A meeting of the NCCPA Secretariat was held online on 09-01-2022 under the presidentship of Com.Shiv Gopal Mishra, President. Com. K K N Kutty, Secretary General welcomed and briefed on the two agenda items. All the 17 participants aired their views on both the issues of Solidarity action to the two days national strike and action against the frozen DR of 18 months. Finally it was decided to hold massive dharnas at district levels on 22-02-2022 in solidarity to the national strike. National level webinar will be held by NCCPA on two subjects; (1) National issues and (2) Pensioners issues. Affiliated associations may also hold such webinars on their own issues. District level webinar be organised on 23-02-2022, the first day of the strike. The resolution adopted in support of the national strike will be sent to the Prime Minister. A Press Communique also will be released in this regard. It was also decided to seek legal remedy to get back the frozen Dearness Relief of 18 months. A detailed circular will be issued by the Secretary Genneral in due course. Representing AIBDPA, Coms. V A N Namboodiri (Patron) K G Jayaraj (Deputy Secretary General) S Mohandoss( Asst. Secretary General) and S S Maurya (Organising Secretary) attended and participated in the discussion.

Dear Comrades,The decisions of the Co-ordination Committee meeting held on 06-01-2022 is given in the circular. The most important decisions are to organise massive black badge demonstration and submission of memorandums to GMs and CGMs on 25-01-2022 raising four urgent and important issues, including immediate payment of medical benefits to BSNL retirees ending the discrimination meted out to the retirees. The second program is the signature campaign against National Monetisation Pipeline. All our units are requested to get in touch with the other constituents; BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF at the respective levels and plan to implement the programmes successfully.

The 6th biennial district conference of Thiruvananthapuram was held at Com. G Sasidharan Achari Nagar (P&T House), Thiruvananthapuram enthusuastically on 05-01-2022. Com. N Vikraman Nair, District President presided over the conference. Com. C Ramachandran, District Secretary welcomed the participants. Com. M Vijayakumar, former Kerala State Minister and President, Kerala Karshaka Sangam inaugurated the conference highlighting the importance of the victory of the one year long agrarian struggle and its impact on the future struggles against the anti-people measures of Modi government. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary delivered the keynote address explaining the issues of the pensioners. Coms. C Santhoshkumar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, S Ashokkumar (Confederation) M C Nair (AIPRPA), P T Raju (CGPA), R S Binny (BSNLEU) and N Vamadevan (CCLU) greeted the conference. The suject session held in the afternoon was inaugurated by Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary. Com. C Ramachandran, District Secretary presented the report and Com. Venugopalan Nair submitted the audited accounts. Intervening in the discussion Com.R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS spoke on organisational issues. The report and accounts were adopted after replies from the General Secretary and Circle Secretary. Resolutions were adopted on important issues. Thereafter office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. S Prathapkumar (President) Com.C Ramachandran (District Secretary) and Com. Sunilkumar (Treasurer). With vote of thanks by Com. Prathapachandran Nair the conference came to an end.

CHQ has been continuously pursuing the issue of non-payment of medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners as one of the most burning issues. We have discussed the issue several times with the CMD, BSNL and took up with higher authorities like Secretary, DOT, Secretary, DOP&PW, Hon’ble Minister of Communications, Hon’ble Prime Minister and recently the most hon’ble President of India. We have conducted many agitations on our own, then with NCCPA, Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers and Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF. BSNLEU also took up the issue seriously with the BSNL management.

Now, the BSNL mangement has reluctantly allotted a meagre amount for payment of medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners. This fund allocation is not even sufficient to clear the reimbursement of medical bills of the pensioners upto 30-09-2019. Worse, in many circles, according to reports received so far, the optees of without voucher, medical allowance, are completely ignored. This has caused much discontentment and dissatisfaction among the BSNL pensioners. This is nothing but adding fuel to the fire. It has also come to our notice that in certain circles the names of the optees of without voucher (medical Allowance) are not entered in ERP resulting in non-payment. It is another form of discrimination and has to be resisted and defeated. Circle Secretaries are requested to collect the exact position and send the report to CHQ so that the issue could be further taken up with the appropriate authorities.

Burdwan District Branch, one of the militant districts, known for its systematic functioning has held its 5th biennial Conference on 02-01-2022 in a befitting manner. Com. Sanjib Banerjee, AGS inaugurated the conference. Coms. Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary and Susanta Ghosh, Circle President also addressed. The leaders spoke elaborately and gave a good account of developments in the recent past in respect of our issues and other national issues of utmost importance. The leaders of 12th July Committee, CGCC,CGPA and Yukta Mancha greeted the conference. Com. Manik Lal Das , District President controlled the proceedings and Com. S P Ray, District Secretary welcomed the gathering. It is worth mentioning that 192 comrades participated despite all odds. Coms. Manik Lal Das, Shyama Pada Ray and Syam Sundar Mondal were elected unanimously as President, Circle Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

CHQ is much saddened to report the sad semise of Com.A C Mohanty, Circle Secretary, Odisha on 03-01-2022. He was ailing for the last one and half year and his fight against the dreaded cancer finally had its logic end. Com. A C Mohanty was always in the forefront and was one of the stalwart leaders of telecom movement in Odisha. He took active part in organising AIBDPA in Odisha along with veteran leaders Com.A Dhupal and S C Biswal and was the founder Circle President. He took up the responsibility of the Circle Secretary when Com. S C Biswal had to vacate the post on health grounds. Thereafter, Com. A C Mohanty worked relenlessly in tandem with Com.A Dhupal in strengthening the oraganisation in Odisha.

AIBDPA pays respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and Comrades of Odisha. RED SALUTE COMRADE A C MOHANTY.

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As per the Consumer Price Index , released by Labour Bureau on 31.12.2021, the IDA of BSNL pensioners (2007 pay scales) will increase by 4.8% w.e.f. 01.01.2022. Now, the total IDA will be (179.3% + 4.8%) = 184.1% However, it is payable after the DPE issues necessary orders.