FLASH

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Revolutionary may day greetings.
May day thoughts in corona days!



The May day 2020 comes at a very critical and difficult situation for the world working class.  Most  of the world working population is under house arrest  due to the lock-down promulgated by most of the countries to combat the deadly pandemic COVID 19.

Workers throughout the world organize rallies and procession on Ist May every year to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of the  Chicago martyrs .  They have derived inspiration from the martyrdom of the great many leaders and workers who laid down their life for the emancipation of the working class from the tyranny and oppression of the exploiting class.  In most of the countries even after 134  years, the workers plight is precarious as the exploiting class is ably assisted by the ruling class who wield the State power.   The tumultuous rallies and processions, normally associated with the May day celebrations act as an elixir to all those who are involved in the act or organizing the working class.  Those commemorative rallies provided them the requisite inspiration and confidence to believe that they will overcome the hurdles one day.

The inability  to organize such rallies this year saddens us. The pandemic Covid 19 has engulfed most of the countries and even the developed Nations are clueless as how to arrest its sweep and spread and intensity.   Lakhs of people have already become victims of the dastardly virus and its onward march is continuing.  Even the developed countries, which had been boasting of the best medi-care facilitieis are in fact groping in dark.

If not anything else, Covid 19 has exposed the absolute absurdity of the repeated mantra of privatization of public health services.  The IMF prescribed structural adjustment programmes, the liberalization, Globalization and privatization prescription for bringing about faster economic growth were adopted, of course, per force by many countries including ours with the slogan of there being no alternative.  The New economic policy coinciding almost with the collapse of the Soviet Union, ushered in 1991 received widespread approbation, thanks to the spirited support provided by the corporate controlled media in our country.   Only a small segment of the population,  the trade union movements  (initially a few among them )  took the cudgels to oppose the anti people  neo liberal economic policies.  The Indian working class organized innumerable  strike actions to oppose these policies but could not halt its on-ward advent.  These actions however did create hurdles and slowed down the process of transformation to some extent.  The ascendancy of right wing forces, a product of the people’s disillusionment with these policies,  made the situation worse.  Not only the people were pauperized further but even the secular character of the society was disrupted.   We witnessed the gradual withdrawal of the Government from all welfare activities especially in the health care sector.  Systematically, the expenditure on health care facilities was reduced as a percentage of the GDP; insurance schemes were floated; private hospitals were allowed to loot the people and so on.   So when the pandemic surfaced, the tower of cards fell exposing the hollowness of the dream of super health care created.   The most advanced countries where  the health care systems were systematically reduced to nullity suffered immensely as is evidenced from  the number of covid-19 patients in these countries  and the rate of death causality, especially inUSA,Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain etc.

Every budget presented by this Government had  estimated crores of revenue by way of divesting the public enterprises.  Indian health care segment, as is the case with all other sectors, is presently dominated  by private enterprises. Since the existing infrastructure had not been totally dismantled, our country has been able to combat considerably the spread of the disease.  Some of the States like Kerala could  do extremely well for the left front government had strengthened the public health care system  over the years at a huge cost to the exchequer.  The Government of Kerala  received the widest  acclaim from the world community.  It was rightly commented by Snri Stephen Walt, Professor of International relations, Harwad University, USA that the American sponsored Globalisation has been put into the intensive care unit.

Besides, there had been a systematic and continuous effort to destroy the scientific temper in the society  for the growth of which scores of social reformers and progressive people had toiled. Wherever the right wing Governments  could come to power, minorities has always been targeted and accused as the carriers of the pandemic virus.  The statement to the effect that cow-dung and cow -urine would be effective in combating or containing the virus infected disease surprisingly emanated from persons who hold high positions in the society and the ruling party.  Following the path paved by the President of USA, Donald Trump, many countries  including ours delayed  or did not take timely  steps to arrest the spread of the pandemic.  The life and livelihood of the people did not merit the requisite consideration when ultimately the Govt. decided to impose the lock down.

