NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS
ASSOCIATIONS.
13-C Feroze Shah Road,
New Delhi.110 001
President: Shiv
Gopal Misra: Ph:
9717647594
Secretary
General: K.K.N.
Kutty Ph:
9811048303
Dated:
13th October, 2019
Dear Comrades,
We place hereunder
the report of the Secretary General to the fourth All India Delegates
Conference of NCCPA being held at Jaipur on 1-2 November, 2019. Kindly go through the same and if you propose
any amendments, please send the same through e mail of NCCPA. The host unit has
informed us that they have not received the journey details from many
units. Unless the same is received by
them it would be difficult for the reception committee to function In case the accommodation booked becomes
insufficient, they may not be able to acquire the same at short note. The resolution to be adopted at the
conference, amendment to bye laws etc. may please be sent to the CHQ
immediately.
The Statement of
account for the four year period ending on 15.10.2019 will be submitted to the
Conference. A separate receipt and
payment account in respect of the journal which are printed and dispatched from
Kolkata would be submitted separately.
With greetings,
Yours
fraternally,
KKN.
Kutty
Secretary
General.
NATIONAL
CO-ORDINATION OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..
Website:
nccpahq.blogspot.in.
E
mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.
13.c
Feroze Shah Road,
New
Delhi. 110 001
PRESIDENT: COM.SHIV GOPAL
MISHRA.(97176 47594)
SECy. GENERAL:
COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)
Dated
17th September, 2019.
NOTICE
Notice is
hereby given for the 4th triennial general body meeting/conference of the
NCCPA at Jaipur on 1st and 2nd November,
2019 as per Rule 3 of the bye-laws. The
General Body/Conference will commence at 10.00AM on Ist November, 2019 and is
expected to be concluded at 6.00PM on 2nd November, 2019. The meeting/conference will consider the
following agenda.
Agenda:
1.Confirmation
of the minutes of the last conference/gb meeting
2.Setting
up of the credential committee/steering committee
3.Consideration
and adoption of the report of the Secretary General.
4.Consideration
and adoption of the accounts presented by the treasurer
5.Ratification
of grant of affiliation and consideration of application for fresh affiliation
6.Resolutions
and proposal to amend the bye-laws
7.Adoption
of the report of the credential and steering committees.
8.Election
of office bearers.
9.Any other
matter with the permission of the chair
K.K.N.Kutty
Secretary General.
NATIONAL
CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEEOF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..
Website:
nccpahq.blogspot.in.
E
mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.
13.c
Feroze Shah Road,
New
Delhi. 110 001
PRESIDENT: COM.SHIV GOPAL
MISHRA.(97176 47594)
SECy. GENERAL:
COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)
Dated
17th September, 2019.
Notice
is hereby given for The National executive committee meeting of the NCCPA at Jaipur on 1st November, 2019. The meeting/conference will consider the
following agenda. The meeting will commence at 2.00 PM>
Agenda:
1.Confirmation
of the minutes of the last meeting
2.Consideration and adoption
of the report of the Secretary General and the accounts of the Treasurer to be
submitted to the Conference.
3.Any other matter with the
permission of the Chair.
K.K.N.Kutty
Secretary General.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO THE
IV
ALL INDIA DELEGATES CONFERENCE
/
GENERAL BODY MEETING TO BE
HELD
AT JAIPUR ON
1st
AND 2nd NOVEMBER 2019
Before we consider this report, let us offer Red salute
to those martyrs who have written with their blood
the history of fight of the exploited against the exploiters,
the oppressed against the oppressors wherever they are,
so that every man may live in this world with self
respect and dignity. Let our movement
draw its inspiration from them.
Let us also remember with reverence
those comrades in various units
who breathed last during the period
since our last conference at Kolkata.
On
behalf of the National Executive of NCCPA, I have the proud privilege of
presenting this report to the 4th All India Conference/Triennial General Body Meeting being held at 1st and 2nd November 2019. We have given separately the statement of accounts for the financial year
ending on 15-10-2019 .
The
NCCPA conference comes to Jaipur for the second time in its existence of a
decade and half. CGPA, Jaipur had some
initial hesitation due to the huge
financial burden involved in the All India Conference. It is gratifying that they could collectively
overcome and come forward to host the 4th Conference.
Jaipur
is a historical city with great many monuments, forts, palaces and lakes. Built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singhji
it is the first planned city of India. The name of Jaipur actually derived from the
Maharaha Jaisingh. The city was built in
the foothills of the glorious Ajmer Fort.
The chief architect was Shri Vidyadhar Bhattarchaya from Bengal. In 1876, a century letter of the building of
the city the then ruler of Jaipur Maharaja Ram Singh adorned the city with Pink
colour to welcome the Prince of Wales
(Lord King Edward VII). Pink is
connected with the great Indian tradition of hospitality. Raja Man Singh who took over the reins of
administration in 1922 made Jaipur a most modern city. It is to this historic place, we welcome our
delegates to enjoy Jaipur’s hospitality, relish the taste of their rich food
and feast your eyes with the greatest exhibition of Indian architectural
skills, the paintings, carvings and sculpture.
We
shall briefly mention in this report the important and significant developments
that happened in the world and especially in our country as it had a bearing on
our own life and livelihood and will impact on our future too. The report will cover our activities in the
last term of office detailing our endeavours, failures, deficiencies and
uniqueness of approach. A discussion
over these at the Conference properly will enable us to formulate our future
policy and programmes. But before we
commence that narrative, let us take time to pay our respectful homage to those
great persons, whose names are mentioned hereunder, who left us with an indelible
impression. While it may be impossible,
given the paucity of space, to provide a narrative of good deeds of all these
good persons, we have attempted to do so in respect of a few.
Neil
O’Brien, former MP and Quiz pioneer; Carlo Pedersoli, Italian Actor;
O.N.V.Kurup, Malayalam Poet and lyricist; Mrinalini Sarabai, Classical
Dancer; Ravindra Kalia, Writer; Mufti
Muhammad Sayeed, Politician; Manorama, Tamil Actor; Jagmohan Dalmiya, Cricket
Administrator; Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, Classical Dancer; Kalpana Ranjini,
Malayalam Actor; Sayeed Jaffry, Actor;. S.S. Tarapore, Economist; Nida Fazli,
Poet; Sudhir tailing,Cartoonist; Abdul Rashid Khan, Musician; Ustad Sabri Khan,
Musician; Shankaran Nair, Intelligence Agent, former RAW Chief; Balram Jakher,
Former Lok Sabha Speaker; Ashok Ghosh, AIFB Leader;.Purno Agitok Sangma, Former
Loksabha Speaker; Muhammed Ali, Boxing Champion; Inder Malhotra, Veteran
Journalist; K.G. Subramanyan, one of the pioneers of modern Indian Art;
Kalabhavan Mani, Malayalam Actor;
Ramachandra Chintaman, Marati Litterateur; Mahasweta Devi, Bengali Litterateur and
Social activist; S.R. Nathan, former
Singapore president; Islam Karimov, Uzbek President for more than 25 years;
Shimon Peres, former Israeli President; M.Balamuralikrishna, Carnatic vocalist
& Composer; Ram Naresh Yadev, former
UP Chief Minister; MGK. Menon, former
ISRO Chairman; Cho. S. Ramaswamy, Tamil
Actor; Edward Richardo, American novelist; Om Puri. Veteran Actor; Ali Akber Hashmi Rafsanjini, former Iranian
president; Surjith Singh Barnala, former Punjab Chief Minister; proffer C.V. Vishveshara, who did pioneering
work on black holes, in Bangalore; . E. Ahemmed, former union Minister; Rabi
Ray, former Loksabha Speaker; Vinod Khanna, Hindi Actor & MP; Leila Seth,
first Woman Judge in Delhi High Cout, ,
Ms. Jayalalitha, former Chief Minister, Tamilnadu. Anil Madhav Dev,
Union environment minister; Reema Lagoo, actor & theatre artist; Roger
Moore, British actor; K.P.S. Gill former Pujab DGP; Dasari Narayana Rao, film
Director & former union minister; Era Sezhiyan, veteran
parliamentarian; P.N. Bhagawati, former
CJI; U.R. rao, former ISRO Chairman;. P.M. Bhargava, Veteran molecular
biologist;. Girija Devi. Classical singer; I.V. Sasi, Malayalam Film director;
Dina Wadia, daughter of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinah; Priya Ranjan
dasmunsi, congress leader; Shashi Kapoor, veteran actor.
George
Bush, Presidnet of USA, Paul Allen, Microsoft
co founder, Trai Dai Quang, Vietnma President, Kofi Annan, Former U.N.
Secretary General, Stephen Hawking,
Renowned Physicist, Mrinal Sen, Film
Director, Nrupam Sen, CPM leader, Anantha Kumar, former Union
Minster, Madan Lal Khurana, former Delhi
Chief Minister, Somnath Chatterji, Former Speaker, Lok Sabha, M. Karunanidhi,
former Chief Minister, Tamilnadu, Kedarnath Singh, Gnanapith Award Winner,
Kanchi Sankaracharya Saraswathy,
Sreedevi, Bollywood Actress, Ram
Jethmalani, renowned Supreme Court Lawyer, Arun Jaitley, Former Finance and
Defence Minister of India, Khayyamn, Music composer, Ms. Sushama Swaraj, former foreign Minister of Inida, Jaipal Reddy,
former Union Minister, Sheila Dixit, three times Chief Minister of Delhi,
Girish Karnad, Great Indian Actor and political activist, Manohar Parikkar,
former Defence Minister of India, Kader
Khan, Veteran Actor and write, George Fernandez, former Trade Union leader and
Defence Minister of India.
Com. Fidel Castro.
Revolution
is not a bed of roses. It is a conflict and struggle between the present and
the past. That is how Fidel Castro expressed his understanding of
revolution. On 26th November 2016, Fidel
Castro breathed his last. He was the
greatest revolutionary, the world has ever seen. That great oratory that moved
millions, which became the constant
threat to the imperialist powers especially the USA will never be heard again.
His was an ever open eye against the dastardly and exploitative system of
capitalism.
Fidel
Castro entered the politics in the year 1952 as
a candidate of the Orthodox Party of Cuba against the autocratic rule of
Batistia. That election was rigged and
overturned. Com. Castro was caught and
imprisoned. Fidel chose the armed
struggle to overthrow the despotic rule.
Even though he was caught and tortured he ultimately succeeded and the
communist rule was established in Cuba. In the six decade rule, Cuba had to
confront with innumerable attempts of counter revolution ably assisted by the
USA. Cuba could not only withstand the
inhuman sanctions imposed by the US and the imperialist Allies but could make
the country as the top ranking in the human and development index of the
developining nations of the world.
Castro and his Cuba had been and continues to be the tower of strength
for all Latin American countries and the left movements there. Cuba has the best social health system in the
world, which fact had to be recognized even by the USA. The collapse of the
Soviet Union brought about insurmountable problems for Cuba. From a single sugar exporting economy it was
forced to diversify. The Cuban people
stood behind their leader in all those trials and tribulation. Cuba could withstand the cruel sanctions
without compromising on its governing system.
Fidel
faced 638 assassination attempts made by the USA and its dreaded CIA. In 2006 in the face of the falling health, he
relinquished as President of Cuba and his brother Raul Castro took over. Fidel never compromised. When Barack Obama visited Cuba and extended
the oiive hand of co-operation, Fidel was not interested. He later wrote a 1500 word letter to his
brother wherein without mincing, he said that Cuba does not require any gift
from the imperialist forces.
World
history is said to be the compilation of the autobiographies of its great
leaders. If that be case, Castro’s will be the prominent among them. Fidel will
be remembered for all time to come by the generation of people who will yearn
for a society sans exploitation.
COM.SUKOMALSEN.
Com.
Sukomal Sen, who passed away after a prolonged illness at Kolkata on 22nd November,2017 was a legendary
leader of the State Government employees in the country. Born in 1934 at
Bikanpur in Dhaka District, presently in Bangladesh, he had his formal
education at Kolkata. After passing out
as a graduate in Science, Com.Sen took his post graduate degree in
English. He joined the West Bengal State
Service in 1955. Though he was selected
to the West Bengal civil Service later, he declined that for continuing in
service as an employee. Ever since he
joined the service, he took keen interest in the Union activities of the
employees. In 1960s along with his colleagues, he strived to form an all India
Federation for the state Government employees.
It was due to his constant endeavour and of his friends from other States, that the All
India State Government Employees Federation came into existence. In 1982 ,he
became the General Secretary of the AISGEF. He continued in that position for
long 26 years. By the time, he
relinquished his office as the General Secretary the AISGEF had grown into a mighty, militant and
dynamic trade union organisation, always in the forefront of the struggles of
the workers in the country. The AISGEF rose to the unassailable position of the
biggest employees’ organisation in the country with the largest number of
members.
In
the year 1952, Com. Sukomal Sen was
formally inducted into the then
Communist Party of India as a member.
For quite long time he had to function in cognito. In 1982 the Party nominated him to Rajya
Sabha as a member of that house. He was a member of Rajya Sabha for 12 years.
During his long tenure at the Parliament, he had become the voice of the
suppressed people, especially the employees and workers. He rose
to become the Chairman of the Control Commission of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist) and was a member of the Central Committee of the Party till
2015, when he retired owing to ill health.
His
contribution in bringing up a strong
trade union movement in West Bengal, especially in1950s to 1980s was immense.
Com. Sen was among the early architects of the left movement in Bengal, whose
efforts brought the Communist Party in power and the Party could retain the same for about thirty five years. The Congress which was in
power naturally targeted him and he was dismissed from service in 1971 invoking
the provisions of Article 311(2)(c) of the constitution, by virtue of which
one’s service could be terminated on the simple unproved allegation that he is
anti- national. In 1977, the left front Government of West Bengal reinstated
him in service. In 1982 he resigned as an employee, having been nominated to be
a member of the Parliament.
Besides
being an able organiser and orator, Com. Sen was a scholarly person too. The book he penned in the early days of his
career, the history of the Indian working class movement is considered as the best on the subject and
is often referred to by a large number of students and authors. The authenticity it has gained could be
gauged from the references the book received in the bibliographies of the innumerable essays
written on the subject. The widely
acclaimed “history of the World Federation of Trade Unions” written by him was
released at the Athens Conference of WFTU. He was on another important work
when he was bed-ridden. He edited the monthly journal of the AISGEF “Employees
Forum” for more than three decades.
Com.Sukomal
Sen was a severe critic of the neo-liberal economic policies. His deep analysis of the issues and
presentation focused over the perils of those policies. He firmly believed and propagated that the
Pension Reforms undertaken by the Government of India, whereby the defined
benefit pension scheme was overnight converted into a defined contributory one was part of the neo-liberal
policies. In his booklet on the pension reforms, he presented to the workers
that the pension reform was meant to help the corporates and was a clever device to transfer wealth
from the poor to the rich. He took
strenuous efforts in association with the then Secretary General of
Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, Late Com.S.K.Vyas to
create a joint platform for the Central and State employees to fight against
the loot in the name of pension reform. Under the auspices of the joint
platform of State and Central Employees
a massive procession was organised to the Parliament to present a memorandum
signed by crores of employees to the Speaker
of the Lok Sabha. The Joint
Platform gave a clarion call for a one day strike on 30th October, 2007,which
was responded very admirably by the affiliates of the two organisations. The fire he ignited on that day has now
spread far and wide and is poised to engulf the young workers under the Central
and State Government to lead them into a bitter struggle to take back the
defined pension benefit. President . Com.Sukomal Sen had the opportunity to
represent the Indian Working class on several occasions at the forum of
International Labour organisation. His
complaint of not extending the trade union rights to the Government employees
received the serious attention of the world body and the Government of India
was hauled up for violating the international covenants.
In
his demise the trade union movement in the country and especially the movement
of the Civil servants and Government employees has lost an able and astute
leader, ardent organiser, determined opponent of the neo-liberal policies and a fierce fighter against the disruption
of the social and communal harmony .
The World Federation of Trade Unions, once the
largest body of the international working people suffered a severe set back in
its efficacy, structure and functioning over the collapse of the socialist
state of USSR. Com. Sukomal Sen was one
of the members of the WFTU. He took over
the onerous task of the General
Secretary of the Trade Union International – Public and allied Employees,
rejuvenated its functioning and made it a vibrant body spreading its influence
to all continents. In 2008, he stepped down .
His exit from the world body proved costly for the organisations as it
went into dormancy for the next 8 years.
Its functioning could be revived only when a new leadership was chosen
at the world conference, which was held in 2015 at Kathmandu, Nepal.
Com.Sukomal
Sen was not only a leader of the Government employees. He had been very active
in the movement of the general working class too. He was a member of the Central Working
Committee of the CITU for a long time and was later elected as its Vice President . Com.Sukomal Sen had the
opportunity to represent the Indian Working class on several occasions at the
forum of International Labour organisation.
His complaint of not extending the trade union rights to the Government
employees received the serious attention of the world body and the Government
of India was hauled up for violating the international covenants.
In
his demise the trade union movement in the country and especially the movement
of the Civil servants and Government employees has lost an able and astute
leader, ardent organiser, determined opponent of the neo-liberal policies and a fierce fighter against the disruption
of the social and communal harmony .
.Dr.
APJ. Abdul Kalam
Avul
Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam better known as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the
11th President of India from 2002 to 2007 breathed his last on 27th July, 2015
at shillong after a cardiac arrest. A career scientist turned statesman, Kalam
was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and
aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist at the
ISRO. He was also known as the ‘missile man’ of India. Kalam’s life was a
journey from a simple house on the island of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to the
Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was born on 15th October, 1931 at Rameshwaram and had
his school education first at the Panchayat Elementary School there and then at
Schwartz High School in Ramanathapuram town. He obtained B.sc physics degree
from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi, in 1954 and completed a three year diploma
course in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT, Chromepet, Chennai in 1960. He
joined the Bangalore based Aeronautical Development Esstablishment (ADE) of the
DRDO as scientist the same year. In 1969, he joined the ISRO.
A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam was always proud of the successful launch of the Indian Space
Research Organisation’s (ISRO) three-stage Satellite Launch /vehicle (SLV)-3 on
18th July, 1980 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. In fact, that brought him recognition and became the
launching pad for his spectacular career as a rocket engineer and missile
technologist who put India on the world map as a space-faring nation and a
missile power. Kalam received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award,
in November, 1997. He played a key role in India’s nuclear tests at Pokhran,
Rajasthan, in May, 1998 and became the President of India in 2002. He was the
most popular President, establishing an extraordinary connect with the common
people, youth and children and came to be known as the peoples’ President’. In
his death the country has lost a statesman and a great scientist.
Com. A. B. Bardhan
Veteran
Trade Union Leader & leader of CPI Com. A.B. Bardhan, passed away on 2nd
January, 2016. Born in Sylhet (now in Bangladesh) on 25th September, 1925, to Shri.
Hemendra Kumar and Smt. Sarla Devi, Bardhan was grown as a true patriot since
childhood. When his family was shifted to Nagpur, he was drawn into the student
movement of those turbulent days. In 1940 he joined the AISF and became its
national secretary in 1945. Mr. Bardhan took part in the freedom movement as a
member of the All India Students Federation and later associated himself with
the trade union movement of Nagpur,
going on to become general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress. For
his activities he was arrested several times and spent a total of about four
and half years in jail starting from the ‘Quit India’ (August 1942) Movement.
He was underground for nearly two years, during which he worked as a trade
union organizer in Calcutta (West Bengal). He was also elected MLA from Nagpur
in 1957. He won an election just once, to the Maharashtra Assembly, in 1957 as
an Independent. After losing several elections, he moved to Delhi in the 1990s
and got involved in national politics.
His
name is closely associated with the history of the working class movement in
India. As a trade union organizer he worked amongst power, railway, defence,
and engineering and press workers and led their struggles. He was the pioneer
in organizing handloom workers all over the country. His sharpness and clarity
as a class conscious working class leader elevated Bardhan to various
responsibilities in the Trade Union movement including the General
Secretaryship of the AITUC. Till his last breath Bardhan served the cause of
the working class and its ideology. The working class of this country will
always remember his contribution to the cause of the trade union movement of
the country and as an uncompromising crusader in the fight against communalism.
His writings and speeches inspired all those who stood for India’s unity in
diversity.
Atal Behari Vajpayee:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was
born at Gwalior on 25th December 1924.
His father Krishna Bihari Vajpayee was an school teacher in his hometown of Gwalior. In
the year 1942, when he was just 16 he joined the RSS. Alongwith him his brothers was arrested by the British
government for participating in the Quit India Movement. He was released on a
written understanding to the effect that he was part of the crowd and had not
participated in the militant event in Bateshwar on 27th August 1942. In
1951 he was deployed by RSS to work in jansangh. In 1957 general election he contested from
Mathura but lost. However, he won the
election from Balrampur. His oratorical speech
came in for praise from persons
of all walks of life. Jawaharlal Nehru has predicted that he would one
day become Prime Minister of the country. He
became the most eloquent defender
of the divisive policies of Jansangh. He became the National President of
Jansangh in 1968. In 1975, he was arrested along with great may number of
opposition political leaders when Mrs Gandhi declared emergency, Vajpayee
appealed on the ground of bad health and
was moved to a hospital in Delhi. When the emergency was lifted and election
declared many main stream political parties joined together in including the
Bhartiya Jan Sangh to form the Janta
Party. Under the Prime Ministership of Morarjee Desai, he became the External
Affair Minister. In 1979, he resigned to join the Bhartiya Janta Party. He
became the President of BJP In 1980. In 1984, he again contested for Lok Sabha
from Gwalior but lost to MadharaoScindia scion the Gwalior fairly. BJP won only
two seats in the Parliament then. As a revival place BJP put into
operation the Ramjanambhoomi mandir
movement. The 1989 election theirplan and strategy paid off as they 86
seats. In December 1992 the Babri masjid was felled by acrowd mobilized by BJP and VHP
together in the 1996 election. BJP
became the single largest party in the parliament. Vajpayee was swornin as the
10th Prime Minister of the Country. He had to
resign after 16 days having failed to get the requisite majority. on the fall
of the United Front Government which lasted just for two years, Election was
declared in 1998. BJP formed the NDA.
Vajpayee became Prime Minister again. AIADMK withdrew support and the
NDA combination lost majority, Vajpayee
had to resign after being prime minister for 13 months. In May 1998 India conducted its second
nuclear test at Pokhran. Two weeks later Pakistan responded with its own
nuclear test. Vajpayee initiated discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister and
introduced the peace process through a Bus service between Lahore and Delhi. in
May 1999 he had to face the Cargill war when Pakistan intruded into the Cargill. At the end of bloody war
where a large number of Jawanswho lost their life, Pakistan was made to
surrender. NDA won 303 seats in the next
election under Vajpayee. In
December1999, the Indian Aeroplane was hijacked and was taken to Kandhar in
Afghanistan. The demand raised was to
hand over the terrorist captured by
India like Masood Azhar. Vajpayee had to agree and the passengers were released
on making over the demand. RSS appears
to have exerted extreme pressure for meeting its core elutes repealing article
370 bringing about uniform civil code,
and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya. Because of the coalliatual
compulsions were not taken by Vajpayee. He made several attempts to brokepeace
with Pakistan but nothing fructified. On
13th of December, a group of armed terrorist
attacked the Parliament House. Vajpayee ordered about 75000 troops to the
border of Pakistan which was responded also by Pakistan, A war became eminent.
However the intervention of international diplomatic mission averted the war crises
between two nuclear countries.
The Gujrat riots happened during his period as Prime Minister.Though he
charged Narendra Modi, he did not take any steps to dismiss the Modi
Government.
He pursued an aggressive economic reforms
policy. The country’s GDP growth exited 7% during his period. He reformed the
tax system, modernized the public and
Industrial infrastructure. In July 2003 he visited China and agreed with China Government as Tibet is part of China.. One of the most
important project undertaken by him was the Narmada Highway developments
project in 2001 which received great
appreciation from one and all. The NDA
was expected to return power in 2014 general election but it didn’t happen. The
NDA could get only 138 seats whereas INC
145. The UPA formed the Government. In
December 2005 Vajpayee announced his retirement from politics. Vajpayee
remained Bachelor through out his life. The stroke he suffered in 2009 impaired
his speech. He was confined to wheel chair.
On 11 June 2018 he was admitted to AIIMS. On 16th June 2018 at the age
of 93 he died.
Atal Behari Vajpayee has been often mentioned
as multi-faceted and charming person.
His oratory capacity was par excellent. His climb to stupendous heights
of the political leadership, much has to be attributed to the excellent
oratory, skillful maneuvering of political negotiations, ability to strike a
personal chord even with his political rivals. His interest in international
affairs , has stood in good stand when he became the external affair minister
in Janta Government. He was a poet though that talent could not be bloomed to
its fullest due to his equally great interestin politics. He was warm liberal, generous, humorous and
willy in his public appearance. He was revered leader not only in the eyes of
BJP members but of many other different political He was very fond of good
food. Unlike many politicians, he was transparent. He did not concede at any
point of time his relationship with his companions though he was a bachelor. In
one of the meeting he had openly admitted that he was unmarried but not a
celibate.
He was a strong RSS man and
whatever he projected in his real life had been what RSS wanted him to be at a
particular point of time. It is said
that the political requirement of the day decides the role to be played by each
one of their leaders. Though he was not present at the site when BabriMaszid
was felled by the Sangh Pariwar, his speech in Lucknow on the previous day tells where his sympathy had been. K.N.
Govindacharya one time close associate of Vajpayee is reported to have
commented that are other personality frats that this veteran parliamentarian of 5 and half decade standing
had, were a sort of Mukhota(mask). Vajpayee will always be counted as superior
leader especially by RSS and sanghpariwar
for the deftness and ability with which he could stitch acollation of parties, who were
inimical to the BJP ideology.
Com. R.L.Bhattacharjee
Com.
R. L. Bhattacharjee, one of the founders of NCCPA, passed away on 10-09-2019 at
12.40 hours. He was suffering from various old age ailments for the last two
years or so.
Com.
Bhattarcharjee was born in 1931 and entered in service in P&T Department in
1953. He started his Trade union career under National Fedearation of P&T
Employees since its formation in 1954 in Howrah-Hooghly Division. He was first
elected as organising Secretary of A.I.P.E.U. class III West Bengal Circle in
1966 and was elected as Circle Secretary of that organisation in 1977 and led
the circle organisation till 1993. Once he was elected as Asstt. General
Secretary of CHQ of that Union. He also served as the President of P&T
Co-ordination Committee West Bengal and Asstt General Secretary of the
Co-ordination Committee of Central Govt. Employees and Workers’ Unions and
Associations West Bengal. He was elected as Deputy Secretary General of
National Federation of Postal Employees in Dharwar Federal Council in 1992 and
served the organisation under the leadership of Com. K. Adinarayana.
In
his service career he was promoted to inspector of P.Os cadre in 1966 and
afterwards promoted to Pss group
B. cadre. But he did not accept the promotion to gazetted rank to serve the
Trade Union movement.
He
joined the pensioners organisation in West Bengal in the later part of nintees
and was elected as president in Fourth
Conference of Co-ordination Committee of Central Govt. Pensioners Association
West Bengal. He was one of the pioneer of formation of National Co-ordination
Committee of Pensioners Association under the leadershop of Com. S. K. Vyas. He
was elected as President of NCCPA in the Second AIC of NCCPA and acted as such
till last conference held in Kolkata in Nov 2015. He could not continue his
activities in the Pensioners movement because of his ill health although he was
one of the Patron of NCCPA till death.
Our
profound sympathy goes to the hundreds of victims in terrorist activities, the
civilians in Border States due to
internal and external conflicts and above all those poor people who died of
natural fury like devastating floods at Utarakhand, Chennai, Kerala and other parts of the country.
As
mentioned earlier, to briefly state of the events happened in the World during
the period under report is essential for evolving ideas for emancipation and
progress of the Society in which individually we are an integral part. We cover the developments in the World
between 2015 and 2019. As this report is
for the consideration of the very senior and aged leaders of the movements, we
shall be brief and precise :
We
may recall that the world economic situation when we met last at Kolkata was as
under :
The
impact of the global financial crisis refused to evaporate despite huge bail
out efforts.
