[with Two Annexure] · or Indian Railways or ISRO in no way provides any relief to them. On the other hand, privatization of coal fields rubs salt into the wounds of the poor workers

AIBSNLPWA: E JOURNAL 4

AIBSNLPWA

E-JOURNALJUNE, 2020

They take care of elderly persons,while returning to their village, far far away

[with Two Annexure]


AIBSNLPWA COVID FUNDas on 30-5-2020

CircleANDHRAASSAMBIHARCHENNAI TDDELHIGUJARATHARYANAJHARKHANDKARNATAKAKERALAMPMAHARASTRAODISHAPUNJABRAJASTHANTAMILNADUTELANGANAUP EASTGRAND TOTAL

Amount1093432.00

20600.0089655.00

337560.0098500.00

179600.0062030.0050500.00

1876637.001055531.00

205410.00102500.00115305.00241561.0046901.00

1980558.00739498.00

7681.008303459.00

Rs. 83 Lacs

2


‘Les Misserables’

P S Ramankutty, Editor1 June, 2020

We are at Home, Safe because we get Pension. Outside, lakhs of ourfellow citizens are moving from their earlier workplaces to their homevillages, far away, many of them on foot covering more than 1000 KMs,taking their children on shoulders, carrying their old parents in stretchersof their own making. They move with unbearable pain cursing thelockdown declared so sudden, without providing a chance to escape bytrain or by bus or trucks. Large number of haunting photographs appearsin print media every day. We give few of them in pages 16-18 of thiseJournal.

Governments abandon these migrant workers; mainstream media ignorethem; Local thugs thrash them; policemen beat them and almost everyday road accidents kill them in groups. “Single death is a tragedy;thousand deaths is a statistics.” These people are voiceless andpowerless now. But they will become powerful during elections.

Sudden declaration of demonetization is understandable because of itsprobable misuse. But, sudden declaration of lockdown isincomprehensible. The diversity of our country, ‘the Bharat that lives invillages’, is beyond comprehension of many leaders and their advisoryteams. So they take decisions without realizing its consequences. TheGovernment should have known that its lockdown order would lead toimmediate closure of 6.3 crore micro and small industrial units spreadall over the country where these workers were employed. It should havebeen aware that in absence of resources, employers or farmers wouldnot pay the wages of these workers and that a mere diktat to do sowould not help.

The 20 lakh crore package declared and explained in five days does notgive any relief to these people. Privatization of Defence production unitsor Indian Railways or ISRO in no way provides any relief to them. On theother hand, privatization of coal fields rubs salt into the wounds of thepoor workers of Bihar, Jharkhand etc. Rather, they are thrown to greedywolves. The Reformed labour laws, extending working hours from 8 hoursto 12 only add their miseries. Labour migration is not a creation ofCovid19. It is the disastrous result of constant neglect by the rulersthat be during many a decades in the past. Reverse migration of croresof workers has serious consequences – political, social and cultural.Migration of labour has emerged as a ticklish issue the Nation has totackle .

[Noe: Les misserables is title of the classic French Novel by Victor Hugo, meaning the Misserable Ones.]

3


Our Prime Minister declared ‘JanataCurfew ’ on Sunday, the 22nd March 2020.On 24th night, he declared nationwidetotal lockdown for 21 days when 500people were infected by Covid19 and tenpeople had died in our country.Lockdown was extended again and again.While we move to the lockdown 5.0,more than 1.8 lakh people are infectedand 5000 killed.

On 29 th March 2020 our GeneralSecretary issued an extra ordinary appealthrough whatsapp for donations.AIBSNLPWA had collected donationsseveral times in past to help the victimsof natural calamities. Members couldgo to the Banks or Post Offices and sendthe donations or they could hand overthe amount to their Branch Secretary.This time the situation was different. Assenior citizens the pensioners could notstep out of their homes. Consideringthese practical difficulties, we called uponour members to remit the donations tothe Distress Relief Fund of theirrespective chief ministers and just informthe DS or the CS.

