from www.tamil.thehindu.com

ஹரப்பா, மொகஞ்சதாரோ நாகரிகத்தை தொல்பொருள் ஆராய்ச்சியால் கண்டறிவது போல், தற்போதைய நம்மூரு நாகரிகத்தை, அடுத்த இரண்டாயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின்னர் எழுதப்படும் வரலாறு எப்படிப் புரிந்துகொள்ளும் என சிந்தித்துப் பார்த்ததில்...

பொதுச் சொத்துக்களை கொள்ளையடிக்கும் உரிமை அரசாங்கத்திடமே இருந்திருக்கிறது. அப்படி கொள்ளையடிக்க விருப்பமுள்ளவர்களை தேர்வு செய்யும் பொறுப்பு மட்டும் மக்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கொள்ளையர்களை அடையாளம் காண்பதற்காக அவரவர்க்கென தனித்தனி சின்னங்களும் வண்ணக் கொடிகளும் இருந்திருக்கின்றன!

வாகனப் போக்குவரத்து மிகுந்து காணப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. அரசு பேருந்துகளின் படிக்கட்டுகளில் ஊஞ்சலாடியபடி இனிதே பயணிக்கும் முறை இருந்திருக்கிறது. நடத்துநர் என்றழைக்கப்பட்டவர், விசில் என்ற இசைக் கருவியை இசைப்பதில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்றவராக இருந்திருக்கிறார். அவரது இசைக்கேற்ப பேருந்துகள் பயணிகளை ஏற்றி, இறக்கி விட்டபடி இயங்கியிருக்கின்றன!

சமையல் செய்வதற்கென மிக்ஸி, கிரைண்டர் போன்ற சாதனங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தியுள்ளனர். நீர் அருந்தப் பயன்படுத்திய பிளாஸ்டிக்கிலான பாட்டில் முதல், மிக்ஸி கிரைண்டர் வரை அனைத்திலும் ஒரு பெண்மணியின் உருவம் பொறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அந்த உபகரணங்கள் அனைத்தையும் கண்டுபிடித்ததன் காரணமாக அவரின் உருவம் பொறிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கலாம் என வரலாற்று ஆய்வாளர்கள் கருதுகிறார்கள்!

மது என்ற பெயரில் அரசாங்கமே கடைகளில் விஷத்தை விற்றிருக்கிறது. அந்த விஷத்தைக் குடித்ததால் பலர் இறந்துள்ளனர். பல குடும்பங்கள் அனாதையாகியுள்ளன. இருந்தபோதிலும் தங்களுக்கு அதிக வருமானத்தைத் தந்ததால் அந்த விஷத்தை அரசாங்கம் நிறைய விற்றுள்ளது. அதே நேரத்தில் கண் துடைப்புக்காக ‘மது நாட்டுக்கும் வீட்டுக்கும் கேடு’ என்ற வாசகத்தை மட்டும் மதுக்குப்பியில் எழுதி வைத்துள்ளது.

பொதுமக்களில் வயதால் மூத்தவர்கள் மட்டுமே அரசியல் தலைவர்களாக உருவாகியிருக்கிறார்கள். அந்த அரசியல் தலைவர்களின் பிறந்தநாளை கொண்டாடும் வகையில் ஊரெங்கும் சுவர்களில் அவர்களின் பெயர்களையும் உருவத்தையும் வரைந்து, மறக்காமல் அவர்களின் முதுமையை குறிக்கும்வகையில் ‘வாழ்த்த வயதில்லை, வணங்குகிறோம்!’ என்று குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கிறார்கள்!

பிளெக்ஸ்கள், பிளாஸ்டிக்குகள் போன்றவை அக்காலத்தில் நிறைய பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. டன் கணக்கில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட அவை மண்ணில் மக்காமல் கிடந்து உலகின் அழிவுக்கே காரணமாக இருந்திருக்கின்றன.

