The Year 2020 is coming to an end. But, it will go down as one of the blackest years in the history of mankind. This is because, the entire world is rattled by the dreaded Corona Virus Disease. 8 crore people were infected. 18 lakh people, mostly working people, have lost their lives. The world has not come out of the grip of this virus. However, numerous vaccines are likely to hit the market soon. It is in this backdrop, that the world is going to step into the New Year. The year 2020 may go. But, the experiences it gave, will remain. They are :-

1. The super power United States, which is having sophisticated weapons to destroy this world many times, could not defeat the Corona Virus. It is an irony, that the US became the biggest victim of the COVID-19 in the world. 
2. The US and the European countries, which are the most wealthy and advanced nations in the world, have become the biggest victims of Corona Virus. This is because, the total privatisation of the health care system in those countries.
3. On the other hand, Socialist countries, like China, Cuba and Vietnam safeguarded the people successfully. Death of people in these countries, is very minimal. The Socialist system has proved to be superior to the Capitalist system. 
4. The working people throughout the world, suffered severely. At the same time, the corporates increased their wealth remarkably, even during this COVID-19 pandemic situation. This is only because of the pro-corporate policies of the Capitalist countries. 
5. In India, 14 crore migrant workers were rendered jobless, homeless and were thrown onto the streets. However, it is during this period, corporates like Adani and Ambani multiplied their wealth. It is in this period, Mukesh Ambani became the 5th richest man in the world.
6. In India, "privatisation" has become the 'mantra' of the Modi government. All utilities, like health care, railways, banks, electricity, telecom, insurance, etc., are being sold to the private. However, we should not forget that, only the government run hospitals played a major role in safeguarding the people from COVID-19. The money minting corporate hospitals were not in the picture, till recently.

31^st December, 2020, had been announced as the last date for filing Income Tax returns. However, yesterday, the government has extended this ultimatum to 10^th January, 2021. This extension of date is applicable to BSNL employees as well as pensioners.

The implementation of the Group Term Insurance (GTI) for the Non-Executives is much delayed. Hence, BSNLEU is continuously urging upon the Management to implement it without further delay. BSNLEU has already submitted it's views on the proposals given by the LIC. Under these circumstances, a meeting of the Committee, formed to finalise the terms and conditions of the GTI, is meeting on 1st January, 2021. Representatives of the Recognised Unions are invited to attend this meeting. 

A deadlock has arisen in the functioning of the National Council. BSNLEU is repeatedly writing to the CMD BSNL and Director (HR), requesting to resolve the deadlock. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary,  has already held a discussion with the Director (HR) in this regard. Once again, the General Secretary held a lengthy and serious discussion with Shri A.M.Gupta, Sr.GM(SR) today, on this matter. The General Secretary has demanded that, a solution to the deadlock should be found based on the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court. The Sr.GM(SR) replied that the views of the General Secretary would be looked into positively.

Uttar Pradesh has become the epicentre of politics of hate. This is stated by 104 former bureaucrats, including Shiv Shankar Menon, K. Sujatha Rao, T.K.A. Nair, Wajahad Habibullah and A.S. Dulad. In a letter written to Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the former bureaucrats have expressed their strong disapproval and concern at the “anti-love-jihad law”. Promulgated in Uttar Pradesh. In their letter, the former bureaucrats have said that this law is being used as a stick to victimise those Indian men who are Muslim and women who dare to exercise their freedom of choice. The Yogi Adityanath government has passed the “UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020” on 28^th November, 2020. Records show that, the UP police has registered 14 cases and made 51 arrests, under the ordinance.

IDA फ्रीजिंग के खिलाफ दायर BSNLEU का प्रकरण माननीय केरल उच्च न्यायालय में ग्राह्य...