Within 62 days, our members havedonated an impressive amount of Rs.83 lakhs.

Many a pensioners are not happy oversome actions of the government. TheGovt has used the crisis time to loot thepoorly paid employees and pensionersby freezing the CDA. Govt utilized theworst time to reform labour lawsincreasing the burden of workers in the

country. It was done when lakhs ofworkers are thrown to streets, renderedjobless. Many of our members wereangry with the negative attitude of BSNLManagement which denies healthcare tothe retirees. At the same time, IndianEconomy was thrown wide open fornaked exploitation by the industrialists.The rafter was pulled down when thehouse was on fire, that too in thedarkness.

Despite all these resentment, themembers of AIBSNLPWA respondedpositively and promptly to the appealfrom General Secretary. Four membersdonated more than Rs One lakh each.Six others have donated more than Rs50000 each. Since details were publishedearlier same is not repeated here. Weare proud of them. We appreciate theirnoble mind. Tamilnadu Circle hasdonated Rs 19.80 Lakhs. Karnataka hassent Rs. 18.76 lakhs. Andhra and Keralacircle units have remitted more than Rs10 lakhs each. 85% of these donationshave gone to the respective chiefministers and 15% to the prime minister.It is 100% voluntary, pure and total.There was no campaign, no compulsion.The fact that entire donations gone on-line shows the loyalty of our membersto our Organizat ion; the largestorganization of pensioners in Indiantelecom industry.

We have done our duty as responsiblesenior matured citizens of the country,notwithstanding the individual views.We are proud of this great organization.

AS PROUD MEMEBRS OF AIBSNLPWA

4


SPECIAL MEASURES FOR PENSIONERS: LIFE CERTIFICATE

DOT No. 47-15/TA-II/CPMS/2018/Part-1/1530-60 dated 19-5-2020

ToAll Pr. CCAs/CCAs

It is to mention that India has beenunder lockdown since 25th March2020. Also, Senior citizens likepensioners are, in particular, vulnerableto Covid19. For generation of LifeCertificate (LC) pensioners have to goto either a physical office (physical LC)or Aadhar Centre /CSC (Digital LC)which will be against the spirit ofLockdown.

So, as a special measure for pensionerswhose LC was expiring on 29th Feb.2020 and 31st March 2020 relaxationhad been given vide order dated 30thMarch 2020 wherein pension in suchcases has to be paid till April 2020 andpensioners had to submit the LifeCertificate by 31st May 2020.

A review of cases where LC is expiringin April 2020 (pension not payable inMay) and May 2020 (Pension notpayable in June) has been done.Further, in light of extension oflockdown till 31st May 2020,pensioners whose LC is expiring inApril 2020 and May 2020 may find itdifficult to submit LC or DLC byconventional methods.

Further the CPAO circular No. CPAO/Tech/Grievances/2010-11/531dated30-6-2011 (annexure A) provides that

a Gazetted Government Servant has theauthority to sign a Life Certificate(point iii).

Hence considering the effect ofCovid19 pandemic and the lockdownand in anticipation of difficulty thatwould be faced by the pensioners insubmitting the certificates, as a specialmeasure for pensioners whose LC isexpiring on 30th April (includingpensioners whose LC expiry date wasrelaxed as per previous order dated 30-3-2020) and 31st May 2020 it has beendecided that

1. Pension be paid till month of Juneand the LC be submitted before 31stJuly failing which pension shall bestopped.

2. CCA offices shall use measuressuch as video calling amidst thepandemic to satisfy themselves of theliveness of the pensioner and certifytheir Life Certificates as per existingrules to the extent possible.

3. Additionally, pensioners must alsobe informed of the same by SMS andthe initiative of CCA offices.

This issues with the approval ofMember (Finance).

5


Instructions from Dept. of Pensionfor smooth payment of

Pension and family Pension

DoP&PW OM No. 12/4/2020-P&PW(C)-6300 dated 15-5-2020

Subject : Consolidated instructions forPension Disbursing Authorities toensure smooth payment of pension/family pension to pensioners/familypensioners.