US
continued its efforts to control the world banking systems.
The
US untenable intervention in the
internal affairs of Iraq, Libya and Syria paved way for Islamic terrorism.
US
alliance with Indian Military to contain China in Indian Ocean.
The
strengthening of the trade alliance of
BRICS, beneficial to Indian economy.
The
continuing struggles of workers in the developed countries against IMF
sponsored austerity measures.
The
strenuous efforts of Latin American countries to contain the US hegemony.
Global Economy.
During
this period we found that World capitalism continued to suffer from one crises
to another and could not come out of the impact of the 2008 financial
crisis. The crisis has been deep rooted
and systemic in character. The Global
Corporate debts registered an increase and has become 14% more than what it was
in 2008. The austerity measures dwindled
the purchasing power of people having a cascading impact leaving to recession
and further crisis. The decline in the
oil prices in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the sharp increase now, first accelerated
the slowdown and later ruined the economy of third world countries.
The
IMF sponsored neo-liberal policies in all nation states tremendously increased
the gap between the haves and the have nots.
Wage growth got tremendously reduced as also the employment
generation. The economic slow down in
the middle east had its reverberating impact
in our country. The emigrants (for
instance Kerala to Middle East) registered a decrease. From 24 million in 2014, it came down to 22
million. Their remittance also got
reduced from 71,148 crores in 2014 to 63,289 crores in 2016. India, the largest remittance receiving
country has recorded the maximum fall with a decrease of 8.9%.
It
was the financial and economic crisis that led to the military intervention of
US in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Iraq.
The rising economic power of Russia and China created further tension as
they challenged the supremacy of the US.
The US-Ukraine policy was to target Russia. The transit-pacific partnership was to
isolate China.
The
Mackinsey Global Institute stated that the US economy almost remained static or
declined as 81% of its population did not receive any rise in their annual
income. It was 97% for Italy, 70% for
Britian and 63% for France. Major portion
of the Bank credit especially in developing countries went to corporates. For example the 3/4th of the increase in
Bank Credits in this period in India and Brazil was swallowed up by the
corporates. The debt burden of Greece
was to the extent of 170% of its GDP.
The unemployment rate became 24%; joblessness of youth above 50%,; Wage reduction was 24% and minimum wage got
reduced by 22%. The Brexit and its
after-efforts not only brought political instability to Britian but it also
delivered a great blow to the robust economy of that country. The World Bank has released the Goldman Sachs
Economic Report. They have stated that
the World Economy, will slow down in 2019 from growth rate of 3.8% in 2018 to
3.5%. US economy had 2.9% growth rate in 2018.
It will go down according to World Bank to 2.5% and all European Economy
have a recession like situation. The
slow growth in the economy has compelled us to resort to protectionism the
anti- thesis to globalisation and they have started a trade war with China and
in a veiled manner with India too. The cascading impact of US-China trade war
has affected adversely all developing countries and the panacea adopted by all
without exception is to shift the burden to the working people.
We
now briefly mention certain political developments at the International arena
during the period between 2015-2019.
Korea
The
relations between the South and North Korea deteriorated to an extent of
being at the threshold of a war.
The political developments in South Korea, where a right wing
conservative Govt., under Lee-Myung-bak did everything to escalate the tension
with North Koreans, evoked an equally hawkish approach from North. His death, but the re-election of his
daughter as the President did not bring about a reduction in the tense
situation. She was impeached and removed
on corruption charges. Moon-Joe-in ho became
President who reviewed many decisions of his predecessor. The decision of North Koreans to experiment
on long ranging missiles and acquiring nuclear technology compelled South Koreans Govt. to put pressure on US to
normalise relations The Donald Trumps attitude only worsened the position. China has kept a low profile in the conflict,
though North Korea seeks their approval on all International issues.
USA
The
Presidential elections in America was the most significant event during this
period. Having completed two terms
Barrack Obama was to step down. In
the primaries Hillary Clinton could
scrape through, as Saunders her rival was
not of the likings to the Corporates They
unleashed a campaign against him through the print media they
owned. Republican Party’s primaries were a mere formality. Donald Trump had no difficulty in crossing
over the hurdle. Contrary to all
predictions and expectations, he
won. Donald Trump ascendery to be the
President of USA thoroughly changed the world scenario. He not only thought that he became the
President of the super power but himself also a superman. While his pronouncements after becoming
President did create consternation even among Americans, it is an indisputable
fact that a sizeable section of Americans had approvingly acquiesced with his
views on racism, nativism, misogyny, etc. A million women assembled at
Washington to proclaim a resistance to last for
1459 Trump days ahead.
France
France
is a very big country in Europe. It had
been for a long time politically under the influence of social democrats. The advent of neo-liberalisation had its
impact on French Social life and ethics.
The influence of social democrats over the population waned due to the
pursuance of these policies. In the first round of elections on 23.04.2017 for
Presidency none could gain majority. In
the second round which was held on 7th May 2017, Emmanual Macron, who campaigned for
implementation of neo-liberal policies, won comfortably. The French right wing candidate, the
anti-.immigrant and anti-Muslim Marine
Le pen though could not win, had tremendous
influence over French society.
The social democrats were reduced to an insignificant position having
less than 6% vote share.
The
Macron Presidency following and intensifying the neo-liberal policies has led
to protests and struggles in many parts of France. The immediate cause was the steep increase in
petroleum taxes. More than 130 people
were injured and over 400 people were arrested.
Eiffel Tower, the greatest tourist land mark of France was shut down.
The yellow vest agitation has spread to large areas and to a greater segment of
population over the squeeze in the household budgets. This has compelled the
Government to increase minimum wage at 110 pounds per month, withdraw the tax
increase for low income pensioners; exempt overdue payment from taxation,
encouraged employers to pay for free bonus, etc.
Italy
The
Italian PM Mr. Paolo Gentilon had to resign on 12.12.2016 as he lost the
referendum. The referendum which enables
the lower house to bring in constitutional amendments without the seal of
approval of upper house was to please the internationalFinance Capital. The fall out of the referendum was that it
gave respectability and affection of the people to the right wing
politician.
Japan
One
of the reasons addressed for the faster development of Japan after it was
vanquished in the 2nd World War was the post-war agreement with USA,
which debarred it from bringing up a military force. The ruling liberal democratic party was
losing its popularity due to the economic distress of the people at large. They declared a snap election to cash on the
sentiments arising from the belligerent attitude of North Korea against
Japan. Due to the disarray in the opposition
group and the arrogance exhibited by Ms Kolke, the ruling party won a landslide
victory. Japan will now raise a military
at a very high cost to the people and it will be compelled to divert its scarce
resources for military expenses.
Germany
In
the election that was held in September 2017, the left and the right
gained. The support from the electorate
bases the two right wing parties
received was surprising i.e. the AFD and the FDP. The left did not gain either from the
erstwhile East Germany or from the lower strata of the working class. SDP was the biggest loser. They lost the workers vote. AFD the right wing party got support from the
east German regions. The 2017 election
got Angela Markel to have her fourth term as German Chancellor. Germany the strongest European Economy has
chosen to go right. The working class
has punished those whom they reposed confidence in the past for their adopting
the neo-liberal policies.
Portugal
The
social democrats who rules Portugal from 2011 to 2015 left with a debt burden
for the country which was 130% of their GDP, the 3rd biggest in
Europe. The 2015 election resulted in a
hung Parliament. That gave birth to an
alliance of the Centre left socialists and two Ultra left parties. The left decided not be part of the
government. They only put up a condition
to increase the wages of the workers systematically to reach 600 Euros by the
end of the term.
Antonio
Costa took over as Prime Minister. He
abided by the agreement. By 2018 the
wages of workers got raised to 530 Euros.
By the time he demits office, the promise would have been met, the
deficit has been consistently reduced and is now at 2.1% of GDP. Unemployment has dropped from 17.5% to 10.5%
in 2016 and the downward trend is continuing.
Rising exports earnings and incentives have brought the turn around of
Portugese economy. In the upcoming
election the socialist party is expected to win and may get a single party
majority. It has been a success story
all along.
Greece
Greece
has become the fitting example of the disaster of a loan based development
plans. The IMF imposed the biggest
austerity measures. The public outcry
over increased tax and reduced pension became insurmountable. Though Syriza won, the negotiation with IMF
was tough and the measures it was compelled to take got them alienated. Despite the lowering of unemployment
construction of two natural motorways, Syriza’s vote share has crumbled. However, media reports suggests building up
of confidence among the people.
Latin American countries
Of
the 26 Latin Americal Countries, many
have left and progressive governments.
Most of them came to power through elections, exception being CUBA.
Destabilisation of these states by USA had been done openly as also
covertly. Brazil, Argentina, Bolvia,
Chile, Peru, Nicargeua, Venezuela, all had tasted the covert and open
intervention of USA. The right wing
forces have emerged in Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia. The Brazilians’ elected President Dilma
Rosepp was impeached on trivial charges.
Venezuela’s problems emanated from the steep fall of oil prices in
international market..
Middle East and West Asia
Middle
East and West Asia had always been under the influence of USA especially in the
post Second World War period. During the
period under report China made a lasting foray into two regions and their
influence gained momentum. To combat the
emerging situation, USA entered into trade agreement with the countries of the
Asia Pacific region and those within the European Union. The NATO clout was used by USA to contain the Russian Military power which led to destabilisation of Syria,
Lebanon, Ukraine and Equator. The invasion
of Iraq was set to be to bring about a regime change. Afghanistan had been a threat of US
intervention for a long period. The
Taliban was supported by USA in the initial days. The American intervention in Syria resulted
in the unprecedented destruction. The
civil war that sprung paved the way for the emergence of Islamic Extremist
forces . The declaration to the effect that American troops in Afghanistan
would be withdrawn was not materialised.
The
American policy on Israel had always been partisan and was against the interest
of the Palestanian people. Whatever
Israel’s had done, however unjustified it may be, USA had unblinkingly
supported the Israel stand. Donald Trump
was completely behind the Israelis to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli
capital.
Ukraine
which was once a part of the great Soviet Union became an independent nation
after the dismantling of the Soviet Union.
USA had been continuously
intervening to create trouble for the Russian federation.
The
Saudi Arabian kingdom and the USA had
been partners in the destabilisation exercise of very many Arabian countries
notably Qatar, to isolate Iran. Qatar
was asked to close down the Al-Jazeera network, expel Hamas and the Muslim
brotherhood. More than 10000 US
serviceman are presently located in various US military bases in Qatar. Despite four years of continuous bloody conflict USA could not succeed to
overthrow the Assad government in Syria.
The ISIS grew tremendously under the shadow of US-Syria conflict. The Russian envoy was killed in Turkey with
the sole intention to disrupt the talks for bringing about peace in Syria.
It
would be pertinent to mention that in the post Second World War period US
involvement in the destabilisation of world peace had been innumerable. Ever since the end of the Second World War,
the US has been involved in strife, low-intensity conflicts and full-fledged
wars across the world that have toppled democratically, elected governments, caused enormous economic
and social upheavals and left a massive trail of destruction and loss of life
in their wake. Some of the key conflicts
that were marked by a significant American presence are the Korean War of
1950-1953, the 10-year Vietnam War which ended in 1975. The Gulf War of 1990-1991, the Iraq War of
2003-2011 and the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Its two major ongoing wars are targeted at
destroying Iraq, Syria and parts of Africa, and Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants
in Pakistan. The US Air Force and Navy,
arguably the biggest and most powerful in the world, enable the country’s
interventionist role by virtue of the immense amount of resources and personnel
at their disposal.
Africa
Africa
consisting of 54 nation states was mostly the erstwhile colonies of European
countries. Multi party democracy
prevails in most of the countries. It is
the presidential mode of democracy that has been found to be the preference for
the Africans. The most significant
feature which requires mention here is about the African political system with
its gender equality. Liberia and Malavi,
have elected women Presidents. Rawanda
has given more than 50% seats in its Parliament for women. Most of the African countries faces civil war
of various degrees. Sudan, Nigeria,
Somalia, Gabon, and Zambia suffers from civil war mostly due to the frauds
perpetuated in the elections. South
Africa is one of the prosperous countries of Africa both in terms of its
economy and political power. It has
emerged as one of the important nations of Africa after suffering from long
years of apartheid at the hands of British.
The growing unemployment and falling real wages are the greatest challenge this African Nation faces in its ascendance.
China
China
is presently the second largest economy in the World. Half of its GDP comes from the service sector
and that it is also the largest job creator.
The global financial crisis had a certain impact on Chinese economy in
as much as its growth rate got reduced to 6.7% in 2016. In 2021 China will observe the 100th year of formation
of the Chinese Communist Party. It is their aim to make China a moderate
prosperous society by that time. Robert Lawrence Kuhu a china commentator
observed that by mid-century China will become an advanced nation and will be a
global leader in all categories of human importance - economics, governance,
science, technology and culture. Indias
relation with China received a jolt when the stand-off occurred at Dhoklam in
June 2017 on the Sikkim border. After
the peace agreement in 1993 and the border defence cooperation agreement in
2012-13 the border between the two countries have been relatively calm.
Cuba
Cuba
faced a miserable existence when its economy suffered when the soviet union
collapsed. By sheer hard work the Cubans salvaged the country. In 2015 Cuban economy grow at 4% but slid
back to 2.6% in 2016. USA lifted its age
old sanctions after 54 years. After 80
years stand-off Obama visited Cuba.
However, the election of Donald Trump changed the scenario to
worse. He reintroduced the sanctions
demanding that Cuba must revert to a multi party election, return all Americans
who had been granted asylum in Cuba. Speaking
at the 50th death anniversary of the great
revolutionary Che guevare ,
Muguel-Dias-Cann Cubas first Vice-President rightly said that imperialism can
never be trusted and asserted that Cuba would not make any concession to its
sovereignty and independence nor negotiate its principles or accept the
impositions or conditions.
Vietnam
The
Vietnamese economic growth was 6.7% in 2016.
However, this high rate of growth has also intensified the
inequalities. Vietnam has signed the
trans-pacific pact. Its relationship with China has become cordial, their
differences were ironed out on sea related issues.
ISREAL
Israel ,
as we all know, was created to provide asylum for the Jews , who were displaced
during the 2nd world war especially from Germany, where Nazis
hounded them out before and during the war. The present day Israel which
includes Jerusalem is considered to be the home state of Jews. In the 7th decades of its existence, it has now become a
world power in all its senses including the nuclear bombs in its arsenal. It
was the Palestinian who lost their home land for the creation of Israel by the
western nations. The western powers without exception had been fully supporting Israel anything and
everything done by the Israel,
irrespective of the fact whether their actions were in defence or as an aggression.
Palestinians commemorate Land
day on March, 30 every year to remember Nagba (Catostophe) that led to the
displacement of Palestinians from their
ancestral land. The massacre of more
than 100 Palestinian in Dar Yasin in April, 1948 ignited
the Palestine resistance to the
brutality of Israel. 30th March, 2018, the Palestinian organised a peace march along with heavily guarded
border fence which was met by Israel through cold blooded murder The number of Palestinians killed by the
Israel during April 2018 went up to 37 Palestine and 3 children. The world
community kept its sole née silence. In Gaza Israel continues its aggression
and eviction of Palestine in their cleaning exercise.
After an acrimonious debate in
Knesset (the Israel Parliament) on 19th July, 2018 the Israeli Parliament passed a
bill declaring Israel as the National
home land of all Jews irrespective of their nationality.
The
Palestinian and other minorities have been reduced to second class citizen. The
next logical step might be to expel them
from Israel. The Israeli Education Minister has already been empowered to ban
those critical of Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian territories speaking in Educational institutions. The Knesset has
prohibited Palestinian from appearing to the Supreme Court against land
disputes in West bank. The new basic law has been approved by the Israeli
Parliament. Omar Barghouti of the Palestine BDS National council said that the
passage of law is effectively declaring itself an apartheid State and dropping its
worne out mark of democracy.
Since
1967, morethan 50,000 Palestinian residing in Jerusalem have had their
residence rights revoked by the State of Israel. In March, 2018 the Israeli
Parliament passed a law allowing the Interior Ministry to revoke the residency
rights of Palestinian on ground of breach of loyalty to the Jewish State. It is
the support of Donald Trump
Administration of US that has emboldened Israel to take all their steps against
Palestinians who were the original settlers in the land before it was taken
over for creation of Israel. The US has
now recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and has moved its embassy to
there. Almost 60% of the West Bank is in possession of illegal Jewish Settlers.
The new Law will give Israel state the constitutional basis to claim
Palestinian land.
TURKEY
The
Presidential election in Turkey was held in June, 2018. The President Reep
Tayangb Erdogan of the Ruling Justice and Development Party won the election by
a very narrow margin of 52.3 percent of the votes polled. His closet rival
Maharron Ince got more than 33 per cent. Simultaneous poling was held for
Parliament, for the first time in Turkey’s modern history. In 2017 Turkey made
change in the constitution through a
referendum. Parliamentary democracy was replaced. The President now will
have executive power. There will be no Prime Minister. President will
appoint Vice President, Ministers and
Senior Judges. The President is granted powers to declare emergency, and
suspend rights of citizens.
Erdogan enjoyed vide popularity
among Turks reflected by the Victory. He is credited with the upswing of
Turkish economy. It was booming continuously
for 5 years till 2016. The Government under Erdogan has improved the Turkish infrastructure. It
now suffers a faltering economy, double digit inflation and growing unemployment, which explains his
narrow margin of victory. The opposition has no free say in the elections. The
Govt. had controlled almost 90% of the media. The state of emergency had given
vide and draconian powers to the Govt.
As many as 150,000 civil servants and army men were dismissed. The
Turkish Jail is overflowed with students activists, army men and civil servants. The strong methods has helped
him to retain Presidency but his party though the largest does not enjoy
majority. Howwever, that has become no
relevance today for the Parliament has
been iivested of all process in
favour of President.
ZIMBABWE
Since 1980 Zimbabwe was ruled by
Robert Mugabe. In July 30 the country went into election to elect a New
President. The first short against Robert Mugabe was fired by his own admirers
who were members of the Veteran Freedom Fighters Association. The country’s economic decline began in 1991.
Hyper inflation made the life of
ordinary people miserable. There had been no land reforms in Zimbabwe and for a
long time even after independence 70% of the land were owned by Whiteman of
Zimbabwe. The people’s movement compelled Mugabe to redistributed the land but that irked all his western allies.
The election was preceded by year long agitation. The President was to be
impeached. However Robert Mugabe resigns in 2017. The army had a big hand in
the political development of this country. In 2018 election brought Emmerson
Mnangagwa as President from the Zanu –PF party of Robert
Mugabe. The MDC which was the main
opposition party did not accept results as the matter is now before the Supreme
Court. There had been widespread agitation rocking the country in 2017 and
2018. The fact that the Army has helped Emmerson to come to power is now a open secret. The land reforms can not be
now put back. The newely elected
President Emmerson has delegate the job to revive the economy.
VENENZUELA
Even since Hugo Chavez become
the President of Venezuela the US commenced its dirty trick to destabilize that country what irked the US
Administration was the socialist victory of the country which has one of the
largest oil reserve in the world. The Policy of US relations with
Vinenzulla had been identified under
George Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. In August, 2017 Trump said that the
US had military option in Venezuela.
This is nothing but collusion with a section of Military in Venezuela for a
rebellion and overthrown of a Government elected with the peoples mandate.
After the death of Shavez , Nicholas Maduro took over as President. US imposed
sanctions on Venezuela unilaterally and insisted the allies in Europe , Middle
East and East to follow suit. Maduro Govt could withstand all internal rebellion
and external pressure exerted by US so far.
The sanctions imposed has created an
intolerable economy slowdown and crisis followed with hyper-inflation.
That has hurt the common people and they
have started fleeing the country. At the
instance of the US the self styled Presidency of Juan Guaido has been recognised by many countries
who are settelite of Nations of US. Juan Guaido had been openly instigating the
army to revolt. There was a rebellion of armed forces which the Govt. could
quit effectively surrounded by Brazil, Panama, Columbia, Venenzuela, has been threatened by the right
wing forces effectively. So long the farmers, who are in the real agony due to
sanctions imposed by US and its allies do not share the plate form setup by US,
the regime change in Venezuela may not come about.
THE
BREXIT
The methodology of Britain’s
exit from E.U. had been a nagging affair so far. The result referendum where
the people of U.K. voted in favour of exiting from E.U has not yet been
operationalised. The Govt., which was in power when the referendum took place,
had to bow out as the opinion got
elicited from the people was in divergence of the one held by the PM and a good
section of his supporters. The view of
the people at large is not divided on the party lines. Conservatives, Liberals
and Labourers choosing either of the opinion. There is a may who became Prime
Minister on a conservative ticket had to resign recently as she could not put
on an acceptable proposal before the Parliament. Her Proposal reflective of her
upbraiding character lost at the voting. She introduced changes in the U K
Social Security whereby effective cut was made on the entitlement which has
pushed a quite number of people into poverty. The British governance after the
BREXIT had been devastating to
say the least.
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
One of
the biggest mineral rich country in the world inhabited by the largest number
of poor people is the Democratic
Republic of Cango which went to
polls in December, 2018. Countrary to the predictions of the western media,
that Emmanual Rangznni Shadary will win the election with the support of the
longest ruling President Juseph Kabila proved to be wrong. Felix Tshisekedi,
the leader of the Union for Democracy and social progress, was declared elected
as President with 38% vote. Martin Faxulu who was the favourite, could garner ,
as per the Election Commission only 34% votes. Josheph Kabuller,the 17 yearold
President, it is alleged, has played a vital role through the Election
Commission in such a verdict. In the
election that was held in congo President, his party has the largest number and
their nominee shall become the Prime Minister, who is vested with vast Power.
Since the constitution does not permit him to contest for a third consecutive
term, the arrangement appears to be a
win situation for UPSP and PPRD of Kabila. The UDSP has only 46 members in the
Parliament whose total strength is 500. Kabila’s party has 288 members and the
Faxulus’s party has 94 seats. Fayulu has not accepted he verdict and is so by
many African and Western countries. Kabila has amassed wealth of a great
proportion. He who became President as the age of 29 is so young and
experienced and is likely to contest the next election as there will be no
constitutional bar there. Fayulu has claimed that he is the truly elected
President by the people and added that constitutional court has falsified and
countered the truth of the polls to serve an unjust cause and perpatuate a
regime our people hate.
2018
FIFA WORLD CUP
It was
the 21st edition of the world cup, an International
Foot Ball tournament contested by the Men’s National Team. It was held at
Russia from 14th June to 15th July 2018 . With a 14.2 billion$ it was almost
expensive world event. There were 32 teams and 12 venues. France became the
Champions and lifted the Covted FIFA world cup. The final was held at Luzhniku
stadium at Masco between France and Crotia. France won the cup for the second time.
2019
CRICKET WORLD CUP
The world cup which is
quadrennial is played in one day international format. It was the 12th edition that was hosted by England and Wales.
The tournament is conducted by ICC. It was played during a long duration
between 30th May, 2019 to 14th July, 2019. The final was at Lords ,London where
England in an extremely thrilling match lifted the cup for the first time, beating New Zealand. The
England victory was on Boundary count
after being tied at the match and the
super over.
Our
neighbouring countries
Nepal
After
the monarchy was overthrown nine governments have come and gone. The Constitution adoption process got
delayed. There had been agitations by
the Madheshi parties which received the drastic support from the Indian
side. The trade blockage that became a
part of the agitation hurt the Nepal economy severely. Despite all this in September 2016, Nepal
adopted a secular democratic republic constitution. Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) of Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) took over the reins of administration with the
support of Nepali Congress. In the
succeeding elections the two communist parties joined together and fought. They won 70 percent of the seats. Madheshi party have 21 members in the
Parliament and the rest are others.
Sri
Lanka
In
October 2016, the Steering Committee set
up by the ruling party to redraft the constitution submitted its report. The committee had no representive from all
the political views and sections of Sri
Lankan society. The decade long civil
strife and the grave violation of the human rights is an issue which has paved
the way for the re-emergence of disharmony amongst the people at large. The International Community has demanded that
Sri Lanka appoint a Council of Judges of both foreign and Sri Lanka judges to
look into the human rights violation.
Sri Lankan government has not agreed to this so far. On October 26, 2018 the President of Sri
Lanka M.Sirisena sacked the Prime Minister Raniil Wickramesinghe and installed
the former President Mahindra Rajapakshe as the Prime Minister. The Parliament threw him out. The President dissolved the Parliament and
called for snap elections which are
stayed by the Supreme Court. In its
final judgement the Supreme Court has given the verdict that the dissolution of
Parliament was unconstitutional. Ranil
Wickramesinghe has reassumed the office of the Prime Minister. The political crisis in Sri Lanka
continues.
Bangladesh
The
Indian Parliament passed the constitutional amendment on land boundary
issue. This was the same proposal mooted
by the UPA government which was then opposed by BJP and TMC. The amendment has brought about good
relationship between the two countries.
Bangladesh continued to suffer from fundamentalist forces. The Australian Cricket team cancelled its
tour of Bangladesh due to this. The ISIS
have been recruiting people from Bangladesh.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
has recently declared the Constitutional Amendment empowering the Parliament to
remove judges for incompetence and misconduct as null and void. The general election in Bangladesh is due in
December 2019. The religious
fundamentalist forces are mounting an offensive to make Bangladesh as an
Islamic republic. The main contest will
be between the Awami league and the Bangladesh National Party. The outcome of the elections in Bangladesh
will have a bearing on Indo-Bangladesh relationships.
Naional
Assessembly Elections in Pakistan
Pakistan
National Assessembly has 342 seats of which direct elections take place for
272. 10% of the seats are reserved for religious
minorities and 60 seats for women on the basis of proportional representation.
In the election that was held on 25th July, 2018, the PTI (Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf )won 110 seats and
became the single largest party. They marshalled the rest 27 from independents
and defectors. The 25th July, election had been the bloodiest in the
Pakistani history. 30 people were killed
in sucide bomb attack and 149 in terror attacks. There were widespread
allegations of rigging, ably assisted by
the Pakistan Army., The Pakistan army,as all, indications show, had favoured
PTI to capture power as they expect that Imran Khan being inexperienced will
depend on their expertise and guidance to govern. Despite the presence of
International Election Observers, their had been widespread allegations over
irregularities and partisan approach. It is alleged that PPP was not even
allowed to select its best candidates. The umpires were not natural. The election commissioner took more than 24
hours to release the results. The delay was attributed to breakdown of RTS
(Results transmission system) Breakdown of computer system had been the Ploy
employed by many countries to appropriate election results. The Mexican
election of 1988 being the exemplary example. The computer system got
mysterously collapsed when it was restored
the voting turned got also mysteriously changed. The Ruling party which
was tralling emeged as winner.
70% of
Pakistanis population is under 30 years of age. The Imran’s image built up
against corruption might have been a
factor that had attracted the young. India had not been fingering in Pakistan
Elections for same time. But Imran in his election propaganda accuseed Nawaj
Shafiff being soft forward to India.
Punjab
Province is the stronghold of PML(N). The eleventh hour defection managed by
the deep stake and this mechanism prevented it from fielding its best
candidates . Punjab has the largest number of seats in the National Assembly
like U.P. in Indian Parliament. In 2013 election of PTI had won very few seats.
In 2018 they came on the top in this province.
Imran
has a great task ahead if he and his
party is to retain the power, which they have acquired with the help of
the deep state. Pakistan rupee has been
sinking and unemployment growing. The infant mortality rate is the highest, the
Power sector has become sick. The
challenges he has to face are many. Rhotoric and enemy bashing may perhaps help
him to retain power.
National
Scenario
The 2014
general election had provided BJP comfortable single party majority in the
Indian Parliament. The success at the
Hustings was mainly due to the support unambiguously provided by the most
vociferous middle class and equally by the disillusioned poor having not received
the support from the UPA government it expected. The 2014 general elections brought in a
single party majority stable government
. The 2015-2019 period witnessed great
many numbers of executive decisions affecting the economy of the country and
the living standards of its people. We
make reference to some of these issues which had a great bearing.
