Chennai telephones has held its Circle Executive Committee Meeting at BSNLEU Hall, Flower Bazar Telephone Exchange, Chennai on 20-03-2021. Com.E Manibalan, Circle Vice President presided over the meeting. Com.V Kuppan, Circle Secretary welcomed all and delivered the introductory speech mentioning the agenda items.

The CEC meeting reviewed the agitational programmes, particularly, the Dharna on 16-03-2021. Most of the comrades participated in the discussion. Thereafter the CEC meeting unanimously nominated Com. Senbagavalli Janarthanam as Circle Treasurer in place of Com. N Raju who resigned on personal grounds. The meeting also decided to form four district branches.

PROTESTS GALORED AGAINST NEGLECT OF SERIOUS ISSUES OF THE SENIORS.

THOUSANDS OF PENSIONERS PARTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BRAVING ALL ODDS INCLUDING COVID-19 PANDEMIC SITUATION.

YES, COMRADES, THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME, THE MASS DHARNA ON 16-03-2021 TURNED TO BE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

ALL INDIA POSTAL AND RMS PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION (AIPRPA) EXTENDD SOLIDARITY. IN SOME CIRCLES BSNLEU & BSNL CCWF MEMBERS ALSO PARTICIPATED. CHQ EXPRESSES THANKS TO THESE ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT.

THE PENSIONERS HAVE SENT A STRONG WARNING TO THE ARROGANT MODI GOVERNMENT AND BSNL MANAGEMENT AGAINST THE DENIAL OF PENSION REVISION TO BSNL PENSIONERS, MEDICAL BENEFITS, DR AND IDA AND ISSUES OF VRS RETIREES .

IT IS ALSO A GREAT VICTORY THAT TWO ISSUES , PAYMENT OF 8% EX-GRATIA AND ATTEMPTS TO LEVY INCOME TAX FOR LEAVE ENCASHMENT OF THE LEAVE EARNED IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, ARE SETTLED.

Some of the photos received at CHQ are posted hereunder;

NEELESWARAM, KERALA

PALAKKAD, KERALA

CHERPULASSERY, KERALA

KOVILPATTI, TAMIL NADU

KHAMMAM, TELANGANA

VISAKHAPATNAM, AP

THRISSUR, KERALA

KANPUR, UP E

JAMNAGAR, GUJARAT

A convention on “Ensuing Elections and our duty” was held at Memari by Burdwan District Branch on 14-03-2021. Com.Dhananjay Ganguly, Convenor, Pensioners Co-Ordination Committee, Durgapur inaugurated. Coms. Pijush Chakraborty was the main speaker and he underscored the necessity of replacing the present fascist government with a progressive government for the benefit of the people. A host of leaders, including Coms. Ashok Chatterjee, Convenor, Pensioners Coordination Committee, Burdwan, Sushil Ghosh (CORTO), Badre Alam (BSNLEU) Sahiful Jaman (CMU) and S P Ray (DS,AIBDPA)addressed. Coms.Manik Lal Das controlled the proceedings.

A new branch of AIBDPA, Memeari also was formed in the convention. An adhoc committee with Coms. Dibakar Das (President) Parthsarathi Roy (Secretary) and Subhas Sarkar (Treasurer) was elected unanimously.

The sixth biennial District Conference of Asansol, West Bengal was held on 07-03-2021 successfully. The Conference was formally inaugurated by veteran trade union leader and Convenor of Pensioners Coordination Committe, Durgapur, Com.Dhananjay Ganguly with an educative speech. Coms. Mridul Chatterjee, District Secretary and Dipak Chakraborty, Treasurer presented the report and accounts, respectively and was adopted after discussion. Com. Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary delivered the inaugural address covering the issues of the pensioners and the struggles being organised and the recent developments including elections to the West Bengal legislature and our responsibilities.

A new set of office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. Mrityunjay Bhattacharjee (President) Com.Mridul Chatterjee (District Secretary) and Com.Dipak Chakraborty (Treasurer)

The two day bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions on 15th &16th March,2021 has started and the entire banking services in the coutry has come to a complete halt. About 10 lakh bank employees and officers are participating in the massive and historic strike. The strike is warranted against the blind privatisation of Public Sector Banks and the retrograde banking reforms.

AIBDPA fully supports the strike and extends solidarity to the striking bank employees and officers.

CHQ has received a letter dated 12-03-2021 from Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU regarding formation of Co-Ordination Committee of the three organisations, BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF. We have responded vide our letter dated 13-03-2021, wholeheartedly welcoming the proposal and giving our suggestions.

CHQ is aware that preparations are going in full swing all over the country for the successful conduct of the second phase of our agitational programme, Mass Dharna at maximum centers on 16-03-2021. Let us mobilize maximum pensioners for the Dharna and the demands put forward are very important concerning all our pensioners. Among the demands only one demand , payment of balance 8% Ex-Gratia to VRS retirees has been settled now.

Pension Revision is being denied to the BSNL absorbed pensioners for the last four years without any justification. To add insult to the injury, IDA also being denied despite High Court order, when the prices of essential commodities are increasing like sky rocketing. The anti-pensioner Modi government has already snatched away Rs.37,530 crore by freezing the Dearness Relief of central government pensioners during these hard days of pandemic.

