The Delhi Rally held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 21-07-2023 was the last of 4 phased agitational program by NCCPA demanding settlement of 15 point charter of demands. All the demands including scrapping PFRDA act and restoration of OPS, Pension Revision of BSNL MTNL Pensioners with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017 etc are of paramount importance.
AIBDPA was given a quota of 1000 pensioners to participate in the Parliament March by NCCPA. Accordingly CHQ distributed the quota to each and every Circle. Our comrades were enthusiastic and prepared to participate massively. However, the recent flood in Delhi and the weather forecast made some confusion and a good number of pensioners had to cancel the reservation. Still, 732 comrades from AIBDPA participated. The circle wise participation is as follows; AP- 50, Telangana-15, Bihar-18, Kolkata Telephones-28, CORTO- 08, West Bengal-50, Assam-04, Chhattisgarh-12, MP-31, Maharashtra-53, Gujarat-07, Karnataka-35, Kerala-40, Chennai Telephones-20, Tamil Nadu-16, Rajasthan-58, UP(E) -45, UP (W)-106, Haryana-73, NTR ,Delhi-56, ALTTC, Gaziabad-04, CHQ-03.
CHQ arranged comfortable accommodation for 378 comrades of far away circles.
Modi government through the Delhi police tried to disturb the Rally by resorting ugly tricks of changing the venue and time twice. Police blocked almost all the roads to Jantar Mantar and many of our participants were stranded and suffered a lot to reach the changed venue in time. CHQ appologise for the inconvenience caused to the participants and salute all of you for making the program a historic success overcoming all the odds. Though we couldn’t conduct the program in an orderly manner due to the unwarranted intervention of the police, more than 2500 pensioners participated representing various affiliated organisations. Com.V A N Namboodiri, Patron conducted the proceedings. Com.Shiva Gopal Mishra President delivered the presidential address. Com.K Ragavendran Secretary General welcomed all and presented the issues. Com.K N Umesh National Secretary CITU inaugurated. Com.John Brittas MP made a special address. Coms. Sreedhar ( AIRRF) K G Jayaraj General Secretary AIBDPA, D K Debnath, General Secretary, AIPRPA , M Suresh General Secretary,AKBRF and a host of leaders addressed.
Coms. V A N Namboodiri Advisor, K G Jayaraj, General Secretary and M G S Kurup, Treasurer have met Shri. Uma Shankar Pandey, Member (Services) , Department of Telecommunications on 20-07-2023 and discussed the issue of pension revision.
The representatives pointed out that the issue is held up at DoT for the last four months and the pensioners have become much agitated on the unjustified delay. The Member( Services) stated that as already been stated earlier, consultations within DoT on the issue was completed and now final decision is to be taken by the competent authority and he is unable to specify any time frame.
The delegation then conveyed to the Member(S) that the pensioners associations are compelled to resort to agitational program against the lukewarm attitude of the government. A mammoth rally of pensioners by NCCPA in culmination of the four phased agitational program is being held on 21-07-2023 at Jantar Mantar,New Delhi on the 15 point charter of demands including Pension Revision. Furthermore, agitational program of Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Associations are also underway with the final 5 days Dharna at Jantar Mantar from 21-25 August,2023 demanding settlement of pension revision with 15 percent fitment
NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS
(Registered under the T.U. Act)
PAN NO: AAEAN8586F
13C – Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi -110 001
Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.
Shiva Gopal Mishra K.Ragavendran H.L.Sidhu
President Secretary General Treasurer
97176 47594 9444919295 9868933421
PRESS STATEMENT
15.07.2023
To
The respected Editors of Press / Electronic Media
Respected Sir,
The National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA) which is the apex body of Pensioners having affiliation from various organizations representing the pensioners belonging to Indian Railways, Posts, Telecom including BSNL, Income Tax, Audit & Accounts, Ground Water, Coffee BoardBanks and State level Central Government Pensioners Associations in many states including West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka etc is organizing a Rally in Jantar Mantar on 21.07.2023 from 12.00 Noon to 3.00 P.M.
