Berhampur District Branch in Odisha has held its biennial Conference on 04-08-2024. Com.Kailash Chandra Mallick, Circle President controlled the proceedings. Com.Pravinjan Panigrahy, District Secretary welcomed all and presented the report and accounts. Com.A Dhupal, CHQ Vice President inaugurated the conference explaining the issues in detail and the struggles being launched by Joint Forum and NCCPA. Com.J Kameswar Rao, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU made special address and narrated the developments in BSNL and assured all support to AIBDPA. Thereafter discussion took place and both Coms.A Dhupal and P.Panigrahy replied the points raised and the report and accounts were adopted.

In the unanimous election of office bearers, Coms.Kailash Chandra Mallick, Pravinjan Panigrahy and L N Panda were elected as President, District Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

160 dead bodies recovered so far – It is certain to go up.

Many people are still missing.

Rescue operations are in full swing by NDRF, Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Fire Force etc under the supervision of 5 ministers and higher officers.

The repeated landslides in Mundakkal, Choorumala and Attamala in Wayanad Kerala in the early hours of 30-07-2024 have caused great tragedy with hundreds of people dead and loss of properties in these three areas. Kerala government has swiftly made effective rescue operations coordinating NDRF, Army, Navy, Police, Fire Force etc

. CHQ appeals all our AIBDPA units to rise to the occasion and arrange maximum contributions by our members to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

A/c No.39251566695 Name. Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. SBI Branch: City Branch, Thiruvananthapuram.IFSC SBIN0070028

Salem District Conference held on 26-07-2024 at YMCA hall, Salem reflected the growth of the district branch with massive participation. It is worth mentioning that a good number of women comrades also graced with their presence on the occasion. Com.M Mathiazhagan, District President was in the chair. Com. S Azhagiriswami, ADS welcomed the participants.

Com.R Rajasekar, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with a detailed and spirited speech covering all the issues , particularly the agitational programme being launched by the Joint Forum on pension revision and separate agitation by NCCPA. Coms. N Kuppusamy, Circle Vice President, E Gopal, District Secretary, BSNLEU, R Manoharan (SNPWA), N Shanmugam (NCCPA) and a host of leaders addressed. The biennial report and audited accounts presented by Com. S Tamilmani, District Secretary and Com. K M Selvaraj, Assistant Treasurer, respectively were adopted after discussion.

In the unanimous election of office bearers held thereafter, Com.M Mathiazhagan (President), Com.S Tamilmani (District Secretary) and Com. P Thankaraj (Treasurer) are the important functionaries.

Shri P K Purwar, the incumbent CMD,BSNL and MTNL has been denied extension as he is facing inquiry along with some other top officers. As an interim measure, Shri.Ravi A.Robert Jerard , DDG (SRI), DoT is given additional charge of both CMD,BSNL and MTNL for a period of six months .

District conference of AIBDPA Srikakulam was held on 11/07/2024 in the conference hall of United Teachers’ Federation building at Srikakulam. Com. KSC Bose, Circle Secretary in his inaugural address explained in detail the present status of BSNL, Pay revision and pension revision and congratulated Srikakulam Comrades for observing the calls given by the CHQ. Com.N.Ramarao, ACS explained the status of medical bills payments, necessity of re-validation of medical cards as per existing rules, submission of LC by due date etc.,.Leaders from CITU,AIPRPA , BSNLEU and Railway pensioners association addressed.
The report submitted by the DS Com. K.Gopalrao and accounts by the Treasurer T.Krishna Rao were approved after discussion.
The conference unanimously elected new office bearers for the next period with Com.K.Gopal Rao, Com.Venkatarao Panigrahi and Com.T.Krishna Rao as President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
The conference adopted resolutions demanding opening of CGHS Wellness Centre at Srikakulam. Empanelled new hospitals , proper payment of medical allowance.
Com. M.Govardhan Rao proposed vote of thanks.
President Com.K.Udaya Sankara Rao and Vice-President Com.G.Rajeswara Rao controlled the proceedings

Today, 11th July 2024, is the 78th Anniversary of the 1946 P & T strike, which is also considered as part of the Independent Struggle and also the 64th Anniversary of 5 days strike of Central government employees strike in 1960 against which the entire cruel machinery of the government was used to suppress the same.

While the British govt was compelled to negotiate and agree for all the demands raised in the 1946 strike, the govt of free India dealt the 1960 Strike as a political strike and suppressed it using the army and all draconian rules, arresting thousands of leaders and workers as also dismissing tens of thousands. 17 comrades became Martyrs in that strike being shot down, crushed under train, beaten up etc.

Workers can not be kept silent for long. Another histric strike was organised on 19th September 1968 on the same demands as in 1960.

No strike is in vain. It is through such heroic strikes that workers have achieved their rightful demands.

Red Salute to the Martyrs who laid down their valuable lives in these struggles! Workers will continue their struggles and move forward in the route shown by them.

V A N Nambbodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA