Tuesday 26 May 2020


Dear Comrades,
As per the call our CHQ, many of our members sent E. Mail to the Hon'ble Union Finance Minister.
And all the central trade unions urged the ILO to intervene.
Yesterday in a communication the ILO said India is a signatory of ILO convention 144 and hence the Prime Minister of India to send a clear message to central and state governments to uphold the country's international commitments and encourage engagement in effective social dialogue.
We must all be proud that united voice of the pensioners and trade unions  got a moral victory..
Let us be vigilant and united to protect the hard won labour rights.
V. Ramarao,
Circle President,
R. Venkatachalam,
Circle Secretary
26.05.2020.


Wednesday 20 May 2020


Dear Comrades,

All Trade Unions and Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers are organizing some programmes on 22-5-2020 protesting the move of central government for Labour reforms and privatization of many PSUs etc.   Being senior citizens and retirees, in the present condition, we cannot physically participate in such programmes.  Now a days, there is no use of writing Posit Cards.  There is no telegram campaign possible now.  Hence, the only option before us is to send email to PM or Finance Minister.  For sending email to PM we find lot of formalities.  It is quite cumbersome.   Hence,   I suggest that all our Circle Secretaries and District Secretaries may send an email to the Finance Minister with copy to the Minster of State for Finance,  Mr. Anurag Thakur.  Some active members also can be asked to send. At the end, the following information has to be given. The text of the email can be:

“We BSNL retirees protest against privatization move and labour reforms.  We urge the Government to withdraw the moves.”…

Name.
Designation.CS/ DS /BS/ MEMBER.
                       AIBSNLPWA
Place.
Circle.

Please send the email on 21st or 22nd May 2020 to mof@nic.in and mosfinance@nic.in.

Yours  Fraternally,

P Gangadhara Rao, GS.

மத்திய சங்க அறைகூவலை தமிழகத்தில் வெற்றி கரமாக்குவோம்
V. ராமராவ்
மாநில தலைவர்.
R. வெங்கடாச்சலம்,
மாநில செயலாளர்.
20.05.2020



Sunday 17 May 2020

Our CHQ is releasing Pensioner Patrica in e-format journals periodically.
Now it has released e-journal 3, this evening (17-05-2020). To see the     e-journal, please click the link given below.

Please CLICK this link to see e-Journal 3



Friday 15 May 2020


ஓய்வூதியர்கள் குறை தீர்க்க
கட்டணமில்லா இலவச 
கால் சென்டர் 
சேவை.
தோழர்களே ,
1.  ஓய்வூதியர்கள் தங்களுக்கு குறை ஏதேனும் இருப்பின் ,  " ஓய்வூதிய குறையினை நிவர்த்தி செய்யவும் , மற்றும் கண்காணிக்கவும் ஒரு மைய்யப்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஒரு அமைப்பு "  ஒன்று உள்ளது இது  ஓய்வூதியம் மற்றும் ஓய்வூதியர் நல இலாகாவால் நிர்வகிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது                ( CPENGRAMS ) இதில் ஓய்வூதியர்கள் தங்கள்  குறைகளை முறையிடலாம்.   இது தவிர ஓய்வூதியர்கள் தபால் மூலமாகவும் , -மெயில் மூலமாகவும் தங்கள் குறைகளை ஓய்வூதியம் மற்றும் ஓய்வூதியர் நல இலாக்காவிற்கு தெரியப்படுத்தலாம் .அவ்வாறு பெறப்பட்ட குறைகள் உடனடியாக CPENGRAMS  அமைப்பிற்கு  பதிவேற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டு , குறை பதிவேற்று எண் மற்ற விபரங்கள் புகார் அளித்தவருக்கு தெரிவிக்கப்படும் .மேலும் அந்த குறையினை   சம்பந்தப்பட்ட  அமைச்சகம் /இலாக்கா/நிறுவன த்திற்கு அந்த குறைகளை களைவதற்காக அனுப்பப்படுகிறது.

