The first phase of the NCCPA agitational program is district level Dharna on 21-04-2023 demanding settlement of the 15 point charter of demands. Ramzan is being celebrated on 21st April in many parts of the country. In such places the Dharna may be organised on 24-04-2023.

AIBDPA Comrades are requested to take the initiative to consult all the affiliated Pensioners Associations, particularly, AIPRPA, CGPA, Income Tax, Banks etc and ensure maximum participation in the Dharna. Boards, banners etc be exhibited at prominent places to popularise the 15 point charter of demands

For your ready reference, the charter of demands is given hereunder;

1. Abolish NPS to all Central, State Government and PSU Employees and bring them under CCS (Pension) Rules,2021 and out of PFRDA Act

2 Constitute 8th CPC immediately to all CG Employees and CG Pensioners

3. Release the impounded DA/DR Arrears for 18 months from 1.1.2020 to all CG Employees and Pensioners and arrears of 3 IDA installments to BSNL/MTNL Pensioners

.4. Revise the pension of BSNL/ MTNL absorbed pensioners from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision

5. Allow Updating of Pension to all Bank Pensioners

6 Accept and implement all recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee including additional pension from 65th year of age, FMA enhancement to 3000/- per month etc.,

7. Improve CGHS functioning at all places – Grant higher ward entitlement to all retirees prior to 1.1.2006 also –

8.Open Wellness Centers in all Districts – Merge CGHS – ECHS – RELHS as per 7th CPC recommendation –

9. Implement Medical Insurance Scheme to Pensioners without delay – Do not delay fixing higher rates for treatment and pathological tests and empanel more private hospitals in the CGHS list -Ensure linking of CGHS with ABHA purely optional to beneficiaries.

10. Restore commutation after 12 years instead of 15 years.

11. Grant Option 1 as recommended by 7th CPC and also grant higher pay scales as granted to serving employees by each CPC to pensioners also who were retired from the same post.

12.Grant Notional Increment to all 30th June Retirees from 1.1.2006.13. Modify MACP date of implementation from 1.1.2006 instead of 1.9.2008 to all Civilian Employees by giving individual option to opt beneficial upgradation and refix the Pension accordingly, similar to Defense.Grant MACP by discounting competitiveness-based examinations to all based on Court Judgments by amending the MACP Rules.

13. Grant of MACP to MTS, MailGuard, Postmen and Postal Assistants who were retired without MACP due to non- incorporation of any Bench Mark (very good etc.) in APAR.

14. Restore Travel Concession to Senior Citizens in Indian Railways that were removed during corona.

15. Enact Rules of Recognition for Pensioners Associations like CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 to recognize all India and State CGPA organizations of Pensioners Associations.

It is also decided to organise a signature campaign among the pensioners which is to be submitted to the Prime Minister during the Parliament March on 21-07-2023. The matter of the Memorandum will be circulated to all of you once it is received from NCCPA. So let us make the program Dharna a grand success and photos/ reports be sent to CHQ

It was a long pending demand of AIBDPA that family pensioners also should be extended the facility of staff quarters on rent. There have been many instances wherein the family of the pensioner being evicted from the quarters putting the family to distress. These were rightly pointed out to the concerned authorities. And now, the Corporate Office has issued the orders .

General Secretary and Com.M I Jakati Circle Secretary, Maharashtra met Shri.Y N Singh, GM( Taxation & BFCI) , BSNL Corporate Office on 06-04-2023 and discussed the issue of delay in the payment of medical benefits to various Circles like Maharashtra, Telangana etc. The GM immediately called the concerned officer to his cabin in our presence and asked the position. The officer stated that whatever bills are cleared and entered by the circles have been cleared and paid fully and nothing is pending.

MEETING WITH GM( ADM).

General Secretary and Com M I Jakati Circle Secretary, Maharashtra also met Shri. S P Singh GM ( Adm) BSNL Corporate Office on 06-04-2023 and discussed the following issues

1. Yearly Option for without voucher, medical allowance.

General Secretary handed over the CHQ letter regarding some confusion/ misinterpretation in some Circles/ SSA/ BAs on yearly Option for those who want to continue with without voucher medical allowance. General Secretary brought to his notice that the order of Corporate Office dated 08-06-2020 is being misinterpreted in certain circles and yearly option insisted. GM stated that the order is very clear and those retirees already given option for 2020-21 need not give fresh option every year. However considering our request,GM agreed to issue necessary clarification

.2. Yearly revalidation of BSNL MRS Card.

The representatives pointed out the difficulties being experienced by the retirees for revalidation of BSNL MRS card every year and requested to limit the revalidation only when there are change in the case of dependents/ Pensioner etc. It is also a fact that no space is provided in the Card to make the entry of renewal every year and in many SSA/ BAs it is not being done.