On an analysis of the grievances receivedin this Department, it has been observedthat updated and consolidated instructionswill help improve the processing ofPensioner’s requests by banks and others.Hence, an attempt has been made herein,to consolidate relevant instructions issuedby Department of Pension & Pensioners’Welfare from time to time with regard todisbursement of pension and familypension. These Banks are adoptingdifferent procedures, while releasingpension/ family pension or seekingdeclarations/certificates from pensioners /family pensioners at different periodicity.Therefore, the following consolidatedguidelines are being issued with anobjective to create awareness amongCPPCs/ bank branches on updated rulesand instructions in this regard-:

(i) Requirement of pensioners to bepresent in person before paying bankbranch for credit of first pension :The pensioner is no longer required to visitbank in person for credit of his first pension.The undertaking with regard to recoveryof overpayment from pensioner isforwarded to concerned bank CPPCthrough CPAO along with the PPO. Bankwill not insist for the presence of pensionerin order to activate their pension account.(DoPPW’s OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PWdated 7th May 2014)

(ii) Requirement of family pensioner tosubmit form 14 : On death of a pensioner,the spouse is not required to submit form14, if he/she was having a joint accountwith the pensioner and authorisation forpayment of family pension exists in thePension Payment Order (PPO) in his/herfavour. In such cases, spouse will berequired to provide only a copy of the deathcertificate to the pension paying branch inorder to commence his/her family pension.Pension disbursing bank will identify thefamily pensioners based on the informationfurnished in PPO and its own Know YourCustomer procedure without insisting him/her to physically present himself/herself inthe paying bank.(DoPPW’s OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PW dated 20th September 2013)

(iii) Insisting spouse to open separatebank account for getting family pension-:Banks will not insist for opening a newaccount when the spouse was having ajoint account with the pensioner andauthorisation for payment of family pensionexists in the Pension Payment Order(PPO) in his/her favour. (RBI Circular-Disbursement of Government Pension byAgency Banks dated September 9, 2019)

(iv) Submission of declaration for takingup commercial employment afterretirement: This declaration is requiredfrom pensioners who have retired fromGroup ‘A’ services/posts. This declarationis required only in the first year afterretirement of a Group A officer. Therefore,this declaration may not be sought fromthe pensioner after expiry of one year fromthe date of retirement. If a pensioner

6


declares that he has taken up commercialemployment within one year from the dateof retirement without obtaining permissionof Government, Pension disbursing bankwill seek the orders of the Governmentthrough the CPAO before making furtherpension payments. However, if a pensionerdeclares that he has taken up commercialemployment within one year afterretirement with the permission of theGovernment, Pension disbursing bank willcontinue to pay his /her pension. (Rule 10of CCS Pension Rule).

(v) Submission of re- employmentcertificate: A pensioner is required tofurnish a re-employment declaration oncein a year |.e. in the month of Novemberevery year. If a pensioner declares that heis re-employed under the Central or StateGovernment, or a Corporation/ Company/Body/ Bank under them, the element ofdearness relief during the period of re-employment may not be credited by thebank during the period of such re-employment. However, if a pensionerdeclares about his re-employment and alsoStates that in accordance with the relevantrules/instructions, entire amount of his/herpension has been ignored while fixing his/her pay in the re- employment post, he willcontinue to be eligible to draw dearnessrelief along with pension. If a pensionerfails to submit requisite declaration in themonth of November, the element ofdearness relief on his monthly pensionmay not be credited by the bank and hemay be paid pension excluding thedearness rel ief. Employment/re-employment of spouse does not affect his/her family pension. Therefore, DearnessRelief will continue to be paid with familypension to the Spouse who is employed/re-employed in the aforesaidorganizations. ( Rule 55 of CCS PensionRules, 1972 ).