Goods
and Services Tax
The
Indirect taxes reform was an idea mooted by the successive governments that
came to power in the country starting from 1986 when V.P. Singh became the
Prime Minister of the country. Those
governments tried to create uniform indirect tax structure and then arose the
VAT. When the NDA came to power in 1999 under the Prime
Ministership of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, a committee was set up to study and
report the feasibility of the unification of the indirect tax system. The committee was headed by Asim Dasgupta who
was then the finance minister of West Bengal.
The
major objection to the proposal of a uniform tax regime was from the states as
many of them perceived the GST as an infringement of the powers and authority
of the provincial governments which if permitted would erode its very
independent existence. Since the GST is
essentially a tax on consumption the States which are base for manufacturing
industries had expressed an additional fear of losing its revenue
substantially. The initial opposition
from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana stemmed from this
perception. The propaganda blitzkrieg
in support of the GST in the media was at the instance of the big business of
the country. The stark reality is that
the imposition of the GST would not make any difference to the common man for
he had been paying these taxes earlier and would continue to pay it the years to
come.
In the
neo- liberal era where the states were competing to woo the manufacturing
industries to base their factories in
their states by providing large skill concessions in taxation and
infrastructure, the introduction of GST which is designed as a destination
based consumption tax stood to lose out in terms of revenue. Across the political spectrum of the
country, there had been unanimity of opinion of the need to have a uniform
indirect taxation policy. However,
politics being paramount the BJP and the
Chief Ministers of the BJP ruled states continue to oppose the attempt of the
then UPA Government as introduction of
GST required a constitutional amendment.
The present Prime Minister of our country had stoutly opposed the GST
when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
On assuming the reigns of the governance after the 2014 elections, GST
became the most important tax reform.
While addressing the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2016 Prime Minister invoked
the name of Mahatama Gandhi and his clarion call to the British to Quit India
on the same day in 1942 to term the GST as an instrument to liberate Indians
from tax terrorism. The slogan of ‘One
Nation One Tax’ attributed to the GST and the characterisation of it as good
and simple tax by the Prime Minister,
when the 122nd Constitutional amendment was moved at the
joint session of the Parliament. It was
the beginning of the euphoria. On 1st July
2017 (midnight of 30th June 2017), GST was launched together by the
President and the Prime Minister of the country at the central hall of the
Parliament attended by the high profile guests from the business and the
entertainment industry. The Indian
National Congress boycotted the GST launching
session so were the members of the TMC, CPI(M), CPI and the DMK. They said that with the varying rates of
GST it was no more a uniform taxation
and had no difference with the existing indirect taxation system. The GST had subsumed several formal taxes and
levies such as Central Excise Duty, Service Tax, Additional Customs Duty,
Surcharges, State Level Tax and Octroi, Levies on Inter State Transportation
of Goods, etc. However, the real estate business was
exempted from the purview of the GST so also the petrol and petroleum products.
The mechanism of the GST council where the Government of India has 1/3rd voting right made it impossible for the
smaller states to either get their voice heard or their views translated into
action.
The
euphoria created by the media died down so quickly that the criticism from the
common people over this One Tax One Nation regime took over the centre
stage. The three months of the new tax
regime were reported to be a nightmare for business particularly the small
tax payers. The entire nation awaited
for the outcome of the GST council which was scheduled to meet on 6th October 2017.
People in business across the country,
be they the poultry farmers or in
the pharmaceutical trade, textile entrepreneurs, weavers, chikan makers, power loom operators, traders in Kanpur or
Ghaziabad or anywhere in the country, all were restive. The cosmetic reduction in the tax rates
neither satisfied the business people nor the consumer community. The tax regime continued to be volatile
disturbing the business, the market and slowing down the economy itself. Most of the intellectuals in the society
blamed the flawed design of the GST as the reason for the fiasco. So long as the multiple rates continued
varying from 0.5% to 28% and some of the goods being exempted out of the
network, the GST is bound to be cumbersome and complex. There had been widespread political outburst
against this One Nation One Tax regime of GST even from the former Finance
Ministers like Yashwant Sinha and P.Chindaram but also from Arun Shourie who
was a former bureaucrat turned minister in the previous NDA government.
Demonetisation
In the
characteristic of a surgical strike the Prime Minister announced through
televised address at 20.00 HRS on 8th November 2016 that the currency notes that was in circulation of Rs.500 and Rs.1000
denominations would be invalid past midnight.
Immediately after the announcement, the day after, both the BSE and NIFTY sensex fell over 6
percent of the day. The Indian Govt had
demonetised bank notes on two earlier occasions, first in 1946(pre-Independent
era) then in 1978. On both the occasions
it was conceived for the sake of combating black money. In 1946, it was primarily targeted against
the businessmen who had amassed huge wealth doing business during the Second
World War. The second was in 1978 when
the Janata Party demonetised bank notes of Rs.1000, Rs.5000, Rs.10000
announcing its objective of curbing the counterfeit money and destroy the black
income. It had been proved beyond doubt
that on both these occasions the objective of seizing the black income could
not be achieved. In 2012, on a study
conducted by the Income Tax Department it had been brought to the notice that
most of the black income is held in the form of benami properties, bullion and
jewellery and only 6% or less of such
wealth is kept in cash. So the third
experiment was not to yield the objective for it was mounted. The later events that unfolded after the
announcement of the demonetisation has proved beyond an iota of doubt that except creating hardship
for the common man it did not make any impact in the direction of arresting or
seizing the hoarded black income in the country. Earlier, the govt., had announced an Income
Declaration Scheme giving an opportunity for the unscrupulous tax evaders to
come clean whereby they were provided with the amnesty from levying interest,
penalty and prosecution. This exercise
had fetched Rs.30000 crores in the form of disclosure. The disclosed amount of income was of the
order of Rs.70000 crores. In the initial
stages of the demonetisation exercise there had been statement from people in high positions in the
business, politics, academics, etc., in support of demonetisation. Ms. Arundatti Bhatarcharya, Chairperson,
State Bank of India, Ms. Chanda Kochhar, MD of ICICI Bank appreciated the move
stating that it would help curb black money.
Some other great business people opined that the move would accelerate
e-commerce. Infoysis founder
N.R.Narayana Murthy was one among them.
Amongst the politicians Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar and Andhra
Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Social Activist Anna Hazare, Indian President
Pranab Mukherjee all hailed demonetisation as a revolutionary step. However, there had been certain strident
criticism against the move. The Supreme
Court observed while hearing a petition that it appeared to be carpet bombing
and not surgical strike. Amartya Sen
criticised the demonetisation calling it as a despotic action. The Chief Economic of the World Bank Kaushik
Basu called it as a major mistake and said that the damage it is likely to
create on the economy would be much greater than any possible benefits. Pranab Sen Former Chief Statistician called
it as a hollow move. Those who
criticised the demonetisation exercise included Prabhat Patnaik, former
professor of economics JNU, T.N. Nainan, Steve
Forbes and all oppositional party leaders. The New York Times described the
demonetisation as atrociously planned.
The Harward Business review called it as case study in poor policy and
even poorer execution. The success and
failure of the demonetisation is normally gauged from the fact of how much
currency notes which were in circulation got exchanged for the new ones. In August 2017, the RBI stated that 99% of
the Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes that were demonetised returned to the banking
sector which was much more than what was in 1946 and in 1978. In the light of the fact of the final report
of the Central Bank (when the money exchanged outside India is still to be
counted) has proved that it was a
disastrous decision. It is not incomprehensible
to access what this announcement has ultimately turned out to be.
Confronted
with the severe criticism the way in which a decision with good motives was put
into operation, Govt’s spokesmen started making announcements on different
objectives that the move was intended to achieve other than combating black
income. In a swift move of shifting goal
post, it was said that the exercise had been with the intention to attack
counterfeiting and terror financing.
Then it was shifted to create a cashless society. The fact remained that while the common
people suffered to get the money exchanged from the banks as there had been a
scarcity in the supply of new notes, the exchange racket strived in the market,
the rich were in a position to convert the money for a commission extending
from 10 to 15 percent depending upon the locality and the amount of transaction
involved.
“The
Income Tax Departments’ recent haul of cash of more than Rs.5.7 crore from the
residences of two government officials indicated that nearly Rs.5 crore was in
the new pink notes. If a person were to
stand in a queue and draw Rs.2000 each day, it would require him/her to queue
up every day for almost 45 years, if the person had so much money in the first
place. What this mean is demonetisation is a double whammy on the poor: their
lives are wrecked, apparently because the government is suddenly determined to
go after the rich, but they have to suffer even more because these same rich
folks have found ways to escape demonetisation.”
Wealth
holders have sought many avenues “gold was the most important among them”. It was reported that several politicians
especially in Karnataka had been achievely purchasing paddy and other
agricultural products to whitewash their stock of black money. The adage that a
crisis is an opportunity was never ominously true as it had been at the time of
demonetisation distress. The massive
transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich did not happen only in agriculture. The small scale sector lost their business
almost permanently to larger entities.
The demonetisation helped this process in a significant manner and that
can be attributed to the comments made by some in the business community to the
effect that it was a master stroke.
The combined impct of the GST and
demonetisation on the economy was simply devastating, There had been sharper
criticism from the ruling party stalverts. In an article written in the Indian
Express Yeshwant Sinha former Fiance Minnister in a focused analysis of three
key economic policy issues, demonetisation, GST, and escalating NPAs pointed
out the it exposes the Govt.s lack of planning and faulty implementation
leading to unmitigated economic disaster. The PMs counter-attack was that “some
pessimists can get sleep at night only if they spread despair.”
The fact
however is that there had been a discernible slowdown in the economic growth
during the current year and the earlier and is presently knocking at the doors
of continued recession.
Union
Budgets
Budget
2016-17-
An Exercise in Deception
The
Budget of the Union Government presented by Shri Arun Jaitley , Finance
Minister on 29th Feb. 2016 (being the leap year) had been full of
promises. Among the many promises, he
held out , the most significant was that Shri Narendra Mody’s Government will double the income of farmers
by 2022. He has of course not mentioned
whether it would be the real or nominal income.
We know that during the period 2006 and 2014, even according to the
highly defective cost of living index prepared by the Labour Bureau Shimla with
the sole objective of depriving the labour their legitimate wages, crossed the
100% mark, making the emoluments of wage earners who have cost indexed wage
structure to double within a period of 8 years.
Prima facie, the promise which received the thunderous applause of the
Treasury Bench, looked wonderful and injected a “feel good factor” or Acha Din
perception amongst the largely un-educated farming community, but was in
reality conceived as an elixir for them to forget the unforgettable past misery
and agony and look forward with hope.
This was needed for the ruling party in power to garner support and vote
of a large majority of them.
The
Finance Minister has not stated or rather was ambiguous as to what he really
meant or as to how he proposes to fulfil the promise. There has been no concrete proposal as to how
the farm income could be increased, make farming a sustainable enterprise. It is often stated that more than 60% of
Indian people depend upon agriculture for their sustenance. Our country had been a much sought after
destination in the 10th to 18th Century for it had perhaps the most salubrious
climate, planes and terrains suitable for the best farming and perhaps the best
living standard on the earth. It is the
loot that made our countrymen beggars in their own land. The advent of the neo-liberal policies is
dragging them once again to that situation as otherwise how could one explain
away the enormous number of farmers’ suicide in this country since 1991. Be it
a wheat or rice grower, coconut or rubber plantations, vegetables or pulses,
cotton or other cash crops, without exception, every one of them has become the
victims of the vagaries of the market economy. In the first decade of the post
independent era, projects to increase the farm production and consequently the
farm income were planned and executed paving way for the green and white
revolutions. The sustained efforts had
its salutary impact in as much we became self reliant in food and food production. While that had been the rosy side of the
picture, the dark side belonged to the small farmers and agricultural labour
force. As the benefits of such projects
were garnered by the big landlords, the other segments became much more
exploited and were compelled to migrate to urban agglomerations. The agony of
the situation today is while the cost of inputs rose to unimaginable heights,
there had been no marked increase in the output or in the prices of the end
product. The neo-liberal economic policies
ruined the most significant segment of our economy i.e agriculture. Being wedded to the same policy perceptions,
the ruling party which received the mandate to govern cannot provide anything
tangible to improve the lot of the poor multitude of the country, except hollow
and unmeant promises. That is what the
Finance Minister had been doing in the three successive budgets he had
presented. An unprecedented propaganda
blitzkrieg has been unleashed by the ruling party through the control of print,
electronic and social media unashamedly presenting fairy fiction as facts. The unusually long budget speech telecast
through Doordarshan and other electronic
media was with the obvious purpose of influencing the Indian electorate in five States who
might reach the Polling booths in April and May, 2016.
Take the case of fertilizer
subsidy. The allocation made for 2016-17
is Rs. 70,000 crores. In fact Rs. 2438 crores less than that of 2015-16.
Fertilizer is the most important ingredient input in farming. Inflation alone will raise its prices in the
current year. The reduction in the
subsidy and the inherent increase on account of inflation in its selling price
will pauperise the farmers further.
Still the Budget is flaunted as a pro-farmer exercise by the corporate
controlled media and the party in power.
As we all know the Bank
Nationalisation was intended to increase the credit facilities to the
agriculture. No doubt the stipulation
for the Nationalised banks to ensure that of the total credit facilities, 40%
must be for farming sector, had its salutary impact. The market economy and the advent of private
and foreign banks changed the scenario.
Most of the credit facilities offered even by the Nationalised Banks are
for agri- business, which is accounted for as agricultural loans, to comply
with the stipulation of 40%.. It is
reported that the bank branches in urban areas had given more bank loans for
“agricultural” purposes than by the rural branches. In almost all sectors, be it in
education, employment generation, other
social sectors, like health etc, the allocation if computed on real terms is
either less than last year or only had a meagre percentage increase. The
proposal to tax the provident fund refunds had to be dropped in the face of the
stiff resistance from the organised working class movement. But the proposal itself is indicative of the
mindset of the present day rulers.
Like his predecessor, Shri Arun
Jaitley was also obsessed with the IMF prescription of pegging down the fiscal
deficit to 3.5% of GDP. Therefore the
expenditure proposal in the Budget was only Rs. 19,78,600 crores registering an
increase of just 10.9% than what was provided for in the last budget i.e. Rs. 17,85,391 crores. If one is to give credence to the Finance
Minister’s statement that the GDP is expected to grow by 11% in the current
year then the budgeted expenditure this year will be less than what it was in
the last fiscal in percentage terms.
Shri Arun Jaitely’s budget envisages a short fall
in the direct taxes collection of the order of Rs. 1060 crores, while preferring to garner an additional revenue of
Rs. 20670 crores from the Indirect taxes
as he had done in the budget of
15-16. This is the perfect reflection of
the political philosophy of the party in power i.e. to tax the poor and provide
even unsolicited concessions, deductions and exemptions to the rich and
corporate class of tax payers. In
short, the long speech on 29th February,
was designed and conceived to deceive.
Budget
2017-18
The
2017-18 Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely on behalf
of the NDA Government had three distinctive departures from the custom and
conventions so far followed.
(a)It
was presented on 1st February, 2017 instead of the last day of the February
which had been the practice hitherto.
(b)The
proposals for the biggest public enterprise in the country, the Indian
Railways, were integrated into the General Budget for the first time since the
colonial times. The British Government
had followed the practice of a separate budget for Railways on the ground of
giving importance for the expansion of the railway net work in the country.
(c)The
bifurcation of expenditure as Plan and Non plan was changed into capital and
revenue.
During
the Financial year, 2016-17, the Government had introduced the Income
Disclosure Scheme- (an amnesty scheme) giving yet another opportunity to the
hoarders of black money to come clean.
The scheme ended on 30th September, 2016. Closely following this decision, the
Government instructed the Income tax Department to advance the limitation date
for completion of assessment to 31st December, 2016 from the statutory date of
31st March, 2017 to facilitate the Department to concentrate on collection of
taxes in the last quarter of the financial year. These two directives from the
Government had forced the officers and employees of the I.T. Department, which
had a depleted staff strength (more than 40% of the sanctioned posts lying
vacant) to work beyond the stipulated work period. On 8th November, the Prime Minister announced
the demonetisation programme making Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes invalid
from that date.
Since
the replenishment of the withdrawn currency notes with fresh ones was a time
consuming process, the economy had an enforced recession period immediately
after the announcement of demonetisation.
The Banks were saddled with enormous workload stretching the bank
employees beyond their capabilities. The
Common people had to hang around the banks and ATMs for months together. It was by the end of of such an eventful
year, the budget for 2017-18 was presented in the Parliament.
In his
Budget speech, the Finance Minister admitted that the demonetisation was
disruptive but was meant to cleanse the economy and would eventually increase
the capacity of the Banks to lend at reduced rates. He also claimed that the recession which has
set in as a consequence of the demonetisation would be short lived and will
have only transient impact on the economy. He further stated that the
demonetisation was meant to eliminate corruption, black money, counterfeit
currency and terror funding. As per the
media report, however, 98% of the old currency notes in circulation as on the
date of announcement of the Prime Minister has already been got exchanged with
fresh ones.
Some of
the notable features of the Budget which have an impact on the lives of the
common people of the country were:
1. The MGNGREGA was a scheme the UPA I
Government introduced which was received by the rural Indian working people
especially in the unorganised sector with gratitude. To a great extent it had tried to wipe off
the tears from the eyes of so many poor people as it had assured their
employment for certain number of days in a year. The mere increase of Rs. 501 corers (Rs.
48000 – Rs. 47499 (RE 2016-17) was, therefore, extremely disappointing.
2.The
Budget allocation for the Indian Railways was just Rs. 10,000 corers, incapable
of even meeting the cost escalation of the ongoing projects.
3.The
integrated Child welfare scheme, another welfare measure to create a healthy
future generation received lesser allocation than the last fiscal.
4.The
new road map for disinvestment of the Navaratna Public Sector Undertakings
through the Exchange Trading Fund is considered as a disastrous reform step by
many in the country.
5.The
inclusion of ten Private Educational Institutions in the proposed Enabling
Regulatory architecture is considered as a diversion of public fund into the
private hands.
6.The
budgetary outlay for school education and for development of agriculture on
percentage terms were less than last fiscal.
7.Capital
expenditure proposed in the Budget is comparatively less than as a percentage
to GDP of the 2016-17 RE.
8.On the
positive side is the appreciable allocation made to two new schemes under the
nomenclature of SANKALP- Rs. 4000 crores and for STRIVE – Rs. 2200 crores.
Coming
to the taxation proposals in the Budget the earlier approach of reducing direct
taxes and raising resources through indirect taxation has been repeated. Near
about 20,000 Cr. is given away in the form concessions and deductions etc.
under direct taxes and the proposal is to increase the indirect taxes by
Rs.75000 crores. It is stated that of
the 76 lakhs individual direct tax payers having declared income of more than
Rs 5 lakhs, 56 lakhs are salaried employees. The pointed issue is that despite
pleadings by very many organizations representing the employees and workers,
the Government did not deem it right to re-introduce the erstwhile provisions
of Sec 16(1) of the IT Act, which had provided for deduction of 1/3 of the
taxable income, for meeting out the
probable expenses an employee is likely to incur to earn the income. There had been no
justification, at the outset for the withdrawal of this just and reasonable
provision in the IT Act. While all other categories of tax payers are assessed
to tax over their net income, that is income as reduced by the expenses
incidental to earn the said income, the exception is only in the case of
salaried tax payers.
On the
assumption of a very high rate of growth the Govt. has pinned the hope for a
whopping increase of 1.3 lakh crores this fiscal from income tax
collections. Given the present state of
affairs of the economy and the depleted manpower availability in the
Department, the target is certainly at a
very high pedestal.
2018-19
The NDAs
2018-19 Budget was the last full fledged budget before the impending Lok Sabha
election in May 2019. The budget
exercise has been therefore, a repackaging exercise; amalgamating a few schemes
together with a new brand name ; to provide insurance cover under a group
insurance scheme for an identifiable set of people; where the state has no
liability for the premium being taken from the beneficiaries.
The
Budget was presented in the background of a large scale disruption imposed on
the Indian economy before 2016 and 2017 through demonetisation, GST, etc. The GST caused great distress to the
vulnerable section of the society besides curtailing the fiscal space of the
State Governments. Demonetisation set
the economy back as 86% of the currency in circulation was withdrawn without
replacement for months together.
Turning
to outlays and expenditures in the Budget, the overall expenditure of the Union
government from budgetary resources for 2018-19 is Rs.24.42 lakh crore as per
Budget Estimates (BE) as against the Revised Estimates (RE) of Rs.22.18 lakh
crore for 2017-18, an increase of hardly 10 per cent in nominal terms. If one
takes into account the claim that the GDP is to grow at above 7 per cent and
that inflation is around 4 per cent, it turns out that the total budgeted
Central expenditure as a share of the GDP actually falls from 13.2 per cent
last year to 13 per cent this year. This implies a contractionary fiscal
stance, especially unwarranted in the wake of the deflationary impact of demonetisation
and the disruption caused by GST.
Allocation
for the two departments of (a) Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and (b) Rural
Development, taken together, rises from Rs.1,57,139 crore in RE 2017-18 to
Rs.1,66,904 crore in BE 2017-18, an increase of only 6.2 per cent in nominal
terms, implying little increase in real terms and a decline as share of the
GDP. This brings out the hollowness of the claim that this Budget is rural
economy and rural development centred.
the allocation for health and family welfare was Rs.51,551 crore in RE
2017-18. It is Rs.52,800 crore in BE 2017-18, a rise of around 2.4 per cent,
implying a decline in real terms from already abysmally low levels. The outlay
for education was Rs.81,868 crore as per RE 2017-18. It is Rs.85,010 crore in
BE 2018-19, a nominal rise of 3.8 per cent, implying no change in real terms
and a decline as a share of the GDP.
An
especially important negative impact of demonetisation has been on employment
in the informal sector. There was a widespread expectation that the Budget
would address this issue by substantially increasing allocation for the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). But this has been
belied. There has been only a modest increase in nominal terms for the scheme.
Even this has to be weighed against considerable wage arrears. There will be a
decline in the number of days of employment per household registered in the
scheme. A larger point needs to be made. As data from the Labour Bureau surveys
remind us, job creation has nosedived over the past couple of years. This was a
key issue for the Budget to take into account. However, the Budget has made no
serious effort in that direction.
Turning
to taxation issues, the indirect tax burden, a large share of which is borne by
working people, is rising steadily. Over the duration of the present
government, the share of indirect taxes in the total tax revenue of the Central
government has risen to almost 50 per cent. Taken together, the government’s
tax proposals have been especially friendly to the corporate sector, as has
mostly been the case in the period of neoliberal economic reforms.
The
proportion of wealth in the hands of the top 1 per cent of the population was
49 per cent when this government came to office. By the end of last year, this
figure had reached 58 per cent. The
Budget did not address the issue of the huge wealth and income
inequality in India at all.
Another
important aspect of this Budget was to obtain about 100,000 crores for
disinvestment of public sector unit assets. It is a ruinous policy that sells
the family silver to reduce debt.
What the
2019 Budget is all about
The
budget of the NDA Government, presented by the
Finance Minister was awaited with eagerness as it was to be presented
after a spectacular victory at the General Elections to constitute the
seventeenth Lok Sabha. Listing out the
projects undertaken by the first NDA Government, she asserted :
“we have
showed by our deeds that the principle of ‘reform, perform and transform’ can succeed.”
The Finance Minister has hoped that the
economy of the country will grow into a 5 trillion $ one by 2024. However,
contrary to the expectation generated by the huge victory at the hustings and
the Prime Minister’s statement of reaching the economic peak by 2024, the
Finance Minster did not spell out any concrete proposal to spiral the growth
nor did she recognize the fact of the slowing down of the economy in the
concluding years of the earlier government. The Government’s direct spending
and investments are considered as a sure stimulus to growth. No such steps have
been indicated, whereas the taxation proposals provide relief to the corporate
and impose burden on the common man through increased indirect taxes. Barring a paltry 0.7% of the companies, the
entire corporate establishments will benefit from the lowering of the direct tax rates for companies. If one is to take into account the various
exemptions, exclusions and deductions available under the statute, the
effective tax rate for the corporate will be less by 10% than the notified tax
rates. The growth deceleration, the
declining job generation, the reduction in the actual tax collection compared
to the estimatesof the budget, has all been glossed over. But still the Finance Minister expects the
economy to grow at a faster pace and the deficit to be brought down to the
level of 3.3% of GDP. She has
characterized the great electoral
victory as the seal of approval of the common man for the economic policies of
the earlier Government; the hype created over nationalism and the cross border
terrorism and the response to it from the Indian people having been thoroughly excluded.
It is
rather disturbing that the Finance Minister has decided to revisit the proposal
( a tried and collapsed Congress experiment of 1980s) when she made the following statement in para 103 of the Budget
speech.
“103.
India’s sovereign external debt to GDP is among the lowest globally at less
than 5%. The Government would start raising a part of its gross borrowing programme
in external markets in external currencies. This will also have beneficial
impact on demand situation for the government securities in domestic market.”
The
Congress led Government’s experiment of a debt based development strategy was
an unforgettable experience. At the end
of the decade of 1980s, the country faced the worst financial crisis and loss
of credibility and had to succumb to the pressures exerted by the world lending
agencies to open up its market and economy and adopt the then coined Liberalisation,
Privatisation and Globalization programme.
It was considered as a panacea by
a good segment of Indian intelligentsia.
The one and only proposal which might attract the
foreign direct investment and foreign institutional investments and hearten the
Indian monopoly houses is the creation of a Labour code to replace the very many labour related welfare legislations including the Minimum wages Act. In the new Labour Code, some of the welfare
measures presently available to the workers will be withdrawn. The Govt. has already decided to re-fix the
minimum wage through the suggestions of the committee set up specially for this
purpose. The Committee’s recommendation,
in sum and substance, is to discard the Dr.Aykhroyd formula on fixation of Minimum wage, the one which is a product of consultation and
agreement with all the stake holders as early as in 1957 . The new Committee’s
formulation is to deny the legitimate minimum wage to the workers, thereby
reduce the cost of labour and the cost of production to facilitate the
maximization of profit. It is another
matter that the previous Governments had never acted upon this formula on the
specious plea of the inability of the employer to pay. The present Government and the Finance
Minister wanted to legitimize the denial, despite having no guarantee that even
the minimum recommended by this committee and notified by the Government would
be ever implemented in the private sector.
To reach
out to the ambitious budget estimates of the Finance Minister, it is reported
in the media that the net tax revenue must increase at a whopping rate of 25.3%
and the non- tax revenue at 27.2%. Given
the present trend of tax collections, to register such a fantastic rise is not
only unlikely but appears to be impossible.
Read
with the list of tasks to be undertaken in the next 100 days which include the
corporatization/privatization of the five production units of Railways, PPP in
infra structure projects including National Highways, disinvestment to fetch Rs.
105,000 crores, this fiscal, the direction of the policies has become
undoubtedly clear. The disinvestment in
the PSUs appears to be not only with the objective of pinning down the deficit
but rather a loud pronouncement of the economic policy itself. Most of the PSUs own presently costly lands
in the urban agglomerations which had been acquired for pittance by various
State Governments under the archaic enactment made by the British and handed
over to the PSU in the national interest.
The disinvestment will ensure that these lands would be transferred to
the private hands. The IRCTC is now
empowered to run trains and tomorrow it could be anybody. With the present level of privatization
venture the Railways are likely to follow quickly and quietly the BSNL way.
The
individual income tax payers nursed the illusion of getting some concessions
from this Govt. That hope has been belied.
There had been no rise in the quantum of standard deduction with the
result even the income arising from the reimbursement of expenses is got
taxed. There had been no logic in the
present dispensation of segregating the taxpayers as below 5 lakhs and above 5
lakhs, asking those to pay tax beyond the non- taxable maximum the moment his
income crosses over Rs. 5 lakhs.
