EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER DECEMBER-2014
NDA AND UPA
TWO SIDES
OF SAME COIN
New
Central Govt. under the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra
Modi has completed six months in office. As far as the common people and
working class of this country is concerned, no positive action has been taken
by the Govt. to mitigate their woes and grievances. Instead much negative steps
are taken during this six months period.
Government has withdrawn the
guidelines which controls the pricing of essential medicines through National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. As a result, the prices of essential
medicines for treatment of cancer, blood pressure, colestorol, diabetics,
heart-deceases etc will shoot up in the market. Prices of medicines for
treatment of cancer itself which now costs Rs.8500 may go upto Rs.1,08,000/-.
Pharmaceutical corporate companies are the beneficiaries.
Government has made its
intention clear that the number of gas cylinders (LPG) per year will be reduced
from existing 12 to 9 and also to link it to Aadhar and subsidies through
direct cash transfer to Bank accounts. Earlier UPA Govt. has reduced the gas
cylinders from 12 to 9 but subsequently it has been withdrawn the order due to
widespread protests.
Govt. has deregularised the
pricing of diesel. Earlier UPA Govt. has deregulated petrol prices and now the
NDA Govt. has deregularised diesel price. Petroleum companies will now be free
to decide the prices of petrol and diesel. Even-now the prices of petrol and
diesel in India are 40% higher than the prices in the international market.
Govt. has decided to allow
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Defence Production. Earlier this move
of the UPA Govt. was opposed by NDA saying that it is against the national
interest and security of the country. Defence production will now be completely
privatised.
Govt. has decided to allow
100% FDI in Railways and also public-private-partnership (PPP). During his
speech delivered in Australia Prime Minister has called upon the Industrialists
of that country to country to invest in Indian Railways. Doors for
privatisation of Railways is opened.
Govt. has decided to allow
49% FDI in Insurance sector. The bill for amending the Insurance Act for this
purpose is pending in the Parliament and Govt. spokes person has hoped that the
bill will be passed in this winter session of Parliament.
Govt. has decided to
disinvest the share of all public sector nationalised banks upto 48%. Road map
for privatisation of banking sector is drawn.
Govt. has made it clear that
100% FDI will be allowed in Pension Funds. The future of those who are under
the New Pension Scheme will be uncertain due to Pension Fund Privatisation.
Govt has decided to sell the
shares of profit making public sector undertakings such as ONGC, BHEL, coal
India Ltd. etc to the tune of 25%.
Govt. has made it clear that
Indian Post Office Act 1898 will be amended to facilitate grant of licences to
multi-national courier services. This
will pave way for privatisation of postal sector.
While extending red-carpet
welcome to the corporates and multinational companies, the Govt. has declared
that all the labour laws which put hurdles before them will be amended. Govt.
has already moved in Parliament Labour Law amendments to remove all the
protections and rights now enjoyed by the working class including right to
strike and right to form unions.
Government has declared that all the loss-making
public sector undertakings will be closed or privatised. Air India, BSNL etc. are all in the hit-list.
Government has made it clear
that its slogan is “minimum government and maximum governance”. It has imposed a total ban on creation of new
posts and for filling up of posts which are lying vacant for more than one
year.
Regarding Central Government
Employees, none of their legitimate demands are conceded by the Government. DA merger, Interim Relief, Inclusion of
Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) under 7th CPC, Date of effect of 7th CPC as 1-1-2014,
Removal of 5% condition for compassionate appointment - everything stands
rejected.
Regarding Postal employees
none of the 39 demands raised by Postal JCA (NFPE & FNPO) is settled. Three lakhs GDS are still not included in the
7th CPC and their future is uncertain, Revision of wages of Casual, Part-time,
contingent employees with effect from 01-01-2006 is pending before the Government
from 2008 onwards. Cadre Restructuring,
issues of Postmaster Cadre, Accountants, System Administrators, MMS etc. all
pending or rejected.
It is in the above background
the Central Trade Unions, JCM National Council staff-side, Confederation of
Central Govt. Employees & Workers and Postal JCA has decided to organise
following agitational programmes.
1. As a part of nation-wide agitation by all
Central Trade Unions including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU etc. has decided to
organise Parliament March on 5th December, 2014 to protest against the
anti-people, anti-labour policies of the NDA Government. In the march they will declare future
struggle programmes.
2. All the organisations in the JCM National
Council (Staff side) including Railways, Defence and Confederation has decided
to organise a National Convention on 11th December, 2014 to decide future
course of action for realisation of the legitimate demands of the Central
Government employees.
3. Postal JCA comprising NFPE, FNPO,
AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) and NUGDS has decided
to organise a massive Parliament March of 20000 Postal& RMS employees
including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-Time, Contingent employees on 4th
December, 2014 demanding settlement of 39 point charter of demands. PJCA has decided to go for indefinite strike.
NFPE calls upon the entirety
of five lakhs Postal employees to participate in all the above programmes and
make it a grand success. Let us pledge
that we shall continue our struggle till success.
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