(vi) Submission of non-earningcertificate : A family pensioner, other thanspouse, has to submit a declaration of non-earning his/her livelihood every year in the

month of November. As per rule 54(6) ofCCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, fami lypension is allowed to a son, daughter,disabled sibling or parents of a deceasedpensioner or a deceased Governmentservant until he/she starts earning his/herlivelihood. This declaration is, however, notrequired from the spouse for continuing his/her family pension. (Rule 54(6) of CCSPension Rules).

(vii) Submission of declaration ofmarriage: A family pensioner, other thanspouse, has to submit a declaration of non-marriage/non re-marriage every sixmonths. The family pension isdiscontinued if she/he gets married/re-married. If the Spouse is a recipient offamily pension, no certificate of remarriageis required to be furnished by him/her. Atthe time of commencement of familypension, an undertaking will be obtainedfrom him/her to the effect that in the eventof his/her re-marriage, he/she will reportthe fact to the pension disbursing bankpromptly. However childless widow ofdeceased Government servant anddisabled child of a pensioner/Governmentservant will continue to get family pensioneven if they get married/re-married. (Rule54(6) of CCS (PENSION) RULES, 1972)

(viii) Submission of life certificate: Lifecertificate has to be submitted by everypensioner/family pensioners in the monthof November every year. PensionDisbursing bank will also accept Aadharenabled Digital Life Certificate “JeevanPramaan”. Old aged pensioners who are80 years and above can submit lifecertificate in the month of October also.(D/o Pension & Pensioners Welfare’s OMNo. 1/20/2018 P&PW (E) Dated18.07.2019)

(ix) Submission of disability certificate: If family pension has been sanctioned toa disabled child and the disability istemporary, the guardian of such disabledchild shall produce disability certificateonce in every 5 years to the effect that he/

7


she continues to suffer from such disorder/disability in order to continue familypension. No fresh certificate of disabilitywould be required in the case of a childwith permanent disability. A disabled childwill also be required to self-certify everyyear that he/she has not started earninghis/her livelihood (Rule 54(6) of CCSPension Rule,1972)

(x) Restoration of commuted portion ofpension: Restoration of commuted portionof pension after 15 years is to be madeautomatically by bank. Pensioner will notbe asked to make appl ication forrestoration of commuted portion ofpension. In cases where the date ofcommutation is not readily available in thePPO, the bank will obtain the informationfrom the Accounts Officer who issued thePPO through Central Pension AccountingOffice before restoring the commutedportion of pension. The amount ofcommuted pension will not be deducted

(xii) Obtaining of Life Certificate fromthe doorstep of the pensioners:- TheDepartment has issud directions to all thePension Disbursing Banks to send SMSs/Emails to all their pensioners on 24thOctober, 1st* November, 15th Novemberand 25th November every year remindingthem to submit their Annual LifeCertificates by 30th November. TheDepartment directed al l PensionDisbursing Banks to make an exceptionlist as on 1st’ December every year ofthose pensioners who fail to submit theirLife Certificate and issue another SMS/Email to them for submitting the LifeCertificate. The bank in addition will alsoask such pensioners through SMS/Email

from family pension.{ Rule 10 of CCS (Commutation ofPension) Rules, 1981 }

(xi) Paying additional amount ofpension on attaining the age of 80 yearsand above: The additional quantum ofpension/family pension will be paid onattaining the age 80 years and above.Additional pension is paid from the first dayof the month in which a pensioner/familypensioner completes the age of 80 yearsand above. For example, if a pensioner /family pensioner completes the age of 80years in the month of August, 2020, he willbe paid additional pension/family pensionfrom ‘1st day of the month of August, 2020.Bank will not insist for any request /application from pensioners/familypensioners in order to pay additionalpension to them. The quantum ofadditional pension/family pension to thepensioners/fami ly pensioners is asfollows:-

Age of Pensioner Additional quantum of pensionFrom 80 years to less than 85 years 20% of basic pensionFrom 85 years to less than 90 years 30% of basic pensionFrom 90 years to less than 95 years 40% of basic pensionFrom 95 years to less than 100 years 50% of basic pension100 years or more 100% of basic pension (D/o Pension & Pensioners Welfare’s OM No. dated 38/37/08 P&PW(A) dated 2nd September & 3rd October 2008).

as to whether they are interested insubmission of Life Certificate through achargeable door-step service, on anominal charge not exceeding Rs. 60/-. (D/o Pension &Pensioners Welfare’s CircularNo. 12/4/2020-P&PW(C)-6300, dated17.01.2020).

