Campaign green by Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha

Planted saplings in different schools during monsoon

Ludhiana: 20th August 2019: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

At the initiative of Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha  (BJGVJ)  Ludhiana as per its tradition every year, planted saplings in different schools with the cooperation of Sat Guru Ram Singh Polytechnic College for Girls, this year also. The schools in which plantation has been done include Govt. Sr. Sec. School Gobind Nagar, Govt. Sr. Sec. School Cemetery  Road, Govt. Sr. Sec. School Sekhewal and Govt. High School Salem Tabri Ludhiana. Staff of different schools, who took part in this plantation drive include Principal Meenu Adya, Deputy DEO Sh.Anil Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, Prncipal Aruna Goyal, Sukhdev Chandel, Davinder Gupta, Principal Naresh Kumar, Varinder and Archana Kohli. From BJGVJ Sh.Ranjit Singh – Retd. Principal & President and M S Bhatia–Org. Secretary participated. Principal M P Singh and Er.S.P Singh from Polytechnic College extended full support to the cause. 

A campaign to save the environment by Parwaaz

Drive initiated by the Income Tax Department

Ludhiana: 5th June 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

A campaign to save the environment, by way of Green Plastic Initiative Plantation Drive initiated by the Income Tax Department,  has started bearing fruits. This time, NGO Parwaaz in association with Indian National Bar Association (INBA), Delhi has taken an initiative under the able guidance of Mr. Rohit Mehra, Additional Commissioner, I.R.S. Income Tax of planting 500 saplings on the boundary walls of the Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana, on the occasion of World Environment Day. 

The saplings were planted by the faculty and office staff of PURC along with Mr. Rohit Mehra and his wife Geetanjali Mehra. Many young victims video volunteers were seen taking part in the activity of making the premises green with such vertical gardens on the walls.

Parwaaz is a non- profit organisation that was established in 2017 by Anadi Kant, a student of Purc pursuing law and is helped by Isha Dhawan, his Co- trustee. It is a youth oriented and youth driven organisation.

Protest by UFBU against IBA’s meager offer of 2% hike

From November, 2017, IBA did not call

Ludhiana: 8th May 2018: (M.S. Bhatia//Punjab Screen)::

On the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), bank Workmen and Officers are holding massive demonstrations opposing IBA’s meager offer of 2% hike and demanding Expedited & Adequate Wage Revision. As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit:Ludhiana) held a massive demonstration  in front of  State Bank of India, Fountain Chowk, Ludhiana. Com. Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions, Com. J.P.Kalra, President State Bank of India Officers Association, Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees” Federation,  Com. J S Mangat, Dy. General Secretary, State Bank of India Officers’ Association, Com. Iqbal Singh Malhi, Dy. General Secretary, SBI Staff Association, Com. K K Khullar, Regional Secretary,  SBI Staff Association, Com. Gurmeet Singh and Com. Chiranjeev Joshi from AIBOA addressed the bank employees.      

While addressing the bank employees, leaders of  United Forum of Bank Unions said that  you are aware that in view of the impending expiry of 10th Bipartite wage settlement/officer wage revision as at the end of October, 2017, the Government had been sending their directive to Banks as early as from 12-1-2016 advising the Banks and Indian Banks Association to commence the wage negotiations and conclude the same not later than November, 2017 when the revised settlement will become due.  There have been several reminders from the Government to the IBA in this regard.

With the same intention to expedite the wage revision settlement, we had submitted our charter of demands to the IBA as early as May, 2017 with a request to negotiate and resolve the demands before November, 2017.  IBA also assured they would endeavour to complete the discussion and conclude the settlement before November, 2017. Even though the discussions by IBA with the UFBU commenced in May, 2017 and even though 15 rounds of negotiations have been held by IBA with the Unions so far, IBA, one pretext or the other, had been avoiding to make any offer in regard to increase in wages. Discussions have been held only on other service conditions but IBA did not make any offer on wage revision.  

