.Dear Comrades

,It is very much encouraging to note that National Pensioners Day on 17-12-2021 has been celebrated through out the country by AIBDPA units. In some Circles it was organised jointly with other Pensioners Organisations like AIPRPA, CGPA & NCCPA by hoisting flags, holding meetings, felicitating the super seniors, distrbuting sweets etc. The Great services of Shri. D S Nakara and others who fought relentlessly to get the historical judgement from the Supreme Court were remembered. So also saluted the Judges of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Y V Chandrachood of the Supreme Court who delivered the landmark judgement.

AIPRPA organised a well attended Webinar in the evening. Ms.Swapna Jha, Senior Counsel, Common Cause, New Delhi delivered the key note address. Com. D K Rahate, President, AIPRPA presided. Com.K Ragavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA welcomed all and delivered the introductory speech. Coms. K K N Kutty Secretary General NCCPA, K G Jayaraj General Secretary AIBDPA and C C Pillai, former Secretary General, NFPE also addressed.

CHQ heartily congratulate all the Comrades for making the celebration of National Pensioners Day a grand success.

With warm greetings,

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary.

Bharuch District in Gujarat has held its biennial Conference on 17-12-2021. Com. J B Mangnadia, District President presided over the conference.Com.N S Vsava, District Secretary welcomed all. Com.M K Dave, Circle Convenor, Coordination Committee, inaugurated with an inspiring speech covering almost all the issues. The voice message of Circle Secretary Com.M B Chaniyara on Pensioners Day was presented in the conference.Com.S D Parmer, District President, BSNLEU greeted the conference. The biennial report and accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion. Thereafter office bearers with Com.J B Mangnadia (President) N S Vsava (District Secretary) and D B Vsava (Treasurer) were elected unanimously.

Hassan District in Karnataka has held its 5th biennial Conference on 16-12-2021. Com. Bommaigowda, District President controlled the proceedings. Com. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference and explained the current status on important issues like Pension Revision and denial of Medical benefits. Coms. H C Prakash, AGS and Earanna, Circle President also addressed. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. S A Ramachandra (President), Com.S Nagaraj (District Secretary) and Com. Chandra Shetty (Treasurer)

Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF organised the Circle Level Convention against National Monetisation Pipeline at Chennai on 15-12-2021. Com. V Kuppan, Chairman, COC and Circle Secretary, AIBDPA was in the chair. Com. Sridharasubramaniam, Convenor, COC and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed the participants. Coms. P Abhimanyu, National Convenor, COC & General Secretary, BSNLEU, S> Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President. T Kasi, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and S Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU addressed and narrated the dangers of National Monetisation Pipeline and appealed to participate in the two days National Strike on February, 23 &24 by the Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations.

The Circle level convention of Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF, Tamil Nadu was held at Cuddalore on 15-12-2021. Com.N Kuppusamy, Chairman, Co-ordination Committee and Circle Secretary, AIBDPA presided over the convention. Com. Babu Radhakrishnan, Convenor, Co-ordination Committee and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed the gathering. Coms. P Abhimanyu, All India Convenor, Co-ordination Committee and General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.S Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President, AIBDPA, S Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU, C Vinod, Circle Secretary, BSNL CCWF addressed the convention. Com.S Nataraja, Circle Treasurer, AIBDPA proposed vote of thanks. The speakers explained the serious consequences of the National Monetisation Pipeline.

The 5th biennial Karwar District Conference was held at Honnavar on 13-12-2021. Com.C E Gunagi, District President controlled the proceedings. Com.C R Kalmane, District Secretary welcomed the participants. Shri.Shivraj Mesta, President, Honnavar Municipality inaugurated the conference.Com. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary delivered the keynote address and explained the issues. Coms. H C Prakash, AGS, Earanna, Circle President, Smt. A S Rajeshwari, DGM, Shri. Krishnananda Naik, CAO and Com.M M Hegde, District Secretary, BSNLEU addressed the conference. The report and accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

Thereafter office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries; President : Com.C E Gunagi District Secretary : Com.C R Kalmane Treasurer : Com.S M Gaonkar.

The 6th biennial district conference has been held at K G Bose Centre, Kollam on 12-12-2021. Com.K Sukumaran Nair, District President presided over the conference. Com.N Sasidharan Nair, District Secretary welcomed one and all. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with a detailed speech covering the issues. Coms. K N Jyothilakshmi, ACS, BSNLEU, A Muraledharan Nair, District Secretary, AIPRPA, D Abhilash , Districtb Secretary, BSNLEU, K Mohanan Pillai, Circle Vice President and M D Rajan, Circle Organising Secretary addressed. Com.T Joseph, ADS proposed vote of thanks.

The subject session held in the afternoon was inauguarted by Com. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary. Com.R A Nair, CHQ Treasurer & Circle President addressed the conference. The report and audited accounts presented by Coms. N Sasidharan Nair, District Secretary and P Murali Mohan Das, Treasurer were adopted after discussion. Resolutions were adopted on important issues. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.K Mohanan Pillai (President) Com.K Sukumaran Nair (District Secretary) and Com. P Murali Mohan Das (Treasurer)

CHQ has the gratification that our sustained efforts have finally brought the desired result. BSNL management has been meting out cruelty towards the VRS retirees of Maharashtra belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by withholding their retirement benefits for the alleged non-verification of caste certificates. Worse, in many cases, even provisiobal pension were denied and delayed without any justification and in violation of the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972. CHQ took up the issue with the CMD, BSNL, Secretary, DoT, Secretary, DOP&PW and finaly Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with quoting all the relevant instructions of Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, Department of Telecommunications and BSNL from time to time for verification of caste certificates. Violation of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 also was mentioned in our letters. Actually it is the sole responsibility of the respective recruitment authorities to verify the caste certificate at the initial period of their service. But the BSNL management has made the VRS retirees scapegoats to save the actual guilty officers. Now, this order is issued on the effective intervention of the Parliamentary Committee and we are thankful to the Chairman and Members of the Committee for extending justice to the hapeless VRS retirees. This is a great victory and CHQ heartily congratulate the affected retirees of Maharashtra. Now, BSNL management has to settle all the pending cases as per this order and payments of retirement benefits and normal pension made with interest , wherever applicable.

It is an encouraging report from Com.R N Patil, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra to the effect that two more district branches are formed at Wardha and Goa.

The meeting of BSNL and DoT pensioners of Wardha was held on 09-12-2021 under the presidentship of Com. Akram Pathan and decided to form the District Branch of Wardha. Office bearers were elected with Com. Akram Pathan (President) Com. Laxman Mendhe (District Secretary) and Com. K B Kuhite (Treasurer)

GOA district branch was formed in the meeting convened on 10-12-2021. Com. Atul Watve presided over the meeting. Coms. R B Kerkar, R M Pal and M S Avkhale were elected President, District Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.