GM replied that BSNL MRS Card has to be renewed as per rules and can’t be dispensed with. They don’t bother if it is not done in some SSA/ BAs

.3. Opportunity to the Family Pensioners to change the Option as a one time measure.

The representatives requested the BSNL management to consider the issue sympathetically . There are ample justification for giving the Family Pensioners one opportunity to change the medical option. The main factor is that BSNL employees were not having without voucher medical allowance since 2011 and were having no option at all other than with voucher medical benefits. GM stated that he can’t agree to any proposal that may incur additional expenditure to BSNL in the present financial situation of BSNL.

CHQ had sought an appointment with the CMD BSNL on 6th April,2023 to discuss the serious issue of Non-Payment of regular pension and retirement benefits to ST VRS retirees of Maharashtra despite clear cut orders from all the relevant authorities. The appointment was sought so as to facilitate our Maharashtra Circle delegation led by Com.M I Jakati Circle Secretary, who are at New Delhi for a short visit, also to participate in the discussion.But CMD, due to some urgent meeting, advised us to meet the Director (HR). Director (HR) also happened to be in a meeting. Finally, the delegation met Shri. Saurabh Tyagi PGM (Estt) and had a detailed discussion.

General Secretary and Circle Secretary brought to the notice of the PGM, the continuing cruelty and harrassment of BSNL, Maharashtra Circle administration against the ST VRS retirees denying their due benefits despite clear cut orders and pointwise clarification issued by the Corporate Office. The representatives also pointed out certain specific cases wherin conversion of regular pension again to provisional pension and denial of leave encashment to Shri.Borkar Ramesh Bhau, Kalyan.

PGM listened to the delegation patiently and assured necessary action and asked the delegation to provide him the complete list of the affected pensioners with present status of each case. Com. M I . Jakati, Circle Secretary readily agreed to provide the list through the General Secretary after returning to Maharashtra. It was also decided to take up the issue of illegal actions of conversion of regular pension to provisional pension by CCA, Maharashtra with the Controller General of Communication Accounts.

The Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally organised by the All India Kisan Sabha, CITU, All India Agricultural Workers Union and joined by several other organisations including Central Government, State Government and PSU held on 5th April, 2023. has been made mammoth and historic.Lakhs of workers thronged to the large Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi since early morning and by 11AM it became a Red Ocean of workers. They all came with flags and banners from all parts of the country making the Rally colourful and beautiful.There were a large number of women comrades also. They raised slogans in support of the 14 point charter of demands and condemning the anti -worker, anti- people and divisive policies of Modi government.

Com K Hemalatha, President,CITU, Ashok Dhawle, President, AIKS and A Vijayaraghavan, President, AIAWU were in the presidium. A galaxy of leaders, including Coms. Tapan Sen , General Secretary,CITU, Viju Krishnan, General Secretary, AIKS, B Venkat, General Secretary, AIAWU P Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, R N Parashar, Secretary General Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers addressed.

As per the decision of the Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF,, AIBDPA also participated. According to initial reports, about 500 comrades from various circles,have participated and CHQ heartily congratulate all of them. It is encouraging to note that in certain places like Coimbatore, Alappuzha etc solidarity demonstration were held on 05-04-2023.

*Com. K G Jayaraj General Secretary had a successful meeting with Shri.Dhlip Padhye, Controller General of Communication Accounts on 03rd April,2023 at his office at UIDAI Building, Gole Market, New Delhi.Actually General Secretary had gone to his office on 31-03-2023 but he was not available. So the three letters already sent on email were handed over to his PS. Today, General Secretary spoke to CGCA over the telephone and sought an appointment. He was kind enough to fix the meeting at 4PM on today itself.

The difficulties being experienced by the pensioners were brought to his notice during the discussion. Mainly delay in the commencement of family pension, different guidelines for submission of application by the CCAs, non- updation of life certificate and resultant non-drawal of pension etc were the issues.The CGCA was in a very relaxed mood and listened to the General Secretary very patiently. He assured early necessary action in all the issues.

General Secretary specifically requested to issue a uniform guidelines for submission of application for family pension so as to simplify the proceedure and early commencement of family pension. CGCA agreed to examine it.Our suggestion on submission of life certificate by SAMPANN Pensioners on group wise and in different months was welcomed by the CGCA and assured to look into it.

CGCA also shared the information that migration of pensioners drawing pension from Post Offices to SAMPANN has started and expected to be completed within six months.

NATIONAL PENSION ADALAT.

General Secretary then drew his attention to the National Pension Adalat held hurriedly on 29-03-2023 without giving sufficient time for sending the grievances. The negative stand of the CCA , Tamil Nadu in disallowing Pensioners Associations to present the issues of pensioners in the Adalat was also brought to his notice. CGCA replied that he has already sought report on the National Pension Adalat and assured that corrective steps will be taken. The meeting lasted for 45 minutes.