NCCPA DEMANDS DAY ON 05-04-2022.

National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations had given a call to observe 5th April,2022 as Demands Day focussing only one demand, implementation of 110th Parliamentary Standing Committee Recommendations. The call was to organise demonstration at all levels and to send email to the Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions for implementation of Parliamentary Committee recommendations on the following pensioners issues.

1. Grant of additional pension on attainment of 65 years.

2. Increase Fixed Monthly Medical Allowance to Rs.3000.

3. Starting of Wellness Centers at all the Districts.

4. Full reimbursement of the treatment at Non- empanelled hospitals.

5. Include Pensioners in CS (MA) Rules.

The program of agitation was a stupendous success in all parts of the country and AIBDPA salute and congatulate all the Pensioners for their massive participation.

The 6th Kerala Circle Conference has been held in a grand manner on 2-3, April, 2022 at Surya Resmi Auditorium , Palakkad. Com. R Muraleedharan Nair, Circle Vice President & AGS presided. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed one and all. Shri.M B Rajesh, Hon’ble Speaker of Kerala inaugurated the conference with a brilliant speech exposing the anti-PSU policy of the government. Shri. M B Rajesh stated that the central government has adopted a policy of nationalising the losses and privatising the profits with minimum government and maximum governance. Shri. C Vinod, CGM, Kerala was the Chief Guest and delivered the keynote address. Coms. P V Chandrasekharan, CHQ Patron, S Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President, T N Venkiteswaran, General Secretary, CGPA, V A Mohanan, Circle Secretary, AIPRPA, V Kesavan Circle Patron and V P Abdulla (BSNLEU) addressed the conference. The veteran leaders, Coms. P V Chandrasekharan and V Kesavan were honoured by Shri.M B Rajesh with memento and shawl. Com. G Rajan, General Convenor, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.

In the evening of 2nd April, a very nice Cultural Session was held which was inaugurated by noted cultural activist Shri Alancode Leelakrishnan and presided by Prof. C P Chithrabanu. Com. P V Chandrasekharan distributed the prizes to the winners in the literature competition. Thereafter variety entertaintments including Bharatanatyam were staged.

On 3rd April the subject session was inaugurated by Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary. The important issues of the pensioners, including pension revision, medical benefits, frozen IDA, CGHS, implementation of the recommendations of 110th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee and the efforts and struggles being waged were explained in the inaugural address. Veteran Leader and Advisor, Com. V A N Namboodiri addressed the session and empathised to strengthen the organisation. Com. V A N was honoured by Com.PVC with a memento and shawl. Com. S mohandoss, CHQ Vice President who participated fully in the two days conference was also honoured by Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary and Com.K J Sanal Kumar, Treasurer presented the report and accounts, respectively. In the discussion that followed 27 delegates of the 11 District Branches and 5 Circle Office bearers participated. General Secretary and Circle Secretary replied to the issues raised in the discussion after which the report and accounts were adopted. The resolutions on imporatant issues presented by Com.P M Gopalakrishnan on behalf of the resolution sub committee were adopted. The credential report presented by Com.K J Sanalkumar revealed that 357 delegates, 19 Circle Office bearers and 4 from CHQ participated in the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. K Mohanan (President) N Guruprasad (Circle Secretary) and Com.N Vikraman Nair (Treasurer).

The 10th All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union was held at Guwahati from 2nd to 4th April 2022 at Guwahati. Com. Animesh Mitra, President presided. Com. K Hemalata , President, CITU inaugurated the conference and came down heavily on the destructive policies of Narendra Modi government. Coms. Erdem Ilhami (TUI, Istanbul) V A N Namboodiri (Founder General Secretary), Chandeswar Singh (NFTE), Veerabhadra Rao ( AIGETOA), K Sebastin (SNEA), V Shaji (AIBSNLEA) Suresh Kumar (SNATTA), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS) Shri. P K Pahi, (CGM,BSNL), P Abhimanyu (GS) and Swapan Chakraborty (Dy GS) addressed. Representing AIBDPA, Com,M R Das, AGS greeted the conference and briefly explained the issues of the pensioners.