There had been packages and interim budget proposals to help the rich corporate houses, when the economy was gripped with recessionary trends   However, when the lock down was declared,  no proper steps were taken to ensure that the poor people  get  financial assistance to maintain  their livelihood.  Recently the RBI has released the list of industrialists who were benefited by the Government’s benevolent approach in writing off the bank loans. The amount so written off is a huge Rs. 69000 crores.    It is in this background we must look into order of the Government freezing the DA and DR of employees and pensioners till  July, 2021.  The Government also took the unprecedented decision of impounding the arrears of 18 months whereby the amount will never be returned to the employees.  Even the family pensioners, who receive paltry amount as pension were not excluded from the purview of the stipulation.  It is difficult to fathom the sanctity of the date 1.7.2021.  Is the Government of the opinion that even by 30th June, 2021, the disease would not be contained or eradicated?  The Central Govt. made an appeal for donation of one day’s salary from the employees.  Without any murmur or resentment, both the pensioners and the employees contributed  to the Prime Ministers Public relief fund .  There had  been no consultation with the representatives of the employees’ organizations at any point time, before the Government took the decision to impose the freeze and impound the arrears.  The  Government  has  proceeded against a team of  IRS officers for offering suggestion to galvanize the revenue resources of the country . The anger of the Government is understandable  as most of the suggestions were aimed at taxing the super rich in the country.

The Mayday in Covid days comes with a warning of the new methodology and techniques of the capitalist class to squeeze and exploit the workers with the help tendered by the respective Governments. The struggle against the system must go on.

K.K.N. KUTTY
SG NCCPA &
Vice  President.  Confederation of CGE & Workers.

1st May, 2020

Friday, April 24, 2020

NCCPA Circular


NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS
13C, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi 110001

Shiv Gopal Sharma                                                                                                    K.K.N.Kutty
 President                                                                                                                   Secretary General

Dear Comrades!
Registration of NCCPA

The important work related to registration of NCCPA under Trade Union Act as decided in our 4th AIC at Jaipur is facing delay due to corona pandemic and the resultant lockout. A preliminary discussion to prepare necessary documents was held at Delhi but due to lock down I could not undertake any journey to Delhi in the middle of March, 2020. Comrades K.Ragavendran Deputy Secretary General; M.L.Gupta Vice President; H.L.Sidhu Treasurer; and K.D.Khera Chief Advisor of PNB Pensioners Welfare Association met and attended some initial work of preparing documents for the registration. I will go to Jaipur after the lockdown at the appropriate time to complete the process of registration. CHQ Vice Presidents Comrades S.K.Sharma and M.L.Gupta are directly involved in this important task.

DA/DR Impounding by the Central Government

The Government of India has issued an unilateral order on 23.04.2020 vide No.1/1/2020-E.II(B) of Ministry of Finace, Department of Expenditure to freeze the DA/DR of CG Employees and Pensioners up to 30.06.2021 and that not to pay any arrears even after the lifting of the freezing with effect from 1.7.2021. The authoritative and unilateral action of the Government has received widespread condemnation from different organizations of Central Government Employees and Pensioners.

NCCPA as the apex organization of various Pensioners Associations at National level and CGPA affiliates at State level expressed its strong condemnation to the Government over this unilateral impounding of DA/DR. The Government have not taken the facts that even before the said impounding, the NCCPA and its affiliates have been donating to the cause of fighting corona to either the PMNRF or State Chief Ministers’ Relief Funds. In addition there had been a wage cut on the CG Employees and the Pensioners also were requested to offer willingness to recover from Pension towards the relief. The unilateral action of impounding of three installments due from 1.1.2020; 1.7.2020; and 1.1.2021 without any arrears on restoration will be acting very severely on the Pensioners whose livelihood is based on Pension and periodical Dearness Relief to offset the cost of living rise. Recovery of pension from 4% to around 12% Pension for a period of 18 months will be excessively harsh on the senior citizens.

NCCPA has therefore written to the Prime Minister to intervene to cause to rescind the orders of the Finance Minister dated 23.04.2020. The copy of letter addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister is enclosed for the information of our affiliates. Any inaction on the part of the Government will be discussed in our National Executive after the restoration of normalcy and organizational decisions will be taken. All our affiliates are requested to send an identical letter of protest to the Honourable Prime Minister on behalf of their respective organizations.

National Executive of NCCPA

The National Executive of NCCPA scheduled to be held at Ernakulam on 25th April could not be held due to corona and lockdown. The exact date of the meeting will be later intimated in consultation with the General Secretary of AIBDPA who are hosting the event. Sufficient advance notice will be given to all for facilitating journey reservation.
Comradely Yours,
                              Sd/-
(K.K.N.Kutty)
Secretary General
Encl: Copy of Email to Prime Minister.


