Sonipat District Branch functioning was affected due to the illness of the incumbent District Secretary for some time. Com.Kuldeep Singh, Circle Secretary took the initiative to reconstitute the district branch to ensure proper and efficient functioning. Accordingly, a meeting of the district branch was held on 21-11-2020 under the presidentship of Com. Ashok Arya.

Com.M S Kadian, Circle Patron and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU inaugurated the meeting. Com.Kuldeep Singh, Circle Secretary delivered the keynote address. Both learers explained the issues of pension revision, non-payment of medical claims, revival of BSNL, Solidarity Dharna on 25-11-2020 in support of the General Strike on 26-11-2020.

Thereafter, the District Branch was reconstituted unanimously with the following important functionaries;

President                            : Com.Nand Kumar

District Secretary              : Com. Mahesh Singh

Treasurer                           : Com. Ashok Arya 

As per the call of NCCPA, Joint Forum of Pensioners Associations and Retired Persons conducted the Solidarity Dharna on 23-11-2020 in support of the National Strike of 26-11-2020. The Dharna held at Megdoot Bhawan, Guwahati was very attractive with the participants carrying plenty of placards. A host of leaders addressed the Dharna including Com.S Rahman, Vice Chairman, NCCPA and General Secretary, JFPA& RP, Com.M R Das, AGS, AIBDPA and Com.S N Sarma, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA. 

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A new district branch of Shamli has been formed bifurcating Muzaffarnagar SSA branch. The meeting for this purpose was held on 09-11-2020 at BSNL office, Shamli under the presidentship of Com.Ram Sharan. Com. Balkar Singh, Circle Vice President inaugurated the meeting and explained the current issues confronting the pensioners.

A 17 members Office bearers were elected with the following important functionaries;

President         : Com.Sukhan Singh

District Secretary : Com. Ram Sharan

Treasurer        : Ramesh Chand

AUAB has called for a country wide Protest Demonstration on 25-11-2020 against freezing three quarterly IDA of 01-10-2020, 01-01-2021 and 01-04-2021 by the Modi government unilaterally. These will be restored only from 01-07-2021 prospectively and no arrears will be paid for the period from 01-10-2020 to 30-06-2021 as per the order issued by the DPE on 19-11-2020.

This is another cruel attack by the Modi government reflecting its anti- worker policy which is most deplorable and to be protested. All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has rightly decided to organise countrywide Protest Lunch hour Demonstration on 25-11-2020.

AIBDPA fully supports the decision and calls upon all its units to join the Protest Action with the AUAB units without affecting our Solidarity Dharna on the same date in support of the General Strike of 26-11-2020.

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Very enthusiastic reports are coming in on the preparation of the National Strike on 26-11-2020 from almost all sections of the workers and the people at large. No doubt the strike will create a new history and milestone in the struggles of the nation. 

The call of NCCPA to organise Solidarity Dharna on 25-11-2020 in support of the General Strike has already been communicated to all the units. Let us extend all support to the striking unions in BSNL including CCWF.

All AIBDPA units are once again requested to organise the Dharna on 25-11-2020 jointly with other NCCPA constituents, wherever possible, and independently according to local conditions.

Please also note that all the units have to send the following email to the Finance Minister on 25-11-2020.

It is also requested to send brief report and photos to CHQ. 

A new District Branch has been formed in Mainpuri on 18-11-2020. The meeting of pensioners held for this purpose was held at Old Telephone Exchange, Mainpuri. 

The meeting elected the office bearers unanimously and the following are the important functionaries;

President : Com. Ahibaran Singh

District Secretary : Com. Shiva Prasad

Treasurer : Com. Ravindra Singh Pal

SOLIDARITY WITH NATIONAL STRIKE IN INDIA
In January of this year, 250 million workers in India demonstrated in a great strike, and as is customary in capitalist countries, the demands were not heard by the government authorities, so it is necessary to return to the de facto measures, in defense of our rights. The demands of our fellow Indian workers are:
1.- Cash transfer of Rs 7,500 per month for all families who do not pay income tax

2.- 10 Kg of free ration of food per person per month for all those in need.

3.- Expansion of MGNREGA to provide 200 days of work a year in rural areas with better wages: extension of the employment guarantee to urban areas.

4.- Withdraw all anti-peasant laws and anti-worker labor codes.

5.- Stop the privatization of the public sector, including the financial sector, and stop the corporatization of government-run manufacturing and service entities such as railways, ordinance factories, ports, etc.

6.- Withdraw the draconian circular on forced premature retirement of government and PSU employees.

7.- Provide pension to all, eliminate the NPS and restore the previous pension, improve EPS-95.
With these demands, the National Strike is being prepared for this November 26, where the rights of workers are raised, both in the city and in the countryside, as well as pensioners and retired people, and also the defense of the public sector and against privatizations. The International Union of Trade Unions of Pensioners and Retired People of the World Trade Union Federation (TUI of P&R of the WFTU), as we did in January, once again united and in solidarity with the trade union organizations and with each of their managers and fellow militants, who make common cause, in the world struggle, against exploitation, capitalism and imperialism.
FOR A LONG AND WORTHY LIFE
19/11/2020

(Sd)
Quim Boix General Secretary Trade Unions International (TUI) of Pensioners and Retired People (P&R) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

(Sd)
Lisímaco Velasco Propaganda Secretary Trade Unions International (TUI) of Pensioners and Retired People (P&R) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)