Serious discussion took place in the subject session on the report of activities and the organisational issues. Resolutions were adopted unanimously on important issues. Coms. Animesh Mitra and P Abhimanu have been reelected as President and General Secretary.

*TUI(P&R) MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY ON 31-03-2022.

A meeting of the TUI(P&R) was held from 8.30PM to 11.30 PM virtually on 31-03-2022. Com.Quim Boix, General Secretary presented the report to be submitted to the 18th Congress of WFTU. Coms. K K N Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA, K. Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA and K G Jayaraj General Secretary AIBDPA participated from India.
Com.K G Jayaraj in his speech reported the recent developments in the country including the two days National Strike on 28-29, March,2022, Solidarity Dharna by NCCPA on 25-03-2022 and active participation of pensioners in picketing, demonstration and procession along with the striking workers on the strike days. He also spoke on the agitations being launched on pensioners issues by NCCPA and AIBDPA.

5Sreekumar G Puram, Kali Prasad and 3 others1 commentLikeCommentShare

As per the Consumer Price Index released by the Labour Bureau, IDA from 01-04-2022 is likely to be increased by 1.2% for the 2007 Pay Scales and Pensions. The total IDA from 01-04-20022 will be 185.3% ( existing 184.1% + 1.2%). The new installment of IDA is payable after the DPE issues the order.

Press release.

Two day Nationwide General Strike of Workers on 28-29 March 2022

Receives Tremendous Response

The Farmers, Students, Youth, Women came in Support

 The Joint Platform of the Central Trade Unions and the independent Sectoral Federations and Associations congratulates the workers of all sectors, organised and unorganized,  the govt. departments,  the public sector, the private establishments, small-medium-micro enterprises, rural and urban working people, having participated in different ways, made a grand success of this two day general strike. The participation crossed 20 crores facing all odds, ESMA, intimidation, and obstructions of all kinds including the high handedness of police in some cases and high court order in Kerala prohibiting strike for BPCL and Govt. employees.

The workers and employees in banks, insurance companies did not enter their work places anywhere in India. The coal, Vizag steel, oil and LPG plants, powergrid, copper, telecom sector, cement sector workers struck work in a big way from the morning of 28th March. Electricity Workers went on strike in all the states, including in Maharashtra, where the Government had invoked ESMA. The port workers at Tuticorin and Paradip also struck work. The Kerala state unions began strike action from midnight of 27-28 March itself. The employees of Railways and Defence sector are reported to have organized militant demonstrations at more than one thousand places across the country. The Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day Meal and Domestic Workers, Construction, Beedi and Agricultural Workers, Hawkers-vendors joined the strike and participated in protest actions in several hundreds of spots in Chakka jam, road roko, rail rook programmes in various parts of the country. The Road Transport workers in Haryana began their strike by picketing at Depots from early morning of 28th March, also in defiance of ESMA and continued on 29^th. Private sector industrial units including many MNCs witnessed massive strike action on both the days in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Telangana and Haryana. Hydel power projects also witnessed massive strike in Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

There is bandh like situation in the states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tripura, Assam, Haryana, Jharkhand and also in many districts in other states. The strike is substantial in the industrial areas in the states of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The Security Workers even in Sikkim have gone on strike. The Industrial areas of Delhi, HP, Gujarat, J&K, are reported strike. 50000 Government employees picketed Central Government offices in 300 places in Tamilnadu. Central Govt employees in postal deptt, Income Tax audit, GSI and others too have joined the strike in a massive way. Even Fishermen did not venture into sea in the morning.

The Farmers have mobilized in rural areas as per the decision of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, in favour of the Strike action, pressing for their six demands, along with the support to workers demands. The farmers and agricultural workers also participated along with striking workers in organizing road-blockade including many national highways and Rail-blockade actively.