The purpose of the Rally is to highlight the 15 Point Charter of Demands of Pensioners as attached. The first and foremost demand being abrogation of NPS (National Pension System) so that Old Pension Scheme is implemented to all workers. The Rally is organized in support of the N-JCA (National Joint Council of Action) of Central Government Employees also to oppose the NPS Scheme which is practically depriving the CG Workers without any adequate means of livelihood when they retire after long service.
Other demands include, Constitution of 8th Central Pay Commission to revise our pension from 1.1.2026; Grant of impounded DA/DR for 18 months from 1.1.2020; Grant of higher FMA and grant of notional increment for the 30th June / 31st December retirees (1.1.2006 and 1.1.2016 respectively) as recommended by Parliament Standing Committee; Grant of Additional Pension from the age of 65; MACP upgradation from 1.1.2006 instead of 1.9.2008; Improving CGHS functioning and medical treatment facilities; Implementation of Parliament Standing Committee recommendations; Restoration of travel concession to senior citizens in train journey again; Grant of Pension Revision to BSNL Pensioners from 1.1.2017; and Revision of pension and medical facilities to all Bank Pensioners etc.
The Rally will be presided over by Comrade Shiva Gopal Mishra President of NCCPA & JCM National Council Staff Side Secretary. The inauguration will be done by Comrade Tapan Sen General Secretary of CITU and Comrade S.B.Yadhav Secretary General of Confederation of CG Employees and Workers will address the rally besides many other leaders.
A detailed memorandum on the 15 Point Charter with the Signatures of thousands of pensioners and others will be handed over to the Honourable Prime Minister also at the end of the rally with a view that the Central Government solves the issues pending for long.
We earnestly request you to give wide publicity to the Rally by the senior citizen pensioners and also, we request you to kindly cover the rally on 21.07.2023 at 12 to 3.00 P.M. We shall remain grateful to your act.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully.
Sd/-
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General – NCCPA
NCCPA Charter of Demands
1. Abolish NPS to all Central, State Government and PSU Employees and bring them under CCS (Pension) Rules,2021 and out of PFRDA Act.
2. Constitute 8th CPC immediately to all CG Employees and CG Pensioners.
3. Release the impounded DA/DR Arrears for 18 months from 1.1.2020 to all CG Employees and Pensioners and arrears of 3 IDA installments to BSNL/MTNL Pensioners.
4. Revise the pension of BSNL/ MTNL absorbed pensioners from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision.
5. Allow Updating of Pension to all Bank Pensioners.
6. Accept and implement all recommendations of Parliament Standing Committee including additional pension from 65th year of age, FMA enhancement to 3000/- per month etc.,
7. Improve CGHS functioning at all places – Grant higher ward entitlement to all retirees prior to 1.1.2006 also – Open Wellness Centers in all Districts – Merge CGHS – ECHS – RELHS as per 7th CPC recommendation – Implement Medical Insurance Scheme to Pensioners without delay – Do not delay fixing higher rates for treatment and pathological tests and empanel more private hospitals in the CGHS list -Ensure linking of CGHS with ABHA purely optional to beneficiaries.
8. Restore commutation after 12 years instead of 15 years.
9. Grant Option 1 as recommended by 7th CPC and also grant higher pay scales as granted to serving employees by each CPC to pensioners also who were retired from the same post.
10. Grant Notional Increment to all 30th June Retirees from 1.1.2006.
11. Modify MACP date of implementation from 1.1.2006 instead of 1.9.2008 to all Civilian Employees by giving individual option to opt beneficial upgradation and refix the Pension.
12. Grant MACP by discounting competitiveness-based examinations to all based on Court Judgments by amending the MACP Rules.
13. Grant of MACP to MTS, MailGuard, Postmen and Postal Assistants who were retired without MACP due to non- incorporation of any Bench Mark (very good etc.) in APAR.