Coming
to the direct taxation proposals the
Finance Minister has made a ‘paradigm shift’ in the main function of the Income
Tax Department i.e. to compute and assess the exact income of a person. The scheme of faceless assessment in
electronic mode involving no human interface is what is suggested. The scheme is prima facie a welcome feature
as its objective is to eliminate the possible arbitrariness and
corruption. In the absence of details,
it will be difficult to comment upon its possible success. The limitation of an
in depth investigation, the scheme might bring about, especially into the new
modes of evasions, the assesees might employ, is an area the CBDT will have to
look into. The random scrutiny presently
acts as a deterrent. Since the orders
are subject to judicial scrutiny it will have to be drafted and finalized as
one capable of standing the test of tough probing by a judicial mind.
In fine,
as per the view of the economists of the country, the budget has presented a
catalogue of aspirations, without stating any tangible proposition to reach out
to those objectives or to arrest the deceleration of the economic growth,
worsening unemployment situation, the inability of the job generation capacity
of the economy, the widening gaps between the haves and have-nots etc. It has proceeded on true lines of the
neo-liberal economic policies and has given the appearance of another fine page
in the obituary to a self-reliant and sovereign India.
Disinvestment
and Privatisation
Contrary
to the perception that a strong and able economy must have a performing public
sector, the post 1991 witnessed a complete reversal of that. Concerted attempts were made by the
successive governments in power to ensure that the share of the government in
the public sector is sold out. In every
budget proposal a certain amount has
been shown as expected receipt of disinvestment. Since there had been no differences for the
NDA government with their predecessors in so far as the economic policies are
concerned the disinvestment had always been an objective. Privatisation was often justified on the
claim that most of them were inefficient earning low profit or incurring losses
and acting as a drain on already stretched resources of the government. However, these arguments were also used as a justification to pursue
the effort of disinvesting equity in profit making public sector firms. The proceeds of the sales of these shares
often have been used to cover the deficit in the budgets. Though the disinvestment strategy had been
difficult the governments have been able to garner funds through this
route. The enormity of such receipts
could be gauged from the fact that the target of 1994-95 Rs.4,843 crores. It rose to a huge figure of Rs.24,349 crores
in 2014-15. It is the sale of the
profitable public sector units that could make partial success of this
endeavour. The prices offered for these
profitable private enterprises were far less than its market value. It was a sheer transfer of public asset into
the private hands. The public private
partnership route which is often resorted to are projects were government carries
all the risks and the private partners
garners all the profits. There had been no sector that had been left
out in this privatisation exercise. The
banks in the financial sector, the profit making petroleum sector,
telecommunication, coal, power generation, etc., were targeted. Where such transfer of public sector
enterprises into private hands have taken place, the user charges had been whoopingly increased.
In 2015-16, the PPP in energy sector was of the order Rs.41836 crores. Social and Commercial Sector
Rs. 4574 crores, Transport Rs.610590 crores, Water and Sanitation Rs.18768
Crores. The PPP is espoused as a
readymade solution to bring about faster development. By placing the national, regional and local
governments at the mercy of shaddy operators, PPP does undermine the efficacy
of an elected government and the very system of democracy itself.
Apart
from these ongoing proposals approved by the Budget, the NDA government sought
to privatise three segments of the government departments viz. The Defence
Production, The Railways, and the Air
India.
There
are 41 ordnance factories presently functioning under the Ministry of Defence. They were set up on various occasions in the
post independent era to cater to the requirements of the armed forces. During the cold war period and earlier too
the country did not receive any help or assistance from any nation in the world
especially from the super powers in the matter of maintaining the efficacy of
our military. These indigenous factories
were the product of hard work put in by the workers. The government had to divert quite an amount of its scarce
resources for establishing these factories, for the external threat was not
only real but also imminent. They played
a vital role in the security and the integrity of the country.
Sale of
Arms and Weapons is a lucrative international business. Most of the western countries make enormous
profit out of this business. Significant
role is being played by the business interest of these countries in igniting
conflict worldwide. Besides providing
employment for thousands of people these factories play a vital role in our
security system. The recommendation of
the VII CPC enabling the armed forces to source their uniform materials from
private agencies would render thousands of workers in some of the factories
under the defence production ministry.
The decision of the government to either privatise these factories or
organise them under a corporation has been stiffly opposed by the workers in
these organisations. Unmindful of the
objections raised by the workers on whom a large number of people depend upon,
the government has decided to privatise these factories in the current year.
The continuous agitation that is going on in
these factories against privatisation has received solidarity and support from
quite a number of people in the country
due to the iconic image these factories obtained at the critical time of our
history. The privatisation of these
factories will make the armed forces to depend upon the private organisations
sometimes controlled by the multinationals jeopardizing the very security of
the country. It is very sad that the
government has decided to go ahead with its proposal to privatise this vital
production unit of the defence department.
Defence
Workers Strike
The
Defence Workers Strike, which commenced in the early hours of 20th August, 2019
was the offshoot of the failure of
negotiation, commenced by the Govt reluctantly, to avert the inevitable
strike. The strike, was not for any
pecuniary benefit for the workers, but
in the national interest; to force the
Govt which talks of patriotism
in every breath to be really
patriotic. In the face of the decision of the Government to privatise the
operations of the 41 ordnance factories under the Ministry of Defence ,
assiduously built over the years by the tax payers money and hand over the same
to their cronies who are in search of avenues to make huge profits, the strike became inevitable . The workers have rightly pointed out that the
Govt has put the national security at the mercy of profit mongering corporates
and foreign monopoly houses.
The
defence workers along with the other segments of the Indian Working class had
been fighting the ill-conceived neo-liberal policies whose only objective had
been and continue to be to allow the loot of natural and state-owned resources
for private profit. Those who amass huge profits are presently called as wealth
creators requiring immunity from all punishable offences.
The
defence workers had to undertake a long and strenuous campaign against the
anti-national attitude of the present Govt in the face of the euphoria created
by the pseudo- nationalists and propagandists of the ruling party. The near
cent percent support they could elicit
from the defence workers should stand a
great testimony for all those who
strive to oppose the hegemony of the ruling class. The present step of the govt to go in for
complete privatization of 41 ordnance factories within the 100 days of the
government coming to power, imperilling the country’s security and the life of
Jawans who toil in the extreme bad weather conditions at the Border is to say
the least chicanery at its worst.
In this strike action every defence worker,
irrespective of his/her political perception participated giving no room for
the government to divide and rule, though tried with hope after hope. No doubt they could wean away the officers at
the Managerial levels, who had assured
of their participation in the national interest earlier The threat of invoking the provisions fo ESMA
and other draconian laws against the striking
workers did play its salutary impact on these officers.
It was
the solid unity of the workers at the grass root level that compelled the
Government to authorise the Defence Secretary to recommence the negotiation and
roll out assurances to the effect that the Government would set up a committee
to address the concern of the workers and to solemnly state that the Government
has not taken a final decision on the issue of corporatisation - a ploy used to
get out of the situation. The Defence workers organisations are fully aware
that those were unmeant assurances and can only be ensured through the
continued unity and determination of the workers. They have suspended the action giving room
for the Government to retrace their earlier decision of handing over the
factories to private cronies. The leaders and cadres of the Derfence Workers
Federations deserve our congratulations
for preserving the unity of workers and waging
a historic battle.
Privatisation
in Railways
We also
saw during this period the greatest
privatisation drive of the largest public sector undertaking i.e. the
Railways. Selected railway stations
along with prime land belonging to them were leased to private operators as a prologue to handing over the entire
railway station to private corporate players.
Government was expecting to bring in an investment to the tune of Rs.
100,000 crores through the Public Private Partnership programme. 2200 acres of land was thus leased out for a
period of 45 years. The move to
privatise stations is bound to have a far reaching implication on the lives and
livelihoods of thousands of people.
There are 7600 stations under the Indian Railways. Private parties have been entrusted for
modernising 411 stations. The Bansal group which is primarily operating
in the education sector received 17,245 sq.mtrs. of land for 45 years. Design, Finance, Construction and Maintenance
including production activities have been either outsourced or privatised. Laying of signal lines, installation of
telecommunication equipment, cleaning and washing of stations and coaches,
on-board cleaning, cleaning of engines,
providing water in coaches, ticket booking, catering, sanitary work all
have been either outsourced or privatised.
Quite a number of private lines connecting the industrial estates have
been privatised through the PPP. As
mentioned elsewhere on the basis of the recommendations of the Bibek Debroy
Committee, the Railway budget has now been made part of the General Budget and
would be presented by the Finance Minister.
It looks that it would be just a matter of time that the largest public
sector industry in the country will be in the private hands.
In the recently announced 100 days action plan of the new
Modi Government the Railway Board has proposed that two passenger trains will
be offered to IRCTC which would provide ticketing and other board services.
These trains will run on important routiues connecting major cities. As per the
report that is now available the Railway Board has also decided to hand over
the running of premier trains including Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains to
private operators for which the tendering process is on anvail.
Another proposal which is included in 100 days action plan is
corporatisation of the 7 production units of Indian Railways at Perambur,
Varanasi, Chittaranjan Locomotive, Kapoorthala, Raybarely, Bangalore. There had
been tumuntous agitations in many of the centers where the production units are
located. Ms. Sonia Gandhi, president of Indian National Congress raised the
issue of corporatisation of the production unit situated at theRraebareilly ( her own constitutency ) in
the Parliament, forgetting that it was her own party when in power initiated
the privatisation process in railways as is explained in the preceeding
paragraphs. While replying to her, the Railway Minister is reported to have
stated that the Corporatisation was meant to bring in investment to Railways
and consequent expansion of the production units. Through to their
announcement, the Government has already
allowed to the IRITC to run the trains in certain selected routes. The
production units in all the 7 locations do have large amount of areas acquired
from the common people for the sake of establishing these units. The private
anperepreurs are interested in only those costly real estate area rather than
producing coaches for the Indian Railways. The Railway organisations have began
to realise the serious nature of the attack unleashed by the Government. It is only through militancy action that the
Government proposal which is extremely injurious to this country especially
common people can be defeated.
Air
India Privatisation
What is
stuck in the memory whenever a discussion on Air India takes place is its
famous mascot Maharaja. Once a proud and
most admired symbol of Indian Aviation industry has now been reduced to the
crude caricature. The nationalisation of
Air India to make it the National Airlines Carrier of the country has
now become Sick. Whether it has become
sick or the injuries were inflicted can be a matter for debate. While the blame could be approprioned between
the NDA and UPA governments equally for the denationalisation have been clarion
call of the neo liberal policies to which both were wedded. While a comparatively new entrant in the
aviation industry is making huge profits and is increasing its passenger share
in the market almost every day, the downfall of Air India which had the most
experienced personnel to manage and the finest aircrafts to carry and a mighty
government to support financially is inexplicable. The merger of Indian Airlines and Air India
into one company was never a well-thought out plan. Even after merger, the two wings of the
amalgamated company are reported to have functioned separately. There are quite number of factors for the
continuing sickness of the company but the most significant is considered to be
the acquisition of aircrafts at an
overall cost of Rs. 46549 crores in 2005-06.
It is considered to be the most reckless and egregious decision to order
for 111 aircrafts. The C&AG who had
gone into these deal had a serious doubt over the lack of application of mind
in the decision making process of such a big deal. The very decision on the basis of an inflated
forecast of traffic or non stop flight to New York and Chicago following
the acquisition of aircraft, the
C&AG has stated as a flawed one.
Some of the policy decision that the Govt of India took in the neo
liberal policy days allowing certain concession and benefits to the private
airline, disallowing a level playing field for Air India have gone to reduce
its operational profits to a great extent.
The open skies policy of the government which hit Air India’s
International operations was also not only one of the features that landed the
airlines in trouble. In the name of the
proposed privatisation initiative taken during the first NDA government the
purchase of aircrafts was delayed due to which the airlines lost out to the
passenger traffic in the market.
One June
28, 2017, the Govt of India set up a committee after obtaining the in principle
approval for the strategic sale of the governments ownership in the
airline. The decision of the cabinet
committee meant the virtual handing over of the management control to a private
entity. The committee consisting of the
group of ministers called “AISAM”(Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism) is
headed by the Finance Minister. The committee is to decide as to how the hopping
debt of Rs.52000 crores of Air India is to be handled; the modalities of this
strategic sale and the disinvestment of the profitable subsidiaries. The Air India has five subsidiaries viz. The
Air India Engg Services Ltd, Air India Air Transport Services Ltd, Air India
Charters Ltd, Airline Allied Services Ltd, and Hotel Corporation of India
Ltd. The Air India’s privatisation as
and when it takes place will be nothing but a transfer of public asset into the
private hands.
Labour
Code and Law Acquisition Bill
By the
time, this issue reaches our readers, the present NDA Government would have
completed one year in office. The widening gap between the precept and practice
and the unkept promises made during electioneering are looming large. The working class in the country, especially
in the organised sector did not have any illusion either at the time of the
general election or thereafter of the direction in which the economy of the
country would be driven by the BJP led Government, given its ideological and
political right wing attitude.
Almost
every decision this Government has taken after its assumption of office was to
facilitate the pursuance of the neo-liberal policies; to ensure that a
corporate friendly climate pervades in the country so as to attract the foreign
investment. The Corporates wanted
maximisation of profit, in other words larger return on their investment; to
ensure that the labour welfare legislations in the country are either taken out
of the statute book or not enforced; they must not be accountable for disaster
of the environment or even for the loss of life due to callous managerial
attitude.
One must
look at the two enactments proposed by the Government in the Parliament from
the above perspective. The Land
acquisition Act of 1894 was no doubt draconian.
It had empowered the Federal and provincial Governments to forcefully
acquire land in (an undefined) public interest.
There were sensible upsurgence in the country whenever or wherever the
Government attempts to acquire land from the kisans, as such acts, howsoever justifiable it may
be, often divested the farmer of his livelihood and driven him and his family
to penury. Taking note of this genuine
concern and the growing discontent over an unjustifiable enactment made by the
colonial rulers, the UPA Government was compelled to bring in a legislation
primarily meant to protect the interest of the farmers, called the right to
fair compensation, transparency in land acquisition, rehabilitation and
resettlement Act, 2013. It is not
anybody’s contention that the said enactment of 2013 was flawless but certainly
was a significant step in the direction of protecting the interest of farmers.
Various provisions of the said enactment came in for severe criticism in
the corporate controlled media, by the so called right wing intellectuals, who
were the loudest proponents of the economic reforms. BJP was in opposition and
had a sizeable presence both in the Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha then. It is with
their open support, the enactment could be made by the UPA Government. Being
now in the Government, they want the very provisions of those enactments, which
they have voted to make it a law, to
go, not
to ensure the interest of the common people or farmers, but the
Corporate houses. The ordinance could
not be validated in the floor of the Parliament and got ultimately lapsed. The consent of the land owner, which has
been made a pre-requisite in the 2013 Act is sought to be removed, if such
acquisition is for industrial corridor or infra structure projects in PPP. This apart, the protection enunciated in 2013
Act, against acquisition of multi-cropped irrigated land and the provisions of
return of unused land within 5 years are done away with or weakened. The
proposed amendment also empowers the government to acquire land one kilometre
on both sides of a designated highway or Railway line.
Both
inside and outside the Parliament, the voice of people who resented the
anti-farmer attitude of the Government resonated and the Govt. was forced to
refer its proposal to a Parliamentary Committee.
Many of
the labour welfare legislations that exist in our Statute book were the product
of bitter and militant struggles waged by the Indian working Class both in the
pre and post independent days.
Innumerable articles had appeared in Indian Press in the post 1991
period to exaggerate its negative impact
on the industrialisation and growth of economy.
The Corporates which have now become the surrogate Governments
throughout the world had been successful in dismantling these enactments in
very many countries. They are aware that
maximisation of profit is possible only through exploitation of workers. No other ingredient in the cost of production
is capable of giving the impetus to reduce the price of the product in the
market. They have therefore, made it
clear to the present Government in power that the location of the establishment
of TNCs and their production centres would largely depend upon this single
significant factor. The BJP Government in Rajasthan, which enjoys a brute
majority in the State Assembly was the pioneers in ‘reforming’ the labour
‘laws. The Rajasthan Government made
drastic amendments to Factories Act, Industrial disputes Act, Contract Labour
Act, and the States of A.P and Madhya Pradesh followed. Maharashtra and Haryana have declared that
they intend to so so very soon. These
amendments provide the unfettered right to the employers to hire and fire and
will take away almost 70% of the workers in the country out of the purview
of many labour welfare Acts. The
“Small Industries bill”
introduced, purportedly to help the small entrepreneurs(who employ less
than 40 workers) will take these
establishments out of the ambit of 14
Labour laws. Besides, all security
benefits, which are presently mandatory,
viz. Employees Provident Fund, Employee Pension Scheme, Employees State
Insurance etc. will be denied to the workers of these so called “small
establishments.” The advisory issued by the Government of India to the State
Governments may not be mandatory but we are witness to the demeaning situation
of these elected Governments kneeling before the Giant corporations offering
them various concessions.
(Financial
Resolution & Deposit Insurance) FRDI Bill 2017
The
Government of India has now introduced a bill in the Parliament called the
Financial Resolution & Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill. It is likely to come up for discussion at the
next session. The objective of the bill
is stated to be to provide a framework for the resolution of failures of
financial institutions. Presently, the
diverse financial sector as different regulatory authorities like the RBI for
the Banks, IRDA for Insurance, SEBI for Mutual Funds, PFRDA for Pension Funds,
etc. The nationalised banks which has a
70 percent share in total banking assets and the LIC are governed by separate
legislations. FRDI seeks to amend these
legislations listed in Schedule IV of the Bill to bring in the resolution
function in case of failure of any financial entity under the Resolution
Corporation. The resolution authority
has the power of accusation of assets, merger or amalgamation, liquidation or
utilising the new instrument like bailing and creation of bridge service
provider. The bill is on the lines of what
was suggested by the G20 and the Financial Stability Board which came into
existence after the global financial crisis.
The power and the authority conferred on the Resolution Corporation to
deny emoluments and bonus for employees for a financial service provider, to
change their service conditions, terminate them without recourse to other
avenues of arbitration, etc. are diabolic in character and requires
amendment.
In a
major departure from the banking practices that was prevalent prior to 1991,
the neo liberal policies that came into existence thereafter backed and
implemented measures of financial liberalisation and used bank credit as a
stimulus for growth. Such liberalisation
paved way for accumulation for non performing assets especially in the public
sector banks where the govt as an owner had a responsibility. The NPAs grew in an alarming proportion.
The RBI as a regulatory body had to intervene and state that the true
state of affairs must be reflected in the balance sheet of the banks. There were quite a number of devices that
were employed to conceal the quantum and nature of the irrecoverable
loans. The directive of the RBI brought
the true picture of the banks both in the public and private sector to the
public gaze. It eroded the
creditability of the banks and the confidence of the people at large, the very
vein of the banking system. The
Resolution Corporation which is formed with certain powers under the FRDI is to
look into the ailing financial institutions in a bid to protect the interest of
the consumers. The Resolution
Corporation was a replica in the Indian context of a regime recommended by the
Basel based financial regulatory board of USA in the wake of the global crisis
of 2008. The bill allows the Resolution
Corporation to ensure appropriate the bank deposits beyond the insurance
coverage to be used when the collapse takes place. The stipulation in the bill restricts that
any depositor whatever may be the quantum of such deposits will only get a maximum amount of Rs. 1 lakh. In other
words, even if a person has got millions of
rupees in bank deposits, the banks which are covered with this act, is
entitled to provide a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh in the event of restructuring,
liquidation or collapse.
One Rank
One Pension
OROP has
been a major demand of the defence personnel for the past many years. When the
new Govt. assumed office there was a feeling that the long pending demand of
the armed forces personnel will be conceded. However, that was not to be. The
veterans who fought many a battle to secure the borders of our country had to
wage battle of a different kind to force the Govt. to accede to their demand.
The ex-servicemen went on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi
on the issue. When the nation was on month long celebration to commemorate
India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1965 war, the veterans were facing a
police action to evict them from their Dharna venue which only made the matters
worse. This was not expected from a leadership which always swear by the
sacrifices of the armed forces. This led to 10 former Service chiefs to write
an open letter to the Prime Minister. After the veterans organised a Rally on 1st February, 2015, the Defence minister called
them for discussion and assured that OROP will be implemented. The agitation was
called off on Feb, 2015, only to resume it on 14th June, 2015 as no concrete action was taken by
the Govt. to act on the assurances. Ultimately when the Govt. agreed to concede
the demand, the decision that military personnel who took voluntary retirement
would not be entitled to OROP made the veterans angry and the Prime Minister
had to intervene and clarify that OROP benefit will be extended to personnel
retired prematurely. It is pertinent to mention that if the scheme is not
extended to the prematurely retired personnel more than 45% of the retired
personnel would have been kept out of the benefit. Inspite of the assurances by
the PM, the seed of doubt was sown in the minds of the veterans about the
sincerity of the govt. They continued
the agitation till the written orders were issued. There were other issues also
–that the pension will be recalculated every 5 years and not every year as
demanded; they also opposed constitution of a one member committee to go in to
its complexities instead of a 5 member committee including ex-servicemen. Even
though the agitation was called off with cynicism and scepticism, the
disturbing aspect that has emerged out of the whole issue is the trust deficit
between the service personnel and the civil administration.
The
demand for an equitable Pension scheme for all retired personnel on the lines
of OROP has been raised by the Civil Servants before the 7th CPC. Though it is not feasible to have the
same scheme extended to civil service the vast disparity between the past and
the present pensioners was sought to be removed. The7th CPC after hearing all
the stake holders suggested a particular proposition in the form of Option I
& II. The Commission virtually put the choice in the hands of the pensioner
as that course would have avoided a large amount of litigation. The Govt. of
India, however, instead of accepting the recommendation asked the pension
department to go into the feasibility of Option-1. Despite agreeing that in 84%
of the cases the relevant records are available they suggested to the Govt. for
rejection of the recommendation of the 7th CPC.
Political
Scenario
Assembly
Elections 2015
In the
beginning of 2015 and at the end two provinces of the country went to poll to
elect new governments.
Delhi
Assesmbly
The
elections for the Delhi assembly was held in February 2015 whereas the Bihar
went to polls in November the same year.
The AAP under Mr. Kejriwal was the main attraction of the Delhi
electorate. In the previous election the
AAP could not muster a majority and the coalition exercise did not last
long. Being brand new to Indian
politics, AAP approached the electorate with a clear perspective written in
unambiguous terms in their manifesto.
The manifesto talked about concrete issues such as taxes to drinking
water, cheaper electricity, better sanitation, ensuring women safety, quality
education sponsored by the government, better health care, new hospitals,
internet facilities, regularisation of contract workers, etc. While it concentrated on the issue, its
campaign was very innovative it did not
hold extravagant public meetings whereas the BJP indulged in slanderous
campaign. In all the rallies the Prime
Minister addressed he had hit out at Kejriwal calling him an urban naxalite and
anarchist. Kiran Bedi was declared the
Chief Ministerial candidate who had never been in the party and in the Delhi
politics by the BJP. The AAPs strategic
refusal to get provoked by the BJPs remarks
paid rich dividends to it. The
Indian National Congress was nowhere in the picture. The AAP was clearly the hope and choice of
the people as it revived a long forgotten political language of welfare. It is
reported that while the rich and a large section of the upper middle class favoured
the BJP, the poor and lower middle class supported the AAP. While Congress could not win even a single
seat, BJP could get only three of its candidates elected to the Assembly.
Bihar Assembly
The Bihar went into polls in November 2015
with Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial candidate on behalf of the grand
alliance of political parties comprising of the JDU, the Laloo Prasad led RJD
and the Congress. The central issue in
the election was explained by Shri Nitish Kumar in unambiguous terms. When he said it was a battle between two ideas
of development; the concept of development with a social justice on the one
side and the notion of development that promote crony capitalism on the
other. Of the 243 seats, RJD won 80,
JDU-71 and INC-27. 4 seats were taken by
the independents. BJP could win only 53
seats and its ally LJP got only 2 seats.
What has ultimately come out in the Bihar election is that there is no
one stop solution to all the travails in the country.
Assembly
Elections 2016
In the
calendar year 2016 provincial assembly elections for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. All these
elections were held together in the month of May 2016.
Assam
Assembly
By
willing 60 seats BJP became the largest party in Assam alongwith their allies
i.e. the Assam Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front. The two regional parties they swept the polls
defeating the Congress which was the ruling party lock, stock and barrel. The All India United Democratic Front could
win only thirteen seats as against the eighteen seats it won in the 2011
election. The electoral victory in Assam
placed the BJP in a very commanding position not only at the national level but
particularly in the North Eastern Region where it would now be possible for
them to dictate terms with the regional parties. In a state where the Muslim population is
about 35 percent which is the highest in any India State barring Jammu and
Kashmir, the victory for the BJP was significant. The most talked about political propaganda
that was unleashed by the BJP both in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections was
the massive illegal migration taking place in Assam from Bangladesh. They could convince the Assamese people that
if the process of migration continues the demographic map of Assam will vastly
change in the years to come. The Indian
National Congress suffering from an anti-incumbency difficulty ensured that
some of its stalwarts and leaders switched over to BJP because the Chief
Minister Tarun Gogoi decided to introduce his son Gaurav Gogoi into
politics. It is reported that the
indigenous people of Assam has massively voted for the BJP coalition.
West
Bengal Assembly
The
TMC’s stormed back to power in West Bengal winning 211 seats of the 294 seats,
the CPI(M) which was the ruling party for 35 years could muster only 26 seats,
Congress alone secured 44 seats. The
formation of an alliance between the Left and the Congress and other secular
parties in West Bengal gave an initial impression that the TMC would fall this
time. This illusion which was created by
the section of a media and the opposition unity shattered at the end and TMC
regained power. During the election process
Trinamool faced serious setback on account of the surfacing of the footages of
a sting operation carried out in 2014 by the news portal Narada and the
collapse of a flyover in the heart of the city. It appears that the people of
West Bengal really believed that Mamta Banerjee will be able to run a
non-corrupt, efficient, pro-poor government.
They had no doubt it appears in
the honesty and integrity of Mamta Banerjee and that should have been the
reason why the corruption charges raised by the opposition parties could not
click. The 2000 election verdict was
decisive and over whelming positive in favour of Trinamool Congress. The electoral tie-up between the Left and the
Congress turned out to be damp squib.
Despite the alliance, the Left and Congress contested in as many as 18
seats against each other. Their had been
no cohesiveness either in the public statement or in the nature of the alliance
formed. The alliance could not even
project a Chief Ministerial candidate.
In the West Bengal election, BJP could secure 10.2 percent of the votes
and three seats. The National Democratic
Alliance tally in the state rose to 6 percent which included the three seats
won by Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha.
The 2016
election has proved once again that Mamta Banerjee is the single most powerful
mass leader in Bengal today.
Kerala Assembly
The
United Democratic Front a combination of parties led by the Indian National
Congress was the ruling alliance in Kerala upto 2016. Having won the election with a very slender
majority, it was to its credit that it could retain power and rule the state
for five years. During the five year
period it has to face many many
embarrassing moments scams and
corruption charges which gave an impression to the mass of the people that the
UDF politicians were already corrupt.
Despite this negative image, it must be said to their credit that they
fought the 2016 election and created an impression that they had a chance. The Left Democratic Front, especially the
CPI(M) which led the alliance had been beset with internal dissention and
differences, the former Chief Minister and the top most leader of the party
Com. V. S. Achuthananthan who rose to become a charismatic leader of the people
of Kerala often did not see eye to eye with the views and stand taken by the
party and sometimes even the Left Front.
