The 4th biennial District conference was held on 10-09-2024 at Villupuram under the presidentship of Com. N Meganathan, District President. Com.I M Mathialagan, District Secretary welcomed all the participants. Com.R Rajasekar, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference and gave a good account of developments in the recent past ,particularly the agitations being launched by Joint Forum and NCCPA. Coms. C K Narasimhan, Circle President, S Muthukumarasamy, Special invitee, K T Sampandam Circle Vice President, S Soudararaj, District Secretary BSNLEU, S V Pandyan, District Secretary, TNTCWU and D Ramamurthy, General Secretary, Transport Pensioners Association also addressed. Shri. S Balachandran, GM, BSNL greeted the conference. The report and audited accounts presented by Coms. I M Mathialagan, Secretary and Com.B Chandrasekharan, Treasurer were adopted after discussion. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. N Meganathan (President) Com.I M Mathialagan (District Secretary) and Com.B Chandrasekharan, Treasurer.

Comrade Sitaram Yechury (72), General Secretary of CPI(M) has passed away at 3.05 PM on 12-09-2024. Com.Yechury was under treatment for acute respiratory ailment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for the last three weeks and had been battling against the serious infection. He came to limelight as a brilliant student and President of the Students Union in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. After joining the CPI(M), he was naturally elected to the Central Committee and Politburo.He played a significant role in drafting the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA 1 government which included the Rural Employment Scheme. He was one of the best parliamentarians during his two term tenure fighting for the cause of the downtrodden and workers. Com.Yechury was elected General Secretary of CPI(M) in 2015 and continued till his sad demise. He played a pivotal role in uniting all the secular, democratic parties in the country against the authoritarian regime. The passing away of Com.Sitaram Yechury is a great loss to the progressive ,democratic and secular forces not only in the country but also globally. AIBDPA dips its banner in respect of the departed leader and convey heatfelt condolences to the bereaved family and lakhs of CPI(M) cadres. Red Salute Com.Sitaram Yechury!

The 6th District Conference of Kolkata Telecom (West Bengal Circle) was held on 08-09-2024 at Tarakeswar Telephone Exchange, Kolkata. Com.Animesh Mitra, President ,BSNLEU CHQ inaugurated the conference with an encouraging speech covering almost all the issues. Com.Asis Das, Circle Secretary delivered the keynote address. Coms.Sujoy Sarkar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed. Com.Dasboxi presided over the conference. The report and audited accounts presented by Coms. Niranjan Sarkar, District Secretary and Ashish Gupta, Treasurer respectively were adopted after discussion.

The following are the important functionaries elected unanimously; Com.Ramprasad Datta (President) Com.Niranjan Sarkar (District Secretary) Com.Ashish Gupta (Treasurer)

MUMBAI.

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The second phase of Agitational Programme of Joint Forum for resolution of our burning issue of pension revision is the CCA Office March on 05-09-2024. We have to make all out efforts by jointly mobilizing maximum pensioners to make the program a stupendous success.

During the March and Dharna, two copies of the notice dated 23-08-2024 sent by the Joint Forum may be submitted to the CCA with covering letter signed by the Circle Secretaries with a request to forward the same to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT.

Please ensure that the program is held under the banner of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations.

Specimen copy of the covering letter.

Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations,…….. Circle.

5th September, 2024.

To

The Controller General of Communication Accounts,
…………. (Place )

Sir / Madam,

As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations, New Delhi, we are holding a March to the CCA Office and sit in Dharna on today, the 5th September, 2024 demanding immediate settlement of our most burning issue of pension revision due from 01-01-2017.

As part of this program, we are submitting two copies of memorandum which may kindly be forwarded to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT.

With regards,
Yours Sincerely.

`.*BUT SURELY ONE STEP FORWARD.

GOVERNMENT COMPELLED TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN THE NPS DUE TO MOUNTING PRESSURE EXERTED BY EMPLOYEES OF CENTRAL, STATE AND PSUs, CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND ALSO BY PENSIONERS THROUGH RELENTLESS STRUGGLES AND ALSO DUE TO THE POLITICAL SETBACK OF BJP IN THE LAST PARLIAMENT ELECTION IN WHICH BJP COULD NOT GET MAJORITY

The decision of the Union Cabinet to introduce a Unified Pension Scheme from 01-04-2025 was communicated to the JCM Staff Side leaders in the meeting held on 24-08-2024, participated by the hon’ble Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the designated Cabinet Secretary.

The salient features of the UPS are;

1. It is contributory and 10% pay + DA will be recovered from the salary. The government contribution is slightly increased to 18.5% from the 14% in NPS

.2. Guaranteed pension of 50% of the average of the 12 months emoluments for those completed 25 years service. Pro-rata pension to those with less than 25 to 10 years service. In the OPS full pension for a minimum 10 years service which is calculated 50% of last pay drawn or average of last 10 months which ever is beneficial to the employee.

3. Family Pension will be 60% of the pensio

4. Dearness Relief will be there as per the consumer price index for industrial workers

5. Apart from Gratuity additional benefit of 1/10 th of the salary for every completed six months of service Remember that 10% of the salary is recovered.

6. There will be option for the existing NPS pensioners to switch over to UPS.

No additional pension at 80,85,90,95 and 100.No mention about second level pension.Nothing is mentioned about those retired before 01-04-2025.No mention about the periodical pension revision.

So in a nutshell it is just some progress from the NPS. We have to wait for the detailed order to know more about the new scheme.NO DOUBT, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE UNTIL THE OPS IS FULLY BROUGHT BACK.

The biennial District Conference of Jodhpur, Rajasthan has been held with good participation of pensioners on 22-08-2024.Com.Iqubal Khan, District President presided. Com. M K Nagpal, Circle Secretary inaugurated and explained the current status of the important issues of pension revision, medical issues etc. Com.Hari Narain , CHQ organising Secretary appealed to make the struggles being launched by Joint Forum successful. Coms. Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary and P K Jain, CHQ Organising Secretary of BSNLEU also addressed. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.Iqubal Khan (President) Com. Devraj Singh Naruk (District Secretary) and Com. Abdul Karim (Treasurer).