Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF organised the Circle Level Convention against National Monetisation Pipeline at Chennai on 15-12-2021. Com. V Kuppan, Chairman, COC and Circle Secretary, AIBDPA was in the chair. Com. Sridharasubramaniam, Convenor, COC and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed the participants. Coms. P Abhimanyu, National Convenor, COC & General Secretary, BSNLEU, S> Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President. T Kasi, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and S Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU addressed and narrated the dangers of National Monetisation Pipeline and appealed to participate in the two days National Strike on February, 23 &24 by the Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations.

The Circle level convention of Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF, Tamil Nadu was held at Cuddalore on 15-12-2021. Com.N Kuppusamy, Chairman, Co-ordination Committee and Circle Secretary, AIBDPA presided over the convention. Com. Babu Radhakrishnan, Convenor, Co-ordination Committee and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed the gathering. Coms. P Abhimanyu, All India Convenor, Co-ordination Committee and General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.S Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President, AIBDPA, S Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU, C Vinod, Circle Secretary, BSNL CCWF addressed the convention. Com.S Nataraja, Circle Treasurer, AIBDPA proposed vote of thanks. The speakers explained the serious consequences of the National Monetisation Pipeline.

The 5th biennial Karwar District Conference was held at Honnavar on 13-12-2021. Com.C E Gunagi, District President controlled the proceedings. Com.C R Kalmane, District Secretary welcomed the participants. Shri.Shivraj Mesta, President, Honnavar Municipality inaugurated the conference.Com. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary delivered the keynote address and explained the issues. Coms. H C Prakash, AGS, Earanna, Circle President, Smt. A S Rajeshwari, DGM, Shri. Krishnananda Naik, CAO and Com.M M Hegde, District Secretary, BSNLEU addressed the conference. The report and accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

Thereafter office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries; President : Com.C E Gunagi District Secretary : Com.C R Kalmane Treasurer : Com.S M Gaonkar.

The 6th biennial district conference has been held at K G Bose Centre, Kollam on 12-12-2021. Com.K Sukumaran Nair, District President presided over the conference. Com.N Sasidharan Nair, District Secretary welcomed one and all. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with a detailed speech covering the issues. Coms. K N Jyothilakshmi, ACS, BSNLEU, A Muraledharan Nair, District Secretary, AIPRPA, D Abhilash , Districtb Secretary, BSNLEU, K Mohanan Pillai, Circle Vice President and M D Rajan, Circle Organising Secretary addressed. Com.T Joseph, ADS proposed vote of thanks.

The subject session held in the afternoon was inauguarted by Com. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary. Com.R A Nair, CHQ Treasurer & Circle President addressed the conference. The report and audited accounts presented by Coms. N Sasidharan Nair, District Secretary and P Murali Mohan Das, Treasurer were adopted after discussion. Resolutions were adopted on important issues. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.K Mohanan Pillai (President) Com.K Sukumaran Nair (District Secretary) and Com. P Murali Mohan Das (Treasurer)

CHQ has the gratification that our sustained efforts have finally brought the desired result. BSNL management has been meting out cruelty towards the VRS retirees of Maharashtra belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by withholding their retirement benefits for the alleged non-verification of caste certificates. Worse, in many cases, even provisiobal pension were denied and delayed without any justification and in violation of the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972. CHQ took up the issue with the CMD, BSNL, Secretary, DoT, Secretary, DOP&PW and finaly Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with quoting all the relevant instructions of Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, Department of Telecommunications and BSNL from time to time for verification of caste certificates. Violation of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 also was mentioned in our letters. Actually it is the sole responsibility of the respective recruitment authorities to verify the caste certificate at the initial period of their service. But the BSNL management has made the VRS retirees scapegoats to save the actual guilty officers. Now, this order is issued on the effective intervention of the Parliamentary Committee and we are thankful to the Chairman and Members of the Committee for extending justice to the hapeless VRS retirees. This is a great victory and CHQ heartily congratulate the affected retirees of Maharashtra. Now, BSNL management has to settle all the pending cases as per this order and payments of retirement benefits and normal pension made with interest , wherever applicable.

It is an encouraging report from Com.R N Patil, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra to the effect that two more district branches are formed at Wardha and Goa.

The meeting of BSNL and DoT pensioners of Wardha was held on 09-12-2021 under the presidentship of Com. Akram Pathan and decided to form the District Branch of Wardha. Office bearers were elected with Com. Akram Pathan (President) Com. Laxman Mendhe (District Secretary) and Com. K B Kuhite (Treasurer)

GOA district branch was formed in the meeting convened on 10-12-2021. Com. Atul Watve presided over the meeting. Coms. R B Kerkar, R M Pal and M S Avkhale were elected President, District Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

The Bihar Circle Executive Committee meeting along with the District Conference of Patna was held at TRC, Patna on 10-12-2021. Com. B P Singh, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Circle Patron , AIBDPA inaugurated the open session with an inspiring speech. Thereafter, Com., N K Srivastava, Circle Secretary spoke elaborately covering almost all the issues of the pensioners and revival of BSNL. The report presented was discussed and adopted. The CEC decided to hold the Circle Conference at Gaya in April, 2022 and to direct all the district branches to clear the CHQ and Circle quota before the circle conference. The District Conference elected office bearers with Com. R P Chowdhary (President) Com. A K Srivastava (District Secretary) and Com. Dhananjaya Kumar (Treasurer).

It was on 17th December,1982,the constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice Y V  Chandrachud delivered the historic judgment in the case filed by Shri.D.S.Nakera. The judgment being called as the Magna Carta of the pensioners declared in unequivocal terms that pension is not a bounty but a right of the pensioners and pensioners cannot be discriminated on the basis of date of retirement.

It is also a fact that the pensioners in the country started organising themselves after this important judgment and fought against many injustices and won many a battles. But the government continues the attacks on the genuine rights of the pensioners and the PFRDA Act is the  real challenge to the entire pension community. Attempts are also being reported to curtail the pension and to hand over the the pension fund to the private entities.

As far as BSNL and DoT pensioners are concerned many of the just demands, including pension revision, are still to be settled due to the negative stand of the government. So let us affirm to continue our fight against all injustices being meted out to the pensioners and the onslaught against the people.

Let us also remember the great man, D S Nakera for his heroic and relentless fight and observe the National Pensioners Day in a befitting manner.