The supporters of LDF were quite unhappy over these developments and
feared that it would given an edge to the UDF at the hustings. Cohesiveness was brought between the party
secretary and the leader and there had been no differences aired during the
election campaign. This transformed the
entire election scene in favour of the LDF and they won 91 of the 140 seats in
the Kerala Assembly. One of the most
prominent feature of the assembly elections of Kerala was the BJP for the first
time got an entry by winning the Nemon constitutency near the capital city of
Trivandrum. Shri O.Rajagopal who was a
Minister in the NDA government led by
Atal Behari Vajpayee won the seat for BJP defeating both the LDF and the
UDF. After the election also the CPI(M)
could announce Shri Pinarai Vijayan as the Chief Ministerial candidate. BJP has
garnered more than 10 percent of the votes in this election. All their national leaders including the
Prime Minister and the party President campaigned for the party and the
alliance which included nearly a dozen community based organisations. In the northern most constituency of Kerala
at Manjeswaram, BJPs candidate lost by only 89 votes declaring clearly that BJP
has become a party to be reckoned with in Kerala politics.
Tamil
Nadu Assembly
It was
under the charismatic leadership of J.Jayalalitha the AIADMK contested the
assembly election in 2016. Barring three
minor parties she had chosen not to have any alliance for contesting the
elections. Virtually there had been no
anti-incumbency factor . This was mainly
due to the freebies she has chosen to distribute amongst the people especially
the women. In Tamil Nadu Bicycles, Lapops, Uniforms, Textbooks, Notebooks,
Chappals, Atlas are all given free of cost to the children studying in the
schools. This apart the question of food
security is taken care of through the public distribution system whereby every
person whether below or above the poverty line is entitled to get food
consumables almost free of cost from the ration shop. Unlike in the earlier elections there has
been no serious allegations of corruption against the government or her council
of ministers. Despite such positive
factors in favour of the ruling party, the election was very close. Of the 234 seats (election held for 232
seats) AIADMK led alliance won 134 seats.
The DMK which was the main opposition party had won 98 seats. In the city of Chennai however the AIADMK
could win only 6 of the 16 seats perhaps due to the people’s perception that
the government did not do anything tangible when the city was submerged in
flood waters. Most of the other
alliances which came into existence on the eve of the elections could not click
and could not garner support and was almost decimated. M. Karunanidhi former Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu and the veteran leader of the DMK won the Tiruvaroor constituency by a
record margin of 68366 votes.
Karunanidhi had turned 93 at the time of election. His election with such a large majority shows
the inner strength of DMK and the affection the people of Tamil Nadu has got
towards Karunanidhi. Commenting on the
verdict, Ms. Jayalalitha said that she would continue to work on the basis of
the Taraka Mantra that “I am because of the people and I am for the
people”. In her manifesto Ms.
Jayalalitha had promised that every women in Tamil Nadu who gets married will
get 8 grams of gold, a mobile phone, ration card, free supply of 100 units of
electricity, 50 percent of subsidy for women buying a scooter or moped.
Puducherry
Assembly
Puducherry
is a tiny state with 30 assembly constituencies comprising of the erstwhile
Union territories of Pondicherry, Yanam.
The outgoing council of Ministers were headed by Shri N Rangaswamy who
had split the Congress and formed a new party called All India N Rangaswamy
Congress. In the May 2016 elections, the
DMK and the Indian National Congress joined together to form an alliance. The INC could take a revenge in defeating
their arch rival N. Rangaswamy. The
Congress-DMK alliance won seventeen seats.
One of the prominent features of this election is that the Union
Territory recorded the highest poll percentage of more than 80 percent. In the assembly, the All India N Rangaswamy
Congress has 8 seats and the AIADMK has 4, One independent is supported by the
CPI(M) in Mahe.
Assembly
Elections 2017
In the
year 2017 seven provincial assemblies had their general elections. 5 of them were held in the month of March
2017 and the rest 2 were held in December 2017.
Those which went into poll in March were Goa,Manipur,Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand
and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP/NDA won the election hands down. In Punjab Indian National Congress, rested
power from BJP SCD alliance.
In Goa
of the 40 seats that went to polls, INC won 17, BJP 13 and the rest 10 by
others. Though INC became the largest
political party in the assembly, BJP could successfully manoeuvre and
come back to power with the help of the independents and others. Shri Manohar Parrikar who was the defence
minister of the country was deployed to GOA by the BJP to take over as the
Chief Minister of the coalition which came into existence after the election.
Manipur
returned a fractured verdict and a hung assembly and stopped both the Congress
and the BJP from forming the government.
Independently, INC won 28 seats,
BJP 21 seats in the 60 member assembly.
BJP could form the government with the Naga Peoples Front(4), The
National Peoples Party(4), The Lok Shakti Party(1). The paradoxical situation in this election
was that Irom Sharmila who was on a hunger strike for 16 years to press for the
repeal of the dreaded Armed Forces Special Powers Act lost out. She had floated a new political party called
the Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance.
Of the
117 seats in Punjab, Congress won 77, BJP 3, Shiromani Akali Dal 15, Lok Insaf
Dal 2, and Aam Aadmi Party 20. Throughout the election campaign there had
been great support for the Aam Aadmi Party and its alliance partner Lok Insaf
Dal. Against the expectations the BJP-SAD combine could marshal 25.2 percent of
the votes poll whereas the AAP got 23.7 percent. What came as a rude shock for AAP was the
diminished performance of that party compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections. In the parliamentary election
the AAP had registered 24.4 percent of the votes polled and was leading in 33
assembly constituencies. Capt. Amrinder
Singh who spearheaded the campaign for INC and could muster and unprecedented
majority in the assembly reiterated
the electoral commitment made during the campaign to the effect of eradicating
the drug menace, loan waiver, taking initiative in the health care and the
education sectors.
The
Samajwadi Party which was in poor at the time of Uttar Pradesh elections was
reduced to a minor force in the assembly with just 47 seats. The other major political outfit the BSP
could make 19 of its candidates to the Uttar Pradesh legislature. The election in UP was turned out to be a one
sided affair though through the campaign
period it gave a picture of tough triangular fight.The BJP after the election
selected Yogi Adityanath for the post of Chief Minister and Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma as Dy.
Chief Ministers.
The
Harish Rawat led INC was routed out in Uttarakhand in the assembly
elections. Of the 70 seats BJP won 57
having a 3/4th majority.
Even before the election, Congress had been reduced to a warring house
with dissentions and disruptions within the party. Throughout the campaign it was clear that the ruling
party would be defeated. However the
final verdict was something unprecedented.
The only redeeming feature for the Congress is, it has more or less
retained its vote share of 33.79 percent against 34.4 percent in 2014.
In the
68 seat assembly of Himachal Pradesh since 1985 change of government had been
the election verdict. Accordingly, BJP
and its allies were to win in Himachal Pradesh and the Veerbhadra Singh
government of Congress to go out. The
election verdict in 2017 was a clean sweep in favour of BJP. The won 44 seats and captured power. Congress’s tally was 21, the CPI(M) which
fielded 13 candidates won the single seat from the Theog constituency when its
candidate Rakesh Singh was declared elected.
The dissention in BJP which was cause of their defeat in 2012 when the
Himachal Lokhit party was formed could be successfully healed by the party
leadership. The HLP was merged with BJP
before the elections itself. While the
Congress retained its vote share as it was in 2012, BJP increased it with 10
points. Even though the BJP swept to
power it lost its Chief Ministerial candidate
Prem Kumar Dhumal so also the fate of the BJPs State President Satpal
Singh Sati.
In a
keenly contested election in Gujarat which spread over a period of two phases,
BJP scraped through and retained power in Gujarat. Of the 182 seat assembly, BJP could win 99
seats obtaining a slender majority of 7 seats.
Unexpectedly, the Congress performance in the election is considered
spectacular by many. In most of the
constituencies where the Congress lost was with a thin margin. Their
performance was considered as the best since 1985. The Saurashtra Kutch region was responsible
for the higher Congress tally. Of the 56
seats in the region Congress won in 32.
The two young campaigners in the Gujarat election stood out
prominently. They were Jignesh Mewani
and Hardik Patel. The Hardik Patel
launched agitation years back for the reservation of the Patel community in
employment and the way the Gujarat government quelled the upsurgence played a
vital role in the elections. However,
the agitation did not polarise the community in as much as quite a number
belonging to Patel community especially in urban areas voted for BJP. Though the Congress is defeated it is now
seen as a serious electoral force in Gujarat with a potential of a strong
opposition party in the assembly.
Presidential
Election 2017
As the
term of office of the President of India
was to expire on 24th July 2017, the country had to go in for the
Presidential Election. The NDA and particularly the BJP surprised the
opposition by selecting Shri Ram Nath Kovind the then Governor of Bihar for the
highest executive post in the country.
The selection of a Dalit candidate by the BJP at the time when the
opposition allegation of intensified communalism was gathering momentum had its
impact. The opposition had to field a
dalit candidate and they found Ms. Meirakumar, daughter of the charismatic
dalit leader of the country, Jagjeevan Ram to that position. The opposition parties barring the JDU led by
Nitish Kumar joined together and campaigned for Ms. Meirakumar. In her election campaign which started from Sabarmati,
she urged the voters to listen to their inner voice of conscious because in her
opinion the Presidential Election was a battle of ideologies. The
decision of Nitish Kumar to switch over the side to support Mr.Kovind was by many in the opposition as the art of chicanery at its best as he had
been an active participant in the opposition conclave whose assigned
responsibility was to select a an apt candidate for the post. Despite the repeated plea by Lalu Prasad
Yadav that in an ideological battle personal choice should not play a decisive
factor, was disregarded by Nitish Kumar.
The statement made by Ram Nath Kovind as a spokesperson of the BJP
earlier in 2010 was used by the opposition to characterise him as a non-secular
rabid hindu politician. He had said as
a comment to the Ranganath Misra Commission report that Islam and Christianity are alien to the
idea of India. It was said my many
political observers in the country that the joining together of BJP, Samajwadi
Party, TNC, the Left Parties and the Congress on the same stage for this
election need not necessarily be the scenario during the ensuing Lok Sabha
elections in 2019 as factors operating at the time of general elections are
totally different. As expected Ram Nath
Kovind won the Presidential elections handsomely defeating the combined
opposition candidate, Ms. Meirakumar.
Intolerance
at its worst
The
gruesome, premeditated shooting of Gauri Lankesh, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind
Pansare and MM Kalburgi raises worrying questions about the growing intolerance
to independent voices. The intolerance towards dissent has been on the rise
since the last 3 years. The fringe groups started to intervene on the issue of
beef eating and also on issue of culture and on anything on which they had a
differing view. The killing of Com. Govind Pansare who championed the cause of
the oppressed and the marginalised and the murder of MM Kalburgi, an erudite
and prolific writer, progressive thinker and anti-superstition activist point
to a diabolic attempt to silence the voice of dissent. Com. Narendra Dabholkar
who was a progressive social activist was also shot dead similarly. The killing
of Gauri Lankesh was the latest in a series of murder of prominent activists
who fought against rising tide of religious fundamentalism. Gauri Lankesh
through her tabloid “Gauri Lankesh Patrika” took on the communal forces and
battled for the rights of Dalits, farmers and minorities. It is indeed
disturbing to see that most of the time the attack was on the progressive
activists or the improvised and marginalised communities like Dalits and minorities.
The cow vigilantes who took the law in
their hands in various states to attack the minority community in the
name of alleged killing or eating cow meat created an air of fear among those
sections. To create majority community hegemony in the social, cultural and
political space of the country a climate of intense intolerance is being
developed across the country. The killing of Mohammed Akhlaq in the village of
Dadri on a trumped up propaganda that his family has indulged in caw slaughter
and stored the beef in their house was a case in point. The mob invaded his
house and lynched him. Later it was revealed on forensic examination that was
not beef but was mutton. Numerous such attacks have taken place across the
country on Muslims and Dalits by such fringe groups. Anyone who questions any
aspect whether in the intellectual or artistic sphere or whether of food habits
and life style are isolated, persecuted and even murdered. Whether it is MM
Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare or Gauri Lankesh or Mohamed Akhlaq
– all killed by gun totting criminals or lynch-mobs – are victims of the
growing culture of intolerance in our country. In all these cases, the justice
still alludes. The Govt. drags its feet. More than three dozen writers, poets and
artists have returned their Sahitya Akadami awards as a symbolic protest
against the killings. Some 50 historians in a signed statement wrote that
“difference of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical
violence. Arguments are met not with counter arguments but with bullets. When a
poor man is suspected to have kept a food item that certain sections do not
approve of, his fate is nothing short of death by lynching....”
The
Cattle Protection Enactment 2017
Ever since the NDA Government came into power,
cow protection had been a vociferous cry of the fringe elements. It was not for the sake of protecting a
domesticated animal “cow” from the human cruelty that the cacophony was raised.
It was more in the name of religion as cow is considered as a sacred
animal. There had been many instances of
people being lynched in the name of cow protection. It therefore raised a huge hue and cry when
the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the
prevention of cruelty to animals (The regulation of Livestock Market Rules
2017) under the patent act the prevention of cruelty to animal act 1916 which
banned the sale of animals in any market for the purpose other than
agriculture. It was reported by many
journalists that study of the rules revealed that the notification had been
designed not with the intent of preventing cruelty to animals but with the
objective of harassing people involved in the meat trade and by implication,
members of the Muslim committee. It was
considered a political expediency by the opposition political parties in the
background that India had the largest livestock population in the world and
where crores of people depend on livestock products.
Student
Unrest
Some of
the other significant issues that rocked the Indian political scene during the
period under report was the agitation of the students of Jawaharlal Nehru
University in Delhi, the Hyderabad
Central University and the Aligarh Muslim Univesity. The suicide death of Rohit Vemula in
Hyderabad Central University on the alleged discrimination of the Dalit
students triggered a wave of agitation amongst the student community throughout
the country. The incidents at JNU
involving the arrest and detention of
the President of the JNU student’s leader Kanhaiya Kumar on the allegation of shouting anti-national
slogans created a storm of unrest. In
the case of AMU the controversy has
arisen of the status of the University as the Government of India contrary to
its earlier stand at the Allahabad High Court informed the Supreme Court
through its Attorney General Shri Mukul Rohtagi that (it is the stand of the
Union of India that AMU is not a minority university as the executive
government at the centre, we cannot be seen as setting up a minority institution
in a secular state). The attack by the professional lawyers of Delhi High Court
when the students were presented in the court was considered by the media to be the darkest possible event
that could take place in the premises of the judiciary.
Farmers Distress
Ever
since the new economic policies were ushered in the farmers and farming
community as a whole was facing challenge to their life and living. There had been a concerted effort on the part
of the Government to suppress the commodity prices in the market whereas it
consistently and continuously saw to it that the subsidies only various items
in the farm sector are withdrawn. Be it
of the agricultural implements, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides name anything
connected with the farming, prices were allowed to be zoomed. While the cost of production of agriculture
produces went on increasing the output prices went on decreasing. The demand for a remunerative price mechanism
for the farming community went into the deaf ears. As per the statistical information provided
it is reported that more than 300000 farmers in the country had committed
suicide being unable to repay the loans they had contracted for various
purposes. When the banks were
nationalised one of the primary objective was to ensure that the agricultural
sector is provided with loans at reasonable rate of interest. It was decided that 41 % of the total bank
loans should go to the agricultural sector.
The liberalisation and the financial sector reforms compelled the
commercial banks to ignore this stipulation.
More than 80 percent of the NPAs in the banks are today are clearly due
to the fact that the big corporate and industrial houses refuses to pay back
the debt and either the government and the banks were unwilling to start the recovery
proceedings. While several enactments to
bail in and bail out are made to assist the big corporate defaulters, nothing
tangible is being done to distress of the farmers caused by the fall in the
prices. The severe agitations and
programs that have been undertaken by the farming community throughout India in
the last two years are indicative of the growing discontent and
resentment. One such serious action took
place on 6th of June 2017 at Pipliya Mandi near
Mendsaur in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. The distressed farmers had called for a ten
day agitation to commence from 1st of June.
The agitation had been planned to draw the attention of the government
to the plight of the farmers who had
abundant crops but low returns.
Thousands of the farmers gathered at the Mandi. The agitation spread to Indore, Devas,
Shahjapur, Shevore, Bhopal and many other places in the State of Madhya
Pradesh. The Chief Minister of Madhya
Pradesh unfortunately took some of the activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh
and announced the calling of the agitation.
Irritated by the pronouncement the angry farmers blocked the National
Highway, forced closure of the markets and clashed with the police. In the confrontation candidate for the
post. Despite the repeated plea by Lalu
Prasad Yadav that in an ideological battle personal choice should not play a
decisive factor, was disregarded by Nitish Kumar. The statement made by Ram Nath Kovind as a
spokesperson of the BJP earlier in 2010 was used by the opposition to
characterise him as a non-secular rabid hindu politician. He had said as a comment to the Ranganath
Misra Commission report that Islam and
Christianity are alien to the idea of India.
It was said my many political observers in the country that the joining
together of BJP, Samajwadi Party, TNC, the Left Parties and the Congress on the
same stage for this election need not necessarily be the scenario during the
ensuing Lok Sabha elections in 2019 as factors operating at the time of general
elections are totally different. As
expected Ram Nath Kovind won the Presidential elections handsomely defeating
the combined opposition candidate, Ms.
Meirakumar.
Intolerance at its worst
The
gruesome, premeditated shooting of Gauri Lankesh, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind
Pansare and MM Kalburgi raises worrying questions about the growing intolerance
to independent voices. The intolerance towards dissent has been on the rise
since the last 3 years. The fringe groups started to intervene on the issue of
beef eating and also on issue of culture and on anything on which they had a
differing view. The killing of Com. Govind Pansare who championed the cause of
the oppressed and the marginalised and the murder of MM Kalburgi, an erudite
and prolific writer, progressive thinker and anti-superstition activist point
to a diabolic attempt to silence the voice of dissent. Com. Narendra Dabholkar
who was a progressive social activist was also shot dead similarly. The killing
of Gauri Lankesh was the latest in a series of murder of prominent activists
who fought against rising tide of religious fundamentalism. Gauri Lankesh
through her tabloid “Gauri Lankesh Patrika” took on the communal forces and
battled for the rights of Dalits, farmers and minorities. It is indeed
disturbing to see that most of the time the attack was on the progressive
activists or the improvised and marginalised communities like Dalits and
minorities. The cow vigilantes who took the law in their hands in various states to attack the
minority community in the name of alleged killing or eating cow meat created an
air of fear among those sections. To create majority community hegemony in the
social, cultural and political space of the country a climate of intense
intolerance is being developed across the country. The killing of Mohammed
Akhlaq in the village of Dadri on a trumped up propaganda that his family has
indulged in caw slaughter and stored the beef in their house was a case in point.
The mob invaded his house and lynched him. Later it was revealed on forensic
examination that was not beef but was mutton. Numerous such attacks have taken
place across the country on Muslims and Dalits by such fringe groups. Anyone
who questions any aspect whether in the intellectual or artistic sphere or
whether of food habits and life style are isolated, persecuted and even
murdered. Whether it is MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare or
Gauri Lankesh or Mohamed Akhlaq – all killed by gun totting criminals or
lynch-mobs – are victims of the growing culture of intolerance in our country.
In all these cases, the justice still alludes. The Govt. drags its feet. More
than three dozen writers, poets and artists have returned their Sahitya Akadami
awards as a symbolic protest against the killings. Some 50 historians in a
signed statement wrote that “difference of opinion are being sought to be
settled by using physical violence. Arguments are met not with counter
arguments but with bullets. When a poor man is suspected to have kept a food
item that certain sections do not approve of, his fate is nothing short of
death by lynching....”
The Cattle Protection Enactment 2017
Ever since the NDA Government came into power,
cow protection had been a vociferous cry of the fringe elements. It was not for the sake of protecting a
domesticated animal “cow” from the human cruelty that the cacophony was raised.
It was more in the name of religion as cow is considered as a sacred
animal. There had been many instances of
people being lynched in the name of cow protection. It therefore raised a huge hue and cry when
the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the
prevention of cruelty to animals (The regulation of Livestock Market Rules 2017)
under the patent act the prevention of cruelty to animal act 1916 which banned
the sale of animals in any market for the purpose other than agriculture. It was reported by many journalists that
study of the rules revealed that the notification had been designed not with
the intent of preventing cruelty to animals but with the objective of harassing
people involved in the meat trade and by implication, members of the Muslim
committee. It was considered a political
expediency by the opposition political parties in the background that India had
the largest livestock population in the world and where crores of people depend
on livestock products.
Student Unrest
Some
of the other significant issues that rocked the Indian political scene during
the period under report was the agitation of the students of Jawaharlal Nehru
University in Delhi, the Hyderabad
Central University and the Aligarh Muslim Univesity. The suicide death of Rohit Vemula in
Hyderabad Central University on the alleged discrimination of the Dalit
students triggered a wave of agitation amongst the student community throughout
the country. The incidents at JNU
involving the arrest and detention of
the President of the JNU student’s leader Kanhaiya Kumar on the allegation of shouting anti-national
slogans created a storm of unrest. In
the case of AMU the controversy has
arisen of the status of the University as the Government of India contrary to
its earlier stand at the Allahabad High Court informed the Supreme Court
through its Attorney General Shri Mukul Rohtagi that (it is the stand of the
Union of India that AMU is not a minority university as the executive
government at the centre, we cannot be seen as setting up a minority
institution in a secular state). The attack by the professional lawyers of
Delhi High Court when the students were presented in the court was
considered by the media to be the
darkest possible event that could take place in the premises of the judiciary.
Farmers Distress
Ever
since the new economic policies were ushered in the farmers and farming
community as a whole was facing challenge to their life and living. There had been a concerted effort on the part
of the Government to suppress the commodity prices in the market whereas it
consistently and continuously saw to it that the subsidies only various items
in the farm sector are withdrawn. Be it
of the agricultural implements, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides name anything
connected with the farming, prices were allowed to be zoomed. While the cost of production of agriculture
produces went on increasing the output prices went on decreasing. The demand for a remunerative price mechanism
for the farming community went into the deaf ears. As per the statistical information provided
it is reported that more than 300000 farmers in the country had committed
suicide being unable to repay the loans they had contracted for various
purposes. When the banks were
nationalised one of the primary objective was to ensure that the agricultural
sector is provided with loans at reasonable rate of interest. It was decided that 41 % of the total bank
loans should go to the agricultural sector.
The liberalisation and the financial sector reforms compelled the
commercial banks to ignore this stipulation.
More than 80 percent of the NPAs in the banks are today are clearly due
to the fact that the big corporate and industrial houses refuses to pay back
the debt and either the government and the banks were unwilling to start the
recovery proceedings. While several
enactments to bail in and bail out are made to assist the big corporate
defaulters, nothing tangible is being done to distress of the farmers caused by
the fall in the prices. The severe
agitations and programs that have been undertaken by the farming community
throughout India in the last two years are indicative of the growing discontent
and resentment. One such serious action
took place on 6th of June 2017 at Pipliya Mandi near
Mendsaur in the Malwa region of Madhya
Pradesh. The distressed farmers had
called for a ten day agitation to commence from 1st of June. The agitation had been planned to draw the
attention of the government to the plight of the farmers who had abundant crops but low returns. Thousands of the farmers gathered at the
Mandi. The agitation spread to Indore,
Devas, Shahjapur, Shevore, Bhopal and many other places in the State of Madhya
Pradesh. The Chief Minister of Madhya
Pradesh unfortunately took some of the activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and
announced the calling of the agitation.
Irritated by the pronouncement the angry farmers blocked the National
Highway, forced closure of the markets and clashed with the police. In the confrontation that ensued thereafter
the police had to resort to fire when farmers died. Though compensation was announced by the
Government the agitation could not be controlled. More firing and more killing ensued. Most of the farmers belonged to the Patidar
and Dhakad community in Madhya Pradesh.
The Mendsuar violence could have been avoided had there been a realistic
assessment of the situation by the government.
If the distress hitherto have been driven them to commit suicide it is now turning into the
form of agitations sometimes even violent agitations too. There had been a great mobilisation of the
Kisan Agricultural Workers, their family members, in Delhi against the growing
impowerisation of the farmers and the farming community. They rightly point out that their standard of
living has gone down immeasurably. The
number of suicides that is reported is actually one the tip of the ice berg as
in many cases the cause of the death is often shown in the police and official
records as normal illness.
Aadhar Invasion
Aadhar
conceived as a unique identification card containing biometric information was
meant to effect efficient delivery of benefits and services. The extension of the utility of this unique
identity card was questioned before the Supreme Court on the pretext that such
usage will violate the privacy which is guaranteed to every citizen of the
country. Presently, the government has
virtually made it mandatory for everything thing in the country. This obviously negated the right to liberty
guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
The datas from the aadhar cards are possibly transportable to be private
hands and need not necessarily be with the government. It is argued that the State cannot enact a
law or create a situation by which its very design and operation will place the State in an extremely dominant
position in relation to every citizen.
Constitutional limitations are such that the government cannot engage in
surveillance of citizens even when, each of the citizen volunteers subject to
surveillance. While collecting the
biometric the government acts as a trustee at every stage, the roll of a
trustee must be exercised by the state or the organs of the state alone and
cannot under any circumstances be delegated to private parties operating
without any government supervision. This
crucial contention is now before the Supreme Court and the same has been
referred now to a constitutional bench.
In the meantime this government has been extending the linkage of Aadhar
to too many usages.
Jammu & Kashmir
In
the general assembly elections in J&K held in December 2014 the PDP became
the largest party having however no majority to independently rule. It formed an alliance with the BJP which is
supposed to have a diametrically opposite political ideology to rule that
state. Mehbooba Mufti became the Chief
Minister of Kashmir. The unrest continued unabated. There had been very few in the State who will
support the Army action and the Pak infiltrators added fuel to the fire. The Government was ultimately toppled, when BJP decided to
withdraw support to PDP and the
President’s rule was promulgated
It was a radical
“transformation” that the honourable Home Minister of our Country Shri Amit
Shaw wanted to bring about on August, 5,
2019, when he moved the resolutions to
abrogate the special status enjoyed by the Kashmiris and revoke Artcle 370 and 35A of the
Constitution, in his own words. The
unprecedented security measures undertaken
both before and after the moving of those resolutions, which transformed
the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories ( in futre perhaps three entities) including
the arrest of the mainstream political leaders of Kashmir, imposing curfews for
days together blocking the movement of
people; the termination of all communication facilities and deployment
of Army and other security personnel in large numbers created an impression that
we have declared war on that State. The
landslide victory at the recently concluded Parliamentary elections, the NDA
could derive under the leadership of their Prime Minister no doubt emboldened
BJP to take this bold but disastrous step, which that Party had been
campaigning all along right from its inception.
The One Nation-one tax; the one Nation-one language, the One Nation-one
culture ideology is incapable of tolerating the One Nation-two flags situation. That had been amply manifested in the moving
of the two resolutions in the Parliament.
Article 370 had been amended on various occasions resulting the so called autonomy guaranteed
by the provisions of Article 370, when
it was incorporated in the Constitution having been eroded to become a
complete hollow today. It is only
Article 35-A which guarantees protection for Kashmiris in losing their lands
that could now be attacked with any sense.
And that it what was done by the abrogation.
The autonomy to the State was a
solemn assurance, promise made by India to Kashmiris at the time of
accession. The modifications of Article
370 without causing consultation with the genuine leaders or representatives of
the Kashmiri people had been the root cause of unrest in the valley . The alienation provided ample opportunities
for Pakistan to infiltrate and influence the Kashmiri Youth to take an
anti-Indian posture.
BJP had been part of the ruling
coalition along with PDP when in the last Assembly election, none could must
majority in the State Assembly. They
ruled the state under the PDP leadership
They withdrew support to PDP and the Government lost majority in the
Assembly and along with the right to rule.
The Centre imposed President’s rule and their nominee took over the
reins of administration of the State as Governor. It is that Governor, who cannot be under any
stretch of imagination could be taken as the leader or representative of the
Kashmiri people, who gave the consent to move the abrogation resolution. The matter including its
constitutionality is agitated at the
Supreme Court. It may be years, as
things stand today, to receive a verdict
from the Supreme Court. By the time, the
verdict comes, lot of water would have flown down in Ganges. If modification of Article 370 had been the
cause of unrest in Kashmir valley, the
transformation now made by the Government is certain to bring more lasting
damage.
