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Pl click here to see the letter chq-on-mrs.pdf
Please click here to see the letter chq-on-cpms-to-mos.pdf
APPEAL FILED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT OF CAT PRINCIPAL BENCH IN THE CASE OF PENSION ANOMALY, FILED BY OUR ASSOCIATION AND WON BY US, CAME UP FOR HEARING IN DELHI HIGH COURT TODAY. IT CAME UP AFTER LONG TEN MONTHS. EVEN THEN, THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE COURT ORDERS. ADVOCATE FOR DEPARTMENT SOUGHT FURTHER TIME. A SHORT POSTPONMENT IS ALLOWED. NEXT DATE OF HEARING IS 8-2-2019.
When justice is denied by the Government we are compelled to approach the court. It is the last resort for people like pensioners. Even at that stage the Government departments can play games and delay the justice further. Latest instance is the Pension Anomaly Case that came up before Delhi high court. Last time, the high court gave a long period of ten months to the Department of Telecom to file their counter. But after ten months, when the case was taken up the Department lawyer wants more time. Of course, this time it is only 4 months’ time is given. But there is no guarantee that Department will file their counter before that date.
THE TWO OTHER CASES
Our Association has filed two cases in Ernakulam CAT.
1. For getting arrears on account of 78.2% IDA revision from 1-1-2007 instead of 10.6.2013.
2. To get pension re-fixed @ 50% of last pay drawn to all BSNL retirees who retired before 1-1-2006.
CAT admitted both the cases. But, a date for hearing is not yet given by the CAT.
Reason?
There is only Judge in CAT Ernakulam bench. Only when two judges are available the case will be heard.
Government is responsible for this situation. A judge had retired in December 2017. 10 months have gone. The vacancy is not yet filled up. This is the case with Chennai bench of CAT also. It is the case with many other benches of CAT.
CAT was introduced to ensure justice as quickly as possible to the central government employees and pensioners.The very purpose is defeated by not posting sufficient number of judges.
The government, the bureaucracy, the authorities can deny justice; they can delay the justice also. The ordinary people are helpless.
Most of the people affected by the pension anomaly have left this world. But, justice is a distant cry for their families…..EVEN THE COURT OF JUSTICE DOES NOT OPEN ITS EYES.
As on 30-9-2018, there are 1,74,216 staff in BSNL. Out of them 1,26,534 will retire from service during next ten years. So, there will be hardly 50,000 people after ten years.
Shri V A Harsulkar was General Secretary of T III Union for two decades. In 1987, I took over from him only. From 1987 to 2001, till the T III merged in BSNLEU, Harsulakr continued as President. He is now 92 years old and living in Noida, near New Delhi.
On 14th October 2018, he lost his SON, Vivek Harsulkar.
Vivek retired as a senior engineer from Central Electronics Ltd New Delhi. All along he was active in the RSS. On 14th Vivek brought milk and prepared coffee for his father Shri V A Harsulkar. After serving coffee to the father, Vivek felt severe chest pain. Immediately a doctor was called. On his advice Vivek was taken to nearby Dharamsila Hospital. The doctor declared that he was brought dead. It was a massive heart attack.
I spoke to younger brother of Shri V A Harsulkar. I did not want to disturb the 92 years old gentleman. I conveyed my condolences through his brother who came down from Nagpur.
Vivek Harsulkar (65) was an affectionate son, proud father of two children and a disciplined man in all spheres. ......P S Ramankutty
EACH SSA HAS TO NOMINATE AN OFFICER AS ASSISTANT COORDINATING OFFICER FOR CPMS
BSNL corporate office has issued the following order. Please read it carefully.
I do not know what the order means. Does it mean that parents shall not be treated as dependents? Somebody may explain the position.
DEPT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES HAS ISSUED ORDERS ON IDA FROM OCTOBER 2018
To see the orders click here ids-oct-18..1.pdf
Almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, 2 billion people, over 20 per cent of the world’s population, will be 60 or older. The increase in the number of older people will be the greatest and the most rapid in the developing world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth. With this in mind, enhanced attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people is clearly required. Just as important, however, is the essential contribution the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees are in place. Human rights lie at the core of all efforts in this regard
The Consumer Price Index for august 2018 is 301.