2. All banks are advised to comply with theabove instructions and to give widepublicity by putting up these instructionson their websites and also on the noticeboards of the branches of the bank etc.

3. This issues with the approval of thecompetent authority.

8


ToShri P.K.Purwar,CMD, BSNL,Bharat Sanchar Bhawan,Janpath, New Delhi-110001

Sir, Sub: Procedure for outdoor medical claimfor BSNL employees (Serving/Retired) Ref: Your order No.BSNL/Admn.1/15-12/18dated 8/5/2020 Our letter dated 15/5/2020 on the subject

In continuation of our previous letterreferred above we further submit thefollowing for your consideration with regardto ‘Retired Employees’.

2. Para 2 of your above order refers about‘Retired Employees’ in which three optionswere given. Option a) is CGHS and it isalready available in limited cities in thecountry and those who can afford to payone time subscription have alreadymigrated. For those who could not migratebecause of lack of affordability, BSNL canhave an understanding with CGHS for directpayment to CGHS at a later date. For thosewho have migrated some percentage ofretired employees got the reimbursementbut others are waiting for their turnexpecting fund allotment from corporateoffice. This may kindly be looked into. Wehave nothing more to say about it.

With Voucher3. Option b) says “15 days pay withvouchers” (Basic Pay + DA on the date ofretirement). We feel that it isdiscriminatory because the eligibility forpre-2007 retirees would be less comparedto post-2007 retirees.

4. At the time of introduction of BSNLMRSw.e.f. 24/2/2003 for retired employees,

CHQ LETTER TO CMD ONMEDICAL POLICY OF BSNL

vide your order dated 28/2/2003, theannual ceiling for outdoor treatment withvoucher was last month’s Basic + DA at thetime of retirement. W.e.f. 27/2/2009 videyour order dated 22/10/2009 for pre-2007retirees it was one month Basic + DA andfor post-2007 retirees it was 25 days LPD +DA because they got pay revision from 1/1/2207.

5. It was further modified vide your orderdated 8/9/2010 for with voucher outdoortreatment for post-2007 retirees the annualceiling was 25 days LPD + DA of April forthe financial year for which the claimpertains to. For pre-2007 retirees therewere two options viz. 1) 25 days basic paywhich will be freezed at the minimum ofrevised pay scale + DA applicable in Aprilfor the financial year for which the claimpertains to; 2) 25 days Basic Pay at the timeof retirement + DA of April for the financialyear for which the claim pertains to.

6. Even when expenditure control orderwas issued on 5/9/2011 withdrawing the‘without voucher’ facility from 1/10/2011,the facility of ‘with voucher’ continuedwithout any modifications.

7. Keeping in mind the difficulties of‘Retired Employees’ the facility of ‘withoutvoucher’ was restored only to them videyour order dated 11/4/2017.

8. The ceiling for ‘with voucher’ facility wasreduced w.e.f. 1/4/2018 from 25 days to23 days Basic + DA because of 50% DAmerger amounting 78.2% vide your orderdated 10/7/2018. All the above orders havesome logic or rationale.

9. As per your order dated 3/6/2004 for fivechronic diseases, circle heads wereempowered to waive one months’s Basic + DA.

9


10. But option b) restricting the ceiling to15 days basic + DA at the time ofretirement vide your order dated 8/5/2020has no logic or rationale. Rather it isdiscriminatory. We assume that theexperienced officials have left theorganization on VRS-2019.

