WFTU STATEMENT ON HUNGER DATA IN LATIN AMERICA.

 

At the end of 2017 and while imperialists and their international organizations boast about a globalized economy which, step by step, overcomes global capitalist crisis, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) figures refute the statements of imperialists and multinationals’ representatives, especially in the Latin America region.

However, the figures concerning hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean are revealing. According to the FAO Regional Office, hunger is on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean. The number of people suffering from hunger increased by 2,4 million from 2015 to 2016, reaching a total of 42,5 millions, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2017.

As the FAO publications affirm: “The new data set shows that hunger in 2013 affected 39,1 million people (6,3 percent of the regional population), rising to 40,1 million in 2015 (6,3 percent) and reaching 42,5 million in 2016, 6,6 percent of the regional population.”

For the international class-oriented trade union movement it is not acceptable, as we advance into the 21st Century, for people to die from hunger or not being able to cover their basic needs. At the same time as the technological and scientific achievements could guarantee the well-being of the peoples of this region, imperialist forces, multinationals and monopolies keep plundering and depriving the workers of the region from their natural wealth and resources.

Therefore, the WFTU reaffirms that the only way out for the working class of the whole region is found in the struggles for a more just world, without capitalist barbarity; for a world where those who produce the wealth will be the owners of national resources. Only in this way the criminal phenomena of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and widespread misery will be eliminated. The WFTU, on its part, is committed to keep fighting until man by man exploitation is finally abolished.

PAYMENT OF PENSION SHOULD NOT BE STOPPED FOR NON LINKING OF AAFHAR WITH PENSION ACCOUNT.

Non linking of Aadhaar with Pension Account and Payment of Pension

In a reply to a question the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance has stated  in the Parliament that payment of Pension should not be stopped due to non-linking of the pension account with the Aadhaar number. And it is informed that in case if  it is not possible to have Digital Life Certificate either through finger prints or through Iris scanning, the physical life certificate submitted by the pensioner may be accepted to avoid any harassment to the pensioner.

PENSION RELATED GRIEVANCES ARE TO BE REDRESSED WITHIN 2 MONTHS- SAYS THE MINISTER; BUT WHO CARES….?

Pension related complaints

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Public and pension matter grievances received are generally related to various service issues. Pension grievances relate to non-payment/delay in payment of pensionary benefits, delay in revision of pension/family pension etc. All such grievances are required to be redressed in a decentralized manner by the Ministries/ Departments concerned as per work allocation under the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961. Grievances relating to State Governments are forwarded to them for appropriate action.

As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, any grievance, including a pension grievance, is required to be redressed within a period of 2 months by the concerned Ministry/Department/Organization to which it pertains and in case it is not possible, an interim reply with reasons for delay is required to be provided.

Grievance disposal is monitored through review meetings with the representatives of Central Ministry/Department/Organisation. Reviews of grievances of Ministries/Departments are also undertaken every month during meetings conducted on PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation) platform. An Electronic Dashboard for Secretaries has been created showing the consolidated status of grievances disposed and pending on CPGRAMS. Weekly reminders through SMS are also sent for pending grievances.

When an official is allocated the work of redress of grievances, it is part of his/her responsibility, and action, if required, can be taken against the erring officials for dereliction of duties as per the relevant Service Rules.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

700 MHz Spectrum allotment to BSNL under examination – Minister

NEW DELHI: The proposal by state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) for allotment of spectrum in the 700 MHz band or 2100 MHz band for 4G services is “under examination”, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

“…BSNL has requested for allotment of one 5 MHz slot in 700 MHz Band for pan-India (excluding Delhi and Mumbai) for 4G/LTE service through equity fusion route or an allocation of 5 MHz slot in 2100 MHz band temporarily for one year on payment,” Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said. .. (Courtesy: ET)

GDP GROWING AT 6.5%- LOWEST UNDER MODI GOVERNMENT.

 

GST disruptions eat FY18 economic growth; GDP seen growing at 6.5%, lowest under Modi government
The practice of releasing advance GDP growth data began last year when the government shifted the Union Budget presentation to February 1 from the end of the February..

