In the webinar held from 8 PM to 9.45 PM on 12-06-2024, Prof. Beranice Remirez Lopez presented the subject ” An Approach to the current situation of retirement systems. ” In the one hour speech, she presented the pension systems in various countries, mainly in Latin America. The presentation was impressive and educative with facts and figures in tables and graphics.Almost all the countries barring a few have switched over to contributory pension and private pension as part of the attacks on workers by the capitalism. So the working class along with the retirees are fighting against this onslaught.

Coms. K G Jayaraj, K Ragavendran and D K Debnath participated from India.

Labour Bureau has at last released the Consumer Price Index for three months, ie February, March and April, 2024 on 07-06-2024. Actually, as per the usual practice , the February Price Index was to be released on 28-03-2024 based on which the IDA from April,2024 is to be determined. Though, Labour Bureau has not mentioned any reason for the unprecedented delay in releasing the CPI monthly, it is presumed that it may be due to the Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission.

As per Consumer Price Index numbers of February,2024, released by Labour Bureau on 07-06-2024, IDA Rate on 2007-Pay-Scale & Pension is likely to INCREASE by 1.4% w.e.f. 1st April 2024 i.e. 215.4% (existing) + 1.4% (increase) = 216.8% (from April, 2024.

Payable only after DPE issues necessary orders.

The 4th biennial district conference of Kutch Bhuj, Gujarat was held at Giant Group Hall Lal Tekri in Bhuj on 30-05-2024.Com.J T Sanghavi, District President presided over the conference. Com.M M Vaidya, District Secretary welcomed and presented the report and Com. A S Pathak, District Treasurer submitted the audited accounts. Com.N N Patel, Circle President inaugurated the conference with an impressive speech. Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Vice President delivered the keynote address by explaining all the issues. Com. Sunil J Thakar, CircleSecretary, BSNLCCWF, Shri. R P Marvada, DGM and Shri. Nishant Visani, IFA also addressed. Several issues were raised by the delegates , mostly pertaining to the SSA, in the discussion that followed and appropriately replied. After adopting the report and accounts , the conference elected the office bearers unanimously with the following important functionaries, Com. R J Maheswari (Patron) Com. J T SAnghvi (President) Com.M M Vaidya (DIstrict Secretary) and Com. A S Pathak (Treasurer). Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary, Com.N N Patel ,Circle President along with the District Branch leaders met Shri. Manojkumar, GM and discussed the issues pending settlement and got a positive response.

The Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF of Kolkata Telephones Circle organised a big rally in front of CGM Office, Kolkata on 28-05-2024 demanding early launchingof 4G/5G, one lakh FTTH connections in Kolkata Telephones etc. The rally was participated by hundreds of BSNL employees, pensioners and contract workers.

Coms. Sisir Roy, Convenor, CoC, Sanjib Banerjee Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, D.Basu CORTO, Sankar Nepal, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Pradipta Ghosh, Circle Secretary, CTTMU addressed the rally. All the speakers severely criticized the anti-BSNL policy of Modi government and called upon the people to defeat the anti people BJP Government.

JOINT FORUM OF BSNL/ MTNL PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS, NEW DELHI.

20th May, 2024.

DECISIONS OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20-05-2024.

A virtual meeting of the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations was held at 4 PM on 20-05-2024.

The following representatives of the constituent organisations participated.

AIBDPA : V A N Namboodiri, Advisor
K G Jayaraj, General Secretary
M R Das, President

BDPA(I): D D Mistry, General Secretary
Thomas John, President
M R Vasisht, Ex President

AICGPA HQ PUNE : H F Chaudhari, General Secretary
K. Raja, AGS

MREWA : R K Mudgal, General Secretary
J R Gangawar, AGS.

MREWA Mumbai : V K Gangwar, General Secretary

Com. G. L. Jogi, General Secretary , SNPWA could not attend due to hospitalisation of his wife. Though Com. D. C Sharma, Vice President was entrusted to participate, he also could not attend.

Com. Rajendra Prasad, General Secretary, MSEPA had sought leave.

Com. S P Kokhriyal, General Secretary, MDPA could not attend being unwell.

Com. V A N Namboodiri presided over the meeting. Com. K G Jayaraj, Convenor welcomed all and narrated the developments on pension revision after the last meeting on 14-02-2024. DoT has taken a very negative approach during this period. Pensioners have become restive and no longer prepared tolerate. Of course no programme of action is possible during general elections but we can decide some programme to be implemented after the formatiion of the new government.

Coms. V A N Namboodiri, R K Mudgal, Thomas John, H F Chaudhari, D D Mistry, M. R Das and J R Gangawar participated actively in the discussion that followed. All of them generally agreed to the proposal put forward by the Convenor.

Finally, the following programme of action was decided.

1. Demands Day on 02-07-2024- Submission of Memorandum at all levels
2. March to CCA Offices in August,2024.

3.Chalo Delhi in September,2024.

The dates of the second and third programme will be decided in the next virtual meeting after the Demands Day.

The meeting concluded at 05.30 PM with vote of thanks by Com. V A N Namboodiri and K G Jayaraj.

The District Conference of ETR, West Bengal has been held successfully at Telephone Bhawan, Kolkata on 16-05-2024.Coms. Biplab Das, Monotosh Chakraborty and Anirban Banerjee were in the presidium. Com.Biplab Das welcomed all the participants. Com.Omprakash Singh, CHQ Organising Secretary and Circle President inaugurated the conference with a spirited speech. Com.Asis Das delivered the key note address and explained all the issues. Coms. Imran Khan,Pankaj Bhowmick (BSNLEU) and Sanjib Baria (BSNLCMU) also addressed the inaugural session.

In the subject session, Com.Samir Halader, District Secretary presented the report and audited accounts and 12 comrades participated in the discussion after which both report and accounts were adopted. Coms.Monotosh Chakraborti (President) Samir Halder (District Secretary) and Bablu Oran (Treasurer) were elected in the unanimous elction.

It is great and enthusiastic that WFTU has decided to send a large international delegation of world trade unions to Palestine during 23-30 June, 2024. The visit of WFTU delegation will symbolise the complete support and solidarity of workers world over to the people of Palestine at the their most difficult time due to Israel’s barbaric genocide of thousands of innocent people and blockade of food, water, fuel, electricity etc .

TUI(P&R) is one of the affiliates of WFTU and the Executive meeting held virtually on 15-05-2024 unanimously decided to be part of the delegation and selected Com. Anda Antaskasaki, Deputy General Secretary to represent TUI(P&R) in the WFTU delegation.

A well constructed AIBDPA Flag mast with strong basement has been inaugurated before the Kellys Exchange under Flower Bazar District in Chennai Telephones on 06-05-2024. Com.K Govindaraj, Circle Secretary and AGS inaugurated and AIBDPA flag was hoisted by Com.K Arumugam, Senior leader and Circle Vice President. A good number of comrades of AIBDPA,BSNLEU and BSNL CCWF enthusistically participated braving severe hot weather.

The first such a AIBDPA Flag Mast was inaugurated before the Flower bazar Exchange on 01-01-2024 by Com.V A N Namboodiri , Advisor and the AIBDPA Flag hoisted by Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary.