Maharashtra Circle has conducted the Circle Executive Committee meeting on 13-09-2023 at Emerald Hall, Pune . Com. Appa Saheb Ghagare, Circle Vice President presided over the meeting. Com. M I Jakati, Circle Secretary welcomed one and all and narrated the important developments during the intervening period, particularly on the agitatations , efforts for the settlement of the issues, caste revalidation of ST VRS retirees and the initiatives to achieve the target of 10,000 members in the circle. Com.Nagesh Kumar Nalawade, CHQ Vice President and Circle President of BSNLEU was the main speaker who spoke elaborately on all the issues of the pensioners and BSNL. He also gave valuable suggestions to improve the membership of AIBDPA in the circle and assured all the cooperation in this regard.Com. Ganesh Hinge, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU in his to strengthen the organisation by ensuring more involvement of all the leaders. Com.Yusuf Hussain, General Secretary, MHBSNLCWU and AGS, BSNLCCWF also addressed and highlighted the importance of Coordination Committee of BSNLEU,AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF. Coms.Pushpa Pharate, AGS and Santhosh A Soni, CHQ Organising Secretary also addressed the CEC.

The report of Circle Secretary and accounts presented by Circle Treasurer, Com.Arun Ingale were passed after discussion.

Red Salute to the Martyrs of 19th September 1968 Strike!

It is on 19 th September 1968 that the Central Government Employees went on a Historic One Day Token Strike demanding Need Based Minimum Wage, DA as per increase in cost of living index etc. participated by lakhs and lakhs of workers forcing the central government to a standstill.

Instead of discussing and settling the issues, the Indira Gandhi government used all its repressive machinery in suppressing the workers. More than 80,000 were arrested and jailed, including those M. P. s and other leaders who supported the strike. Tens of thousands were dismissed and terminated.17 valiant comrades became martyrs being shot / beaten to death by the police / RPF/ CRPF.It took years to vacate the victimisation.

The movement can be proud that each and every worker could be reinstated although punishments continued.55 years are over after the historic struggle.

New and serious attacks continue against the working class including the CG employees as well as PSU workers. Hard won rights like pension, EPF, job security etc are under attack. About 9 lakh vacancies in Central govt, including in Railways, are unfilled causing serious safety concerns and accidents. PSUs are being handed over to corporates for less than half their worth.

Conspiracies are being hatched to destroy the secular fabric and democratic federalism enshrined in the Constitution. Communal tensions are being created by the central rulers themselves. The situation is worse than during the dark Emergency days of 1975-77.Of course, united and joint forceful struggles continue against the anti – people, anti working class government. As in the dark Emergency days of 1975 -77, united mighty struggles are being organised by workers, kisans and other sections of the toiling masses.

The political scene has also become vibrant with opposition parties coordinating for the next Parliament elections.It is at this critical juncture that we are observing the memory of the One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968. It will give strength and inspiration for our future struggles for the emanicipation of the working class.Red Salutes to the Martyrs of 1968 Strike!

V A N Namboodiri

Reception Committee for the successful conduct of the All India Conference of NCCPA to be held on 13-14, December, 2023 at Chennai has been formed in the meeting held on 16-09-2023. Com.C K Narasimhan, President of NCCPA, Tamil Nadu presided. Com. P Mohan, State Secretary, NCCPA welcomed. Com.K Ragavendran, Secretary General inaugurated and highlighted the importance of the conference. Representatives of AIBDPA, AIPRPA, DRPU, ITPF etc spoke and assured all the cooperation. The following are the important office bearers of the Reception Committee. Com.C K Narasimhan (Working Chairman) Com.P Mohan (General Secretary) Com.A Murugesan (Treasurer).

Central Executive Committee Meeting was held online on 05-09-2023 under the presidenship of Com.M R Das, President. The meeting observed one minute silence paying homages to the martyrs and condolences to those passed away during the intervening period. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary welcomed all the participants and presented the agenda items to be discussed in the meeting.

Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor inaugurated the CEC and gave a brief account of the developments taken place in the recent past. He severely criticised the attempts of the government sponsored or supported attacks to discriminate and even eliminate a section of the people in various parts of the country, particularly in Manipur , in the name of caste and religion .In all the human development indexes, India stands behind some of the underdeveloped countries. He congratulated all for successfully organising the agitational programmes of NCCPA on the 15 point charter of demands and Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations on pension revision.

The participation of Com.A K Bhattacharjee, veteran beloved leader and Patron despite his poor health condition, inspired one and all . Unfortunately, he could not speak due to technical snag.

Then, General Secretary gave a brief report on the important issues taken place after our Mysuru AIC in December, 2022. Formation of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations which consists 8 organisations, 4 each from BSNL and MTNL, and demanding pension revision on 3rd PRC with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017, delinking wage revision. The decision of the Joint Forum to launch a three phased agiattional programme on pension revision was welcomed by the pensioners with great enthusiasm which resulted in unprecedented participation. The Dharna on 31-07-2023 was held even at Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

Though the curtailment of 5 days Delhi Dharna to two days caused confusion and difficulties for cancellation of earlier booked tickets and get further reservation, the participation was good. The refusal of Delhi Police to grant permission for two days and granting permission for only 24th August,2023 for holding the dharna at Jantar Mantar was suitably resented and defeated. The determination and commitment to hold powerful demonstration before the Sanchar Bhawan despite prohibitory orders and resisting the police intervention, compelled the police to allow to hold Dharna at Jantar Mantar on 25th August also. It gave shock waves to the government and bureaucracy.

AIBDPA share of participation in the NCCPA agitational programmes , mainly, the Mass Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 21-07-2021, was significant in the success of the program.

The importance of the ensuing 2nd Asia Regional Conference of TUI(P&R) on 1st October, 2023 and the All India Conference of NCCPA at Chennai on 13-14 December, 2023 was also reported by the General Secretary. The financial position after the Mysuru AIC was presented by Com.M G S Kurup, Treasurer.

The CEC took the following decisions

1. To continue the agitation on pension revision. CEC authorised CHQ to take appropriate decision in consultation with the Joint Forum .
2. CEC selected the following 10 delegates to represent AIBDPA in the 2nd Asia Regional Conference at Thiruvanathapuram on 01-10-2023. (1) Com. Asis Das, Circle Secretary, West Bengal (2) Com.K R Yadav, Circle Secretary, UP(E) (3) Com.M I Jakati, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra. (4) Com.Ramachandradu , Circle Secretary, Telangana (5) Com.R Rajasekar, Circle Secretary, Tamil Nadu (6) Com.Muddiah, Circle Secretary, Karnataka (7) Com.N Guruprasad (Circle Secretary, Kerala (8) Com.H S Thakur, Circle Secretary, Madhya Pradesh (9) Com.N K Shrivastava, Circle Secretary (Bihar) (10) Com.S C Bhattacharjee, AGS (Chhattisgarh). Besides, Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor will participate on behalf of NCCPA and Coms. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary and Swastika Dasgupta being part of TUI(P&R) are ex-officio delegates.
3. 34 delegates are allotted to AIBDPA for the NCCPA AIC at Chennai on 13-14 December, 2023 and the CEC allocated it as follows; Kerala-04, Tamil Nadu-04, Chennai Telephones-02, West Benagal-02, Kolkata Telephones-02. Karnataka-02, Maharashtra-02, Gujarat-02, Andhra Pradesh -02, Telangana -02, Bihar-01, UP(E)-01, UP(W)-01, Haryana-01, Punjab-01, Rajasthan -01, NTR Delhi-01, Assam-01, Odisha -01, Chhattisgarh -01. Apart from these, Coms.V A N Namboodiri (Patron), K G Jayaraj (Dy Secretary General), S Mohandoss (Assistant Secretary General), H S Thakur (Organising Secretary) and S S Maurya (Organising Secretary) are ex-officio delegates.
4. The offer of Com.M I Jakati, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra to host the CEC meeting in November, 2023 was accepted by the CEC meeting. The venue and dates of the meeting will be decided shortly.
5. All the circles should ensure timely payment of quota to both CHQ and Circle by the district branches. Life subscribers of Telepensioner be enrolled .

42 comrades attended the CEC meeting and 21 comrades participated in the discussion. Com. R. Muraleedharan Nair, AGS could not attend due to illness. UP(E), Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu& Kashmir circles did not participate.

The biennial Circle Conference of NTR Delhi has been held at the BSNLEU office, Eastern Court, New Delhi on 26-08-2023. Com. R C Malhotra, Circle President presided. Com. D P S Shishodia, Circle Secretary welcomed one and all and presented the report and accounts.

Com. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the Conference explaining the important issues like pension revision and the just concluded agitational programme of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations, medical benefits, CGHS, Asia Regional Conference of TUI (P&R), NCCPA AIC etc. Coms. K R Yadav, Circle Secretary, UP (E), M G S Kurup, CHQ Treasurer, also addressed.

A new set of office bearers with Com. R S Chouhan (Patron) Com. R C. Malhotra ( President), D P S Shishodia (Circle Secretary) Com. V P. Gupta ( Treasurer) were elected unanimously