Kerala floods:
The damage,such destruction
of forest for the construction of resorts was never even a talking point at the beginning. While the mountains
were devastated by the flood of cultivation of spices of this paddy fields were
taken over to construct dwelling places. Paddy cultivation over the yearssay by
the latter of 20th century became a losing proposition in Kerala
as the cost of production were on increasing. The green revolution that brought
about the self-sufficiency in food for
the country however did not visit Kerala. It so happened for Keralites, the
importing rice from other states became economical than indulging in its
production. Though the land reforms gave a boost to cultivation atthe beginning but by the
second half of the 20th Century it no more remained an attractive
proposition.
Kerala had been suffering from a
lack of rainfall in the decade. The torrential rain seldom visited the State except for a day or two in the
mansoon seasons. It had been a below average rain fall for many years and in 2017, it was a draught
like situation in the months of March to May.
The torrential rain revisited
Kerala in 2018, the fury of which had never been experienced by the present
generation. The heavy rain that lashed Kerala in mid August a rare phenomenon
earlier brought devastation of an unprecedented levels. It was reported that in
the fortnight between August 1-20 by the
metrological department that Kerala had received 164% above normal rainfall
during that period. For the first time in the history of the dams( all dams big or small numbering about
45) had to be open as the reservoir
began to overflow. The Mullaperyar dam which is controlled by Tamilnadu Govt.
had also to open its shutters as the water flown was beyond its capacity. The rivers began to overflow ,
some amongst them changing its course . The flood water reached even to the
traditional safe places. Heavy landslides happened in mountains destroying all
that were in its downword journey. While the people who had their houses on
hills and mountains suffered due the landslide and discharge of water from the
dams those in the plans, who had built their houses in the erstwhile paddy
field and river beds had to suffer the fury of flood water in the rivers. The
change of course of these rivers and the unprecedented rainfall which prevented
its quick disposal to the sea took care
of the other inhabitants of Kerala. The continuous rainfall caused the
destruction of all communication links, transportation through land (Bus and
rail) and air. The Kochi Airport had to
be closed down for days. Almost every body In Kerala became the victim of the
deluge for which there had been no precedence in the history.
The
rescue operations undertaken by the Govt. of Kerala was the most praiseworthy
and received the appreciation from all
over the World. The Chief Minister cancelled his foreign trip planned for treatment and
remained in the forefront of the operation. He elicited the entire people’s
support to face the disaster . He appealed all political parties in the State
to come together and jointly organize rescue operation. The entire Kerala stood
as one entirety to bring about relief and arrange rescue operations. The
innumerable number of volunteers from all walks of life involved themselves in
the operation. The fishermen community of Kerala received the greatest
approbation from all for their selfless service during the rescue operation.
They came with their boats at their own cost
to rescue the people who were trapped in the flood water. As R. Krishana
Kumar has narrated in the frontline “As Voluntary Agencies, neighborhood clubs,
Health workers, social media groups, youth organizations, students and media
organizations joined hands, Kerala could bridle what would have been a calamity
of unimaginable proportion within the shortestpossible time.” There had been very many stories of bravery,
selflessness, heroism and compassion.
The
role of the armed forces of the country who were put in service by the Central
Govt. was examplary and they received the adulation from the entire people of
Kerala.
It
is reported that more than 370 people
lost their lives in this great natural calamity. But about 12.5 lakh people
were rescued from the Jaws of death as they were kept in rehabilitation camps
numbering more than 5000 in different parts of Kerala. The Govt. is
struggling to provide the rescued people
permanent relief, to help them to
rebuild their houses, reacquire the
goods they lost in the floods. As the flood were unprecedented, so had been the
help rendered both financially and otherwise by the people. From organizations
throughout the country, the Kerala Govt. has received donations. The Govt. of
India provided a 600 crore immediate relief to Kerala to tide over the differences.
While
the rebuilding of Kerala was undertaken by the State eliciting continued help
from all, the 2019 rains again in August was equally devastating. The 2019
rains brought in its course disaster to the whole of the State, northern
districts of Kerala. The landslide took away the lives of more than 60 people
in Malappuram district alone. As was in August 2018, the rainfalls in August
2019 was also very heavy.
The
great deluge that happened in Kerala
point out to the danger emanating from not regarding the ecosystem with the importance it requires. The story
submitted by the Western Ghats Ecology Experts panel headed by Madhav Gadgil
needs urgent consideration and implementation of the steps indicated by the
penal without further loss of time. It should not continue to allow to gather
dust. To a great extent the floods and rain in Kerala cannot be attributed to the nature alone. The
people of Kerala has in pursuit of urbanization and profit, have inflicted
irreparable damages to its ecosystem. The State has to promulgate a land use
plan and bring out a scheme so that the aspiration of the people to own a house
is met. Only when it is green and infested with thick forest over the western
Ghats, rivers and rivulets in the plains making the sound of unheard music, it
can really be called the God’s own
Country.
Karnataka Assembly Elections
It
was a hectic campaign unleashed by the three contenders in Karnataka in the
elections slated for 12th May for the 224 members Assembly i.e. Indian
National Congress, Bharathiya Janata Party and Janata Dal ( Secular ). The
election results which was declared on 15th May,2018, was of a
fractured verdict. BJP won 104 seats,
congress 78 and the Janata Dal 37 seats. Other who garnered the rest of this
seats were BSP, Karanataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party and Independents one
each ( 2 seats no elion). Governor invited BJP to form the Government. The
Congress and Janata Dal (Secular ) formed a quick post poll alliance and stated
their claim. B.S.Yediyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 17th May,2018. The
Congress-Janata Dal combination approached the Court against the Governor’s
decision. The BJP’s poaching efforts were thwarted by the combine effectively.
The Supreme Court asked Yediyurappa of BJP to prove his majority within 24
hours. Having failed to do so, he had to
resign just after 56 hours remaining as Chief Minister. The Congress offered
support to Kumarswamy of Janata Dal( Seular ) to form the Government. The
Kumarswamy Government lasted only 13 months. The BJP’s poaching venture
ultimately gave results. 15 MLAs ( 12 from Congress and 3 from Janata Dal (s) )
became the willing targets. They were taken to Mumbai and were kept in a Hotel.
BJP could successfully defeat the coalition, which have been formed as a
product of necessity to acquire power. BJP and its chicanery triumphed.
At one point of time in the past
and on many occasions later BJP had been talking of high moral values in
politics. The triump through decent and chicanery to seize political power in
Karnataka demonstrats its hollowness.
Rohungya Refugees
In
a brutal attack the Burmese army outrooted more than 7 lacs rohingyas from
their home land in the northern Rakhye
State of Myanmar. They are the stateless minority people living in this region
for years., The Myanmar security forces have treated them terrorists, a word which gives licences
to any Sovereign Governments to act like barbanans. An estimated 4 lacs people
have gone to Bangaladesh as refugees. They are accommodated in make shift camps
at Cox’s Bazaar by the Bangaladesh Government.
Repeated attempts by Bangladesh
Government with the United Nations Secretary General to bring international
pressure on Myanmar has not borne fruit except that the Myanmar Government has
promised to take back after verification of their anteendents in a phased manner,
which if implemented would take atleast a decade to send back the people in
Bangaladesh Camps.
The Myanmar Government has
already started construction of military settlements in the area vacated by the
Rohingyas. It appears that Myanmar Government has no intention to take them back. United Nations
with all the great way number of resolutions on human rights appears to have no
real power to prevent the abuse and misuse of State power against the poor people.
The Rafeal Deal
Deals
in defence equipments had been the source of illegitimate income for the Indian
Rulers. It had two distinct advantages.
The first was that the entire deal could be shrouwded in secrecy and
allegations of corruption could be easily defended in the name of national security, safety and interest.
The allegation of receipt of commission had rocked in the Bofors case. The
Indian National Congress could succeed in delaying the process of investigation
and could erase it from the public domin. After Bofors, to ensure that such corrupt
practice should not reoccuran elaborate
Defence procurement procedure was evolved and notified.
BJP which came to power in 2014
promising a corruption free Government has received a jolt when the inexplicable position of Rafael deal came to
light. The serious change of not adhering to the Dedence procrument procedure
has been levelled against and no reasonable response was provided by the Government. As per the notified
procedure neither the political
authority, howsoever great position they adorn, nor the bureatic set up in the
Government has been given any independent power to take decision on defence
deals. Therefore, it is alleged that the Prime Minister’s announcement on
Rafeal deal was clearly in violation of the set procedure. This apart, the decision
to enhance the price of the aircraft exorbitantly annulling the earlier
agreement of the UPA Government unilaterally without assigning any reason
whatsoever ; choosing Reliance Defence Limited, a Company Anil Ambani in replacement of HAL, the Public
Sector enterprise are the serious
allegations raised without having any straight reply or explanation. This has
put the Government in an extremely bad light and the allegation of corruption
and corrupt practice has stuck . The price negotiated earlier was Rs.650/750 Crore which has been revised
to 1660.
On 11th September,2018,
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, Shri Yashwant Sinha and Arun Showery, former Minister of NDA Government, explained before the media as to how the deal
compromised the national security bypassing the established procedure. They
termed the deal as the largest defence
scam that the county had seen.. They alleged that the Prime Minister was guilty
of criminal misconduct as defined in the prevention of Corruption Act. In the
wake of this allegation Anil Ambani is reported to have made an attempt to gag
the press by issuing notice the Hindu and news click editors Mukund Padmababhan
and Prabhir Purkayarta. Notice was also served on journalist Navalkha. Shri Navlakha was later arrested by
Pune Police under the stringent unlawfaul activities ( Prevention ) Act.
Notices were also served on many Congress leaders asking them to avoid, cease
and desist for making “false and defamatory statements.
The Charge of Seduction
Section 124 A of the India
Penal Code came into prominence once again when the Delhi Police filed a 1200
page charge sheet against 10 Jawaharlal Nehru University students on 15-01-2019
for merely raising or supporting slogans, which are swmingly “Antinational at a gathering at the
University campus on 02-02-2016. Many
cases have been filed by the Police of various states against politicians,
Journalist, Novelists, film makers and film characters, buracrates and other
from various walks of life. The number of such cases and persons proceeded
against is reported to have increased during NDA rule between 2014 and 2019.
Strangely this includes a case against minor boys for dancing to the tune of a music, which had its lynues,
critical of the Indian State. In a paper
submitted last year, the Law Commissioner of the Country had observed
inter-alia as under :
Formerely expressing a thought
that is not in consonance with the policy of the Government of the day, a person should not be charged
under the Section. If the country is not open to criticism, there lies little
difference between pre and post independence eras. Right to criticise one’s own history and the right to offend
are rights protected under free speech. Section 124 A was enacted by the
British Government in the colonial period. So long on is remained in the
statute, the Courts are required to take cognizance thereof. What is required
is an amendment , whereby dissent is tolerated and disaffection redefined and
seduction unambiguously defined.
During the debate in the Parliament
on the first amendment of the constitution, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru spoke against
this section in the following words :
“So far as I am concerned that
particular section ( 124 A) is highly objectionable and abnoxious and it should
have no place both for practical and historical reasons, if you like, in any
body of laws that we might pass. The sooner we get red of the better. We might
deal with that matter in other ways, in more limited ways, as every other
country does but that particular thing, as it is, should have no place, because
all of us have had enough experience of it in a variety of ways and apart from
the logic of the situation our urges are against it.”
Unfortunately
the political class in our country vehementually opposes the provision when
they are not in power and uses it to subjugate all who are opposed to that when
they get the State power.
Pulwama and Balakot strikes
The most important event that
must merit mention in theis report is the Pulwama Surgical attack by Kashmir
Militants on a convoy of the central Reserve police forces, killing 40 Jawans.
It received the greatest condonation
from the Indian people and loud demand for retaliation, for which the Govt.
responded with the Balakot attack. The tragedy it has struck was no doubt
severe. The CRPF or the Indian army had not suffered such devastathing tragedy
before in Kashmir. It was the deadliest attack but carried out single handedly
by the 19 year old home grown jihadist. Abdule Ahamed Dar from Gurudibagh
village of south Kashmir. In his death he has risen himself to the most adorned Kashmir amongst
the Kashmiri youth. That is equally a tragedy for Kashmiri people as the
response and counter response will continue unabated for many more years to
come. The situation will become dangerous for the country as the local born
Jehadi terrorist will out number the Pakistani Militory who had crossed over
the border with the sole intention of browing unrest and cafastrophe in Kashmir
valley. It has been reported by quite a number of security personnels posted to
Kashmir that of late the local born Kashmiri youths are in good number amongst
those peeking up stones or guns to
attack Indian security forces . The emotional response to the diastardly attack
which was impalsive at the beginning in the form of Candle light procession
etc. turned into an overhostired attar and ending up with a call to attack
Kashmiri. The Kashmiri students in very
many universities of India, who were admitted to those institutions through the
benefit of the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship programme. There had been
great many number of casualities the Indian Army, BSF and CRPF suffered in
Kashmir especially in the past a decade. The operation all out which was introduced in January,2017 to contain the
militancy in Kashmir Valley by the Government of India, sadly has resulted in
the growth of local kashmiri youth militancy. The Pakistani framed
infilitrators are happy of the fact that they now need only to provide training
not to be in the front runners in the terrorist attacks. The growing militancy
in Kashmir visible through the
increasing number of killings of
militants ( 113 in 2014, to 240 in 2018 ) the statistics pertaining of the
Indian Jawan’s martyroom may be of the
same curve ) has to be addressed through political response. What Kofi Annan,
the former Secretary General, UN spoke in 2003 in a different context of
containing terrorism is worth quoting. He said that “if we are to fight
terrorism effectively and avoid mistakes in doing so, we need more debate, not
less, regarding policy responses.
National citizenship Register –Assam
Assam has the unique
distinction of having the national
citizenship register. Ever since Assam became a colony of the British India, it
has received immigrants from various parts of the country ( British India )
predominantly from East Bengal due to
its geographical proximity. The large scale immigration had threated the
Assammee culture and more so the Assamse language. Over the years the Assamee
speaking people because lesser and lesser than the people who spoke other
Indian languages. In 2001 census indicated in its language date that only 48.85
of Assamee polulation speak Assammee
whereas the corresponding figure for 1991 was 57.81 %. The Bengali speaking
population for the same period was increased from 21.67 % to 27.54 %.
The continuing inflex of refugees or migrants to Assam
disturbing and threatening its culture created trigged an agitation iinitially
started by students but later spread to
all section of Assam population. The agitation which took a virulent form lasted for 6 years. The Assam accord was signed on
15th August 1985. In was agreed to identify the
migrants who have entered after 01-01-1966. Indian Citizenship Act was amended.
The efforts to identify the immigrants be legally or otherwise or refugees, was
to be done through updating the Citizenship Register.
The task though undertaken could
not be completed for years together. The Government agencies come almost to the
conclusion that it was an impossible task.
The matte was agitated through
writ petitions before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court vide its order in
the year 2013 directed the updation of the Register and detailed guidelines.
The final NRC has been published on 31-08-2019. The final list has left out as
ineligible 19,06,657 persons. They are to appeal to the Foreigners Tribunal and will have to be
ultimately detained in detention camps
The publication of the first
draft list and exclusion of 1.9 crores people brought about unrest of a very
high order. The BJP has brought to the
force the idea of amendment of citizenship Act, whereby all immagrants other
than muslims would be granted citizenship. The bank on segregation has to be shifted from language
to religion, though it is opposed by all other parties. The victory of BJP in
Assam both at the Assembly and Parliaments election goes to show that the idea of segregating the
Assam population in religions lines is gathering support and momentum.
It may not therefore be out
of place to say that the four year
period between 2015 and 2019 was politically and socially tumultuous, disturbing the fabric of unity and amity to a
great extent by actions sometimes unmeant, sometimes accidental and sometimes
intentional - whatever may be the cause, it needs to be addressed in order to
strengthen the unity of the people and for building a strong and vibrant nation
which can carve the path of development in a stable and peaceful
atmosphere.
Work
report
3rd Triennial
Conference of NCCPA
The
3rdTriennial conference of NCCPA
was held at Kolkata on 6-7th November, 2015. We are meeting after exactly
four years. The constitutional provision of 3 years could not be adhered to.
There were various reasons but the prominent among them was finance. The 3rdconference had the presence and blessings of many great
leaders of Trade union movement. Besides it was inaugurated by former Finance
Minister of West Bengal ShriAshim Das Gupta (report of the conference including
the list of office bearers elected is enclosed-( Annexure 1)
It
was Com. S.K.Vyas, who took the initiative to form NCCPA. It had been his dream
that there must be a platform to projectand seek settlement of the problems and
issues of pensioners, which are of
common and general in nature. With his vast contacts among the retired
personnel of Central Government, the NCCPA was to emerge on an all-encompassing platform. The setting up of
7th CPC and the urge to submit a common memorandum
on behalf of the pensioner’s community added as a catalyst to this venture.
The
convention ,convened at Chennai for this purpose was a huge success and had a
really great brain storming session. The
draft he placed at this conventionwas appreciated by one and all.Though the
house wanted various other demands to be included in the memorandum, Com. Vyas pointed out to the house that the
memorandum must focus only on certain important issues which if conceded will
bring benefit for larger number of
persons. The memorandum was ultimately finalised with a few modifications. Com.
Vyas passed away before he could see the outcome of his efforts. The 7th CPC, as was we are
all aware, had conceded the demand for parity between the old and new pensioners. We must record our
gratitude and appreciation to this great comrade, who led the Central
Government employees for more than 4 decades. The large number of persons
especially, those retired prior to 2006 owe a great debt of gratitude to Com.
S.K.Vyas. NCCPA was to say literally got orphaned due to his demise. It is difficult to visualise a meeting, far less the conference without
his presence. But as is the nature the world will have to move on. In the 4
years that had gone by, there had been not a single day, one or other of us
would not have remembered or talked of him. We submit this report, with a
fervent appeal to all of you not to make
a comparison of the past with the work of the 4 years. We have no hesitation to admit that we have
not been able to acquit ourselves creditably but we have made strenuous attempts. Though we had been able to obtain a
PAN No., the formalities of registration have gone into rough weather. We
require certain amendments to the byelaws
which only a Conference/ General body
is entitled to make. We have proposed those elsewhere. We have ensured
that our journal is published regularly. There is not a single month, when we
have missed out in spite the insurmountable
financial difficulties. The conference also will have to address the
financial aspect, for which separate proposal has been made. With this brief preface, we give you an
account of our activities during the last
four yearperiod.
The National Executive/secretariat meetings
During
the period under report the National Secretariat of NCCPA meton four occasions viz. 8th December, 2015, 8th February, 2016, 27th June, 2016 and 16th March, 2019. The
National Executive met on 19th August, 2017 at Nagpur and on 5th August, 2018 at
Chennai. Briefly, we give the crux of deliberations:
8.12.2015
The
meeting mainly discusses the 7th Pay recommendations concerning pensioners.
Com. S. S Roy working President presided
over the meeting. The meeting decided the issue to be taken up with the
Government for improvement, alteration, amendments of the 7th CPC
recommendations.
II.
other decisions:
Maintenance
of website-by Com. K. Raghavendran; openinga joint account in the name of
Treasurer and Secretary General, at
Delhi or at a a place, where the
treasuer could operate the same; publishing journal from Kolkatta by Com. Pavitra
Chakroborty . He was authorised to open a bank account in the joint
names with the Asst. Treasurer at Kolkata.
III.
suggestions/comments on NCCPA constitution to be elicited.
IV.
The NCCPA will carryout the call of NJCA
8.02.2016
1.
Discussion on decisions taken at the conference at Kolkatta
2.
To give importance on the following issues:
(a) Parity
(b)
modifications to option No.1
(c)
full pension for those completed 20 years of service
(d)
to raise the Fixed Medical allowance to Rs.2,000 pm.
3.
Enlisting Railway Pensioners Association with NCCPA
4.
Finance
5.
Postal Registration to the journal
27.06.2016
Decisions:
1.
Organize Dharna in pursuance of Charter of demands at all state capitals.
2. To extend solidarity and support to the
working employees whenever they are
organise strike.
3.
To organise a National Convention at Delhi against NPS
4. To publish list of affiliates who are in
arrears.
5.
To widen the subscriber base of the journal
6.
To talk BPCCoffice bearers for holding General Body meeting.
NE Meeting on 19.08.2017
The
first NE meeting of NCCPA in the period under report was held at Nagpur on
19.08.2017. The Secy.Genl. could not attend the meeting due to his ill health.
Decisions
There
must be option No. 1
The
fixation of pension as per the new formulation
of the Govt. has to be based upon the post or cadre and not pay
scale.The P & T Pensioners may not be asked o pay the lumpsumat 7CPC rates. Other departmental employees must
be admitted to CGHS like those in
U.T.The health related recommendations of 7th CPC may be
expeditiously implemented.FMA to be increased to Rs.2,000 Timely implementation
of orders.Commutation period to be reduced.Grant of additional pension on
attaining the age of 80 and above.National secretariat to chalk out appropriate
agitational programme.
Other
issues that were discussed were steps to strengthening the organisation,Keeping
contact with other Pensioners Associations,solidarity support etc. Resolution
adopted at the National Executive meeting over the 7th CPC issues is as under :
RESOLUTION
ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF NCCPA HELD AT NAGPUR ON 19.08.2017 ON SOME
BASIC ISSUES OF CG PENSIONERS AFTER THE IMPLEMENTEATION OF 7th CPC
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The
National Executive of the National Coordination Committee had discussed various
aspects of the 7th CPC recommendations and the implementation of
them by the Central Government. The attitude of the Government viz., rejecting
some of the recommendations made like the Option Number 1 of pension fixation
in favour of the pensioners on the grounds of non-feasibility but accepting
many recommendations made by the CPC against the interests of the employees
without any modifications like rejection of many allowances etc is deplorable.
The attitude of the Government is not only retrograde but also time consuming.
The tactics to form committees and delay the matters for several months in
order to tire out the employees and pensioners is condemnable.
The
Central Government has finally rejected Option Number 1 fixation of pension to
Pre-2016 Pensioners after much delay. The recommendation of the Pay Commission
for giving the benefit of number of increments earned by the Pensioner in his
last stage of employment would be more beneficial to a section of Pensioners
than the Option Number 3 offered and implemented by the GO dated 12.05.2017.
There were scores of Government Employees who stagnated for years without any
promotion before their superannuation. This type of stagnation was pronounced
to those sections for whom the MACP system was not extended before 2008. The
Option Number 1 would have been more beneficial to those Pre-2008 retirees. The
Option Number 3 is no doubt an improvement to Option Number 2 of fixation by
applying 2.57 fitment factor; but still the better benefit under Option Number
1 to those Pensioners has been out-rightly rejected by the Pension High Level
Committee and the Government in the name of non-availability of records of
increments for nearly 18% of Pensioners. The stand taken to reject Option
Number 1 despite the arguments of the Staff Side and Pensioners Associations to
convince the authorities that reconstruction of records is not impossible even
for those 18% cases of pensioners is unjust. This National Executive is of the
considered opinion that the rejection of Option Number 1 of pension fixation is
authoritative and unjustified and based on wrong notions and arguments.
Secondly,
the Option Number 3 implemented in lieu of Option Number 1 contains a basic
flaw. The Option Number 3 is nothing but the recommendations of 5th CPC for pension
fixation by notionally fixing the salary in the fitment table of successive pay
commissions to the Pre-2016 Pensioners also and finally fixing 50% of the
notionally arrived last pay drawn with reference to the Pay Matrix Table of the
7th CPC. In doing so the important aspect of 5th CPC to fix the
salary in the new scale of pay implemented to the post or cadre in which the
pensioner had retired or died is ignored by the Government. Instead the pension
is calculated only on the basis of the replacement scales. Unless and otherwise
the full aspect of 5th CPC recommendation is implemented, the Option
Number 3 formula also is denying the full benefit to many pensioners in whose
cases their cadre or post got any upgraded pay scale through successive pay
commissions. As the Government had agreed to implement OROP to Veteran
Pensioners, similar fitment benefit to Civilian Pensioners also by calculating
notionally in the same pay scale granted to the serving employees would have
rendered justice. This National Executive urges the Government to reconsider this
aspect and issue necessary orders to set right the flaw.
In
nut shell, this National Executive resolves to reiterate its considered opinion
that the Pensioners should be given the choice to opt between the Options 1,
Option 2, and Option 3 with the element of higher pay scales granted to the
cadre or post.
This
National Executive notes with concern that the Government is obstinate in
refusing the fixation benefit of pension in the higher scales of pay
implemented to the post or cadre despite several court cases went in favour of
the Pre-2006 Pensioners. The Pre-2006 Pensioners were denied the benefit of
higher scales of pay given to the serving employees from 1.1.2006 and on
approaching the court of law many pensioners got the benefit implemented w.e.f.
1.1.2006. The Executive notes that based on this fact the Department of Pension
& Pensioners welfare had recommended to Finance Ministry for extending the
benefit to all similarly placed Pre-2006 Pensioners. Unfortunately the
Department of Expenditure had showed adamancy and refused to grant the benefit
even today. It is also unfortunate that when this issue was taken to the PMO
for redressal, the PMO had also taken an unjustified position that since the
Finance Ministry had taken a position it cannot be reversed. This Executive
notes that PMO is the final authority for all issues and the opinion of
Department of Expenditure cannot be supreme against the directions of several
courts of the land. This National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government
to come down from the adamant position and extend the benefit of fixation of
pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners based on the upgraded pay scale if any was
implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pre-2006 Pensioner had retired or
died.
This
National Executive of NCCPA notes with satisfaction that at last the P&T
Pensioners also are allowed to enter the CGHS system without any discrimination
through the GO dated 19.07.2017. However, we note that since this is a very
belated step taken after two decades of discrimination that prevented many
P&T Pensioners retired between 1998 and 2017 from joining the CGHS on
payment of subscriptions at the prevailing rate at the time of their
retirement. The present order ending the discrimination of the P&T Pensioners
demands them to pay at the post-7th CPC rate of subscriptions. We all know that
the post-7th CPC rates are fixed based on the new higher
pay scales after 7th CPC. Fixing the same rate of subscription to
all Pre-2016 pensioners irrespective of the year of their retirement is
unjustified and exorbitant. This National Executive of NCCPA resolves to urge
upon the Government for necessary reconsideration to order to fix the rate of
subscription commensurate to their year of retirement.
At
the same time this National Executive notes that the Health Ministry’s
objection to P&T Pensioners alone was withdrawn to facilitate inclusion of
willing P&T Pensioners into CGHS while some other smaller departments are
still out of the ambit of CGHS. This discrimination shall go. There shall be no
discrimination for any Pensioner of any department in the matter of joining
CGHS on the untenable plea that a separate Dispensary System is in existence
for that department. In addition the CGHS Directorate General has issued a
recent order on 21st July declaring the CG Employees and CG
Pensioners in Union Territories are not entitled to join CGHS and those who
were erroneously admitted also have to be sent out. This order is most
unjustified and while correcting an injustice the Government is trying to
introduce another injustice to the employees and pensioners of Union
Territories. This Executive urges for immediate withdrawal of 21st July orders also.
There
are many other health related recommendations of the 7th CPC that requires immediate
decision by the Government. The recommendations (1) to merge the existing
Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) to issue Medi-insurance Cards to employees
and pensioners to ensure cashless treatment in authorized private hospitals;
(3) to merge various departmental vise health systems to form one broad medical
system for the Government Employees and Pensioners; and (4) all pensioners also
to be made eligible to medical treatment on par with the serving employees
under CS MA Rules 1944, require positive approval by the Government. The
Pensioners are the senior citizens whose medical requirements are very
important at their old age. The present flaws in the existing medical systems
should be removed by accepting the recommendations of the Pay Commission to end
any discrimination between the serving employees and the Pensioners.