Without Voucher11. Further we may draw your kindattention to the facility of ‘withoutvoucher’. The basic order dated 28/2/2003stipulated the annual ceiling to 50% of lastmonth’s basic + DA at the time of retirementwhich will be paid in four equal instalments.

12. As per your order dated 22/10/2009(which was specific to retired employees),w.e.f. 27/2/2009 the ceiling was reviseddifferently to pre-2007 retirees and post-2007 retirees. The ceiling for pre-2007retired employees it was 15 days Basic +DA and for post-2007 retired employees itwas 12-1/2 days Basic + DA.

13. The annual ceiling for ‘without voucher’was further reduced from 50% to 25% ofBasic + DA which took effect from 1/4/2018subject to a minimum of Rs.12000/- p.a.payable in four equal instalments vide yourorder dated 13/7/2018. In option C) of yourorder dated 8/5/2020, the minimum hasbecome the ultimate.

14. You may be well aware about thedifficulties of the retired employees’ plight

and they have to spend more money forhealth-care. Nearly 90% of retiredemployees spend more than Rs.2000/-p.m. for outdoor treatment. Many retiredemployees opted for ‘without voucher’because of difficulties in submitting thebills and following it up since most of themstay away from their last controllingoffices.

15. 8/5/2020 order does not mentionabout date of effect. In the absence ofspecific date of effect, we presume thatthe order is prospective. That is thenormal procedure but some officers at thefield-level may interpret differently.

16. In the light of the above narration, werequest you, sir, to withdraw the orderdated 8/5/2020 because of the infirmities.We also request you, sir, to ensurerequired funds for payment of medicaloutstanding.

A line in reply is solicited.

Thanking youYours faithfully

Copy to:Shri Rajiv Kumar Sharma, DGM (Admn.)

STRANGE WAYS OF BSNL

Several times in the past, BSNL has taken options from pensioners. Options remainon files without benefit reaching the optees. Without allotting funds what is the needof taking options again and again? Some Circles say that if option is not exercisedafresh earlier option will remain valid. Good. Some other circles say that if freshoption is not exercised it is presumed that concerned pensioners want ‘with voucherscheme’. There is no uniformity. It is the duty of Corporate Office to give clearinstructions. They donot respond to repeated requests. In the lockdown days, whenseniors are not allowed to go out, how can BSNL pensioners go and take xeroxcopies of MRS Cards, download the Form and send it? It is nothing but harassingthe seniors. Taking option again without granting funds is nothing but a cruel joke.

10


ToCMD [email protected]

SirSociety dues were recovered from my leave encashment/ex-gratiabut the same is not remitted to the society and unnessarily I ampenalised. The recovered amount has to be remitted within 14days asper Multi State co-operative society act.

Corporate office has not provided the required funds to the circles.

Please provide the required funds immediately and don’t force meto file a case against CMD because non- remittance amounts to“breach of contract”

Yours faithfullyName and place.

ToCMD [email protected],

I retired on …......... on superannuation. GPF contribution recoveredfrom my salary, it seems not remitted to DoT. Hence my GPF wasnot settled in full.It is my savings and BSNL has the obligation to pay me in full atthe time of retirement. Utilising my savings for some other purposeis illegal.Please pay my GPF dues to me without further delay and avoidfacing a litigation.

Yours faithfullyNameHRMS or PPO No

EMAILS SENT BY LARGE NUMBER OF VRSPENSIONERS TO THE CMD, BSNL .

Note: It has worked. On 28-5-2020 most of the Circles received funds for clearing dues to the Co-operative Societies.

11

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


A three-judge Bench of the SupremeCourt on May 26 said there have been“inadequacies and certain lapses” onthe part of the Central and State gov-ernments in dealing with the migrantworkers crisis during the lockdown.The court ordered the Centre and theStates to immediately provide trans-port, food and shelter free of cost tothe stranded migrant workers.