பொதுமக்கள் சிறுநீர் கழிப்பதற்காக குட்டிக் குட்டி கழிப்பறைகள் அங்கொன்றும் இங்கொன்றுமாக கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன. அவை தவிர, நகரின் முக்கிய வீதிகளில் மூத்திரச் சந்து என்ற திறந்தவெளிப் பகுதியில், எவ்வித நெருக்கடியுமில்லாமல் சிறுநீர் கழிக்கும் வசதி செய்து தந்திருக்கிறார்கள். அப்படி சிறுநீர் கழிக்கும் போது வேடிக்கை பார்ப்பதற்காக கவர்ச்சிப் பட சுவரொட்டிகளை மூத்திரச் சந்தின் சுவரெங்கும் ஒட்டும் முறையும் கையாளப்பட்டிருக்கிறது!

சாலைகளனைத்தும் கருங்கற்களால் கட்டப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. அந்த கருங்கற்களின் மீது, பயணிப்பவர்களை காத்து கருப்பு அண்டக் கூடாதென்பதற்காக தார் என்ற கறுப்பு பொருளை லேசாக தெளித்து வைக்கும் சாஸ்திரம் கடைபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது!

ஒரு பக்கம் பசுமையான விவசாய வியாபாரம் அமோகமாக நடந்து வந்திருக்கிறது. இன்னொரு பக்கத்தில் விவசாய நிலங்களை பல வண்ணங்களில் அழகுபடுத்தி விவசாய நில வியாபாரமும் அமோகமாக நடந்து வந்திருக்கிறது! விவசாய நிலங்களில் வீடு கட்டி, மொட்டை மாடிகளில் தொட்டிச் செடிகளில் விவசாயம் செய்யும் அதிநவீன விவசாயத்தையும் கடைபிடித்து வந்திருக்கிறார்கள்!

ஏரிகள் என்ற பெயரிலான அபாயகரமான நீர் நிறைந்த பள்ளத்தாக்குகளை மேடாக்கி வீடுகள் கட்டவும், அந்த வீடுகள் கட்டும் கற்களுக்காக, மலைகள் என்றழைக்கப்பட்ட மேடான பகுதியை வெட்டியெடுத்து சமப்படுத்துவதும் நடந்து வந்திருக்கிறது!

மக்களின் பொழுதுபோக்குக்காக செல்வந்தர்களால் விலைக்கு வாங்கப்பட்ட அடிமைகள், உருண்டையான பந்து என்ற ஆயுதத்தாலும், பேட் என்றழைக்கப்பட்ட மரத்தினால் செய்யப்பட்ட ஆயுதத்தாலும் மோதிக்கொள்ளும் விளையாட்டு நடைமுறையிலிருந்தது. அவர்களில் யார் ஜெயிப்பார்கள் தோற்பார்களென பந்தயம் கட்டும் முறையும் இருந்து வந்திருக்கிறது!

....வத்திராயிருப்பு தெ.சு.கவுதமன்

Strike on 02 09 2015

COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER STANDS

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS REASSERT THE CALL FOR UNITED ACTION

MARCH AHEAD UNITEDLY, MAKE THE COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2^ND SEPTEMBER A MASSIVE SUCCESS

After two rounds of discussion between the Group of Ministers and the central trade unions on the 12-point charter of demands of the trade unions held on 26^th and 27^th August 2015, the GoM headed by Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley sent an appeal through the press release dated 27-08-2015 (Press Information Bureau) after 10 pm urging upon the trade unions to reconsider the call for countrywide general strike on 2^nd September 2015 claiming that the Govt has given concrete assurance to consider most of the demands  of the trade unions and that the trade unions agreed to consider the Govt’s proposals. Similar appeal was also made in the meeting of 27^th August.  Both the claims of the Govt are totally incorrect.   

To put the facts straight, the joint platform of central trade unions have been pursuing with successive governments at the centre with their basic demands since 2009 and observed three rounds of countrywide general strike since 2010, the last being for two days in February 2013. In the two rounds of meeting between the CTUOs and the Group of Minister, nothing transpired in concrete terms except vague statements by the ministers on steps to be taken or being taken on some of the issues, that too not in the right direction.

The Govt’s press release mentioned, inter alia, certain issues in support of their unfounded claim.