2.  ஆனால்  மிக அதிக வயதுள்ள முதியவர்கள் , குடும்ப ஓய்வூதியதாரர்கள் , புதிய தொழில் நுட்பம் அறியாத ஓய்வூதியர்களால் , தங்கள் ஓய்வூதிய குறைபாடுகளை CPENGRAMS  அமைப்புக்கு தெரிவிக்க முடிவதில்லை என்பதை  சமீப காலங்களில் உணரப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆகவே அப்படிப்பட்ட வயது முதிர்ந்த ஓய்வூதியர்கள் , குடும்ப ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கும் உதவ வேண்டிய தேவை எழுந்துள்ளது .  அதன்பிரகாரம்  ஓய்வூதியம் மற்றும் ஓய்வூதியர் நல இலாகாவானது கட்டணமில்லா தொலைபேசி கால் சென்டர் சேவை ஒன்றை துவக்கியுள்ளது. அதன் அழைப்பு எண் 1800 11 1960 ஆகும். இது கட்டணமில்லா இலவச சேவையாகும். எனவே ஓய்வூதியர்கள் தங்கள் ஓய்வூதியக் குறைகளை அனைத்து வேலை நாட்களிலும், அலுவலக பணி நடைபெறும் நேரங்களில் தெரிவிக்கலாம்.  இந்த கட்டணமில்லா தொலைபேசி இலவச கால் சென்டர் எண் 1800 11 1960 மற்றும் அது அளிக்கும் சேவைகளை நன்கு பிரபலப்படுத்துமாறு அனைத்து ஓய்வூதியர் சங்கங்கள்  கேட்டுக் கொள்ளப் படுகிறார்கள். 
இணை செயலாளர் ,
இந்திய அரசு
ஓய்வூதியம் மற்றும் ஓய்வூதியர் நல இலாகா
லோக் நாயக் பவன் , புது டில்லி .
தமிழாக்கம்  
N.MOHAN
WEBMASTER


Wednesday 13 May 2020


Covid-19 position as on 8/5/2020
Country     Confirmed Recovered  Death                   GDP*                   Debt to
                                                          Fatality       in                         GDP
                                                          Rate            US $                     Ratio

India          56,351        16,776        1889 (3.4%)         2.719          68.52%
                                                                             Trillion

Canada      64,922        28,972        4408 (6.8%)         1.713          34%
                                                                             Trillion

Malaysia    6,467          4,776          107 (1.7%) 358.582                52.5%
                                                                             Billion
*As per World Bank Data in 2018

Relief Package by these countries
India
The people of India is under lock-down since 25/3/2020.  It was extended thrice which lasts till 17/5/2020.  Everyone felt that the lock-down is necessary to face COVID-19.  This virus is a challenge to Medical scientists, WHO, ICMR etc.  WHO & ICMR had to change their guidelines based on inputs from various sources.

In 2018-19 India’s GDP was Rs.190.10 lakh crore.  India’s finance minister announced a relief package for Rs.1.76 lakh crore ( 22.6 billion US $) which is less than 1% of GDP.  The relief package includes five kg of rice or wheat plus one kg of pulse at free of cost to low-income family accounting for 80 crore people for next three months; free gas cylinder supply to 8.3 crore families; Rs.500/- cash transfer to poor people; Rs.2000/- for farmers (which is from the budget).  There was lot confusion about postponement of EMI.  In addition, many State Governments announced additional ration, cash transfer.  But these measures are highly insufficient.  Nobel laurels on economics like Joseph Stiglitz, Amritya Sen, Abhijit Banerjee and others like former RBI Governor Raguram Rajan strongly advocates that India can extend relief package upto 5 or 6% of GDP which works out to Rs.9.5 lakh crore to Rs.11.4 crore.  They strongly advocate that India can manage this burden by borrowing, adjusting the budgetary estimate reducing the expenditure on certain heads which are not urgently required.  The Govt. can effect cash transfer of Rs.5000/- per month to poor people, can extend some concessions including soft-loan to Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME).
The Govt. appealed to the owners of the companies to give salary to their employees for the lock-down period.  On the other hand the Govt. freezed DA to Govt. employees and pensioners for more than an year.  They did not behave as a model employer.  So, many owners of the companies ignored the appeal of the Govt.
Canada
Canada has a population of 3.77 crore in 2019 (like Kerala state).  It announced a relief package of 52 billion Canadian dollar ( 1 CD = Rs.54/-. So, it works out to Rs.2,80,800 crore) on 25/3/2020 to fight COVID-19.  It includes unemployment benefit to 10 lakh people @ 2000 canadian dollars per month for 4 months; Delayed student loan payment for 3 months.  The relief package was approved by Parliament.  The modified Bill caps Ottawa’s emergency spending power at 6 months and allows a House Committee controlled by opposition legislators to force Parliament back over spending abuses.