For July also it was 301.
For June it was 291.
So, average for the three months is 297.66.
Based on that the IDA will increase from existing 128% to 135.6% from October 2018.
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PDF VERSION OF PATRIKA OF SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018
Com. P. Gangadhara Rao joined the Telecom Department as Technician in 1970 in Bangalore Telecom District. He became Phone Inspector in 1973. Junior Engineer in 1976.
Assistant Engineer in 1992 and finally retired as Divisional Engineer On 31-03-2008.
He was active in NFPTE while working as Technician
and in FNPTO while working as Phone Inspector.
He was the Circle Secretary of JETA, TESA & BSNLEA;
founder Circle President of SNEA before retirement.
In AIBSNLPWA , he was elected as AGS in Formation Conference in 2009
and continued till 2015. In Bangalore AIC he was elected as Dy. General Secretary.
Now at Puri he is elected as our GS.
Click on this link to see List of new office bearers, elected by Puri AIC
PURI AIC NEWS
ODISHSA, a small circle in size, but high in spirit, hosted our big All India Conference at a small place, Puri.
Ø Red Alert warning about a cyclone on coastal Odisha gave added burden to the hosts. With that fear and apprehension only we started the conference.But, the cyclone simply crossed over Odisha and got weakened. here were some showers and strong wind on 20,September.
Ø 1228 Delegates from 22 circles registered and participated in the conference. In addition, about 450 comrades from Odisha branches also attended the AIC.
Ø The conference adopted the Report and accounts unanimously. 49 delegates and some of the Central officers participated in the debate.
MAIN CONCERN
The delegates from every circle expressed serious concern over non-allotment of funds by BSNL for paying medical allowance and reimbursement under BSNLMRS, practically negating the order for restoration of allowance for pensioners.
GENERAL APPROVAL
All the delegates who participated in the Debate approved and supported the right demand for Pension Revision with fitment factor suggested by seventh CPC.
MAIN DECISION OF AIC
... AIC decided to organize mass hunger strike for one day in October/November 2018, at all SSA headquarters demanding Pension Revision with CPC fitment factor.
... AIC decided to hold a national convention in New Delhi to draw attention of authorities on our major demand for pension revision with CPC fitment factor. We will approach other Pensioners’ organizations who agree with our demand.
... CHQ will announce the date and venue of the Convention in consultation with other organizations.
... Our members from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP East and UP West Circles should participate in the Delhi convention in largest number.Other Circles may send representatives.
... Cost for the participation will be borne by concerned SSA/Circle Units.
... CHQ will issue detailed instructions after finalizing the date, venue etc.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
CWC considered all proposals but recommended only two amendments.AIC approved those amendments about Branches and Quota thereon. After the amendments the position shall be as;
(i) Name of our association remains same as AIBSNLPWA. There is no change for the time being.
(ii) The District units are free to form branches below SSA Units for better and effective functioning.
(iii) If branches are formed as above, the SSA Unit shall decide jurisdiction of such branches, as already provided in the constitution.
(iv) District conference of such SSA Unit, having branches, shall comprise of delegates elected by the branches at the ratio of One Delegate for every Ten members or part thereof.
[for example: for 5-14 members one delegate to District conference, for 15-24 members 2 Delegates, for25-34 members 3 Delegates, for 35-44 members 4 Delegates, so on so forth.]
(v) The branch shall remit quota as
20% to CHQ
20% to Circle
20% to District and retain remaining 40%.
(vi) If there is no branch under a SSA Unit, the Quota will be as
20% to CHQ, 20% to Circle and 60% will be retained by the SSA Unit.
(vii) For AIC and Circle Conference, the SSA Unit shall remain as the Base unit, as now.