1.    The Govt stated about “appropriate legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable” for all. But despite concrete pointers made by the trade unions that such formula should be what has already been unanimously  recommended by the 44^th Indian Labour Conference in 2012 and again reiterated by 46^th Indian Labour Conference in July 2015 in which the Govt of India is also a party,  the Ministers did not give any concrete commitment on the same. In fact said formulae recommended by 44^th ILC in 2012 and reiterated by 46^th ILC in July 2015, makes minimum wage around Rs 20000/- at 2014 price level and the Trade Unions demanded only Rs 15,000/. The Ministers’ vague formulation does not ensure even half of that. Is such a position worth consideration?    

2.    On contract workers, the Govt assured that they will be guaranteed minimum wages. What is there to assure except spreading deliberate confusion?  Existing laws of the land lawfully ensures payment of minimum wages to contract workers. The Govt’s statement regarding “sector specific minimum wages for the contract workers” also does not make any sense. The trade unions demanded “same wages and other benefits as regular workers in the concerned industry/establishment to be paid to contract workers.” The 43^rd Indian Labour Conference held in 2011 recommended the same and 46^th ILC unanimously reiterated the same in 2015, in which, again, the present Govt is a party. How could they deny the unanimous recommendation of the highest tripartite forum in the country like Indian Labour Conference?

3.    The steps taken by the Govt on Labour Law amendments, are meticulously designed to throw out more than 70% of the workers on industries and other establishments from the purview and coverage of almost all basic labour laws and also to eliminate almost all components/provisions of rights and protections of the workers. This was supplemented by more aggressive steps already taken by a good number of state governments to already amend the labour laws in the similar lines. On this issue, the Govt stated only that they will hold tripartite consultation before taking such steps.  The trade unions demanded scrapping of such proposals by the central govt and also not to give assents (through President) to the unilateral amendments made by the state governments. Even in all the tripartite consultations held on some of the proposals of the Govt, the trade unions’ unanimous suggestions has been ignored by the Govt in favour of loud supportive applauds of the employers. Once these retrograde changes in labour laws totally dismantling the rights and protection measures for the workers and also throwing more that 70% of the workers out of the purview of labour laws are enacted, thereby rendering the almost entire working people a right-less entity in their workplace, what would ensure even payment of minimum wage and other social security benefits for them, even if those provisions are improved ?  Can any trade union, worth its name accept such a machination designed to impose conditions of virtual slavery on the working people ?

4.    Despite repeated insistence by all the trade unions, the Govt refused to concede to the demand for recognizing  the Scheme workers, viz., Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, ASHA, Para-teachers and others as “worker” with attendant rights of statutory minimum wages and other benefits in gross violation of the unanimous recommendation of the 45^th Indian Labour Conference in 2013, reiterated again by the 46^th ILC  in 2015. These workers and all the schemes have been put to further crisis threatening their existance owing to drastic cut in budgetary allocations for those schemes. In such a situation, does the assurance of the Govt to “extend social security measures” and “working out ways” for the same carry any meaning?

5.    On bonus issue, the Govt has assured to revise the eligibility and calculation ceiling to Rs 21000/- and Rs 7000/- respectively from existing Rs 10000/- and Rs 3500/-. Trade Unions’ demand has been that since there is no ceiling on profit, all ceilings in the Payment of Bonus Act should be removed altogether. Trade unions also demanded substantial upward revision of the formula for gratuity calculation and remove the ceiling on gratuity payment. The Govt has negated the demands.

6.    On price rise situation, claim of the Govt that it has gone down does not match with ground reality in respect of commodities for daily necessities of the common people. The demands of the trade unions for putting a ban on speculation/forward trading in essential commodities and services along with universalisation of public distribution system throughout the country have been totally ignored.

7.    Trade Unions demanded stoppage of disinvestment in public sector undertakings playing crucial and supportive role in advancement of the national economy. Govt totally ignored the same, rather has been going on aggressively in disinvestment route  in all the major PSUs much to the detriment of the interest of the country’s economy.  On the demands for stoppage of further FDI in defence, railways and financial sector, the stance of the Govt is continuing to be a total denial. Rather, the Govt has been aggressively pursuing deregulation and privatization in strategic sectors like electricity, Port & Docks, Airports etc in a big way.

There are other issues as well, statement of Govt continued to be totally vague and their claim is unfounded. How can anybody, rather any trade union worth its name can consider above stands taken by the Govt on vital demands of the workers as a positive development and move out from the programme of united strike action ?