Malaysia
Malaysia has a population of 3.26 crore in 2019.  It’s PM is Mr. Muhyiddin Yassin.  This country got COVID-19 through travelers from China via Singapore on 25/1/20. Malaysia announced the first lock-down on 18/3/20 which was subsequently extended twice.  The people can come out of their houses only to purchase essentials like groceries, vegetables and for health-care.  The lock-down is to end on 12/5/20.  Malaysian Govt. first announced a stimulus package for 4.8 billion US $ out of which 453 US $ goes to tourism industry which is worst affected by the lock-down.  For small businesses in the tourism industry $ 43 million micro-credit scheme is provided.  Deferment of monthly tax instalment to Hotels, Airlines and businesses in tourism industry from 1/3/20 to 31/8/20.  Travel document vouchers worth $ 22 per person is provided since March 2020.  Provided 6 million $ to tourism promotion.  Incometax relief to the extent of $ 226 to the individuals is provided for expenses on domestic tourism from 1/3/20 to 31/8/20. 

Provided $ 45 million to help businesses to upgrade the skills of workers in Retail, hospitality, tourism, electrical, electronic and auto manufacturing.

Usually the employee’s contribution is 7 to 11 percent of monthly income which is now reduced to 4%.

Low-income house-holds will get monthly 200 ringgits (Malaysia’s currency – 1 Ringgit = Rs.17.43).

MSMEs (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises) make-up 98% of Malaysia’s economy.  The country’s Central Bank (like RBI), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) provided loan to the tune of $ 453 million to MSMEs @ 3.75% interest per annum.  Each MSME is eligible to receive $ 2,26,000 with a tenure of 5.5 years including 6 months payment moratorium.  The Govt. will provide banks with 80% guarantee on loans.

BNM allocated $ 226 million to a loan scheme to food production industry for a period of 8 years @ 3.75% interest per annum and $ 9 million is allotted to agriculture sector.

2nd stimulus package was announced on 27/3/20 for 250 billion Ringgits.
Workers earning less than 4000 Ringgits per month is eligible to receive 600 Ringgits per month for next 3 months.

One billion Ringgits is to be distributed to increase the domestic production of Agriculture, Fisheries & Livestock products.

If the monthly income of a house-hold is less than 4000 Ringgits the family will get 1600 Ringgits per month; if the income is between 4000 & 8000 then those families will get 1000 Ringgits; Individuals above the age of 21 having an income of less than 2000 Ringgits then that individual will get 800 Ringgits p.m; if the income is between 2000 & 4000 then 500 Ringgits will be given. 

3rd stimulus package was announced on 6/4/2020 for 10 billion Ringgits.
$ 7.9 billion was earmarked for expansion of wage subsidies for employees based on the size of their workforce.  $ 2.1 billion is earmarked for a special grant of 3000 Ringgits for all registered MSMEs with a turn-over of less than 3 lakh Ringgits or less than 5 employees.  By this, 48 lakh workers will be benefited. 

Now Indian people can understand the difference.  Even though Indian Government also implemented lock-down from 25/3/20 and extended twice which lasts till 17/5/20 announced an economic package once for 1.76 lakh crore which is highly insufficient.  Everyone can witness the plight of migrant workers families’ sufferings and their determination of going to their home-state even by foot risking their lives.

(By D Gopalakrishnan, CHQ VP, AIBSNLPWA at Chennai)