The suo motu cognisance of media reports and representationsfrom senior lawyers to step in to protect the fundamental rightsof the migrant workers was taken by judges in their chambers.The court admitted that the “crisis is even continuing todaywith large sections of migrant labourers still stranded on roads,highways, railway stations and State borders”. Effective con-centrated efforts were required to redeem the situation, it noted.The Bench led by J. Ashok Bhushan said in a written order,“Adequate transport arrangement, food and shelters are imme-diately to be provided by the Centre and the State governmentsfree of cost. Although the Government of India and the Stategovts have taken measures yet there have been inadequaciesand certain lapses”. [news]

On 28-5-2020, the Supeme Court directed the Centre and StateGovts. to transport all migrant workers, willing to go back toheir homes, FREE OF CHARGE by train or bus. Central Govt,through the Solicitor General, submitted that already 91 lakhsworkers have been transported.

Immediately some people (including former Judges) commentedin the social media that : “Supreme Court woke up too late.”

SUPREME COURT STEPS IN

CORONA TOO HAS A BRIGHTER SIDEIn 2018 alone, 151417 people diedin road accidents in India. 12616deaths every month.

UP 22256Maharastra 13261Tamilnadu 12216Karnataka 10990MP 10706

During April-May 2020, underlockdown the number of deathsin road accidents has comedown to less than 500 !

And, COVID19 has taken away4600 lives.Around 5000 in 2 months.

12


Every day, we hear of migrantlabourers walking hundreds of miles,many dying in the process. Thesaddest is the apathy shown by theinstitutions meant to look out for theirinterests. I refer here to the SupremeCourt, which has failed tosatisfactorily acknowledge that thefundamental rights of migrantlabourers have been violated, andignored these workers when theymost needed protection.

In this lockdown, enough and moreevidence points to fundamental rightsof citizens having been grosslyviolated, and especially those ofvulnerable populations like migrantlabourers. But instead of taking onpetitions questioning the situation, theSupreme Court has remainedensconced in its ivory tower, refusingto admit these petitions or adjourningthem. By effectively not granting anyrelief, the Court is denying citizens ofthe most fundamental right of accessto justice, ensured under theConstitution. In doing so, it has letdown millions of migrant workers, andfailed to adequately perform as aconstitutional court.

Today, we find ourselves with aSupreme Court that has time for abillion-dollar cricket administration, orthe grievances of a high-profile

journalist, while studiously ignoringthe real plight of millions of migrants,who do not have either the money orthe profile to compete for preciousjudicial time with other litigants.

At this stage, I must acknowledge thestellar role being played by some HighCourts, even though Governmentshave tried to discourage them ongrounds that since the Supreme Courtis not interfering, High Courts need notdo so either. Atleast four High Courts(Karnataka, Madras, Andhra Pradeshand Gujarat) have started askingquestions about migrant rights. Thisis almost a replay of what happenedduring Emergency, where High Courtsboldly stood up and recognizedviolations, but were overruledeventually by the Supreme Court. TheMadras High Court, for example, hasquashed criminal defamation casesagainst media houses, stating thatdemocracy cannot be throttled thisway. Contrast this with the SupremeCourt’s reaction to the bizarre claimof the Solicitor-General who arguedthat the exodus of workers was dueto fake news, the Court seemed tohave accepted this, and media houseswere advised to report moreresponsibly.

(Excerpts from an article written by JusticeA.P.Shah in Hindu dated 25/5/2020)

Plain speaking by J. A P Shah,former Chief Justice ofMadras, Delhi High Courts

13


On 31-5-2020 the total number of Life Members, based on CHQquota received is 50379. It is an occasion to celebrate. But dueto lockdown situation we cannot celebrate. We observed a greatenthusiasm amongst the VRS pensioners to join our Associationrecognizing its service in the last decade. But for the lockdownwe would have crossed life membership of 50000 in March 2020itself. Nation can not be locked down for ever. These difficultdays will also go. We shall resume our mission with greaterspeed and spirit. During these days, we have lot of leisure time.Branch Secretaries, with the help of some active comrades, canutilize the time gainfully and can prepare a data base of allmembers and new VRS retirees, updating telephone numbers,email etc. Many have android phones. They can float Whatsappgroups adding the number of pensioners having the facility.ONE LAKH MEMBERSHIP IS NOT JUST A DREAM.

