One more Postal Working Class Association is supported by NFPE
–
ALL INDIA
Steering Committee formed :
All India
All India
D.K.Rahate T.Narasimhan K.Ragavendran
Chariman Vice
Chairman
General Convener
[Mobile
*******
Circular No.01/2013 Dated
23-09-2013
FORMATION OF
ALL INDIA
Dear Comrades / Friends / Colleagues,
We the Pensioners of the
Postal Department are the largest segment of Central Government Pensioners next
only to Railways and Defense. But we are one of the poorly organised sections
of Pensioners amongst the CG Employees. This contradiction is to be taken very
seriously considering the historical facts that it was only the movement of
Postal Workers brought the first introduction of Social Security to native
Government Employees in India
History of Pension
The Indian Postal System was
established in 1854. There was no pension at that time to anyone. Following the
1871 Paris Commune revolution by the working class of Paris
in France that resulted in
the capture of administrative power of Paris India
In the year 1880, the
Postmen staff of Pune
City India
Again the victory of working
class in forming its own government in Soviet Union
in 1917 terrified the European Governments. In that background the British
Government introduced a scheme of Limited Pension to native Government
Employees replacing the CPF. But there was discrimination between a Class III
employee and a Class IV employee in payment of pension. It was again the
historic 20 days strike of Postmen Staff called by the legendary leader
V.G.Dalvi and supported by many legendary leaders like Dada Ghosh that ended
the discrimination between a Class III and a Class IV employee as well as paved
way for constitution of Ist CPC also that recommended Family Pension. But the
Family Pension was introduced only for a period of 10 years. The 1960 Strike by
CG Employees spearheaded by the Postal Workers ensured the payment of Family
Pension for life. After 1968 Strike the CCS Pension Rules 1972 came into effect
and even today we are governed by that rules only for payment of Pension except
for those who were recruited on or after 1.1.2004. Several attempts of the
Government to dilute and weaken the pension was averted by the milestone
judgment of the Supreme Court of India in the famous Nakra Case delivered on 17th December,
1982.
Liberalisation attacking
Social Security
However the advent of LPG
polices started attacking the Pension and other Social Security measures. Even
before the enactment of PFRDA Bill, the Government introduced New Pension
Scheme for employees recruited from 1.1.2004. Now both the Houses of the
Parliament adopted the PFRDA Bill with both UPA and the main opposition NDA
supporting the notorious bill. Only the Left Parties opposed stoutly in the
Parliament but the Government went ahead with the enactment. There will be no
guarantee for any minimum Pension even under the NPS and way has been paved for
the entry of FDI in the Pension Fund. The future of the entirety of CG
Employees and the existing Pensioners is thus in danger. In addition to this,
the L P G policies are attacking the medical facilities of the Pensioners also.
The Government is considering withdrawal from its commitment to the medical
needs of the Pensioners slowly. Even the recommendations of the Pay Commissions
are diluted by Government Orders and Pensioners are forced to knock the doors
of various Courts of the land for justice.
Need of the Hour
The attack on the rights of
the Pensioners is not isolated. It is part and parcel of the attack on the
entire working class. However, it is a fact that several Organizations of the
Pensioners in the country, which are consistently taking up the issues of Pensioners,
could not succeed in halting the attacks on Social Securities. The reason is
the inherent weakness of the Pensioners Organizations to mobilize and organize
the pensioners totally. At a rough estimate we can say that more than 80% of
Pensioners are unorganised and scattered and remain oblivious to the grave
threat to their own pension and social security.
This situation has to be
remedied urgently. It will be possible only by taking two steps. First, the
Postal and RMS Pensioners, which is one of the largest contingent of Government
Pensioners are to be brought under an Organization in all States and Districts.
Secondly, all Central Government Pensioners Organisations on one hand and the
entirety of Pensioner Organisations in the country representing Central, State
Government, Teachers, PSUS and other departments shall come under one platform
to defend the hard won rights of Pension and Social Security.
It is specifically in this
background, we are starting this All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association
with the confidence that we shall be able to bring most of the Postal
Pensioners into our fold. We resolve to work under the NCCPA [National
Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations] led by Comrade
R.L.Bhattacharjee [Chairman] and senior most leader Comrade S.K.Vyas [Secretary
General].
NFPE Supporting the
formation
We thank the Secretary General NFPE Comrade M.Krishnan in particular and the entire NFPE organisation in general for their support extended to us in our endeavour. The NFPE Secretary General has called upon the whole NFPE Organisation to help us to build the Pensioners Organisation. We are immensely thankful to the Secretary General NFPE and all other General Secretaries of NFPE Organizations. We are strengthened very much by the stand of the NFPE and we are looking forward a leap in membership of our AIPRPA [All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association] by the support extended by NFPE, because the entire leadership of the Postal Trade Union of NFPE will be reaching out the unorganised Pensioners on our behalf.
We thank the Secretary General NFPE Comrade M.Krishnan in particular and the entire NFPE organisation in general for their support extended to us in our endeavour. The NFPE Secretary General has called upon the whole NFPE Organisation to help us to build the Pensioners Organisation. We are immensely thankful to the Secretary General NFPE and all other General Secretaries of NFPE Organizations. We are strengthened very much by the stand of the NFPE and we are looking forward a leap in membership of our AIPRPA [All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association] by the support extended by NFPE, because the entire leadership of the Postal Trade Union of NFPE will be reaching out the unorganised Pensioners on our behalf.
We seek the support of other Federations
We the Pensioners should
have no difference into which trade union organisation he or she had served
while in service. Similarly we have not to see any differences as to whether a
Postal Pensioner was an employee or an officer. All are Postal Pensioners and a
distinct class. We shall all work together to reach out all the unorganised
pensioners and enrol them into our organisation. We therefore seek the support
of the FNPO and BPEF Federations also in our endeavour.
All India
We have resolved to
function as a Steering Committee with each representative for each Postal Circle India India
Chairman: Com.
D.K.Rahate [Ex-NFPE President] [Mobile: 09821031375]
Vice-Chairman: Com.
T.Narasimhan [Vice-President Confederation] [0940056969]; &
General Convenor: Com.
K.Ragavendran [Ex-Secretary General NFPE] [09444919295]
Formation of State / Division / District
Committees:
A State level Postal & RMS Pensioners
Association is already functioning in Delhi State
According to the conditions
and feasibility, the formation at lower levels can be either as a Divisional
one or as a District one. If already Postal & RMS Comrades are functioning
as a District formation and want to continue as such, there is no problem. The
All India Steering Committee will help in the formation of State level Steering
Committees, which in turn will help forming District level or Divisional level
Steering Committees with Postal & RMS Pensioners.
With our hectic efforts to
enrol membership in the base level organisations, Divisional or District
Conferences shall be organised to form the new organisation at the base level
before November, 2013. The existing District or Divisional level Postal &
RMS Pensioners Associations need not hold any Conferences if not due according
to their own calendar, but they will organise their GB Meeings to take the
decision to merge with the All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association to
facilitate formation of State Organisation in a State Conference / Convention
to be held before the end of 31st December, 2013. The Special
Conference at the All India level will be held either in January or February
2014.
Let us commence our gigantic
task.
Let us reach out all
unorganised Postal Pensioners
With regards,
Comradely
Yours
K.Ragavendran
General Convenor
Reproduced from:www.postalpensioners.blogspot.in