From November, 2017, IBA did not call for any meeting to discuss our demands. In this frustrating background, we met the Hon Finance Minister on 21-11-2017. The IBA re-commenced the discussions with UFBU and another round of talks were held after a period of 6 months.

While we were expecting a reasonable offer from the IBA to make a basis for further negotiations, to our surprise and utter disappointment, IBA made an offer of 2% hike in the Wage Bill as on 31-3-2017.  In the last settlement from 2012 to 2017, it was agreed at 15% hike in wage bill.  Since then the banks’ business have grown, workload on employees and officers have increased beyond tolerable limit and hence it was expected that wage revision will be better than last time. 

To substantiate their offer, IBA stated that the financial position of our Banks is not conducive to offer better wage revision and that the Banks profits have been eroded in the recent years. It is well-known that all the Banks have been earning more Operating Profits year after year.

Rs in Crore.

The net profits are getting reduced only due to huge provisions for bad loans and not due to any reasons attributable to the employees and officers of the Banks. Hence denying reasonable wage revision for the bank employees and officers on this count is unfair.

At this hour, we feel that the wage revision demands of bank employees should be settled expeditiously so that the entire workforce in the Banks can concentrate their time and energy in addressing the multiple challenges facing our Banks and to restore the confidence of the people on our Banks.  But the approach of the IBA in attempting to victimise the bank employees and officers with merger wage revision despite best contributions being extended by them in the present trying situation will only result in serious industrial unrest in the Banks and dislocation of banking services.

Hence we expect from IBA to adequately increase their offer and come forward to resolve our demands without precipitation.

The campaign of CPI candidates gears up

Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 3:24 PM

Frontal race in all seats which they are contesting

Ludhiana: 19th February 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The CPI candidates Randhir Singh Dhira from ward no.78, Ajit Chaursia from ward no.95 and Sanjay Kumar from Ward no.94 are in the frontal race in all the three seats. In addition two candidates Kulwant Kaur from ward no.7 and Rajvinder Kaur from ward no.22 who have CPI support but are contesting as independent are in up front in the election race. They modus operandi of campaign has been door to door and corner meetings. Women are actively participating in the campaign in all the five seats. The theme campaign of the candidates is clean drinking water and sewerage for all the population, government dispensaries in each ward, low cost medicine shops in each ward, affordable quality education for every citizen, affordable residential facilities, cheap houses for the economically weaker sections, sport facilities and play grounds in every ward, park in every mohalla, planned residential colonies, good roads, proper maintenance of street & traffic lights with solar penal. Over bridges for crossing for pedestrians with ISBT as first priority, flyovers in all crowded crossings & railway crossings, easy approach to major hospitals, cleaning of Budha Nalla through Satljut Action Plan, law & order, security for women particularly girls students & women employees, working women’s hostels, end to land mafia, sand mafia, cable mafia, parking mafia, separate focal point for small scale industries, security for traders, stream lining of auto rickshaws, vending zones for rehri pharies, bring transparency in the functioning of the municipal corporation and for this make all activities digital and available on website, to check stray animals.  

Demand for withdrawal of anti people banking reforms

Central Bank of India employees union organised signature campaign

Ludhiana: 14 January 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::  

The Central Bank of India Employees Union (North Zone) and Central Bank Officers Union (Chandigarh Zone) jointly organized a special signature camp as a part of campaign launched by All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), outside the Central Bank of India at Nizam Road, Ludhiana. It is worth mentioning that this campaign has been launched against the so-called reforms of banks, which will make the common people very distressed. Under this campaign, the public is being made aware about the privatization of the banks. This campaign will continue till January 20. Under this campaign five lakh signatures from Punjab and one crore from across the country will be obtained and mass petition will be presented to hon’ble speaker of Lok Sabha. The customers associated with the banks, as well as the common people, are supporting this campaign by giving a huge response. About one thousand people signed the petition during the camp. 