The arrogant BSNL mangement continues to be completely negative on payment of medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners in spite of repeated pursuals at all levels. We have conducted several struggles also on this vital issue. But management tuns a blind eye to the miseries of ailing and aged pensioners. CHQ has recently brought this buring issue to the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare. But the reply by BSNL management is on the same lines that medical bills with voucher and without voucher are pending due to paucity of fund. So it is very clear that the management is not willing give any priority to this vital issue of the seniors.

While processing the pension papers, the CCAs are unilaterally reducing the Last Pay Drawn digging out fixations made before 25-30 years ago. This is in violation of the standing instructions and clarification issued by Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare to the effect that the verification of pay of the retiring official be limited to 24 months preceding to retirement. But some of the arrogant officers of DoT are not prepared to change this most unjustified system resulting in great loss in the pension of many retirees, particularly VRS retirees.

Ex_gratia and pensionary benefits are denied to 199 VRS retirees of Maharashtra for alleged non-validation of Caste certificates. This very issue has arisen due to the lapse on the part of the respective SSA administration, failing to verify the caste certificate during the initial period of appointment, as had been repeatedly instructed by DOPT,DOT and even BSNL. Further the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes have issued clear instructions to the effect that pension and other retirement benefits should not be denied to pensioners belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes for non-verification of caste certificates, even after 30-35 years. Also it has been instructed by the Parliamenray Committee , no verification of caste certificate be made for officials recruited before 1995. CHQ had brought all these facts to the CMD, BSNl and Secretary, DoT several times but to no avail. CHQ also wrote to the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Caste and Tribes seeking intervention.

The problem of unjustified and unwarranted notice by Income Tax Department to VRS retirees demanding tax for the leave encashment for the leave earned in government service was taken up with the Finance Minister and top officers of the Central Board of Direct Taxes. An officer from CPC, Bangalore has contacted General Secretary over phone on 4th March, 2021 and asked for certain clarification and was replied suitably. It seems that the Income Tax Department is reviewing the issue.

So Comrades, our fight is for the settlement of genuine issues and against the apathy and neglect of the government and autorities . Let us make it a stupendous success. Definiteley, Victory shall be ours.

o

(i)    “Meet the members” drive.

The circle and district level leaders of BSNLEU shall conduct a month long “Meet the members” drive, from 01^st April to 30^th April, 2021. The leaders shall meet each and every member during this drive and explain about the decisions of the Chennai CEC meeting and also about the pro-corporate, anti-BSNL and anti-working people policies of the government.   

(ii)    Street Corner Meetings to observe the 20^th anniversary of BSNLEU’s foundation.

22.03.2021 is the 20^th anniversary of BSNLEU’s foundation. The day should be observed by hoisting flags in all work places. Further, BSNLEU will also launch a week long “Street Corner Meetings” starting on 22.03.2021. In these street corner meetings, campaign will be made among the general public against privatisation of the public sector, denial of 4G service to BSNL, road-blocks being created in BSNL’s revival and the need to keep BSNL as a vibrant public sector company. A Press Meet will also be organised on 20.03.2021 in all districts and circles.

(iii)   March to CGM and GM offices on 12.05.2021.

March to CGM offices and GM offices will be organised on 12.05.2021, demanding settlement of 3^rd Wage Revision, payment of salary on the due date, immediate holding of LICEs, re-engaging the retrenched contract workers and payment of their wage arrears, immediate settlement of the medical claims of the serving and retired employees, removal of the ban on Compassionate Ground Appointments, etc. Memorandum, addressed to the CMD BSNL, demanding settlement of these burning issues, will be submitted to the CGMs and GMs.

(iv)   “Sathyagraha”, demanding payment of salary on the due date.

On the demand of payment of salary on the due date, the CEC meeting has decided to organise a “sathyagraha” programme in CGM and GM offices. The date of this programme will be decided by the All India Centre.

 (v)  Hunger strikes / dharnas from 24^th to 26^th March, 2021 – call of the CTUs and the SKM.

The Joint platform of the Central Trade Unions and the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have decided to organise hunger strikes / dharnas throughout the country from 24^th to 26^th March, 2021, demanding withdrawal of the pro-corporate Farm Acts, withdrawal of the anti-worker Labour Codes and stopping the privatisation of the Public Sector Units. The CEC meeting has decided that maximum number of members of BSNLEU should participate in this programme, being jointly organised by the Central Trade Unions and the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha.

(vi)   Solidarity to Bank employees strike.

 BSNLEU should organise demonstrations throughout the country on 15.03.2021, in support of the two day bank employees strike being held on 15^th & 16^th March, 2021, against the privatisation of the public sector banks.

(vii)  Solidarity to LIC employees strike.

BSNLEU should organise country wide demonstrations on 18.03.2021, in support of the strike of the LIC employees on 18.03.2021, opposing disinvestment in LIC.

(viii)  Formation of coordination committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNL CCWF.     

The CEC meeting has desired to form coordination committees of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNL CCWF (BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation, to powerfully organise agitational programmes on the revival of BSNL, including the early launching of 4G service and also on the issues of the serving and retired employees, as well as on the casual and contract workers.