.Legal action on Pension related issues will be taken up by the next executive

.

Comrade K.G. Jayaraj raised the issue of support of NCCPA to their joint struggle under any other item with the permission of chair. He requested that the NCCPA should extend support to the struggle of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations on 2.7.2024 ‘Demands Day’. NCCPA also assured total support to BSNL MTNL Pensioners struggle. The Executive concluded at about 5.45 P.M with the formal vote of thanks.

K.Ragavendran, Secretary General NCCPA