Therefore, there is absolutely no reason for reconsidering the decisions of the Central Trade Unions for countrywide general strike on 2^nd September 2015. Rather, the situation demands that there should be no vascillation in carrying forward the call for general strike on 2^nd September 2015 throughout the country in all sectors of the economy with firm determination.

The Central Trade Unions appeal to all working people irrespective of affiliations to make the call for countrywide general strike against the anti-worker, anti-people policies of Govt a massive success.

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                        Tapan Sen

Strike to be Postponed...?

Strike on 2nd Sep, 2015: Govt assured on Bonus enhancement, Wages formula and Union agreed to reconsider the proposed strike:

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Labour & Employment

27-August-2015 21:05 IST

Inter Ministerial Committee Holds Wider Consultations with Trade Unions on Charter of Demands Appeals to Reconsider Proposed Call for Strike in View of Discussions

The Second meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) continued discussion on 12 Demands Charter of Trade Unions for the second day here today in continuation of discussions held yesterday. The Committee comprises Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, MoS(IC) Labour and Employment, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MOS(IC) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Jitendra Singh, MoS DOPT, and Shri Piyush Goel, MoS (IC),Power. 

During the discussions Trade Unions expressed concern and asked for clarifications on their demands. Addressing their concerns and expectations, the Finance Minister explained policies on which the Government is working and assured that the Government is committed to welfare of labour. Underlining the importance of role of Trade Unions, Shri Jaitely assured the Central Trade Unions that all labour laws reforms will be done with due discussions and tripartite consultations.

In view of the discussions held in conducive and cordial atmosphere, the IMC appealed to Trade Unions to reconsider the proposed call for strike on 2nd September, 2015.The Trade Unions have agreed to consider the appeal.

In view of the suggestions given by Central Trade Unions in the meetings held on 19th July, 26th August and 27th August, 2015, the Government assured the following :

1. Appropriate legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable to all employees across the country.

2. For the purposes of bonus the wage eligibility limit and calculation ceiling would be appropriately revised. Earlier in 2006-07 the calculation ceiling was decided at Rs.3500/- and eligibility limit was wage of Rs.10,000/- per month which is proposed to be revised to Rs.7,000 and Rs.21,000 respectively.

3. The Government is expanding the coverage of social security and working out ways to include construction workers, Aanganwari workers ,ASHA workers and Mid Day Meal workers.

4. Regarding contract workers the Government assured that they will be guaranteed minimum wages. Moreover, the Government is working out ways so that workers of industries will get sector specific minimum wages.

5. Government has already enhanced minimum pension for EPFO members and every pensioner gets minimum pension of Rs.1000/- per month perpetually.

6. Labour laws reforms will be based on tripartite consultations as already stated by the Prime Minister. The States are also being advised to follow the tripartite process.

7. For strict adherence to labour law enforcement, advisory has been issued to the State/UT Governments and strict monitoring has been initiated by Central Government.

8. For employment generation Mudra Yojana, Make in India, Skill India and National Career Service Portal initiatives have been taken.

9. Abolition of interviews for all primary jobs which do not require any special knowledge/expertise, is being done for transparency and expediting the process of recruitment.

10. Inflation is lowest in the last many years excepting two items onion and pulses. Government is taking necessary steps to contain the higher prices of these two commodities also.

It was further clarified that there is no ban on filling up of vacancies in Government jobs and all concerned Departments are taking necessary action to fill-up these vacancies. It was further assured that the Government is committed to job security, wages security and social security to the workers. The issue of equal wages for equal work for contract workers is an issue requiring wider consultations and a committee will be constituted, if required.

(courtesy: www.sapost.blogspot.in)

from www.fnpo.org

1. MMS cadre re-structuring almost finalised.

2. Driver recruitment rule for Gr-1,Gr-2 and Gr-3 approved by law ministry.Hindi translation pending.

3. PA/SA recruitment investigation is going on. It may take time to arrive at a decision.

4. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the extension of the the term of the 7th Central Pay Commission by four months up to 31.12.2015. 

7th Pay Commission...

(from www.sapost.blogspot.in....)

