CHQ regrets to report the sad demise of the mother of Com.Saibalsen Gupta, Assistant General Secretary, BSNLEU on 30-09-2018. She was 90 and was ailing for sometime and the end came at an hospital in Kolkata. AIBDPA shares the grief of the family and conveys heartfelt condolences to Com.Saibalsen Gupta and all the family members.

The undue and unjustified delay in pension revision of BSNL retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017, delinking the wage revision , warranted the Jalgaon CEC to chalk out a two phased programme of agitation. The first phase, Pension Revision Day on 30-08-2018, was observed with much enthusiasm and large participation of pensioners.

Reports from most of the circles indicate that the post card campaign to hon’ble Prime Minister in the last week of September, 2018 was also responded massively. CHQ heartily congratulates all the pensioners, particularly AIBDPA functionaries, who made the programme a historic success.

Let us march forward on the path of struggle.. Victory is ours…

As per the decision of the United Nations General Assembly held on 14^th December 1990, 1st October is observed as  ‘International Day of Older Persons’ throughout the world.  On the day, the contributions of the senior citizens / older persons are remembered and the problems faced by them and how to sort out the same are discussed.

The older persons have contributed their mite for the progress of the society in which they live, in the fields of education, agriculture, science, law, industry, medicine and so on. They have sacrificed their lives for the improvement of the living conditions of the people. They are still capable of contributing much through their wisdom and experience. This has to be utilised.

Ageing is a natural process. The aged persons face a lot of problems including isolation, illness, humiliation and so on.They are part of the society and they cannot be isolated or humiliated.

As per statistics, the number of aged persons are increasing every year.  The average age has increased from 46 to 68 during the period from 1950 to 2010. Some experts have noted that the average age will increase above 80 by the end of the century. At present there are about 80 crores of people who are aged above 60 years. 

In such a situation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its Madrid conference in 2002 has adopted certain guidelines how to improve the conditions of the aged persons and make their life better. The Madrid Declaration called upon the nations to ensure the human rights of the aged persons, end the discrimination, insult and crime against them, along with ensuring the right to work and right for a healthy living. They also have the right to be part of framing the policy of the government.

But the sad fact is that many of the countries have not taken any steps to implement the Madrid Declaration. In the name of austerity,  social security measures like pension, gratuity, allowances etc. are either reduced or completely taken away. Of course, the socialist countries like Cuba have taken many important steps for improving the status of the older persons.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007  passed by the Indian Parliament ensures many safeguards and social security measures for the senior citizens, but it is seldom implemented in many parts of the country. The general situation is that the senior citizens mostly are being ignored and social security measures are not implemented. The conditions of the widows are most pathetic.

The Indian constitution which guarantees the fundamental rights also promises our citizens, particularly senior citizens, a life with dignity and justice. According to a pension report published in 2018, there are 8 crore senior citizens in the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category in India. But only  2.23 crores are provided with an old age pension of Rs.200 by the Government of India as part National Social Assistance programme. Most of the state governments like Bihar also are paying only Rs.200 as old age pensions. How can the government ensure a life with dignity to the senior citizens with such a paltry monthly pension.?  Prominent social experts have brought out a report that the central government is spending only 0.04% of the GDP for the pension scheme of senior citizens in the BPL category. If the Government of India is ready to allocate 1.6% of the GDP for the old age pension scheme, 90% of them will get Rs.2500 per month. The government should also implement a comprehensive Insurance scheme for the benefit of senior citizens in the lower income group with exemption of premium.

A different picture can be seen in Kerala, where the LDF government has implemented a lot of measures for the aged persons. Rs. 1,100 is paid to all those above 60 years as social security pension. Palliative care is ensured for those people who are not able to move.  Senior Citizens’ Councils are formed with representatives of the organisation of the aged persons to address the grievances. The demand has been raised for a separate Department for the senior citizens.

This year also, the International Day of Older Persons will be observed all over the world. Let us dedicate ourselves to ensure that the senior citizens have a respectful and healthy life. Let us remember that the senior  citizens are a great  asset of the society.

The 6th meeting of the Joint Committee on wage negotiation of the Non-Executives.

The 6th meeting of the Joint Committee on wage negotiation of the Non-Executives, was held today. All the members of the Staff Side, as well as the Management Side, were present. Discussion continued on finalising the pay scales. Based on the live cases received by the Staff Side, demand was raised in today’s meeting, that the maximum of the NE-4 and NE-5 should be modified, so as to give the provision for one more increment. This is necessary to avoid stagnation. The Management Side accepted to examine the demand of the Staff Side. Further, the Staff Side demanded that, the agreement on pay scales can be signed and sent immediately, for the approval of the DoT. To this, the Management Side replied that, the inputs regarding the financial implication for revision of allowances and perks also has to sent to the DoT, along with the proposal of revision of pay scales. In view of this, it is decided to discuss the revision of allowances and perks in the next meeting to be held on 09.10.2018.

(BSNLEU Website)

According to the Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau, IDA from 01-10-2018 will be 135.6%, an increase of 7.6%. Order may be issued by the DPE within a few days.

 <<view letter>>

The National Convention of workers under the aegis of Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations held at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi on 28-09-2018 has decided for a two day strike on 8th&9th January, 2019. A resolution adopted by the convention stated that the NDA government did not bother even for the slightest change in their pro-corporate neo liberal policies  after the three day Maha Dharna in November,2017 participated by lakhs of workers. The resolution pin pointed the drastic amendments being made in the  hard fought earned labour laws and privatisation of PSUs. The convention was addressed by all leaders of the Central Trade Unions including Com.Tapansen MP, General Secretary, CITU.

AIBDPA fully supports the decision and calls upon all its units to organize solidarity demonstration on 08-01-2019.

The Area Branch Conference was held at BSNLEU hall, Alappuzha on 27-09-2018 under the presidentship of Com.P.G.Jayakumar, President. Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the important issues of pension revision and delay in payment of medical allowance and with voucher bills. Coms. N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary and P.Surendran, District Secretary also addressed. Com.T.Sobhanan, Area Secretary welcomed all and presented the report and audited accounts.

A new set of office bearers with Com.P.G.Jayakumar (President) and T.Sobhanan (Secretary) were elected unanimously.

The first ever scientific study ranking countries for their investment in education and health care has given India ,158th rank between Namibia and Sudan.
US is at 24 th rank and China 44. Sri Lanka 102, Maldives-116 and Bhutan-133.

Thanks to the Indian ruling class, Mukesh Ambani has a declared assets of ₹3,71,000 crore according to the Barclays Harun India Rich List, 2018.
There are 831 Indians having a net worth of ₹.1000 crore or more compared to 617 last year and the credit goes to the BJP government. S.P.Hinduja is second with a net worth of ₹.1,59,000. L.N.Mittal- ₹.1,14,500, Azim Premji- ₹. 96,000 and Dilip Shanghvi- ₹.89,700.

(source:The Hindu)