The economy is expected to grow at a four-year low of 6.5% in the current fiscal, the lowest under the Modi-led government, mainly due to the poor performance of agriculture and manufacturing sector, as against 7.1% in the last fiscal, the Central Statistics Office data on GDP advance estimate showed on Friday.

(Financial Express)

IAS OFFICER APPOINTED AS CMD OF TOWER COMPANY-ALL UNIONS CALL FOR PROTEST DEMONSTRATION ON 08-01-2018- AIBDPA TO JOIN.

The unions and associations of BSNL are continuously opposing the formation of a Subsidiary Tower Company. A one day strike on 15.12.2016 and a two day strike on 12th & 13th December, 2017, have already been organised against the formation of Subsidiary Tower Company. Despite the stiff opposition from the entire BSNL employees, the government has appointed the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company. Further, it is shocking that an IAS officer is appointed as the CMD. This clearly shows that the Subsidiary Tower Company will remain under the control of the government and not under the control of BSNL. Hence, it is proved that through the Subsidiary Tower Company, the government is snatching away the entire mobile towers of BSNL. To express our immediate protest, “The All Unions and Associations of BSNL” have decided to organise protest lunch hour demonstrations on 08.01.2018, at the Corporate Office, Circle and District levels. Memorandum, addressed to the Secretary, DoT, shall also be submitted to the CGM’s on that day. The All Unions and Associations of BSNL is holding it’s meeting at 15:30 hrs. on 08.01.2018, to decide about the next course of action. Circle and district secretaries of BSNLEU are requested to effectively organise the lunch hour demonstrations, in coordination with the other constituents of “The All Unions and Associations of BSNL”.  

ALL THE AIBDPA UNITS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE PROGRAMME OF LUNCH HOUR DEMONSTRATION ON 08-01-2018 AGAINST THE SINISTER MOVE OF THE THE GOVERNMENT TO WEAKEN BSNL BY TAKING AWAY THE TOWERS FROM IT.

Achievement of targets in the mobile segment for the month of December, 2017.

BSNL Corporate Office has released the figures related to the achievement of targets in the mobile segment for the month of December, 2017. Some circles have performed extremely well were as many circles have not done so. We heartily congratulate the Kolkata circle which has achieved 279% of the target. The other circles which have done well are Chhattisgarh – 142% : Assam – 123% : Madhya Pradesh – 119% : Himachal Pradesh – 118% : A&N circle – 116% : Jharkhand – 114% : West Bengal – 105 %  and J&K – 104%. <<view CO letter>> <<Annexure-I>> <<Annexure-II>>

(courtesy:BSNLEU website)

GDP GROWTH IN 2017-18 WILL BE BELOW 7%.

India’s GDP growth to slip below 7% this fiscal, say experts

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is scheduled to release its advance estimates of national income 2017-18 on Friday.
India’s economic growth is likely to be below 7 per cent this fiscal, say experts, citing GST disruption and lingering impact of note ban.
The Indian economy grew 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, against 8 per cent in 2015-16.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is scheduled to release its advance estimates of national income 2017-18 on Friday.
“It is difficult for GDP to cross 7 per cent this fiscal unless the base is revised downwards. The economy is expected to do well in the third and fourth quarter,” SBI Research Chief Economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh told PTI.
Ghosh said the GDP growth would be 6.5 per cent on unchanged base last year.

NO TIME FRAME FOR WAGE NEGOTIATIONS IN CPSEs- MINISTER’S REPLY IN PARLIAMENT ON 02-01-2018

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) & (b): Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has issued guidelines vide OM No.W-02/0015/2016-DPE(WC)-GL-XXIV/17 dated 24th November, 2017 conveying the decision of the Government that the 8th round of wage negotiations (which falls due on general basis from 01.01.2017) with the workers of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) may be undertaken by the Managements of the Enterprises with their Trade Unions/Associations.

(c) & (d): As per guidelines, management of the CPSEs would be free to negotiate wage revision for workmen where the periodicity of wage settlement of five years or ten years has expired generally on 31.12.2016 keeping in view the affordability and financial sustainability of such wage revision for the CPSEs.

However, no time frame has been laid down in the guidelines issued by the Government for completion of wage negotiations by the management of CPSEs with Trade Unions/Associations.