New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission, headed by justice A.K. Mathur, has sought a one-month extension from the finance ministry and is preparing to submit its report by the end of September. The commission is unlikely to recommend the lowering of the retirement age as rumoured earlier or push for lateral entry and performance-based pay.

The commission, set up once in every 10 years to review pay, allowances and other benefits for central government employees, was appointed by the previous government on 28 February 2014 and was asked to submit its report in 18 months, which falls on 31 August.

“There are some data points that are missing, which we hope to get by this month end. We are trying to submit the report by 20 September,” an official of the commission said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Sixth Pay Commission had submitted its report a little ahead of its deadline on 24 March 2008. The revised pay scales were implemented retrospectively starting 1 January 2006, while recommendations relating to allowances were implemented prospectively.

The finance ministry apprehends that salary and pension expenditure will both rise by around 16% in 2016-17 as a result of the implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations. This may allow capital expenditure to grow by no more than 8% during the year, leaving little room to aggressively push for an infrastructure build-up.

“The Pay Commission impact may have to be absorbed in 2016-17. The phase of consolidation, extended by one year, will also be spanning out in this period. Thus, in the medium-term framework, the fiscal position will continue to be stressed,” the finance ministry said in the 2015-16 budget presented in February.

The official cited earlier said the Pay Commission report needs to be effective from 1 January 2016, or by April 2016 at the latest.

“It will be the government’s prerogative when to implement it. But beyond 1 January 2016, there will be arrears. But then, the government will be subject to criticism. Earlier, they had hidden behind Pay Commissions giving late reports,” he added.

However, the official said the commission is likely to maintain the status quo on the retirement age of central government employees, currently 60 years. “We are not going to either recommend lowering or raising the retirement age. If we lower the age limit, the pension burden will bust the government’s medium-term fiscal targets,” he added.

Asked whether government has sent any directives to the commission on the kind of hike it can afford, the official said the message it has got broadly is to keep the hikes low. “Merge the basic with dearness allowance, don’t stretch it beyond—that is the message. But that is a good message for the government to send. But there is no pressure otherwise. In fact, there is a lot of cooperation,” he said.

The official said merging basic pay with dearness allowance, which is mandatory, would itself mean a 155% rise for central government employees. “We have to decide how much to give above that. So, it will look good if you compare basic to basic,” he added.

On whether the commission will recommend performance-based pay bands, he said it will make some feasible recommendations, though he couldn’t guess if the government would accept them. The Sixth Pay Commission had also recommended performance-based pay revisions, but the government is yet to implement them.

“Eighty-eight percent of central government employees are industrial and non-industrial workers working with railways, post, paramilitary and army. So, performance-based pay revision is the wrong instrument for them. Biggest growth in government services is in paramilitary forces, where staffs in Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force have gone up by 75-80% in the last 10 years. By the time we have dealt with them, the bureaucracy is an afterthought. It does not affect anything,” he added.

D.K. Joshi, chief economist at rating agency Crisil Ltd, said the government is expected to be restrained in its pay hikes this time around, given the low inflation level and tepid growth momentum. “The last two Pay Commissions had significantly bumped up demand and fiscal deficit. But the government is unlikely to be populist this time. It has already showed restraint in the hike in minimum support prices for farmers,” he said.

However, Joshi said the Pay Commission will have a permanent income effect as well as a one-time impact through the payment of arrears, which will lead to increase in demand for consumer durables.

Source : http://www.livemint.com/

for info...

7th CPC Report...

7th pay commission report will be delayed by one Month:

National Council JCM Staff Side

No. NC/JCM/VII(CPC)

Dated: August 7, 2015

All Constituents Organizations,
National Councii(JCM)(Staff Side)

Sub: Brief of the meeting held today with the VII CPC

Today morning I met the Chairman, Seventh Central Pay Commission, Shri Ashok Kumar Mathur and Secretary, Mrs. Meena Agarwal.

It was assumed that the report of the VII CPC, as was promised for 28th August this year, may be delayed by one month.

I have impressed upon him once again for improvement in the service conditions of all the Central Government Employees working in different sectors with special emphasis in the matter of fixation of Minimum Wage and other benefits.

This is for your information.

Secretary Staff Side NC/JCM.

(Courtesy: www.fnpo.org)