NCCPA Email to Honourable Prime Minister on DR Freezing


National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association
13C, FEroze Shah Road, New Delhi 110001

Shiv Gopal Mishra                                                                                                 K.K.N.Kutty
   President                                                                                                      Secretary General

To
The Honourable Prime Minister,
Government of India,
South Block,
New Delhi. 110 001

Dear Sir,

Sub: Freezing of dearness allowance to Central Government Employees and dearness relief to Central Government Pensioners at current rates till July, 2021.


                Please refer to the O.M. No. 1/1/2020-EII (B) dated 23rd April, 2020 issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance in view of the crisis arising out of the pandemic Covid -19. ordering that the dearness relief to Central Government Pensioners will be freezed at the current rates till July, 2021. In this connection, we on behalf of the Central Government pensioners submit the following for your kind consideration.
               
The  Central Government pensioners, immediately after your appeal for donation to combat the spread of the pandemic Covid-19  had voluntarily contributed to the Prime Minister Relief Fund  or the respective Chief Minister’s Relief fund to the best of their capacity.   Pensioners, as you are aware Sir, being senior Citizens are mostly inflicted with several diseases and physical debilities and are presently directed by the authorities to be confined to their homes.  They are prohibited to go out and are depended upon others for their dire needs.   Pension being 50% of the last drawn salary or even less, they  are seldom able to make the both ends meet.

The above cited order of the Government of India has been a bolt from the blue for many pensioners.  Since they are depended upon others for every of their needs, the procurement of medicines, visiting hospitals, collecting groceries et all, have  become costlier than what it was a few months back.  In fact presently they are in dire need of extra allowances to pull on.  They along with the millions of  people all over the world wanted the pandemic to end and therefore, support every decision of the Government especially the restrictions imposed on their movement. 

The decision of the Government to freeze the Dearness allowance which had become due on 1st January, 2020 is an unprecedented one.   We earnestly feel that the country’s economy has not reached such a situation that the Government needs to curtail the meager pension income of the old people.  Never in the political history  of the country, even when its very existence was threatened by external aggression or during the worst financial crisis of 1990s the Government has resorted to confiscate the pension income of senior citizens.   No doubt our country like many other Nations of the world is fighting  to wipe out the pandemic  and the lock down has halted all economic activities.  We are certain that you will be able to note that no other country has decided to confiscate the income of pensioners.  We feel that our country’s economy is robust and is capable of facing the challenges without resort to pauperizing the pensioners.  While benefit packages are extended to considerably well to-do segments in the society, the denial of the due entitlements to the pensioners is extremely painful.

From the order it is seen that the Government has not only decided to freeze the DR entitlements but would not also release the arrears even after the normalcy in the economic activities is brought about.  We can only characterize it as the unkindest cut.  We also would like to point out that an appeal from your good-self for donation  would have elicited  greater response  and the pensioners who are  comparatively well off would have responded admirably and the Government might have collected more than what it would receive by the operation of the above cited order.  That would have helped immensely the comparatively low income pensioners, especially the family pensioners.

It would, therefore, be appropriate that the pensioners are excluded from the purview of the O.M.cited .  The decision to impound the arrears of Dearness relief  in July,2021  is extremely harsh on low income pensioners and family pensioners especially.  Impounding the Dearness relief, in our opinion is not legally tenable without the consent of the concerned pensioner.  The Finance Ministry is well aware of the rule that the entitled pension cannot be curtailed.    Whoever has advised the Government that the Dearness Relief on pension should not be construed as pension are wrong and their interpretation is not at all tenable. 

We, therefore, appeal to you that for the reasons  stated by us in the preceding paragraphs, the order issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure  cited, may be directed to be withdrawn forthwith. 

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/- 
K.K.N.Kutty
Secretary General.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Ernakulam meet postponed!

National Executive of NCCPA postponed! 

The National Executive Committee of NCCPA notified to be held at Ernakulam (Kerala) stans postponed due to spread of Corona and activities of Governments to fight it out. The meeting called to be held on 25.04.2020 is therefore postponed and the new date will be notified later. - KKN Kutty SG


Saturday, April 4, 2020


NCCPA Calls for Donations to Government to fight Corona!


Corona is attacking in all countries including India. It is our task to share the responsibility with the Governments. All Affiliates are requested to send their contributions to either Prime Minister's National Relief Fund or respective State Chief Minister's Relief Funds. This our paramount duty!
- KKN Kutty SG