Com. P V Chandrasekharan, fondly called PVC , left this world on 09-10-2022. He was our Patron and was closely associated with the functioning of our mighty organisation. Com.PVC was a legendary leader of the P&T Trade Union movement , especially of the telecom and later BSNL . The life of Com. PVC was fully dedicated to the cause of the employees and pensioners as well. The first death anniversary was observed on 9th October, 2023 in the auspices of various organisations , AIBDPA, BSNLEU, NFPE, CGPA, AIPRPA , Confederation etc. A well attended meeting was held at the Press Club Hall, Thiruvananthapuram which was inaugurated by Com.E P .Jayarajan, LDF State Convenor. Com.V A N Namboodiri presided over the meeting. Coms. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, C C Pillai, Former Secretary General, NFPE, M Vijayakumar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, R Muraleedharan Nair (CGPA), Vinod (NFPE), Amaravila Ramakrishnan (SCFWA), N A Abraham (SNPWA),C P Raveendran (ISROPA), Poochakkad Chandran(Son in law of PVC) etc spoke about the exemplary leadership qualities of Com PVC and paid rich tributes. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed and Com.K Mohanan, Circle President proposed vote of thanks.

CEC Meeting of Kerala was held at P&T House on 09-10-2023. Com.K Mohanan, Circle President presided. Initially, the meeting paid respectful homages to the beloved leader Com.PVC, the day being the first death anniversary of the legendary leader. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed one and all and presented the report for the intervening period.

Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurated the CEC meeting. He started the inaugural address by remembering Com.PVC and dealt on the 2nd Asia Regional Conference of TUI(P&R) held at Thiruvananthapuram on 1st October, 2023, CAT judgment on pension revision and the most important task of strengthening the organisation. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary spoke elaborately on the successful conduct of the Asia Regional Conference of TUI(P&R), the implications of the CAT judgment on pension revision, CGHS issues, ensuing CEC meeting at Pune and AIC of NCCPA at Chennai. He appealed to observe the 15th Foundation Day of our mighty organisation on 21st October, 2023 befittingly. Coms.M Vijayakumar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, R Muraledharan Nair, AGS and M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer also addressed.

Com. N Vikraman Nair presented the accounts. All the District Secretaries and Circle Office bearers participated in the discusioin.The meeting decided to hold the Circle Conference at Alappuzha in February, 2024 and to complete the district conferences by December, 2023. The CEC came to an end at 0515PM with the concluding remarks and vote of thanks by Com.K Mohanan.

It was on 9th October, 2022 Com. PVC left us all due to the post Covid ailments

.Com. PVC was a legendary and visionary leader who served the movements of the employees and pensioners in various capacities.He came to limelight after leading the local struggle and the historic Strike of 19th September, 1968 at Kannur. He became the Circle Secretary of AITEEU Cl III, Kerala in 1981 and continued in the post for the eventful 20 years. He led many struggles during this period and his pleasant nature and effective dealings of the issues made him dear to all.

Com. PVC played a crucial role in the fight against revisionism of Com. O P Gupta along with other progressive leaders which finally resulted in the defeat of Com. O P Gupta in the 1991 Bhopal Conference. The next E3 AIC was held at Thiruvananthapuram in 1994 with Com. PVC as General Convenor and effectively thwarted the gimmicks of OPG group. He was also one of the main architects in uniting the erstwhile telecom unions and formation of BSNL Employees Union in 2001

.After retirement in 2004, Com. PVC continued his valuable services to the employees and pensioners as well. He played a pivotal role in formulating the Constitution, charter of demands and policy and programme of AIBDPA in 2009. He was guiding our mighty organisation in the capacity of Patron and helped us to organise the struggles on important issues of Medical benefits and pension revision at the appropriate time.

The passing away of Com. PVC has created a vacuum and we have to overcome it by streghtheing our AIBDPA to greater heights. Let us remember him on the occasion of his first death anniversary on 09-10-2023.

Respectful homage and Red Salute to Com. PVC.!

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Jamnagar biennial District Conference was held at Dayashankar Bramapuri Hall, Jamnagar on 01-10-2023 along with the observance of International Day of Pensioners and Retirees. Com. H D Jadeja, District President presided over the conference.Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Vice President inaugurated the conference. He gave good account of the developments in the recent past on important issues like pension revision and the struggles sperheaded by CHQ and Joint Forum. He also highlighted the importance of the International Day of Pensioners and Retirees. A host of leaders including Coms. R U Anjariya, Circle Treasurer, V D Dhamsaniya, Circle Asst Treasurer, S S Dubey, District Secretary, BSNLEU and A A Ansari, Circle Vice President addressed the conference.

Com.N N Kaneria, District Secretary presented the detailed report and audited accounts and were adopted after discussion. Thereafter the conference elected the office bearers unanimously with Com. J H Pandya (Patron) Com.H D Jadeja (President) Com.N N Kaneria (District Secretary) and R K Punjani (Treasure). The conference was concluded with vote of thanks by Com.N N Koringa.

The 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Trade Union International (Pensioners & Retirees) was held at Boban Residency, Thiruvanathapuram on 1.10.2023, A presidium of Comrades VAN Namboodiri a(Patron NCCPA); D.K.Debnath (GS AIPRPA); and A.K.Ghosh (Member Finance Commission TUI(P&R) controlled the proceedings.

