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On 23-01-2018, Comrades P S Ramankutty, D Gopalakrishnan, R N Pada Nair (former Circle of Secretary of Kerala) and T P George (present Circle Secretary of Kerala) met Advocate Sreeraj in Kochi, Kerala and discussed about filing two cases.
- (1) For getting arrears of pension revision with 78.2% from 01-01-2007 instead of 10-6-2013.
- (2) For getting pension fixed at 50% of the Last Pay Drawn for all BSNL Pensioners at par with other central government pensioners, since all of us are also covered by CCS Pension rules, 1972.
We had discussion with the Advocate for more than an hour. Adv. Sreeraj is the lawyer who fought our case on Extra Increment and won. He agreed to file the two cases before CAT, Ernakulam. We handed over all relevant documents to him. After studying the papers he will finalize the Petition and take all steps to file the petitions within a period of two weeks. Com. P S Ramankutty will file it on behalf of AIBSNLPWA along with two or three pensioners from Kerala. We shall attach a list of pensioners from Kerala showing them as the beneficiaries. Since the jurisdiction of the Ernakulam CAT is Kerala state only, list of those from other circles cannot be attached at this stage. But, the Telecom Department is notorious for going on appeal to High Court and Supreme Court whenever it is defeated in Tribunals. (We have the experience of winning our case on Pension Anomaly.) In this case also we should expect the same. When the matter is taken to the Supreme Court, list of pensioners of other Circles can be attached.
Legal fight is to be fought very carefully. It is along drawn struggle also. In CAT benches number of Judges have retired. Vacancies are not being filled up. Hence thousands of cases are pending for years together.
When justice is denied by Government or by Department we approach the Court of Law. There is undue delay in Courts, including the Supreme Court of India. This is the sorry state of affairs of Indian Judiciary System. But people like us have no alternative.
ANOMALY CASE
Com. R L Kapoor has reported from Delhi that on 23-1-2018, High Court of Delhi took up the appeal petition filed by Department of Telecom against the verdict of CAT Principal bench given in favour of pensioners, in the case our Association had filed and won. After hearing the arguments for some time the High Court simply postted the case to 22-10-2018 saying that detailed arguments are to be heard. !!!!
Gap of Nine months.!!! Our Advocate pleaded for an early date but the High Court did not agree.
Sambalpur district unit (Odisha) has held its district conference today, 21-1-2018. Com. B N Behera (CS) and Com. Bhaskar Nayak (Org. Secretary) attended the conference.
Comrades A C Panda, Khatu Bhoi and P Kisan have been elected as District President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
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Kolar District Unit held its second conference today, 21-01-2018, at Chickaballapura. Com. P Gangadhara Rao (AGS), Com. R Changappa (CS) and Com. K Gururajan (Circle Tr.) attended the conference. Comrades S Venkatanarayana, E Subramani and P Channakesavaiah have been elected as District President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
Kolar branch has 232 members. All the 232 are LIFE MEMBERS.
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Ernakulam District Unit of our Association organized a Workshop on Pension Rules today for the benefit of our active members there to equip them to help pensioners whenever necessary. Com. P Narayanan Moosad (DGM Retd), Kerala Circle President, spoke on the subject.
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50,000 Indian telecom workers to lose jobs in 2018
“In this calendar year, another 50,000 jobs are likely to go (in telecom) and at this point, telecom seems to be the worst-affected sector in terms of jobs. Last year about 40,000 jobs were lost,” Aditya Narayan Mishra, CEO of human resources consultancy firm CIEL HR, told Quartz. “This is happening across the sector, from companies in hardware to the ones in network operations.”
This crisis in the Indian telecom sector began after India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, entered the $50 billion telecom market in September 2016. In order to lure customers, Ambani’s firm, Reliance Jio, has been doling out freebies and has drastically reduced data and call charges, dealing a body blow to other operators.
“The sector has been witnessing rough weather in terms of profitability. The high cost of loan servicing and aggressive competition for market share have reduced the profitability per subscriber. This has also impacted the software and hardware providers to the telecom operators,” a report by CIEL HR, published on Jan. 15, says.
Many companies are also strapped for funds. Banks are not too keen on lending further as some of the telecom companies are already struggling to service existing loans. As the firms rework growth plans, some people are being laid off and others are jumping ship in fear, added Mishra.
Most of those quitting their telecom jobs are eyeing other sectors, adds the report. “This trend highlights the fact that the sector is not recruiting unless it is a critical need that has to be filled by external talent.”
Subdued profitability has resulted in poor salary hikes. About one-third of the total telecom employee base received less than a 5% hike, a huge dampener for morale, added the report.
The overall job market has been tentative anyway. Several other sectors, such as IT and manufacturing, have also reduced headcounts. In fact, one in 10 jobs in India may cease to exist in another five years as globalisation, demographic changes, and new-age technologies transform industries.
For the 225,000 people employed in Indian telecom, these are tense times—and will likely remain so for a year more, Mishra said.
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The recognized unions had a meeting with Director (HR) of BSNL on 8-1-2018. One item discussed was the Pay Anomaly occurred due to point to point fixation of pay when CDA pay was converted into IDA pay with effect from 1-10-2000. 17 years ago. It is decided that Estt. Branch will collect the requisite information from Circles to examine the issue !!!!!!