The protesters were addressed by those leading the strikers and the protesters. They alleged that the national resources and the national assets including infrastructure, all has been put on sale by BJP led govt. at Centre for the benefits of the Corporates of Indian and foreign brand. The working class, which creates national wealth, is being made defenceless with draconian changes in Labour laws, weakening their trade unions, taking away their right to strike, doing away with factory inspections, and so on. The voice of workers will be stifled. They expressed their worries that the unemployment level has reached 12 percent and the youth below 25 years of age are the majority among the unemployed as per govt’s own statistics. The prices of petrol, diesel and gas are once again rising post elections in five states. National Monetisation Pipeline project is being pushed through to hand over all infrastructure PSUs virtually free to private corporates.Emboldened by the results of election in five states the policy of selling out of land of the Central Public Sector enterprises has been rolled out, the interest rate on the provident fund of workers has been brought down from 8.5 to 8.1 percent, the privatisation of banks is being talked about vigorously, selling of substantial portion of LIC funds, the talks of report of Supreme Court committee on farm laws is being in the air.

The unions in Delhi organized a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 29^th March 2022 addressed by the Central leaders of the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) among others.

Those who addressed the gathering included Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC), Harbhajan Singh Sidhu (HMS), Tapan Sen (CITU), R K Sharma (AIUTUC), G Devrajan (TUCC), Lata (SEWA), Rajiv Dimri (AICCTU), Mohan (LPF), Suresh Dagar (UTUC), Santosh (MEC), Narender (ICTU).

Binoy Viswam, Member of Parliament-Rajya Sabha and Hannan Mollah on behalf of SKM also addressed the gathering.

The unionists recognised that the demand of time is to strengthen the workers- peasants unity to put up vigorous struggle against tyrant regime at Centre which has not only failed the nation but is also letting loose the vicious divisive agenda in detriment to the core values of Indian constitution and harmonious living of Indian people with diverse religious beliefs, cultures, languages.                                                        

        INTUC                     AITUC                    HMS                     CITU                       AIUTUC

          TUCC                SEWA                      AICCTU                     LPF                    UTUC

                             And Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations

30-03-2022

The two days General Strike on 28-29 March, 2022 called by the Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations has created a new history of the struggles in India. 25 crore workers are participating in the strike with enthusiasm, spirit, vigour and determination reflecting the protest and anger against the anti-people policies of the Modi government which has proved to be the government of the corporate, for the corporate and by the corporate.

All the sections of the workers, central government and state government employees, public sector, port, airports ,bank, insurance, transport, airlines, defense production, coal mines, steel, electricity, postal, BSNL, income tax, audit and accounts, asha and anganawadi workers, loading and unloading, construction , handloom, coir, rubber, fishing etc actively participated. The peasantry under the leadership of Samyukta Kisan Morcha has organised complete hartal in the villages in support of the strike.

In BSNL also the Strike is almost complete as the major unions, BSNLEU, NFTE and FNTO have joined the strike. AIBDPA comrades are also in the forefront in support of the strike and participated actively in the demonstrations organised by the striking unions. Earlier country wide Solidarity Dharna called the NCCPA was organised on 25-03-2022 in support of the strike. CHQ salute all the workers for their massive participation in the historic strike and congratulate AIBDPA comrades for the support and solidarity extended to the General Strike.

Com.P Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU delivering special address.

The sixth Circle Conference of Tamil Nadu was held in an enthusuiastic atmosphere at Thoothukudi on 25th and 26th March, 2022. Com.C K Narasimhan, Circle Secretary presided. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the issues of the pensioners, particularly, pension revision, denial of medical benefits, payment of frozen IDA installments and the efforts and struggles being waged for settlement of the issues. Com. P Abhimanyu, General Secretary delivered a special address and explained the trecherous stand of the central government in implementing the BSNL revival package and the deliberate attempts against rolling out 4G by BSNL. Coms. S Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President, S Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU, Smt.Gouthami, Joint CCA, Coms. C Vinod Kumar, Circle Secretary, TNTCWU, Babu Radhakrishnan, Circle President, BSNLEU, V Kuppan, Circle Secretary, Chennai Telephones, Berlin Alice Mary, Convenor,BSNL WWCC, K Pankajavalli, CHQ Asst. Traesurer and A Russel, CITU State Secretary and Chairman, Reception Committee addressed the inaugural session. Coms. N Kuppusamy, Circle Secretary and P Ramar, Convenor, Reception Committee welcomed one and all. Com.S Nataraja, Trasurer proposed vote of thanks.