The leaders who led the campaign in Ludhiana include Comrade Rajesh Verma, General Secretary, Comrade MS Bhatia  - Regional Secretary Central Bank of India Employees Union (North Zone), Comrade Gurmeet Singh - Deputy General Secretary and  Comrade Sunil Grover  Regional Secretary - Central Bank Officers Union (Chandigarh Zone). Members from all the branches of Ludhiana participated in the camp. During this camp, the public asked many questions about banking reforms, which were replied by the organizers. 

The petition this regard includes demand for withdrawal of the FRDI Bill, which is frightening the general public. At the same time, there was a demand for stern action against defaulters who were taking big loans and looting public money. It was demanded that the burden of such loan defaulters should not be imposed on the general public by increasing various service charges. It was also demanded that regular banking services should not be out sourced to private contractors.  Similarly, there was opposition to the handing over of regional rural banks to private sectors. Rate of interest on the bank deposits should be increased and be exempted from income tax. More loans should be given for employment generation projects and to agriculture sector.  

Join the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

Mon, Dec 25, 2017 at 5:40 PM

India should take initiative to convince nuclear weapons states 

IDPD DELEGATION IN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CEREMONY

Ludhiana: 25th December 2017: (Punjab Screen team)::

Time has come now for all the nuclear weapons possessing countries to join the TREATY PROHIBITING NUCLEAR WEAPONS (TPNW) and phase out these weapons of mass destruction to save earth. This was said by Dr Arun Mitra – Co President IPPNW while addressing a seminar on Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN – Tasks Ahead at Circuit House, Ludhiana today. Large number of people from different walks of life including doctors, teachers, lawyers, women, students, youth and social activists participated in this seminar organized jointly by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and Social Thinkers Forum.   

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A seven member delegation from Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) from different parts of the country  including Dr Arun Mitra -  Co President International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Dr S S Soodan-President, Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh-Senior Vice President, Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman-General Secretary, Dr Jeetendra Singh-Secretary of IDPD, Dr Bibha Singh and Dr Yahya Khan    participated in the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in Oslo, Norway  on 10th December 2017. Expressing joy at the award as a recognition to the anti nuclear movement said Dr Arun Mitra that it is time to not just rejoice the award, but for commitment to work hard to make all the nine nuclear weapons states join the treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons (TPNW) passed by the UN General Assembly by 122 vs one vote on 7th July 2017. The ICAN was launched as a group of various peace movements around the world on 23rd April 2007 as an idea conceived by the IPPNW to build a broad based movement for nuclear disarmament. It now has 468 partners with IDPD as one of them. Various researches have shown that even a limited nuclear war using 100 Hiroshima sized bombs will put 2 billion people at the risk of starvation and death. Total number of nuclear weapons on earth at present is estimated to be about 17000 which can put all the flora and fauna at the risk of extinction. Such catastrophic effects must not be allowed and therefore the nuclear weapons must be abolished for good. For this the ICAN has organised several civil society meets around the world on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. This ultimately convinced the UNO to discuss the issue and succeeded in getting the TPNW through.

It is imperative that there should not be any escalation of tension in Indian subcontinent and all efforts should be undertaken to maintain the peace in the region. Any small arms low level conflict has in it implicit danger of use of nuclear weapons because both India and Pakistan have over 120 nuclear weapons each. The IDPD has reiterated commitment for a nuclear weapon free world.   Click here to see more pics on FB

Dr N S Bawa said that India should take initiative and convince all the nuclear weapon states to join TPNW. He further narrated the harrowing images of mass destruction he had seen during his visit to Hiroshima peace museum.

M S Bhatia–Co Convener Social Thinkers Forum called up all the participants in the seminar to spread this message.

S.Ranjit Singh–President Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha gave vote of thanks.

Others who joined the seminar are Dr Shakti Kumar, Dr Jaswinder Singh, Dr Tejinder Toor, Dr Gursharan Singh, Dr Gurcharan Kaur Kochar, Student leader Deepak Kumar, Gurnam Gill, Gurnam Sidhu, Jagdish Rai Bobby, Swaroop Singh, Vijay Kumar, B S Walia, Avtar Chibbar.