During the last 17 years, this issue was discussed several times. Data was collected several times from Circles. Some time back, an order was issued also in a half hazard manner, granting upgradation to remove the anomaly till the date of retirement. That order did not solve the anomaly in pension.
Now, after all these exercise, the Management agreed to collect the information from circles and examine the issue.
It may take another 15 or 20 years to collect the data. As usual, some Circles will not send the information. Gradually, the issue will be killed. The people affected may not remain on this earth. Even the Company itself may not remain.
It is the first great joke of the New Year.
New Delhi: The proposed privatisation of Air India Ltd has gained momentum, with the government deciding to break the airline into four units and offer to sell at least 51% in each of them besides transferring most of the non-core debt owed by the carrier to its own balance sheet.
The core airline business comprising Air India and Air India Express—the low-cost overseas arm—will be offered as one company, and the process will be completed by the end of 2018, minister of state for aviation Jayant Sinha said in an interview with Bloomberg on Monday. Its regional arm, ground handling and engineering operations will also be sold separately in the same process.
WHERE IS THE SHELTER FOR COMMON MAN?
THE MEDIA IS CELEBRATING EGO CLASHES AMONG THE SUPREME COURT JUDGES. Neither the judges nor the media are worried about delay in disposal of cases by Indian Courts. A recent report says the position is worst in Gujarat where there are are more judges than many other states. According to the said report, it will take 287 years (YES 287 years) to clear all the pending cases in lower courts in Gujarat at the present rate of disposal ! Media should focus on this aspect.
It is natural that corrupt/criminal politicians influence judiciary. If the Supreme Court judges are also amenable to such pressure where is the shelter for common man?
For centuries, India depended upon agriculture. For agriculture water was essential. Rivers were the main source of water for agriculture. So, towns and cities developed on the banks of rivers. After harvest, people become wealthy and happy. That is the time for celebration.
So, everywhere people of India have harvest festivals. Pongal or Makara Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated mainly in Tamilnadu and Andhra. Then we have Holi, Baisakhi/Vaisakhi, Rongoli Bihu, Hareli, Onam, Nuakhai and less known Kut or Tikhu Emong of NE areas. Even Diwali is a harvest festival.
HAPPY PONGAL GREETINGS.
On the initiative taken by Shri S T Pawar, District Secretary and other leaders of Hubli (Karnataka), a new branch has been formed on 12-1-2018 in the adjoining district of Gadag. Comrades G G Kulkarni, S K Patil and S A Mundalamani are elected as President, Secretary and Treasurer of the new branch. We congratulate Hubli comrades and welcome the new members at Gadag.
Members of Trivandrum SSA unit stage a demonstration in front of PGMT office showing their indignation against delay in payment of medical allowance despite orders from Corporate Office.
Com. P S Ramankutty inaugurated the protest demonstration on 12-1-2018
A new branch has been formed in Ratlam SSA of MP. Com. J S Dahya (AGS) and Com. M C Sharma (CS MP) addressed the formation meeting. 80 comrades have enrolled as Life Members of our Association in the formation meeting itself. Coms. M Prajapati, Vithal Rao Sonaparote and M S Bodlia are the President, Secretary and Treasurer of Ratlam SSA Unit.
Another new branch has been formed in Siddipet of Sangareddy SSA of Telangana Circle. Com. K S Koteswara Rao (CS TG) and Com. E Upender (ACS TG) addresed the formation meeting held on 9-1-2018. Comrades. CH Venkatsham, P Laxma Reddy and A Aananthaiah are elected as President, Secretary and Trreasurer of the new branch.
Our Tiruchirapalli SSA unit in Tamilnadu has enrolled 105 new life members during the past six months. Total membership of the Unit has risen to 527.
Our Coimbatore SSA unit in Tamilnadu has enrolled 103 new life members during the past six months. Total membership of the Unit has risen to 686.
Our Madurai SSA unit in Tamilnadu remains the biggest district Unit in India. The Unit has enrolled 152 new life members during the past six months. Total membership of the Unit is 1650 now.
The West Bengal Circle Conference was held on 6-1-2018. Com. G Natarajan , GS participated. Comrades P C Moitra, Usha Ranjan Mazumdar and Mrinal Kr. Das are elected as new Circle President, Circle Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Detailed report is awaited.
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Fitrst district Conference of Raichur was held on 8-1-2018. Comrades P Gangadhara Rao, K G Deshpande and R Changappa attended the meeting.
Comrades K Prahallad achar (DGM retd), Syed Akbar Hussain and Mohammed Yunus are elected as District President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
We are happy to note good organisational work in AP circle. The circle has, during the past one year, enrolled 900 new members.
East Godavari SSA unit alone has enrolled 250 new members during the past six months.
COM. P. GANGADHARA RAO AND COM. R CHANGAPPA ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AND ADDRESSED.
COMRADES KALE BASANNA, ABDUL KHALEED AND ABDUL RAHEEM ARE ELECTED AS DISTRICT PRESIDENT,
DIST SECRETARY AND TREASURER RESPECTIVELY.