Comrade K.G.Jayaraj GS Reception Committee & GS AIBDPA welcomed all and felicitated the foreign Delegates with mementos. The Reception Committee needs to be showered praises for its excellent exhibition of work for all arrangements.Comrade V.Joy M.L.A., delivered the Chairman’s address. Comrade M.A.Baby former Education Minister of Kerala Government & Polit Bureau Member of CPI(M) inaugurated the Regional Conference with an informative speech .Comrades Shiva Gopal Mishra President NCCPA & JCM Staff Side Secretary; C.Srikumar Deputy GS WFTU & SG AIDEF; and K.Ragavendran Asia CoordinatorTUI(P&R) & Secretary General NCCPA addressed the inaugural session.

Subjects Committee commenced with the playing of video speeches in the giant screen from Comrade Pambis Kyritsis General Secretary WFTU; and Comrade Quim Boix General Secretary TUI (P & R). The video speeches were heard with rapt attention.

Comrade K.Ragavendran TUI (P&R) Asia Coordinator presented the report of the Regional Conference. *71 Delegates participated in the Conference including 5 Delegates from Nepal and Srilanka. 4 women Delegates attended*. Almost All organisations participated in the intervention of report and Thiruvananthapuram Declaration. After the summing up of interventions by comrade K. Ragavendran, the Report and Thiruvananthapuram Declaration read out by comrade Swastika Dasgupta Member TUI(P&R) Women Commission were unanimously adopted by the conference.

The Conference selected a Committee to effectively implement the programs called by TUI(P&R) with India, Nepal and Srilanka representatives and representatives of other countries in consultation with the leaders of respective countries in the Region later. The Regional Conference ended at 6.00 P.M with the delivery of vote of thanks by Comrade V.A.Mohanan State Secretary of AIPRPA and with effective sloganeering.

Almost all the District Secretaries and Circle Office bearers actively participated in the Odisha Circle Executive Committee meeting held at the Telephone Bhawan premises, Bhubaneswar on 24-09-2023. The meeting was chaired by Com.P K Nayak, Circle President. Com.P K Panigrahy, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report and accounts. Inaugurating the CEC, Com.A Dhupal, CHQ Vice President narrated the important developments on pension revision, medical benefits, CGHS issues and the powerful agitational programmes by the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations and NCCPA. He also reported on the ensuing 2nd Asia Regional Conference of TUI(P&R) at Thiruvananthapuram on 1st October, Central Executive Committee meeting at Pune on 19-20, November and AIC of NCCPA on 13-14 December at Chennai. GM (Finanace) ,CGMT office greeted the CEC meeting and assured all cooperation in settling the issues. With vote of thanks by Com.Sreedhar Mallick, ACS , the meeting came to an end.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Chennai Telephones was held under the presidentship of Com.V Kuppan, Circle President at BSNLEU Office, Flower Bazar Telephone Exchange on 13-09-2023. Com.K Govindaraj, Circle Secretary and AGS welcomed and presented the report for the intervening period. He explained the issue of pension revsion and the strong struggles by the NCCPA and Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations on pension revision and other important issues. 26 comrades participated in the CEC and most of them actively discussed various issues. Com. V Rajendran, Former advisor of SEWA joined AIBDPA in the meeting and was honoured. The CEC took important decisions to enroll more members, particularly the left out VRS retirees, observe the International Day of Pensioners and Retirees on 01-10-2023 and to closely associate with the Reception Committee for the 5th AIC of NCCPA being held at Chennai on 13-14, December, 2023..

Voice clips are being circulated by the leaders of certain associations stating that the CAT Bench has delivered judgment allowing pension revision of BSNL pensioners w.e.f. 01-01-2017. The details are not given as the copy of the judgment is yet to be received, according to them.

But one thing they say that the Court has allowed delinking of the pay revision and pension revision.As far as delinking of pay Revision and Pension Revision is concerned, it has already been decided by the DOT as communicated to all the 17 pensioners’ associations, including those filed the case, which participated in the meeting with the DOT on 17-10-2022 . This is nothing new. It is an already decided matter.

The question was only how much percentage of fitment is going to be given. AIBDPA and some other organizations have strongly demanded that 15% fitment as recommended by the III PRC should be given. The justification for the same with facts, figures, rules were furnished. DoT had stated on 21-03-2023 that all the consultations within DoT on the proposal ompleted. Whether any decision by the DOT in the matter was delayed due to court case is not known.

A few days before the meeting of the DOT with the unions on 17-10-2022, voice clips were widely circulated by the same leaders stating that government has already taken decision to grant pension revision on the basis of the VII CPC as demanded by them and orders are being issued. But in the meeting on 17-10-2022, DOT clearly told that they are only thinking pension revision on the basis of the III PRC. These leaders were ridiculed even by their own members for circulating false, unfounded messages that too accusing other associations that they may try to get credit for the same.

Protesting against the delay in grant of pension revision, AIBDPA alone, jointly with other 7 BSNL-MTNL Pensioners organizations, as also by NCCPA, had organized three Parliament / Sanchar Bhawan Marches, submitted memorandum to Prime Minister, Communications Minister and also to DOT demanding early pension revision with 15% fitment as per III PRC with effect from 01.01.2017, delinking wage revision . Many of our comrades were taken in to custody while demonstrating before Sanchar Bhawan as part of the Sanchar Bhawan march on 25th of August, 2023 for violating the prohibitory orders in the area. Thousands of pensioners marching and organizing dharna in the capital on these demands had certainly a strong effect on the DOT and the government.

Any way, let us wait for the copy of the judgment. A favourable judgment will benefit all pensioners. The petitioner associations , it is stated, has already filed caveat , since they feel that the government may go on appeal against the judgment. As usual any appeal by the government may further delay matters. We are not sure whether the govt and DOT have been delaying the matter of pension revision due to the present CAT case, but any appeal by government will certainly further delay the decision by the government. Let us wait.