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For more details please contact:M S Bhatia–Co Convener Social Thinkers Forum. His mobile number is: 9988491002

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Unconcerned, Casual and Callous Attitude alleged

Central Bank Employees Criticized Bank Management 

Ludhiana: 17th October 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The employees and officers of Central Bank of India in large number staged a demonstration against the management to press for their long outstanding demands. This was held in front of the Regional Office of the bank situated at Ferozepur road Ludhiana. Their demands include immediate appointment of the wards of the members who died in harness which are about 200 in number and  lingering for the last two years. The second major demand is recruitment of  all the officers  and clerks allocated  by IBPS. This demonstration is part of the all india agitation call given by All India Central Bank Employees Federation and All India Central Bank Officers Association. Speakers told that the compassionate appointment scheme has been reintroduced in the banks from 5th August 2014 after a long persuation by our apex body AIBEA. Only 7 or 8 substaff members have been given appointment, whereas around 200 appointments are kept pending  for the last more than 2 years. Similarly recently IBPS has allocated around 1860 single window operators, around 500 AFO’s and around 300 PO’s  at the request of Central Bank Management. Bank has preferred to appoint very less number of employees and officers contrary to the need of the branches, leaving the majority of the vacancies unfilled. The leaders criticized the unconcerned attitude of the central office management towards the family meembers of the deceased employees. They declared that if the demands are not fulfilled then there will be one day strike on 7th December 2017. The leaders who addressed included Com. Rajesh Verma-- President, Com. M S Bhatia- Regional Secretary of Central Bank Of India Employees Union ( North Zone) and Com. Gurmeet Singh- Deputy General Secretary and Com. Sunil Grover- Regional Secretary, Central Bank Officers Union( Chd. Zone). The unions are affiliated to AIBEA and AIBOA.

Declare nuclear weapons illegal-IDPD

Ludhiana Seminar urged India and Pakistan 

Ludhiana: 6th August 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

Nuclear weapons biggest public health hazard- Opportunity to prevent now Indian and Pakistan urged to support the UN treaty declaring nuclear weapons illegal

People from all walks of life including doctors, lawyers, teachers, women, youth, students and trade unionists etc. at a seminar held at Circuit House, Ludhiana today through a unanimously adopted resolution called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to join the United Nations Treaty legally binding the nations to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination. The UN resolution adopted by 122 votes in favour and only one against declared the nuclear weapons possession, development, sale, keeping them on launch as illegal. This is a big step forward towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons from earth. Ironically the nuclear weapon states did not join the deliberations.

Addressing the seminar Dr Arun Mtira – Senior Vice President IDPD said that the tiny atomic bombs (as per the standards of the present day nuclear weapons) killed around 140,000 people in Hiroshima and nearly 70,000 in Nagasaki and roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. Out of 300 doctors 272 died; 1684 of 1780 died and 42 of 45 hospitals were destroyed. There was complete lack of medical care. High dose of radiations added to the woes. It is assumed that there are nearly 17000 nuclear weapons on earth today which are enough to destroy all the flora and fauna several times over. A hypothetical study named  “Bombing Bombay”  by M. V. Ramana, a physicist who works at the Nuclear Futures Laboratory and the Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University, reveals that even a small bomb, such as the one used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, would kill from 150,000 to 800,000 (8 lakh) people. Up to 2,000,000 (20 lakh) people would be injured. Besides this there would be large amount of collateral damage causing chaos all around.  The radiation effect will last for many years to come.

Dr Balbir Shah  gave a heart-rendering description of destruction by the nuclear weapons through poetry by Sahir  and expressed sadness that unfortunately the world has not learnt lesson and nuclear weapons continue to remain on earth.

Dr Bharti Uppal, quoting the study by Dr Ira Helfand, Co President of IPPNW on Climate Consequences of Regional Nuclear War pointed out that even a limited nuclear war could put over two billion people at risk globally. Based on a study with an example, a war between India and Pakistan involving 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs, would kill up to 20 million people outright.

Prof. Jagmohan Singh said that methodology should be evolved by the civil society to force the nuclear weapon states to abide by the decision of the UN General Assembly. 

