Ustad Zakir Hussain, who is regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, has passed away at a San Francisco hospital on 16th December, 2024. He was only 73 and the untimely death occured due to pulmonary fibrosis. Zakir Hussain started playing tabla at an young age of 7 and became prominent worldwide with his masterly skills on the instrument. He was a 4 time winner of Grammy award, the world’s greatest award for music. The country also honoured him with Padma Sri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. AIBDPA pays rich tributes to the departed great musician and conveys heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and friends.

CHQ is happy to announce that the 5th Triennial All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association will be held at Coimbatore in December, 2025. The decision of the Tamil Nadu Circle Executive Committee meeting held on 13-12-2024 to host the AIC at Coimbatore has been accepted by CHQ. CHQ heartly congratulate Tamil Nadu Comrades for taking up the huge responsibility of holding the AIC.

Com.Mallappa chaired the 2nd District Conference of Raichur on 14-12-2024 at Telcom Recreation Club, Main Exchange. Coms.H C Prakash, AGS, Earanna, CHQ Organising Secretary and Com. R B Tatapati, Circle President spoke elaborately on the main issues of pension revision, CGHS, Commutation etc and the struggles launched at various levels. Shri. Srikant, DGM and Shri.Ravikumar, AGM represented BSNL, Raichur and greeted the conference. Coms. Basavraj, ACS and Com. Zilani Basha, District Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed. Office bearers with Com. Mallappa (President), Com.Basavaraj (District Secretary) and Com. Mehaboob (Treasurer) were elected unanimously.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of AIBDPA held at New Delhi on 12-11-2024 had taken a decision to observe Protest Day on 12-12-2024 against denial of regular pension and retirement benefits to the ST VRS Retirees of Maharashtra

.Thereafter Coms. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer and M I Jakati, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra had fruitful discussions on this issue with the Controller General of Communication Accounts on 13-11-2024 and CMD, BSNL on 14-11-2024. Both the CGCA and CMD, BSNL had assured early action for the settlement of the long pending burning issue.

Now, based on the instructions of the Corporate Office, Circle Office, Maharashtra vide letter dated 22-11-2024 has asked CCA, Maharashtra & Goa to release the retirement benefits of ST VRS retirees of Maharashtra withheld due to alleged fake caste certificate, strictly according to the DOP&PW OM dated 30-11-2021. In the wake of this positive development, CHQ has decided to defer the Protest Day on 12-12-2024.

Circle Executive Committee meeting of Kerala was held at P&T House, Thiruvanathapuram on 05-12-2024. Com.K Mohanan, Circle President chaired the meeting.Com.N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed all and presented the report on activities. Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurated with a spirited speech on National, International and organisational issues. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary in his address dealt mainly the organisational issues and the decisions of the Central Executive Committee meeting held at New Delhi on 12-11-2024. The discussion had with CMD,BSNL on 14-11-2024 on medical card revalidation and denial of regular pension and retirement benefits to ST VRS retirees of Maharashtra and the positive orders on both the issue was also reported by General Secretary. Coms.R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS and Com.M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer also addressed. All the District Secretaries and the Circle office bearers participated seriously in the discussion. Thereafter, the CEC decided to implement the Meet the Pensioner campaign successfully throughout the Circle.

Com.Asis Das, Circle Secretary inaugurated the well attended district Conference of Krishnanagar at Telecom Recreation Club Hall on 01-12-2024. He narrated the agitations launched recently by Joint Forum, NCCPA and Coordination Committee demanding important demands including pension revision. Com.Sadhan Biswas, President presided. Com.Bidhan Pramanik, District Secretary presented the report, so also Com. Rabin Das, Treasurer submitted the audited accounts. Both the report and accounts were adopted after discussion. Thereafter, office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.Sadhan Biswas (President) Com.Bidhan Pramanik (District Secretary) and Com. Rabin Das (Treasurer).

The District Conference of Malda was held at Karmachari Bhawan, Malda on 28-11-2024. Com. Bhudev Mazumdar controlled the proceedings. Com.Omprakash Singh, CHQ Organising Secretary and Circle President inaugurated the conference explaining the recent developments on important issues and the agitations launched. Com.Sudip Roy Muhuri, District Secretary and Com. Ruma Bhattacharjee, Treasurer presented the report and accounts, respectively and were adopted after discussion. Election of office bearers were unanimous with Com. Bhuvam Samanta (President) Com.Sudip Roy Muhuri (District Secretary) and Com.Ruma Bhattacharjee (Treasurer).

Utilizing the opportunity of the visit of Comrade George Mavrikos, Honorary President, WFTU and Comrade Anda Anastasaki, Executive Secretary, WFTU and Deputy General Secretary, TUI(P&R) to Thiruvanathapuram on 06-12-2024, NCCPA,Kerala oragnised a Pensioners Convention at BTR Bhavan. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA and Vice Secretary (Organisation), TUI (P&R) presided . Com.R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS, CGPA, Kerala welcomed one and all. Com.Anda Anastasaki delivered the keynote address and exohorted to continue the united fight for a dignified life for the retirees and to extend the support and solidarity to all the struggles of the working class and pensioners globally. She further appealed to strengthen the TUI(P&R) for safeguarding the legitimate rights of the pensioners. Comrade Anda was presented a memento by Com.K G Jayaraj. Com.M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer presented the memento to Com.George Mavrikos. Com.N C Pillai, Circle President, AIPRPA proposed vote of thanks. Coms. N Guruprasad,Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, M Suresh, General Secretary, AKBRF, B Susobhanan, Joint General Secretary, DRPU, K Kamalasanan, President, AAPA and K V Jayaraj, General Secretary, NFAER were on the dais. More than 450 pensioners participated including 50 lady comrades.

The biennial conference of Mandya District was held on 01-12-2024 under the presidentship of Com.M C Balakrishna. Com.Muddaiah, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the present status of pension revision and the struggles being launched. Com.H C Prakash, AGS also addressed and narrated the issues being faced by the pensioners in respect of CGHS and BSNL MRS.

The conference elected the office bearers unanimously and the following are the important functionaries; Com.Chickmude Gowda (President) Com.M C Balakrishna (District Secretary) Com. Varadhachary (Treasurer)