In the subject session held in the afternoon, Coms. N Kuppusamy, Circle Secretary and S Nataraja, Treasurer presented the report on activities and the audited accounts, respectively. 27 comrades from all the district branches actively participated in the discussion and Com.N Kuppusamy, Circle Secretary summed up after which the report and accounts were approved. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary replied to the quries raised on certain issues like pension revision, CGHS, Income Tax notice for encashment of earned leave of government service,restoration of railway concession etc. He also appealed to implemet the Demonstaration and email campaign on April 5, called by NCCPA demanding implementation of Parliamentary Committee recommendations on increase of additional pension from 65 years, increase FMA to Rs.3000 etc. General Secretary also explained the proposed agitational program decided by the Central Executive Committee meeting held on 05-03-2022. The conference approved the resolutions on important issues. The leaders and delegates who have crossed 75 years were honoured.

Thereafter a 25 member office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. C K Narasimhan (President) R Rajasekar (Circle Secretary) and Com. S Nataraja (Treasurer). Com.R Rajasekar, Circle Secretary addressed the conference and assured his allout efforts for the functioning of the Circle branch. With vote of thanks by Com.A Kudiarasu, ACS, the Circle Conference came to an end.

Reports received from various parts of the country is very much enthusiastic that the Solidarity Dharna on 25-03-2022 called by NCCPA and endorsed by AIBDPA has been implemented with good participation of the pensioners. The Dhrna was in support of the two days General Strike on 28-29, March 2022 against the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti- pensioner and anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi government. Memorandum containing the demands of central government and BSNL pensioners were sent to the Minister of State in PMO.

.*NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEEOF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..(Registered undder the T.U. Act.No. RTU01/2021.Dated.7.01.2021 PAN No. AAEAN8586FWebsite: nccpahq.blogspot.in.E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.13.c Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi. 110 001President: Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra. (97176 47594)Secretary General: Com. K.K.N. Kutty. (98110 48303)

Dated: 18.03.2022

Dear Comrade,

As you know, the working class in the country will be on two days strike on 28th and 29th March, 2022 against the present economic policies of the Government of India, which has harmed the workers in the country tremendously. The standard of living of the workers have gone down so deeply that none of the segments gets a fair wage today. By dismantling the public health care system, public distribution system and the Pubic sector undertakings, the user charges levied for various services have gone up leaps and bounds . The pension emoluments, which at one point of time, we had thought good enough to meet our basic requirements have become too meagre given the growing expenses. Many of the services for which huge amounts are levied including the GST, had been either free or provided at nominal charges in the past. Concessions granted to the Senior Citizens are all withdrawn. Above all, the dearness relief which is an integral part of the pension was first freezed and then denied. The Government has kept back the arrears amounting to crores of rupees with no justification as the economy is reported to have picked up momentum of growth and the tax collections both from direct and indirect taxes have surpassed the budgetary estimates . The various phases of corona pandemic affected severely the pensioner community. Many are suffering from the post- covid complications and the consequential ailments. We must, therefore, express our support to the strike and engage ourselves in the solidarity action as decided earlier. We take this opportunity to remind you of the need to participate in large numbers in the proposed dharna in front of all offices on 25th March, 2022 (this decision of NCCPA having been communicated earlier) to express our solidarity with the striking workers . A small memorandum addressed to the Honourable Minister of State, Department of Personnel and Pension, North Block, New Delhi is appended hereto. Kindly send the same to him after the dharna programme is over. Please go through the letter addressed to the Honourable Minister placed on our website covering comprehensively all issues concerning the grievances and demands of the Pensioners.

ORGANISE DEMONSTRATION ON 05-04-2022.