National Executive Meeting on 5th August, 2018 at
Chennai
The
NE net at Chennai at 5.08.2018. The meeting was hosted by AIPRPA, Chennai Unit.
It was a well-attended meeting. The following decisions were taken:
1.To
organise post-card Campaign
2.To
Participate in the 5th Sept. rally at Delhi.
3. To organise Dharna at the following
stations:
(a)
Trivendrum (b) Chennai (c) Hyderabad (d)
Bangalore (e) Kolkatta (f) Jaipur (g) Ambala-Chandigarh (h) Lucknow (i) Bhopal (j) Nagpur (k) Mumbai.
4.
In the month of March, 2019 a fast programme will be organised by NCCPA
5.
The 10 point charter of demands will be popularised.
6.
To file Court cases for option No. 1 and MACP
7.
To hold the next conference at Jaipur
8.
To grant affiliation to :
a.
Pensioners Associationof Central Water
Commission
b.
Central Ground Water Board Pensioners Association
c.
Central Leprosy Teaching and Research institute ,Chengelpet
9.
Constitution copy circulated/.
10.CGHS
facilities.
The
meeting adopted the following charter of demands and decided to pursue the same
through agitational programmes.
1.
Implement Option No. 1 as a pension fitment formula as recommended by the
7th CPC and Grant MACP benefit w.e.f 1.01.206 as
per the Supreme Court judgment.
2.
Revise the Pension of BSNL absorbed retirees immediately with 15% fitment,
recommended by the 3rd PRC and approved by the government from 01-01-2017,
delinking the wage revision in BSNL.
3.
Revise pension of Central Autonomous Body pensioners.
4.
(a) Provide notional fixation of pension under Option No. 3 on the basis of the
pay scale/pay level of the cadre or grade from which the pensioner retired. (b)
Provide fixation of pension in the case of all pre 2006 pensioners on the basis
of the grade pay/pay level or pay scale of the post or cadre from which one has
retired as per the judgments of Courts.
5. Extend
the benefit of CS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by
CGHS.
6. Increase
the FMA to Rs. 2000 as has been granted to PF Pensioners.
7. Raise
the minimum pension to 60% of the Minimum wage. i.e. Rs. 10,800 p.m.
8.
Restore the commutation portion of pension after 10 years.
9. Provide
increased rates of pension on attainment of 70 years onwards.
10.
Scrap the New Contributory pension scheme and restore the defined benefit
pension to all CGEs irrespective of their date of entry into the
Government service.
National Secretariat Meeting on 16.03.2019
The
National Sectt. met on 16.3.2019 at New Delhi immediately after the programme
of mass fast dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The meeting took the following decisions.
Decisions.
To
grant affiliation to PNB Pensioners Association. Next conference at Jaipur.
To
collect subscription arrears
To
Pursue Court cases for MACP and option No.1. TUI (Pensioners and retirees) conference at Columbia.
The
Sectt. adopted the following resolution for circulation amongst the members of
NCCPA.
RESOLUTION
ADOPTED BY SECRETARIAT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS
The
National Secretariat of NCCPA, which met at New Delhi on 16th March, 2019 while
reviewing its efforts in the last five years getting the Government to address
the issues, concerns, grievances and demands of Central Govt. Pensioners came to
the conclusion that the nugatory attitude of the Government in power at the
Centre was the root cause of not finding resolution to any of the
issues. It was so disappointing for the entire Pensioner community
that the Government chose to crush their expectation for a decent pension
raised by the recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission by rejecting the Option
No. 1 on the specious ground that it was not feasible to be implemented due to
the non availability of records in the case of a minor segment of them. The
recommendation, if accepted, would have brought about the much sought after
parity between the past and present pensioners.
The
meeting noted with dismay and anger that during the five year period, the
NDA under the BJP was in power they had acted contrary to the directive
principles enshrined in the constitution of the country i.e. to provide justice
to the people, social , economic and political. It had continued
with the hated neo-liberal economic policies, the change of which was the
ardent hope of the people when they voted them to power in 2014. The
UPA-2 regime’s adherence to these policies, discarding the welfare scheme
evolved by the successive post independent governments of the country,
which had been the greatest source of sustenance of the poor people; permitting
the unhindered foray of private enterprises in every sphere of economic and
industrial activities; the rampant corruption were the significant
concerns of the Indian multitude in 2014. They expected
a change, a change that will bring about deliverance from abject poverty
and hunger. They were disappointed and are despondent.
The
Central Government employees and pensioners know well how this government took
decisions on the recommendations of the 7th CPC. There
had been no negotiation at all- a complete departure from what had been the
practice hitherto. Assurances held out to force withdrawal of the indefinite
strike slated to commence in July, 2016 was never honoured. Not even once
the group of Ministers met the union representatives, thereafter. The JCM
which was set up as a forum for effecting negotiation with the employees never
met even once during the Modi regime. Even small issues, which has a bearing
only over a very small segment of the employees were not addressed. Only
those benefits the higher echelons in the bureaucracy received consideration
and favourable nod. The employees were dragged to litigation and there
had been an eruption of petitions before the Courts. Contrary to its own
directive not to prefer appeal over the verdicts of the Administrative
Tribunals, this Government had been preferring even writ petitions against the
Tribunal’s orders as a matter of routine, derailing the process of an
expeditious justice delivery system. This attitude resulted in the litigants (
who are often pensioners or low paid employees) to shell out
enormous amounts to plead their cases before Courts to seek justice. Even
after such procrastinated and inhuman journey, the Government either will not
act upon these judgements or restrict the application of those judgements only
to those who were the petitioners in the court. This has been the
gruelling story of pensioners and employees in the last five years. Never in
the history of wage negotiations the Government especially in the matter of
pension had taken recourse to rejection of a recommendation made by the
Pay Commission. Before the Courts, the Government avers that
the recommendations of the Pay commissions are to be treated as one that
has emanated from an expert body after deliberations of all pros and
cons. The opinion No. 1 was conceived by the Commission to bring in
parity between the past and present pensioners in real terms. It was
rejected on the malicious ground that it was not feasible to implement in
the absence of relevant records. It was admitted unashamedly that
the records were available in 86%of the cases and in the rest of the cases
supplementary evidences could be collected to operationalise Option No 1.
It is not difficult to discern the real reason behind such rejection as the
said recommendation was not providing the requisite benefit for the personnel
in organised Group A services, as they are favoured with a time-bound promotion
scheme throughout their service career. The alternate suggestion made by the
Committee headed by the Secretary Pension was to benefit the very same
personnel in Group A services. It was strange that even the most
sensible suggestion put forth by the Staff Side to offer all the three
options to the Pensioners were summarily rejected.
Throughout
the five year reign, this Government had been pursuing crony capitalism.
The decision taken just before the announcement of the elections to hand over
the six Indian Airports to private influential Group of companies
is a befitting example. The country had been going through a
continuous period of crisis, be it in agriculture, farm prices, industry, trade
or employment. Farm income has crashed to its lowest levels
against the poll promise of doubling it; rural wage growth was abysmally poor
at 0.5%, unemployment has risen to the highest peak in the last 45 years as per
CME, whose report has been concealed; the money collected over the sale of
PSU shares had been doubled in the five years; all constitutional
institutions were subjected to attack eroding its autonomy; resurgence of
corruption in defence deals involving crores; indulgence in jingoistic
nationalism to garner votes; to put faith beyond the pale of constitutional law
and above all systematic disruption of the social harmony had been some of the
hall-marks of the present Government in its five year long governance.
The
meeting thus came to the inescapable conclusion that a relook into the
issues concerning the working people and pensioners would become possible
only and only if a change is brought about by replacing the present
people in the governance of the country . The inevitable democratic process for
which the country is committed to, provides an opportunity to its citizens
to make a change every five years. The coming two months will witness a
fierce battle between those who want to retain the power and those who want to
stop them at all costs. The meeting decided to appeal all its members to
strive hard through diligent exercise of their
franchise enlisting the support of all sections of the working class to
bring about a change of Government in the country in the coming elections.
The
state of economy and society
After
the five years of NDA regime
1.
During these five years every area of economic activity has been
opened up for direct foreign investment promoting maximisation of profit
by them
2. Large
scale of privatisation of public assets and handing over prime assets to chosen
foreign and Indian corporates.
3.
Unfettered promotion of crony capitalism as reflected in the Rafale scam,
the granting of rights to privatise domestic airports , India’s first
power sector SEZ to the Adani Group on the eve of election, removing all
previous curbs on funding political parties , introduction of electoral
bonds as the route to reap the spoils of such cronyism,
4.
Facilitating and promoting the loot of public money as reflected in the Rs.11
lakh crore plus amount of NPA.
5. Destruction
of livelihood of corers of people surviving on cash transactions through
demonetisation.
6.Virtual
destruction of the micro small and medium enterprises the largest employment
provider after agriculture through the implementation of the GST. The
Mudra loan NPAs rose to 53per cent in the first nine months of 2018-19 from
2017-18.
7. Farm
income crashed to the lowest in 14 years during the last quarter of
October-December, 2018 at 2.67 per cent (Central Statistics Office) RBI
reports that loans that are not returned in the farm sector increased to Rs;
1lakh crore in September, 2018 from Rs. 70000 crores in September,2017.This is
the level of agrarian distress leading to rising distress suicides of farmers.
8. Our
youth are frustrated due to the sharp fall in employment opportunities during
the last few years. Modi had promised creation of 2 crore new jobs annually
i;e. 10 crores by now. Reality is that the unemployment rate rose to the
highest levels in 45 years at 6.1. per cent. (NSSo) Unemployment rate
inFeb.2019 increased to 7.1. per cent from 5.9 per cent in 2018 (Centre
for Monitoring Indian Economy) Situation in rural India is worse. NSSSO
reports a 3.2.crore job loss of casual labourers from 2011-12 to 2017-18
affecting over1.5 crore families dependent on income from Casual labour and
agriculture.
9.
As per the Gujarat Assembly records, the crime against SC and ST
increased by 32% and 55% respectively during the last five years in that state.
10.
Women have been subjected to increased violence. The year 2016 reported a
big increase in crimes against women- four rapes on an average per hour.
Since then the Government has stopped publishing statistics by the National
crime records bureau in this regard.
11.
During these five years the share of the total wealth accruing to the top one
per cent of the population increased from 49 per cent in 2014 to 73 per cent in
2018.
12.
The lowest growth rate of GDP during these five years from.8.2 per
cent in 2013-14 to 7percent in the first three quarters of 2018-19 even according
to the motivated data series introduced by the Government. According to the
earlier data series this stands at mere 4.7 percent.
13.
In the last quarter, the GDP growth rate fell further to6.6 per cent
indicating that the economy is sliding into a recession. So much
for Modi’s claims of India being the “fastest growing economy” in the world.
14.
GST collection despite all the tall claims shown steady decline
from 7.6 per cent in 2017-18 to 5.8 per cent in 2018-19. This
reflect a massive slowdown in the economy.
15.
Demonetisation and GST were a double whammy attack undermining the country’s
economic fundamentals. Pre-demonetisation global GDP was 2.6 per cent and grew
post demonetisation to 3.1.percent. In contrast, the post demonetisation
India’s GDP growth fell from. 7.6 per cent to 6.8 per cent.
16.
Destruction of people’s livelihood has led to a drastic fall in
levels of domestic demand crippling manufacturing and industrial growth. As a
consequence, the country’s leading automobile manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki has
announced a production cut of 27 per cent citing the fall in
demand. The eight core infrastructure industries growth saw a
decline of 2.9 per cent between February, 2014 and January,
2019. The index of industrial production registered an abysmal low of 0.3
percent inNovember,2018 compared to an average growth of 5.7 per cent in the
preceding seven month.
17.
Depreciation of rupee to its lowest levels- the value of the rupee to a US
dollar was 63.19in 2014. This shot to71.76 in 2019 .
18.
Drastic fall in India’s export earnings – Between Feb.2014 and January, 2019
India’s trade balance declined by whopping 29.8per cent. Growing current
account deficit ie. Gap between India’s export and Import value has been
registered during these five years. The current account deficit increased
from 1 per cent of the GDP in 201718 to. 2.9 percentin 2018-19. In dollar
terms this translates into deficit growth from 6.1. billion US dollars to 19.1.
billion.
19.
Agriculture growth is at a record low during these years. Agricultural growth
rate fell from 5.1. percent to 2.7 per cent and further to 1.7per cent between
Feb. 2015 and Feb,2019(CSO) The fourth successive negative growth rate
registered in the last four quarters.
20.
The incidents of terror have exponentially gown between 2009-14 and
2014-19. The number of terrorist attacks increased from 109 to 626.
The number of security personnel killed increased from 139 to 483.
The number of civilians killed increased from 12 to 210 and the number of
ceasefire violations increased from 563 to 5596.
21.
There is an alarming rise in the number of local youth joining militant
groups. Local militants killed rose from 16 in2014 to 191 in 2018.
22.
Foreign policy orientation changed to dovetail to US global strategic interests
reducing India as a junior partner of US imperialism.
23.
Deterioration of friendly relations with all neighbouring countries.
24.
Deepening defence ties with USA and Israel.
25.
Virtual abandonment of India’s leadership role in the non- aligned movement.
26.
Abandoning India’s traditional solidarity with the people of different
countries whose sovereignty is being attacked by US Imperialism including
military interventions. The latest instance being Venezuela.
27.
During these five years, the BJP , particularly Narendra Modi has betrayed
every single promise that was made to the Indian people. Generation of
two crore jobs every year i.e. ten crores by now and
MSP of 1.5. times the total cost of production to the farmers,
return of black money and depositing 15 lakhs in the account of all Indians and
so on.
28.
Engaging in a despicable politicising of the issue of terrorist attacks when
the entire country and all opposition parties stood as one to fight
terrorism.
29.
Sharp decline in the working conditions for the working class and employees is
accompanied by unbearable hike in the price of petroleum products with the
Government refusing to reduce its taxes and duties.
30.
Deepening agrarian distress leading to the ruination of the Indian
farmers and growth in distress suicides.
7th CPC Issues
As
indicated in the preceding paras, the memorandum submitted by NCCPA was
exhaustive.
The
details of the recommendations made by the 7th CPC pertaining to
the Pensioners had been communicated to the members through wesite.
As
per the decision taken at the Sectt. meeting, we had communicated the issues to
be taken up with the Government to the Secretary, NJCM as through that forum
only, we were able to clinch the issues.
We reproduce hereunder the NCCPA letter to
NJCA on pension related issues.
The
NJCA had accepted all these and incorporated in their charter of demand to the
Government. The demands we formulated were as under:
(a)
Parity between the past and present pensioners to be brought about on the basis
of the 7th CPC recommendations with the modification that
basis of computation to be the pay level of the post/grade/scale of pay from
which one retired, whichever is beneficial.
(b)
Pension to be 60% of the last pay drawn in the case of all eligible persons who
have completed the requisite number of years of service.
(c)
The family pension to be 50% of the last pay drawn.
(d)
Enhance the pension and family pension by 5% after every five years and 10% on
attaining the age of 85 and 20% on attaining the age of 90.
(e)
Commuted value of pension to be restored after 10 years or attaining the age of
70 whichever is earlier. Gratuity calculation to be on the basis of 25 days in
the month
(f)
Fixed medical allowance for those pensioners not covered by CGHS and REHS to be
increased to Rs. 2000 p.m.
(g)
Provide one increment on the last day in service if the concerned employee has
completed six months or more from the date of grant of last increment.
ISSUES TAKEN UP WITH AUTHORITIES FROM TIME TO TIME
7TH CPC issues –
detailed in the preceding paras
Representation
for NCCPA in SCOVA
Charter
of demand (10) points
NPS-
withdrawal
CGHS
a) empanelling hospitals procedure
(b) to clear the bills of dispensing chemists
(c)
countering the temporary/casual service,
(d)
expansion of CGHS to other cities
(e)direct
consultation with specialists,
(f)
On line appointment with specialists
(g)
Indication of ward entitlement on cards
(h)
Lifetime entitlement for mentally retarded children
(i)
extension of CGHS facility to BSNL pensioners
6.
implementation of CAT /High Court /Supreme Court decisions.
7.
Pension benefits to employees/pensioners abolished PSUs
8.
Charter of demand – 10 points..
We
had written a detailed letter dated 20.02.2016. to Shri R.K. Chathurvedi, Joint
Secretary (I/C) Department of Expenditure, Govt. of India, New Delhi explained
the above mentioned issues in detail.
The same has been published in our website too. (Annexure II)
Health Insurance –
The
recommendations of the 7th CPC on health insurance of Government
employees including pensioners have been reproduced in Annexure -III/
Direct Membership
The
NCCPA ‘sconstitution provides for membership for only organisation of
pensioners incorporated either for the benefit of pensioners/retirees of a
region/state or those who retired from a particular department of Govt. or
entity or autonomous organisations. Clause 6 of Rules and regulations sate as
under:
Member
mean a constitutional Federation/Association/Confedeation/Co-ordination
committee etc. eligible for membership as explained in rule (ii) above.
A
pensioner who is settled at a place, where
existno pensioners association, organised regionwise and those
pensioners who were members of departments of Govt. residing in a place where
organisation of pensioners retired from such departments do not existoften approaches seeking membership.
While we should not encourage membership for stray individuals, who for
undefined reasons, do not seek
membership with our affiliates, we must have some methodology by which the
deserving persons are given membership perhaps on a lifetime basis. The matter
may be discussed at the conference proper and appropriate decision taken.
Regisration
Not
much progress has been made in this regard. This should be viewed as a
shortcoming. From the sources it is understood that the primary requirement is that we should have an office
in a premises, whose owner will provide us an affidavit in Bond paper of his no
objection /or consent. It is our proposal that a small committee consisting of
the following members of the incumbent
posts may be constituted by the conference to consider all aspects including
amendments to the bye-laws(not of a fundamental nature) and do whatever needed
to overcome the objection of the Registration authorities:
Com.
Secretary General
Com.
Treasurer
Com.
Gl. Secy AIPRPA
Com.
GlSecy AIBOPA
The
Secretary General will act as convenor. The Conference will empower them to
spend money for this purpose up to Rs. 5,000 and beyond which with the
permission of National Secretariat.
Subscription
The
present rate of subscription is Rs. 1 per member per annum. A cursory glance
through the receipt and payments will convince this conference that NCCPA
cannotrun its office at CHQ with a meagre income, leave alone undertaking the
task of widening the membership. It may not be possible to go in for very high
jump over the rate, which has remained static right from the inception of
NCCPA. We suggest that the present rate may be allowed to be increased to Rs.3
per annum. The National executive may be empowered to raise special fund to
meet certain unexpected or huge expenditure.
Journal: NCCPA Bulletin
With
happiness we can make this statement that despite extreme financial
difficulties we had been able to bring about the journal regularly every
month. Not a single month had gone by
without journal. During this period we substantially increased the subscriber
base of the journal. That goes into the cost of production are the printing
charges, paper cost and despatch expense. Due to exhorbitant
cost of paper we are compelled to use the newsprint.. We do not have
professional people to format it in a desirable manner. Photo are seldom printed because the space
required for printing photos is large.
We must improve its get up, its format and its content and presentation. For all these to be possible, we must
increase therate of subscription and the number of subscribers. We suggest
that theconference agree to increase the
journal sale price to Rs. 10 per copy.
Report on programme of action
During
the period under report, we carried out the following programme in pursuance of
the charter of demand. This apart, the affiliates had their own programmes of
action. Our members have participated in all agitational programmes which the
National Joint Council of Action has decided. The programmes of action
emanating from Central Trade Unions opposing
the Economic policies had also the participation of our members. In other words
the members of NCCPA had taken a role, which no other pensioners organisation
had dared to take. We have shown our concern to the problems of the workers and supported them in their
struggles. We have in fact aligned ourselves with the working people of our
country.
NCCPA
is the only organisation (besides its
own two affiliates; APPRPA and AIBDPA,) which is affiliated with TUI (
Pensioners and Reireees) and have paid
the affiliation fees to TUI. NCCPA also
sent its representative to the second world conference of the TUI . We can be
proud of the fact that during the period under report we have strived to make
NCCPA a fighting organisation to realise
the demands and resolve the issues of our members and advise them appropriately
of what is the best course open to them in all pension related matters. The continuous participation of our members
in all demonstrative actions, chalked out by the Central Trade Unions joint
platform, the Confederation of CGEs and workers, the National JCA does show the
level of consciousness we could raise amongst our members during this period.
The NCCPA had been and shall continue to be in the fore front of the
strugglesagainst the new contributory pension scheme alongwith the employees
who joined Govt. service after 1.1.2004.
Programmes of action conducted under the banner of NCCPA.
30.6.2016
demonstration and adoption of the following resolution;
This
protest meeting of ________________________ affilitated to National Coordination
Committee of Pensioners Association held on _________2016 is extremely
distressed over the most condemnable decision of the Government of India
in referring the 7th CPC recommendation concerning option 1
which grants a small relief to the Pensioners to the committee headed by the
Secretary Pension, who had suggested to government for its rejection ab initio.
By rejecting that recommendation, the Government has proved beyond doubt that
it is led by the obnoxious advice tendered by a self serving bureaucracy who
are basically anti-poor and anti-worker. The Government must rescind this
anti-pensioner decision and ask the Pension Department to allow Option Number 1
to all Pensioners as an alternate fitment formula.
07.2016
Dharna at all state capitals and memorandum sent to FM
“This meeting of the pensioners held at…….. request the
honourable Finance Minister that the 7th CPC
recommendations to allow Option No. 1 to the Pensioners may be accepted and
implemented removing the words appeared in the Government Press Statement
“subject to feasibility”. The pensioners are extremely worried that the
said phrase, if included in the Gazette Notification will be taken
advantage of by the Pension Department of the Government of India to deny the
legitimate benefit to the pensioners, even though the Government has decided to
accept the recommendation made in this regard by the 7th CPC. “
25.10.2017 Mass Dharna at Jantar Mantar New
Delhi by NCCPA
(As
per the decision taken by the NCCPA
National Executive which met at Nagpur, a massive dharna programme was
organized at Meghdhoot Bhawan, Puza road, New Delhi on 25th October,
2017.
A
meeting of the National Secretariat will be held soon (the date will be
communicated on 10th November, 2017) to review the implementation of the
programme and to chalk out further course of action in pursuance of the
ten point charter of demands. We had planned to elicit the participation
of about 1000 comrades in the dharna programme on 25th. We have reached
near about that figure, thanks to the strenuous efforts of some of the
affiliates and the State Units. From the register of participants, in which
many had not assigned their signature and other details due to some logistical
difficulties gives a fair picture of the efforts of the various affiliated
organizations It would not certainly be an exaggeration that the dharna was
massive and there had been all-round enthusiasm from the members in the
programme. It is to the credit of NCCPA that it took the initiative in
organizing a programme exclusively for the pensioners’ demands in the post 7th
CPC period. We take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who took
the pains to come over to Delhi and participate in the programme and place our
sincere gratitude to all affiliates and State Units for making all out efforts
to ensure the success of the programme. As per the reports, we have received,
financial constrains has come in the way of mobilizing large number of comrades
to participate and there had been last minute cancellation due to health
problems by some of the Units.
We
could commence the dharna only at 11.30 AM due to various transport related
problems, though large number of our comrades had assembled at the venue from
9.30 AM onwards. The organizing committee at Delhi had to face
innumerable problems on the eve of the programme. The Delhi Police
refused permission at Janta Mantar citing the NGT decision. We decided not to
confront the Government and the Police authorities as we were eager to ensure
hassle free event. We had, with the help of the NFPE leaders
obtained permission from the Chief Post Master General to hold the Dharna in the
premises of Meghdhoot Bhawan. However, the Delhi Police and IB
contacted our organizing secretary Com. Deep Chand on 24th night to inform of
the denial of the permission to organize the programme even at
Meghdhoot Bhawan.
What
degeneration has taken place in our democratic polity over the years became
obvious on that night. There was a time when lakhs of people used to
assemble at Boat Club (located in front of the Rasht apathy Bhawan and the
Parliament house) to voice their grievances and seek solution from the
democratically elected Government and the party in power. Discernible was the
resentment of the rulers from these voxpopuli demonstrations. In
the name of maintaining the cleanliness of the place, such demonstrations were
first banned at the Boat Club which resulted in the opening the Parliament
street-Jantar Mantar junction to air the voice of opposition. Police never
permitted any demonstration there in which more than 3000 people
participated. For nearly two decades, that place became the venue for
people from all walks of life to assemble and voice their protest. Now
the Green Tribunal has passed the order prohibiting any such demonstration to
take place in front of Jantar Mantar on the same ground by virtue of which Boat
club was closed down. The days are not far off when the entire New Delhi
would be barred for the Indian people except for the sycophants of the ruling
coterie, which would enable the rules to hear only the voice in praise of them
and be divorced from the reality of the people’s life who had elected them to
power. The organizing committee could ultimately overcome the
difficulties and hold the dharma in a peaceful atmosphere at Meghdhoot Bhawan,
for which we are no doubt grateful to the CPMG and the leadership of NFPE.
The programme went on upto 3.00PM. Com.Shiv Gopal Mishra was
the first speaker in his capacity as the President of NCCPA. The programme was
inaugurated by the veteran trade union leader and the erstwhile leader of the
telecom employees Com.VAN Namboodiri, Patron of NCCPA. On behalf of the
organizing Committee, Com. Deepchand conducted the proceedings of the house and
Com. Rajinder Prasad of AIPRPA presided over. Com. KKN Kutty, Secretary General
NCCPA informed the participating members of the need to fill up the register
with the derails which could be used by the CHQ for a faster and effective
communication mechanism in future. He also drew the attention of
the comrades of the Booklet which had been brought out by the NCCPA explaining the
ten point charter of demands, which was being sold at the venue for a price of
Rs. 10/-. About 650 copies of the booklet were sold out at the venue
itself. We are proposing to send a few copies to all affiliates and State
Committees to ensure that the same is sold and the publication cost
realized. Com. Tapan Sen, General Secretary CITU and Member of Parliament
were one of the prominent speakers. The programme was concluded by his
address to the members. There had been a galaxy of speakers who were
leaders of various Trade Union organizations and Pensioners associations.
Prominent among them were:
M.S.Raja
(SG Audit and Working President Confederation of CGE &W);
S.C.Maheswari
(General Secretary, Bharath Pensioners Samaj)
D.Balasubramanian
(GS All India Federation of Pensioners Associations)
Com.
K.G.Jayaraj (GS All India BSNL and DOT Pensioners Association)
K.Ragavendran
(GS All India Postal and RMS Pensioners association.
Com.SwapanChakraborti
(Dy.GS BSNLEU)
Ashok
Ghosh (Dy.Secretary West Bengal COC of CGPA)
Com.
Somaiah (GS All India Ground Water Board Pensioners Association)
Com.
A. K. Kanojia (President, Income tax Employees Federation)
Com.
Lajpat Rai (Patron, Income tax Pensioners Federation)
Com.
M.N.Reddy (General Secretary, All Pensioners and Retired Persons
Association)
Com.
Rajinder Prasad Verma ( All India Vice President AIPRPA)
Com.
Deep Chand. (State General Secretary, AIPRPA, Delhi)
A
delegation met the Chief Post Master General to hand over a memorandum
addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister. The CPMG has assured the
delegation that the same will be officially forwarded to the Prime Minister’s
office. A few photographs of the programme have already been placed on the
website.
05.08.2018 Dharna at selected state capitals in
all twelve cenres
27.11.2018
Post Card Campaign in the format
given hereunder:
Post Card Campaign to Hon’ble Prime Minister:
I
solicit the kind attention of the Honourable Prime Minister to the memorandum
dated 27.11.2018 submitted by the National Co-ordination Committee of
pensioners in which I am a member on certain pension related
issue. I seek the intervention of the Honourable Prime Minister to
ensure settlement thereof.
(Signature)
(Name)
(Pensioner’s
of Department)
______________________________PPO
Number
20.3.2019- Dharna fast at Jantar Mantar
The
programme commenced at about 11.30 AM.
Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, Patron
NCCPA was the first speaker and detailed the purport of the programme. Com. Shiv Gopal Misra , President, NCCPA
inaugurated the programme and the same was conducted by the Secretary General,
Com. KKN. Kutty. We had invited all the
Federations and Associations of the working employees and most of them could
come and greet the programme. Com. Deep
Chand on behalf of the Delhi Unit welcomed
the participants. Other speakers
included Com. Pavitra Chakraborty, Com. K. Raghavendran, Com. Jayaraj, Com. I.S. Dabas, Com. H.S. Sidhu, Com.
Rehman, Com. T.M. Parameswaran. Com. Parasar,
Com. Giriraj Singh, (Both from NFPE) Com. Brighu Bhattacharya,(Civil
Accounts) Com. Ashok Kanojia, (Confederation)Com. Ajoy Tewari, (ITEF) were
the speakers who greeted the dharna fast programme. Almost all the speakers exhorted the
participants to take note of the nugatory attitude of the Government towards
Central Government pensioners for the
past 5 years and utilize the strength and power to vote them out of power . The programme was concluded at 2.30 PM.
The
National Executive had targeted to ensure the participation of about 2000
comrades in the programme. Though we
could not achieve it ( the participation was estimated to be about 1500), it
had been a fantastic programme. We
publish hereunder a photograph we have taken almost about 1.00PM, when the
programme was going on, which no doubt will bring out the success of it in
clear terms. The National Secretariat
which met on 16th had unanimously opined that despite the
hurdles created ,( the IB and its
sleuths spreading the canard of cancellation of the programme on the pretext of
the declaration of the election) was
nassive and magnificent. . Some of the
comrades, unfortunately without even
verifying the facts had cancelled the tickets believing the rumour spread. There had been some other cancellations too
as the last minute problem of physical
disabilities of the participating comrades and cancellation of flights
especially the Jet flights. . It was
heartening to note that every affiliate of the NCCPA had tried to adhere to the
quota, some exceeding . As on the last
occasion, this time also the best participation
came from the All India BSNL and DOT
Pensioners Association, who had earlier organized a march to Sanchar
Bhawan from Eastern Court to highlight their own specific demands and
problems. The NCCPA Sectt. has requested its affiliates and State
Units to undertake a proper review to
identify the deficiencies so that it could be removed effectively before we
could undertake further programmes. The
NCCPA will be grateful if the affiliates and the State Units convey to us
immediately on receipt of this communication of the extent of participation of
their members (State-wise) to have a clear picture. Before I conclude, let me place on record
that the programme had been a grand success in as much as we could demonstrate
the discontent and grievances of the Central Government pensioners in an
extremely magnificent manner and the credit for which goes to each and every
participant and the leaders at the State and district levels who took the pains
to elicit their participation, look after them properly and ensure that they
return to their homes with fond memories .
The message that the time has come to think seriously to bring in a
government which will think in terms of the welfare of the Senior Citizens and
the poor in the country has gone unambiguously and loudly amongst the pensioner
community.
TUI Second World Congress
The
Second world congress of the TUI (Pensioners and Retirees) was held at Bogota
in Columbia. The NCCPA was represented
by its Secretary General, Com. K.K.N. Kutty and oln behalf of AIPRPA, Com. K.
Raghavendran and on behalf of AIBDPA, Com. K.G. Jayaraj attended the
congress. A detailed report over the
congress has been placed on the website and the same is carried by our journal
for this month. It is to be noted that
there had been no other representatives from India. All the Indian delegates
have been elected to the administering Committees of the TUI. Com. K.G. Jayaraj has been elected to be one
of the Executive Committee member, Com. K.Ragavendran in the Technical and
Research Commission and Com. K.K.N. Kutty in the Finance Control commission.
The TUI (P &R) is a vibrant international body and had been functioning in
the last five years very well and have extended its influence to all
continents. The responsibility of the
expanding its base in Asia particularly is now cast upon NCCPA, even though the
Nepalese delegation has been elected to be one of the office bearers. Com. K.G. Jayaraj particularly will have this
carved out for him and our success will make NCCPA a world respected body.
Attendence at Meetings
The
first meeting of the National Sectt. Of
NCCPA felt that the Secretariat must meet at leastonce in 3 months. Had this
decision been implemented,at least 12 meetings ought to have taken place. We
realised that the said decision was without taking into account certain
realities. The frequent meetings were costing the comrades too much which they
were unable to meet out. This gave a natural death to that laudable objective.
While this is an explicable situation,
the absence of large number of office bearers in the meetings, had no
reasonable ground at all, except that they would like to remain dormant. This cannot be an acceptable
proposition. We want all regions and all affiliates to be represented in our
apex level leadership. But that can only be worthwhile if we can ensure their
active presence at the meeting. The conference will do well, if this aspect of
our functioning is taken seriously.
Rotation of NE Meetings:
In
the next 3 years, the NE is to meet at
least six times. The National Executivemeetings
are of a full day duration and the comrades attending such meetings may
not be able to return on the same day. This requires an overstay arrangements
for good number of comrades and consequently requires sizeable funds for the
host units. It is our suggestion that the NE Meetings may be hosted by
affiliates and state Units on rotational basis. The bigger affiliates can plan
such meetings either one day priorto or
after their meetings so that the fund crunch could be effectively addressed.
Resolution
on certain important issues and on policy and programme are annexed.
It
is our firm belief that the neo-liberal economic policies that are followed by
the successive Governments of our country
since 1991 is injurious to the interest of the working class. We had
been active participants with all like-minded organisations in opposing it, in
propagating its pernicious effects and in participating agitational programmes.
Over the years, the entire working class in the country realised the dangerous
direction and trajectory of these policies and more and more sections started joining
hands in opposing these policies. All
Central TUs, irrespective of the political ideological differences joined
together in this endeavour.
To ensure
that our members continue to be active and committed to this position we have
to strive that the workers as a class is not allowed to be in different
camps on account of the penetration of
the religious and caste feelings. It is in our interest that the social fabric
of our country remains secular, its polity is democratic, every individual
citizen has the right to express his/ her views, he or she is not intimidated,
justice is rendered to all sans delay, basic requirement of human existence is
provided to all, the standard of living of all is constantly and continuously raised, the society is not fractured
by fundamental and obscurantist ideas; scientific temper grows; superstitions
are not allowed to pervade, peaceful co-existence is ensured; and above all an
egalitarian society where exploitation is non- existent is created.
Our task
includes that our members have better social security facilities, they get a decent pension; their health problems are cared for; sense of
equity prevails and the Governmental functions are carried out by the Civil
servants only We must be in the
forefront of building a powerful movement of Pensioners NCCPA; is strengthened and alround unity of
employees are brought about to ensure creation of better bargaining capacity.
It must
also be our endeavour that our members realise the dangers of pension reforms,
the need for a universal social security
system to cater to the requirements of all senior citizens in the
country and most significantly we prepare our
members to be participants in the
fight against the new Contributory Pension Scheme, which was unitarily
imposed in 2004 and which has now obtained the parliamentary sanction. We have to bring home the fact that
the legislation passed by the Indian Parliament PFRDA does provide the
authority and power to the Government of India to amend or even end the statutory
pension presently received by our members.
We must
strive to make our members realise that
capitalism is an exploitative system; and the strenuous efforts on the
part of the Print and electronic media ( which itself is owned by the big
corporate houses) to spread falsehood over the viability of the system;
We must
also make our members to realise that
peasants and agricultural workers are
our fellow travellers, and comrades; they
suffer deprivation and exploitation as we do, and it is also our responsibility
to support them in their struggles;
It is only
through powerful resistance movements
that we would be able to raise the level of consciousness of our fellow
members We have to accomplish these
tasks, howsoever difficult it is. Let us march on with the determination that
we shall.
On behalf
of the National Executive, we convey our fraternal and warm greetings to all
the delegates, observers and senior leaders attending 4th all India Conference at Jaipur and requested
them to deliberate & make suggestions
to enrich this report.
With
Greetings,
Yours
fraternally,
K.K.N.Kutty
Secretary
General.
Annexure -1.
nccpa
3rd Triennial Annual Conference Kolkata
A Short Report
Dear
Comrade,
16.11.2015. The third triennial all India
Conference of NCCPA was held at Kolkata on 6th and 7th November, 2015. The
Conference was inaugurated by Com. Ashim Dasgupta former Finance Minister,
Government of West Bengal. More than 200 delegates and observers from various
parts of the country and hundreds of members of West Bengal Central Govt.
Pensioners Co-ordination Committee attended the inaugural session. The hall of
the conference was named after the legendary leader of the Central Government
Employees and the former Secretary General of NCCPA, Com. S.K. Vyas.
The
Conference commenced with the flag hoisting (National flag by Com. Sisir
Bhattacharya, the Senior most leader of the P & T movement and NCCPA flag
by Com. R.L. Bhattacharya, President NCCPA). Floral tributes were paid by
leaders and delegates to the martyrs column. The inaugural session was impressive
with a galaxy of leaders decorating the dais and addressing the AIC. Before the
formal inauguration cultural folk songs were sung by the Kolkata CG Employees
and Pensioners. After welcome address by Com. Sisir Bhattacharya, Chairman
Recepsion Committee, the inaugural session was also addressed by Com. K.K.N.
Kutty, President, Confederation of CGE & Workers, Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri,
Patron NCCPA, Com. Pijush Roy, State Secretary of Co-ordination Committee
of CG Employees, Com. SubrotoMajumdhar, West Bengal State Govt. Pensioners
Association, Com. ApareshBhattacharjee, Bank Pensioners Association, Com.
Himadri Roy (LIC Pensioners Association), Com. Subendu Mukherjee (Railway
Pensioners Association), Com. Ananta Bhattacharya and Com. Jyotsna Bose.
In
the subject session, that commenced at 2.00 PM on 6th and ended at 2.30 PM the
next day, the report accompanied by the statement of accounts was submitted by
Com. Pavitra Chakraborty, Secretary General. In the discussion that ensued
thereafter, more than 16 delegates participated. The house also adopted the
following resolutions.
(a)
On Policy and programme
(b)
Affiliation of NCCPA with TUI-Pensioners and retired personnel
(c)
Against escalating prices of essential commodities
(d)
Appealing to maintain communal harmony,
(e)
Observance of rs” Feb. Every as S.K. Vyas memorial day.
(f)
On implementation of court verdict to all similarly placed pensioners.
The
house also adopted the proposal moved from the presidium to enlarge the number
of office bearers by amending the relevant provisions of the constitution.
The
house unanimously adopted the panel of office bearers presented by the outgoing
Sectt. and accordingly the following comrades were elected as the office
bearers for the ensuing term of three years. Com. PavitraChakraborthy, while
summing up the discussion, stated that the suggestions put forth by the members
who spoke are all acceptable and the same would be incorporated in the final
report. The house then adopted the accounts and the report unanimously.
The
open session was the concluding session in which Com. Basudev Acharya former
M.P. who always fought for our cause both inside and outside the parliament
addressed celaborately on the type of attacks let loose on the workers and
pensioners. The Open Session was also addressed by Com. KKN Kutty and also by
Com. SujathaSaha the Councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The
AIC concluded with the singing of International Song of Working Class by the
Cultural Troup and all Delegates.
Thanking
you and with greetings,
Yoursfraternally,
K.KN. Kutty
Secretary General.
Patrons:
1.
Com.VAN.Namboodiri
2.
Com.R.L.Bhattacharyaa
Chairman:Com.Shiv
Gopal Mishra (JCM Staff Side Secretary)
Wkg.Chairman:
Com.S.S.Roy (West Bengal)
Vice
Chairman: 1) Com. C.L.Mathur (Rajasthan)
2)
Com. D.V.Dhaktod (Maharashtra)
3) Com. H.N.Joshi (M.P)
4)
Com.T.S.Parameswaran (Kerala)
5) Com.S.Rahman (Assam)
Secretary
General: Com.KKN.Kutty
Dy.Secretary
General: 1) Com.Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborty (WB)
2)
Com.K.Ragavendran (AIPRPA GS)
Assistant
Secy General: 1) K.G.Jayaraj (AIBDPA GS)
2)
Prabakaran Nair (Telengana
3)
S.K.Sharma (Rajasthan)
4)
C.P.Shobana (Kerala)
5)
I.S.Dabas (Delhi)
Treasurer:
Com.H.L.Sidhu (Haryana)
Asst.TRR:
Com. S.Laha (WB)
Organising
Secretary:
1)
M.A.Karlekar (Maharashtra)
2)
T.I.Sudhakaran (Kerala)
3)
N.Somaiah (Telengana)
4)
Geetha Goshal (WB)
5)
K.P.Sharma (Rajasthan)\
6)
G.R.Verma (U.P)
Internal
Auditor: Com.A.K.Ghosh (WB)
Annexure -2
Letter to Shri. R.K. Chathurvedi, Joint Secretary, MOF.
GOI
Dear
Sir,
Sub: 7thCPC recommendations on retirement
benefits- Reg.
The
National Co-ordinating Committee of Pensioners Association is the apex
organisation of Associations/Federations of Central Government
Pensioners. We had submitted a detailed memorandum to the 7th CPC on various
demands, problems and grievances of the Central Government Pensioners.
However, it must be sadly admitted that most of the issues, which we had
projected before the Commission did not have a proper consideration, may be
perhaps, due to the Commission’s perceived anxiety over the financial
constrains of the Government of India. We have every reason to believe
that their anxiety was not well placed, for the Government’s finances are far
better presently than what it was two decades back. The memorandum
submitted by the Staff Side JCM National Council had elaborately dealt with the
issue concerning the relative capacity of the Government to pay its employees
and pensioners in the background of accelerated growth of the economy, reduced
tax burden on both business houses and the common people the reduced
percentage of expenditure on wages, salary and pension with reference to the
Government’s revenue resources, revenue expenditure and the GDP itself.
The denial of the need based minimum wage,(in accordance wit Dy. Aykhroyd
formula) in other words, the bare existence wage in the circumstance by the 7th CPC is
incomprehensible. We are pointing out this aspect of the
recommendations, for the successive earlier Commissions had denied the
need based minimum wage on the specious plea of the inability of the Government
to pay. We hope you will appreciate that the present pensioners,
who were in active service in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, did suffer immensely
as they were denied even the bare existence wages. They suffered on many
counts, as they could not provide a decent standard of living to their
families, could not construct a residential dwelling, could not educate their
children properly for sheer want of requisite finances, so on and so
forth. The Pensioners’ community is presently concerned again with the
minimum wage as the re-fixation of pension on account of the wage
revision effected by the 7th CPC is linked to the minimum wage. We,
therefore, appeal that the grievances presented by the Staff Side, National
Council JCM on the determination of the quantum of minimum wage by the 7th CPC must be
considered seriously and necessary corrections made.
Another
important issue we would like to present before you, concerns the New
Pension Scheme introduced by the Government of India, with effect from.
1.1.2014. Both the Serving employees and Pensioners organisations placed
before the Commission, rather passionately, to consider their submissions made
for the replacement of the newly introduced defined contributory system of
pension for those who entered the Government of India Service from.1.1.2014
with the time tested defined benefit scheme of pension. As of date the
Government employees, by virtue of the new contributory pension scheme
are divided into two classes viz. a good number of them receive
emoluments after deduction of 10% towards pension contribution whereas
the other for the same job is provided with a higher rate of emoluments.
It is nothing but a blatant denial of equal pay for equal work. We had
pointed out to the Commission in no uncertain terms that the new scheme was
conceived as an idea to allow the flow of the hard earned income of the
employees to the Stock market and permit the access of those funds for
the corporate houses with no guaranteed return to the contributor. We had
pleaded before the Commission to recommend for the exclusion of the Government
employees from the purview of the NPS, if the scrapping of the scheme is
infeasible in the light of the enactment of PFRDA. The Commission, as you
could see from the report, has enumerated innumerable flaws, defects,
deficiencies and what not in the administrative apparatus of the NPS, which has
now amassed huge funds and its coffers are swelling enormously day by
day. They have still not evolved a mechanism to monitor the remittances
by the concerned employers. The Commission has suggested in the light of their
findings, cosmetic remedial measures which in all fairness one should admit,
will not address the issue. In short, the Commission has not been
emboldened to make a positive recommendation for the exclusion of the
Central Government employees from its ambit, even though they have been
convinced of the force of our submissions and arguments. We may also
state that the Commission which was anxious of the increased financial
outflow on account of the revision of wages and pension did not, rather failed
to recognise the enormous outflow of tax payers money to the pension fund in the
form of Governmental Contributions. Without stating the various other demerits
of the New Contributory Pension Scheme, as it has been oft-repeated, we plead
that the Government employees be excluded from the Contributory Pension scheme
and all of them irrespective of their date of recruitment be brought within the
purview of the time tested defined benefit pension system.
Besides
the submissions made in the preceding paragraphs, we enumerate hereunder some
specific issues concerning pensioners and request the Implementation Committee
to consider the same and place it before the empowering committee for
acceptance.
1.
Parity between the past and present pensioners be brought about on the basis of
the 7th CPC recommendations with the modification that
the basis of computation be the pay level of the post/grade/scale of pay from
which the employee retired, whichever is beneficial to him.
The
7th CPC has recommended the modus operandi for
bringing about parity between the past and present pensioners. While
issuing orders in acceptance of this recommendation, we urge upon that care may
be taken to provide the benefit to the pensioners as envisaged by the
Commission in its letter and spirit. Often we find when the orders are
issued, the same is interpreted by the pension disbursing authority in such a
manner that the envisaged benefit is denied to the deserving personnel on
flimsy technical grounds. We want you to appreciate that it is not a
perceived grievance but a real and genuine one. To cite a recent example:,
When the orders on the question of modified parity was issued after the 6th CPOC
recommendation, the benefit was denied to a large number of pensioners by
such an interpretation made by the Offices of the Controller General of
Accounts. The issue had to be agitated in the Central Administrative
Tribunal, where the CGA’s interpretation was set aside. The Government
dragged the poor pensioners upto the highest court of justice in the country,
the Supreme Court, before the concerned order was amended. Even in the
amended order, care was not taken to convey the benefit to certain pensioners
fully on the specious plea that the words employed in the original orders
speaks only of the scale of pay and not of the revised scale of pay. It
is highly unethical to drag the pensioners to the Courts. They are compelled to
bear the huge expenditure involved in the litigation at the level of the
Supreme Court . To avoid the recurrence of such a scenario, we plead that the
orders must specify in unambiguous terms, that the parity must be with
reference to the level of pay of an individual employee of the post/grade/scale
of pay from which he/she retired, whichever is beneficial to that
individual. This is to take care of the situation where the
concerned Government servant had been granted MACP, or the pay scale/pay
band/grade pay/ had been revised by the Government either suomotu or on
the basis of the recommendation of the Pay Commission.
2.
Pension to be 60% of the last pay drawn and family pension to be 50% of
the last pay drawn. Minimum pension to be 60% of the minimum wage
and minimum family pension to be 50% of the Minimum wage.
In
our memorandum, we had demanded that pension to be 66.6% of the last pay drawn
and the minimum pension to be 66.66% of the minimum wage. The CPC has not
conceded this demand. Our present request in the matter is that the pension
must be fixed at 60% of the last pay drawn and the minimum pension at the rate
of 60% of the minimum wage. This is on the ground that minimum wage is
computed taking into account the family consisting of three units of two adults
and two children ( i.e. 1+0.8+0.6+0.6=3) Since the requirement of the children
can be excluded in the case of pensioners, the rational approach will be
to provide 60% of the minimum wage as the minimum pension Both the
pension and the minimum pension has to be at the rate of 60% of the last pay
drawn (or average emoluments) and the minimum wage respectively. The
present stipulation of computing the pension at the rate of 50% and the minimum
pension at 50% of the minimum wage has no basis at all. Family pension is
granted mostly in the case of the surviving spouse or unmarried or widowed
daughter. To reduce the pension beyond 10% is to heap misery and agony on
the survivors. Our suggestion in the matter is that the surviving member
of the family be provided with at least 50% of the pension.
3.
Enhance the pension and family pension on the basis of the increased age of the
pensioner. Grant 5% rise in pension for every addition of 5 years of age, 10%
after attaining the age of 80 and 20% for those beyond 90.
The
decaying process of physique gets accelerated normally after 60 years of
age. To keep one fit, after the age of 60, increased expenses on various
counts are needed. It was in recognition of this fact that the earlier
Pay Commission suggested to calibrate the pension entitlement linking to the
age of the pensioner. The demand was formulated to rein in a logical
methodology for such increases. Our specific suggestion is to raise the
quantum by5% (i.e. 65% at the age of 65) and by 5% for every five year increase
in the age of pensioner. However, the increase will have to be 10% at the
age of 85 and 20% at the age of 90.
4.
Restoration of Commuted value after 10 years and gratuity as per the provisions
of the Gratuity Act.
It
is now an admitted fact that the Government recovers the full value of the
commuted portion of the pension in 10 years including the interest. However, it
has refused to accede to the demand for a revision of the period of restoration
when it was taken up in the National Council. There had been
no reason adduced as to why this demand cannot be accepted, when the issue was
subjected to discussions before the 7th CPC. Fifteen years is too long a period
and the last five years in which the pensioner is denied the full pension is
without justification. We request you to kindly place this fact before the
Empowering Committee for a favourable decision. In the matter of gratuity our
demand is that the Government must adhere to the provisions of the Gratuity Act
and no distinction between the Government employees and the workers in the
Public or private enterprises be made in the matter.
5.
Fixed Medical Allowance.
In
the case of pensioners who resides at locations not covered by the CGHS scheme
has no health care benefit at all. The serving employees are entitled for
CGHS benefit if they stay in any of the 26 cities where the CGHS
facilities are available, and they enjoy the benefit of CVCS(MA) Rules in
other places. The Pensioners staying outside the CGHS areas are to bear
the health care expenses from the3oir meagre pension amount. It is
in consideration of this fact, a fixed medical allowance was introduced.
However, the quantum of such allowance is a paltry sum of Rs. 500
p.m. In the neo-liberalised economic system, the administered price
mechanism barring in the case of a few medicines, has been dispensed
with, consequent upon which is the exorbitant prices of medicines in the
market. The pensioner is not able to afford the
prices of medicines. Either the Government must come forward to
bring in the application of CCS(MA) rules to the pensioners who are not within
the ambit of CGHS or the FMA will have to be increased. We request that
the FMA may atleast be raised to Rs. 2000 per month.
6.
Grant of HRA for pensioners.
Gone
are the days when the pensioner can expect to be looked after by their
children. In most of the cases, they are unable to live with their
children even if the children are willing to accommodate them. This is
because of the frequent transfer of workplace and many other relevant
factors. As has been pointed out elsewhere in this letter, the pensioners
of date were the serving employees of 1970s,80s and 90s. They did not
have a decent wage structure nor could they obtain loan facility
from the banks on nominal interest (which the people of the present
contemporary society enjoys), with the result they could not venture to own a
house for occupation atleast after retirement. Throughout their service
career they had been in the occupation of the Government accommodation, which
they had to vacate after retirement. The real estate business in the
country witnessed a boom in 1990s and 2000s, . The pensioners cannot
compete in the real estate market either with the consumers like serving
employees or business people. All these factors put together makes the
pensioners to shell out a major portion of his pension income only for hiring a
dwelling place. We, therefore, request the Committee may consider
the demand for HRA from a humanitarian point of
view.
7.
Grant of an increment prior to the date of retirement.
Grant
of one increment in the case of those pensioners who retired on completion of
one year in service as on the date of superannuation had been the demand the
staff side placed before the Government for their consideration in the National
Council. The demand was rejected on the technical ground that even though
they had worked for a full year the grant of increment would be possible only
if they are in service on the day when it become due. The 6th CPC while
recommending uniform date of increment for all Government Servants, also
suggested that in the case of all employees who had completed more than six
months, increment might be granted. The issue was taken up before the 7th CPC too through our
memorandum. The Commission also did not recommend the acceptance of our
demand. We therefore, appeal once again to the Government that this
simple issue may be settled as it has very little coverage and the consequent
financial implication is very meagre.
These
are some of the issues, which various pensioners organisations have brought
before us to take it up with you. We therefore, once again request
you to kindly consider these issues in the light of the justification we have
appended under each of them and recommend to the Government for a positive
consideration thereof.
Annexure -3
Recommendations on
Health Insurance Scheme
9.5.15
In this backdrop, the Commission opines that health insurance for the
government employees and pensioners remains the most optimal route for ensuring
complete coverage for all employees, pensioners and their dependants in the
long run. The IV CPC had suggested that feasibility and modalities of an
Insurance Scheme for government employees in lieu of medical reimbursement may
be considered by the government. The VI CPC had recommended introduction of a
health insurance scheme for Central Government employees and pensioners. It had
recommended that for existing employees and pensioners, the scheme should be
available on a voluntary basis, subject to their paying the prescribed
contribution. It had also been recommended that the health insurance scheme
should be compulsory for new government employees who would be joining service
after the introduction of the SchemeSimilarly, it had recommended that those
retiring after the introduction of the insurance scheme would be covered under
the Scheme.
9.5.16
The Commission observes that in view of the recommendations of the earlier Pay
Commissions and various high power committees, the government has been
contemplating the introduction of a health insurance scheme on Pan-India basis.
The Commission notes that although the Committee of Secretaries had given its
‘in principle’ approval way back in 2011, and an amount of ¹ 2,061 crore had been earmarked under the XII
Five Year Plan, the Scheme has still not been implemented.
9.5.17
The Commission notes that given the tardiness in the introduction of the long
awaited Insurance Scheme, as already mentioned earlier in this chapter, the
pensioners residing outside CGHS area will continue to be at a disadvantage, in
terms of medical facilities, compared to their counterparts residing in CGHS
areas. As stated earlier in this chapter, according to existing provisions,
pensioner residing outside CGHS area but subscribing to CGHS for OPD/IPD can
avail medical facility from any hospital–private or public or empanelled under
CS (MA)/ECHS–in his/her own city. However, in such cases, the pensioners have
to make upfront payment to the hospital and claim reimbursement later. The
Commission feels that this could be a limiting factor for many pensioners who
may not have the resources to pay hospital expenses upfront. The Commission
notes that under CS (MA) Rules/ECHS, there are empanelled hospitals in every
part of the country, at least in all major locations. In this backdrop, after
identification of some major centres/cities based on minimum population
threshold of pensioners, these hospitals could be empanelled by CGHS as well,
for extending medical facilities on a cashless basis.
9.5.18
Considering all the issues, the Commission makes the following recommendations:
i.
The Commission strongly recommends the introduction of health insurance scheme
for Central Government employees and pensioners. In the interregnum, for the
benefit of pensioners residing outside the CGHS areas, the Commission
recommends that CGHS should empanel those hospitals which are already
empanelled under CS (MA)/ECHS for catering to the medical requirement of these
pensioners on a cashless basis. This would involve strengthening of
administrative capacity of nearest CGHS centres. However, this step will go a
long way in ameliorating the pending grievances of these pensioners. ii. The
Commission recommends that the remaining 33 postal dispensaries should be
merged with CGHS. The Commission further recommends that all postal pensioners,
irrespective of their participation in CGHS while in service, should be covered
under CGHS after making requisite subscription. iii. Currently, there are
various health care schemes in the Central Government catering to specific sets
of employees. For example, apart from CGHS, there are Ex-Servicemen
Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Railways Employees Liberalized Health
Scheme (RELHS) which cover ex-servicemen and Railway employees/pensioners,
respectively. Although the patterns in these schemes vary, a combined entity of
CGHSECHS-RELHS would result in a very strong network of health facilities for
the Central Government employees across the length and breadth of the country.
The Commissionrecommends that possibility of such a combined network of various
medical schemes should be explored through proper examination.
O0o
NCCPA.
Conferences held
1st
Conference: Jaipur: 17&18 Sept.2008
2nd
Conference. Ratlam 12 &13 Apr.2012
3rd
Coinferene. Kolkata 6 & 7 Nov. 2015
4th Conference. Jaipur 1& 2 Nov.2019