मोदी सरकार द्वारा पब्लिक सेक्टर के कर्मचारियों को अक्टूबर, 2020, जनवरी, 2021 और अप्रैल, 2021 से देय IDA की किश्तें फ्रीज करने का निर्णय लिया गया है। IDA की यह तीन किश्तें 01.07.2021 से बहाल (restore) होंगी, किन्तु एरियर नही मिलेगा। BSNL कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा DPE के, IDA फ्रीज करने के आदेश की पुष्टि (endorse) करते हुए पत्र जारी कर दिया गया है।

BSNLEU के महासचिव द्वारा, IDA फ्रीजिंग BSNL के नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज पर लागू नही होने का उल्लेख करते हुए CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा गया है। इसी बीच, माननीय केरल उच्च न्यायालय के FACT कर्मियों के प्रकरण में दिए गए जजमेंट के आधार पर , BSNLEU के CHQ द्वारा BSNL मैनेजमेंट के IDA फ्रीज करने के आदेश को चैलेंज करने का निर्णय लिया गया है।तदनुसार, माननीय केरल उच्च न्यायालय में कॉम संतोष कुमार, सर्किल सेक्रेटरी, BSNLEU, केरल सर्किल द्वारा रिट याचिका (writ petition) दायर की गई है। BSNLEU की रिट याचिका क्रमांक W.P(c)29212-2020 ग्राह्य कर ली गई है। प्रकरण पर, अवकाश पश्चात 04 जनवरी, 2021 को न्यायालय पुनः शुरू होने पर सुनवाई होगी।

The Modi government has taken decision to freeze the three IDA instalments of the Public Sector employees, falling due from October, 2020, January, 2021 and April, 2021. These three instalments of IDAs will be restored w.e.f. 01.07.2021, but the arrears will not be paid. The BSNL Corporate Office has issued letter, endorsing the DPE order for freezing the IDA. 

The General Secretary of BSNLEU, wrote to the CMD BSNL, stating that the IDA freezing is not applicable to the Non-Executives of BSNL. In the meanwhile, based on the judgement given by the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, in the case of FACT workers, the CHQ of BSNLEU decided to challenge the order of BSNL Management, for freezing the IDA. Accordingly, a writ petition is filed in the Hon’ble Kerala High Court by Com.C. Sonthosh Kumar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Kerala circle. BSNLEU’s writ petition No.W.P(c)29212-2020 is admitted. The case will come up for hearing when the Court reopens after vacation on 04^th January, 2021.

BSNLEU is extending it’s steadfast support and solidarity to the ongoing farmers’ agitation. BSNLEU has organised solidarity demonstrations throughout the country on 03^rd December, 2020 and 08^th December, 2020. A nationwide placard showing campaign was also organised on 26^th December, 2020.

In the meanwhile, the All India Centre of the Union has decided to donate Rs.One lakh to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which is in the forefront in organising the present agitation of the farmers. Today, Com.R.S. Chauhan, Vice President (CHQ), Com.M.S. Kadian, Circle Secretary, Haryana, Com.Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary (CHQ), Com.Naresh Pal, former Organising Secretary (CHQ) & District Secretary, Meerut, and Com.T.A. Biju, CHQ Office Secretary, went to the Singhu border, the epicentre of the ongoing farmers’ agitation and presented BSNLEU’s cheque for Rs.One lakh to the AIKS. Com.Krishna Prasad, received the cheque on behalf of the AIKS.

The gratuity money of an employee can be withheld and forfeited for recovery of dues such as overstaying in official accommodation, the Supreme Court has ruled. A bench headed by justice Sanjay K Kaul held that, there is no prohibition against recovering dues including penal rent -- the rent with penalty for overstaying in official accommodation -- from an employee’s gratuity.

[Courtesy: The Hindustan Times: dated 27.12.2020]

Five Non-Executives were high handedly transferred from Nagaon SSA to Tezpur SSA in Assam circle. One of the transferees is Com.Debasis Majumdar, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Nagaon, who is enjoying immunity from transfers, as per Corporate Office orders. BSNLEU objected to these transfers and wrote to the Director (HR), BSNL. Consequently, the transfers are kept under abeyance. However, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) today, demanding total cancellation of the transfer orders, since the transfers have been issued in total violation of Corporate Office orders on the subject.

BSNLEU has given call for organising placard showing campaign today throughout the country, in support of the farmers’ agitation. Accordingly, comrades organised this campaign by showing placards carrying slogans in support of the farmers’ agitation. The slogans included “withdraw the pro-corporate Farm Acts”, “withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill (2020)”, “ensure statutory Minimum Support Price”, etc. CHQ heartily congratulates all the circle and district unions which have successfully organised the programme.