14. Restore Travel Concession to Senior Citizens in Indian Railways that were removed during corona.
15. Enact Rules of Recognition for Pensioners Associations like CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 to recognize all India and State CGPA organizations of pensioners.
18 Jul 2023
In accordance with the 2023 Presidential Council’s unanimous decision the World Federation of Trade Unions is organizing a solidarity campaign with the people of Cuba, on the occasion of the 26th of July, the anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, spreading the strong internationalist message that Cuba is not alone.
The 26th of July marks the beginning of the revolutionary attempt to overthrow the dictator, Fulgencio Batista, which gave hope to workers all over the world and showed that the people can defeat the exploiters and can create a society free from exploitation. For decades now the Cuban people have been leading and remain a militant example in the struggle against imperialism.
On this day we commemorate the revolutionaries who fought to expel the enemies of the peoples, building for decades an ironclad proof that another society is possible. Their sacrifices should be always remembered and should light nowadays struggles of the working class all over the world against capitalist barbarity.
Decades have passed since the triumph of the Cuban revolution, and the people of Cuba are still fighting against imperialism and its interventions, blockades, and sanctions. The capitalists are raging against revolutionary Cuba which proves that the workers can fight and win them, proves that the working class can accomplish its historic cause and can build a human-centered society free of man-by-man exploitation. A society that, regardless of the sanctions and the embargos, sends help, solidarity, doctors, and medicines to other nations instead of troops and bombs. A society whose growth and development are serving people’s needs and not multinationals’ speculation. The heroic people of Cuba have overcome all adversities, difficulties, and attacks over the years and will continue to resist.
WFTU denounces the new unacceptable attack of the European Parliament against Cuba. The new resolution of the European Parliament escalates the EU’s attempt to attack and undermine the achievements of the Cuban people, a people that for more than 6 decades has been suffering from the criminal blockade of the USA imperialism and its allies.
At the same time and while the class-oriented trade unions clearly and strongly condemn the murderous blockade, standing on the side of the Cuban people and expressing their unconditional support and solidarity, ITUC and ETUC although they hypocritically speak of human rights and freedoms, with their actions or silence, they are aligned in practice with the imperialist interventions of USA and EU against the unbowed Cuban people.
The WFTU and its millions of workers join their voices with Cuba, demanding an immediate and unconditional end to the embargo and the return of Guantanamo to the Cuban people. The international class-oriented trade union movement unequivocally condemns the current suffocating embargo and the interventionist maneuvers of the USA since the very beginning of the Cuban socialist revolution. We support the Cuban People in their struggle against these unacceptable actions with all our strength and energy, with every means we have at our disposal.
We demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the criminal blockade that for 6 decades has been creating serious problems for the economy and the lives of the Cuban people. We support the right of the Cuban People to decide for themselves, freely and democratically, about their present and future, without the intervention of the imperialists.
We call on our affiliates all over the world to express their solidarity and support, by organizing protests and demonstrations in front of American embassies and consulates, under the slogans of the World Federation of Trade Unions:
Stop the blockade now!
.Com.P Abhimanyu, General Secretary has given the following statement calling upon the members of BSNLEU to massively participate in the agitations of Joint Forum.
*Agitational programmes of the Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Associations – BSNLEU calls upon the circle and district unions to massively participate in the programme.*
The Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Associations has written to BSNLEU, seeking it’s solidarity and support for the issue of settlement of revision of pension. In it’s letter dated 10.07.2023, the Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Association has informed that it has already conducted a Black Day on 06.07.2023, demanding immediate settlement of Pension Revision. Further, it is informed that, the Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Association is organising the following programmes:
*31.07.2023* – Mass Dharnas at district level and before the CCA offices.
*21st to 25th August, 2023 * – 5 days dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
The CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon all the circle and district unions to massively participate in both the above mentioned programmes and express our solidarity and support to the agitational programmes of the Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Association. *-P.Abhimanyu, GS.