P S Ramankutty,President.

P Gangadhara Rao,General Secretary.

14


SUDDEN LOCKDOWNAND

HUMAN EXODUSIN INDIA

We dedicate this issue of E-Journal to crores of migrantworkers in our country, who are the real working class.Lockdown situation and the massive exodus from citiesto the villages has exposed the colossal nature of a prob-lem which many of us, especially the govt., were obliviousof. It is a stupendous task to tackle the issue; not onlytransporting them to their villages now but also rehabili-tating them after the lockdown is withdrawn.

15


IMPACT OF SUDDEN LOCKDOWN

16



17



18


IndiaAssmKeralaOdishaHaryanaPunjabJ& KTelanganaKarnatakaAndhraBiharW. BengalUPMPRajasthanGujarathDelhiTamil NaduMaharastra

Totalcases

18214311851208181919232233234124992922356936365130744578918617

16343185492118465168

Deaths

5164497

20442877486020

309201343193

1007416160

2197

DeathRate2.840.340.750.381.041.971.203.081.641.680.556.022.704.352.246.162.240.763.37

19

Indian Scenario: states with more than 1000 casesas on 31-5-2020

The above data is based on the inputs fromMinsitry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI.


WorldUSABrazilRussiaSpainUKItalyFranceGermanyIndiaTurkey

Total61564281816820499966396575286308272826232664188625183294182143163103

Deaths370918105557288494555

2712538376333402877186005164

4515

Death Rate6.025.805.771.149.47

14.0614.3215.25 4.692.842.76

Above data gives a clear picture.‘Developing’ India has managed corona situationbetter than so-called ‘developed super powers’. Theinfection rate is less. Death rate (of patients) is alsovery less. The Lockdown would have given a betterresult had the ‘Executive’ acted upon effectivelyunderstanding grave situation and the people atlarge behaved in a more responsible manner. A goodsection of our population lacks civic sense.

20

COVID19 CASESWorld Scenario: 31-5-2020

Source: Worldometer

AIBSNLPWA: E JOURNAL 4 21

TWO ANNEXUREDear Comrades,

This is the fourth issue of our EJournal. Since we could not print anddispatch the printed magazines due to lockdown situation we thoughtof releasing some pages as Ejournal for the benefit of our readers.We have done it with limited knowledge, without taking anyprofessional help. We are happy that there is appreciation.

We are attaching two Annexure to this issue of EJournal.

One is a scholarly article penned by Com. D Gopalakrishnan, ourVice President on the impact of privatization of Central Public SectorEnterprises announced by the finance minister. ‘Selling Family Silver’is a phrase used for getting rid of something valuable in order to geta quick advantage when it would be better to keep it for an advantagein the future. Our minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad repeatedlyasserted that only the govt. company BSNL was present intelecommunication sphere during natural calamities. That beingthe fact, we cannot appreciate the decision to sell very strategicareas to the greedy private hands. Even now we see no privateairlines giving free service to transport the NRIs to India. Governmentsmay come and go. Leaders may come and go. But the economy iscontrolled by handful of people. The article deserves a deep study.

Annexure I: Waiting list of Life members.As on 31-5-2020, we have 5901 names of life members to bepublished. If we devote 4 pages in each issue, as being done, it maytake more than an year to publish these names on hand. Againmore will be coming in future days. Hence we have arranged allnames Circle-wise, then SSA wise and given as Annexure. We uploadthe same in our Website also. In future we can do it frequently.Thus we can save 4 pages and a good sum every two months. Wehope all comrades will agree with this proposal.

With regards,

P S Ramankutty, Editor

Documents

[with Two Annexure] · or Indian Railways or ISRO in no way provides any relief to them. On the other hand, privatization of coal fields rubs salt into the wounds of the poor workers