The Standing committee of the Parliament in their 110th report to the Lok Sabha has recommended to the Government to grant additional pension of 5% at the age 60, 10% at 70 and 15% at 75 instead of the present 20% on attaining the age of 80 years, increase the FMA to Rs. 3000 p.m. to reimburse the cost of hospitalization even if the treatment was from a non- empanelled private hospital and to cover the pensioners under CCS(MA) Rules. Coming from such an exalted body, we must mow demand that the Government take cognizance of the recommendation and implement the same as quickly as possible. It is, therefore, decided that the Pensioners Associations must organise demonstration in front of all offices on 5th April, 2022 and send the following E- mail to the honourable Minister.

“Solicit your kind reference to the 110th report of the Standing Committee of Parliament on pensioner related problems and appeal to you that the concerned officials may be directed to take immediate steps to implement those recommendations.” .

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty

Secretary General

Memorandum to the Honourable Minister of Statefor Department of Personnel and Pension,Govt. of India, New Delhi.

We submit the following charter of demands containing issues and grievances of pensioners of various sectors. We had been, as is the case with many pensioner Associations, raising these issues before various authorities but regretfully submit that steps were not taken to resolve those. We feel that even reasonable issues, which do not have financial outflow are not addressed. Besides, the Pensioner community feels that they are being dragged to litigation which has of late become extremely costly and unbearable. They are perforce to bear the injustice. Even when the courts favour decisions upholding the contention of the petitioners, Government against their own policy decisions, drags the Pensioners to higher courts.. Even the Supreme Court decisions are not made applicable to the similarly placed personnel. We fervently appeal to you to ensure that the Pensioners are not dragged to court; their grievances are attended to within a reasonable time frame and they are replied with the reasons as to why the Government was not able to accept the contentions made by them. We also request you to kindly cause consideration of the following demands and the authorities are asked to have bilateral discussions with the representatives of NCCPA so as to have a proper appreciation of the demands raised. CHARTER OF DEMANDS.Implement Option No. 1 as one of the pension fitment formulae as recommended by the 7th CPC. Revise the Pension of BSNL absorbed retirees immediately with 15% fitment; recommended by the 3rd PRC and approved by the government from 01-01-2017, delinking the wage revision in BSNL. Clear all pending medical bills and medical allowance;Evolve a policy for automatic grant of pension and other pensioner’s benefits to the pensioners and retirees of the autonomous bodies on par with the Central Govt. Pensioners. Provide (a) notional fixation of pension under Option No. 3 on the basis of the pay scale/paylevel of the cadre or grade from which the pensioner retired. (b) Provide fixation of pension in the case of all pre 2006 pensioners on the basis of the grade pay/pay level or pay scale ofthe post or cadre from which one has retired as per the judgments of Courts. Extend the benefit of CS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by CGHS. Increase the FMA to Rs. 3000 as has been granted to PF Pensioners. Raise the minimum pension to 60% of the Minimum wage. i.e. Rs. 10,800 p.m.Restore the commutation portion of pension after 10 years.Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of 65 years onwards as recommended by the Parliamentary panel.Scrap the New Contributory pension scheme and restore the defined benefit pensionRevise the pension of the Bank pensioners on line with Govt/RBI/Military and settle the anomalies in pension and other benefits arising out of the amalgamation of Banks. Provide the benefits arising from the court judgements to all similarly placed pensioners. Viz. the court order for the grant of one notional increment for those who retire on 30th June and 31st December Introduce medical insurance scheme for all pensioners including the Bank pensioners whoever opts for such a scheme.Restore the train fare concession to senior citizens withdrawn by the Govt. during the covid period. To create a welfare fund for all retired personnel on par with the working employeesEqualise the DA payment for all bank employees without distinction between pre and post 1.11.2002.To increase the ex gratia payment to bank employees retired prior to 1986.Provide medical and para medical facilities to cover up the shortages to the Railway hospitals catering to the Railway pensioners.Issue revised PPOs to all Railway pensioners to enable them to draw the revised pension as per the 7th CPC.Remove 2.5.km distance restriction for the grant of FMA.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,………………………………………..(Name of the President/Secretary .)Name of the Association/Federation.

A

S