PURI AIC NEWS
Though the Conference ended on time as scheduled smoothly, unexpected problems were waiting for many Delegates.Due to some agitation at Kharagpur in West Bengal, 40 trains were cancelled.Hundreds of our delegates were stranded at Puri, Khurda Road or Bhubaneswar railway stations. Some had to catch flights.Some others like Ernakulam comrades had to spend 18 hours in railway platform for their trains.Some others had to travel in unreserved coaches, having no water, no toilet facility, and no food.It was a torture. We could not help them.Nobody could help them.Railways did not make any alternate arrangement.
SHOCKING DEATH OF A VETERAN IN AIC VENUE
On 21-9-2018, when we were in CWC meeting the shocking news reached us about sudden demise of Com. P C Moitra (72), our former All India Vice President and present Circle President of West Bengal. He had heart problem and has been moving with a pacemaker. But death came so unexpectedly. He came to Puri to attend the AIC. While sitting in front of the Conference hall he fell down on the lap of a comrade from Tamilnadu and expired on the spot.
Immediately he was taken to hospital and they declared brought dead. Some comrades console themselves that he could breathe last in the “holy land” of Puri. But, it was a shock for us. I and Com. Natarajan went to the hospital, terminating the CWC meeting and located the dead body kept behind the Puri District Hospital. I could take a shot of the dead body of my old comrade with 40 years friendship, under the light provided by Com. Natarajan’s mobile phone.
The postmortem was done and the dead body was brought to the AIC venue at 1315 hours on 22-9-2018.Hundreds of Delegates paid homage and the body was sent to Calcutta in an ambulance van.Com. AK Ghosh and Com. S R Dutta who came with late Com. Moitra accompanied the dead body.CHQ met all expenses for sending the body. Red salute to com. P C Moitra. ….PSR
SOME PHOTOS
INAUGURAL SESSION: P S RAMANKUTTY AT THE MIKE
A VIEW OF DELEGATES
ANOTHER VIEW OF AUDIENCE
COM. GANGADHARA RAO, COM. RAMANKUTTY, COM. NATARAJAN ...
FELICITATING A MEMBER OF 98 YEARS OLD, SHRI CHAITAN BEHERA OF CUTTACK
Delegates before the Dining Hall
Com. DG Presenting resolution on future course of action
Odissi dancer performing the art
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NOW, WE ARE MOVING TO PURI, THE CITY OF LORD JAGANNATH TO MEET IN OUR AIC. WE SHALL MAKE ALL EFFORTS TO MOVE TOGETHER WITH ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AGREEING TO OUR DEMAND FOR PENSION REVISION WITH CPC FITMENT FORMULA.
WE ARE HAPPY THAT SOME MORE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE DEMANDING PRC FORMULA EARLIER HAVE CHANGED THEIR ATTITUDE, RECOGNISING THE REALITY, AND NOW DEMAND PENSION REVISION WITH CPC FITMENT BENEFITS. IT IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR TO UNITE AND FIGHT FOR OUR DEMAND.
WE DO NOT MIND WHO TOOK WHAT STAND IN THE PAST ETC.
WE ARE HAPPY THAT MORE AND MORE ARE COMING ON THE RIGHT PATH.
THERE IS NO QUESTION OF OUR PATH OR THEIR PAGTH. IT IS RIGHT PATH.
REVISE OUR PENSION WITH CPC FITMENT BENEFITS.
REVISE OUR PENSION IN IDA PATTERN ITSELF.
DELINK OUR PENSION REVISION FROM PAY REVISION IN BSNL.
DELINK OUR PENSION REVISION FROM THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF BSNL COMPANY.
DELINK OUR PENSION REVISION FROM PRC REPORT.
GOVERNMENT NEED NOT WAIT FOR THE DECISION OF BSNL COMPANY WITH REGARD REVISION.
............ PURI AIC WILL DECIDE OUR FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION ...........
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THE KERALA CEC MEETING HELD AT ERNAKULAM ON 14-9-2018 DECIDED TO DONATE RUPEES ONE LAKH TO KARNATAKA CHIEF MINISTER'S DISTRESS RELIEF FUND TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF KODAGU AFFECTED BY THE RECENT FLOODS THERE.