Serious violations of the facility of immunity from transfers, are being reported from some  circles. CHQ is promptly taking up those issues with the Corporate Office. For example, the District Secretary of BSNLEU, Vadodara, was recently transferred out of the district. The transfer has since been settled, at the intervention of the Corporate Office, based on the complaint from the CHQ of BSNLEU. These mischieves are being done by some circle administrations, utilising a particular provision of the Corporate Office order, which states, “immunity from transfer is subject to administrative convenience”.  Hence, the Corporate Office has issued an instruction to all the CGMs, giving suitable instruction.  

In total violation of all the existing rules, five Non-Executives were transferred out of their districts, in Assam circle, in the name of Consolidation of Business Area. These comrades are transferred from Nagaon SSA to Tezpur SSA. The list of comrades transferred includes Com.Majumdar, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Nagaon. CHQ immediately intervened in this matter. Letter was written. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, discussed the matter with the Director (HR) and the GM(Restructuring). Consequent to this, the CGM, Assam, has issued letter and has kept all the transfers under abeyance. BSNLEU will not allow Non-Executives being transferred out of the SSA in the name Consolidation of Business Areas.

The Kerala circle union of BSNLEU has donated Rs.60,000/- to the farmers’ agitation. This is a very positive initiative by our Kerala circle union, which highlights their class consciousness. CHQ heartily congratulates the Kerala circle union.

Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, retired from service on supernation on 30.04.2020 in the midst of the total lock-down. Now, that the restrictions have been removed, a function is organised at Agartala on 22.12.2020, to felicitate Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS. The function was presided over by Com.Debojit Majumder, President, Tripura district and Com.Mintu Ch. Bhowmik, President, BSNLCCWU. Com.Babul Das, DS, BSNLEU, Com.Purnendu Das, SNEA, Shri Bikash Sarkar, DGM, BSNL and many others addressed and praised the services of Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS.

नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज की तीन IDA की किश्ते फ्रीज करने के विरोध में BSNLEU कानूनी निदान हेतु प्रयासरत...

01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 और 01.04.2021 को देय तीन IDA फ्रीजिंग के संबंध में DPE ने स्पष्ट रूप से कहा है कि IDA फ्रीज करने का  निर्णय केवल सेंट्रल पब्लिक सेक्टर एंटरप्राइजेज के एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज और नॉन यूनियनाइज्ड सुपरवाइजर्स पर ही लागू होगा। यह सेंट्रल पब्लिक सेक्टर एंटरप्राइजेज के नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज पर लागू नहीं होगा। माननीय केरल उच्च न्यायालय और साथ ही माननीय कर्नाटक उच्च न्यायालय ने आदेश पारित किए हैं, जिसमें स्पष्ट किया गया है कि IDA फ्रीज करने का  निर्णय केवल सेंट्रल पब्लिक सेक्टर एंटरप्राइजेज के एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज और नॉन यूनियनाइज्ड सुपरवाइजर्स पर ही लागू होगा। इस परिप्रेक्ष्य में, BSNLEU द्वारा 01.10.2020 से देय IDA की किश्त के तत्काल भुगतान की मांग करते हुए पहले ही CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा जा चुका है। इसके अलावा, BSNLEU, कानूनी निदान की संभावनाएं भी तलाश रही है। इस संबंध में CHQ द्वारा कॉम संतोष कुमार, सर्किल सेक्रेटरी, BSNLEU, केरल को आवश्यक पहल करने हेतु निर्देशित भी किया जा चुका है। यह उस तथ्य के परिप्रेक्ष्य में है कि नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज का IDA फ्रीज करने के विरोध में प्रथम आदेश माननीय केरल उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा पारित किया गया है।

As regards, the freezing of three IDAs, falling due on 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021, the DPE has categorically mentioned that the freezing of IDA is applicable only to the Executives and to the Non-Unionised Supervisors of the CPSEs. The Hon’ble Kerala High Court, as well as the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka have passed orders stating that, the IDA freezing is only applicable to the Executives and Non-Unionised Supervisors. In view of this, BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding that, the IDA instalment which has become due from 01.10.2020, should be paid immediately. Further, BSNLEU is also exploring the option of seeking legal remedy. The CHQ has already directed Com.Santhosh Kumar, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Kerala, for taking the necessary initiative. This is in view of the fact that, the first order, against IDA freezing for the Non-Executives, is passed by the Hon’ble Kerala High Court.