M S Bhatia – Co-Convener Social Thinkers Forum said that people cannot be made to suffer at the whims of the military industrial complex. India and Pakistan are amongst the countries with very low indicators on human development index. Our people desperately need health and education. The arms race must be stopped and money diverted for development.

Through another resolution it was requested to the government of Punjab that this subject should be made part of the curriculum for school students. 

Others who addressed include Dr Sanjeev Uppal, Dr S K Prabhaker, Mrs Kusum Lata, Ranjit Singh, D P Maur, Vicky Mahesri, Deepak Kumar etc.

India must take firm stand against Trump

Sat, Jun 3, 2017 at 5:28 PM
BJGV Jatha criticized Trump's Anti India Rhetotic 
Meeting opposed his stand on Paris agreement 

Ludhiana: 4 June 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::
The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha has criticized US President Donald Trump for pulling out of Paris agreement on climate change. After a meeting of the Jatha held under the chairmanship of its president Shri Ranjit Singh it was said that this act of Trump is a total violation of international commitments. The Paris agreement is based on commitment to prevent climate change by reducing the carbon production. Through this agreement the developed countries, who are responsible for excess carbon concentration in the atmosphere, which is causing green house effect and thus climate change will take steps to mitigate this harmful change.  Under the agreement the polluter countries would pay back in form of carbon credits to the developed countries to keep up their economies. Whereas the whole world agrees to this the US has now pulled out. Not only that trump has given a statement against India accusing us of having desire to extract billions.   This is totally wrong, uncalled for and against all norms and forms of international relations based on mutual respect. The govt. of India should give an effective reply to this statement of trump. Those who participated in the deliberations include Dr Arun Mitra, M S Bhatia, I S Sodhi, Dr Rajinder Pal singh Aulakh, Rector Kathuria, Pardeep Sharma.

Defeat forces of communalism and hatred-CPI

Save harmony, unity and secular values of Indian society

Ludhiana: 7th May 2017: (Punjab Screen Team)::

Whatever they may do, people of India will not let the efforts of communalists of any brand using any religion as the cover for their nefarious designs to create social disharmony and split the society with the motive to establish a theocratic state succeed. This is because our people fought together irrespective of religion, caste, creed or gender to overthrow the British imperialism when the RSS and its outfits not only did not fight against the British rather connived with them. Our constitution guarantees right to freedom of speech and life with dignity to all its citizens and these hard earned rights will not be allowed to be taken away. This was said by Com. Amar Jeet Kaur, national secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) while addressing a seminar to commemorate the victory over fascism and challenges & resistance to such tendencies in present-day India. She said that Fascism was at its peak in the 1930s in Germany, Italy and Japan. Supported by the corporate sector, rights of freedom were fully curbed and any kind of dissent was not allowed. This caused holocaust killing lakhs of people, the Jews, Communists, Socialists, Trade Unionists and ordinary people in Germany. Second world war resulted in the death of over 5.5 crore people. But ultimately these forces were defeated and 9th May is observed as the day of victory of fascism. Such tendencies are being witnessed in our country these days. The BJP has resorted to the Gobbelian theses of - "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." The RSS guided BJP used this thesis during elections as well as during demonetization with the help of a section of media. But all the promises made have fallen flat; Rs.15 Lakh in every pocket has not been met with. The promise of the generation of 2 crore jobs has turned out to be totally false as only 1.35 lakhs could be generated. Price rise continues in the same way; corruption is at its peak and incidents like Vyapam in which 47 people have been killed; a case of fraud by Lalit Modi; Vijay Mallya's running away under the nose of the government are some big examples. To hide its failure there is all out effort to divert the issue in the name of Cow protection or building Ram Mandir. Prime Minister's rhetoric that demonetization will end terrorism has been totally belied. Kashmir is in the worst situation in its history. Borders have become tense. But the government is out to spread jingoism and war-mongering not realising that any war between India and Pakistan could lead to nuclear disaster.   Minorities are being persecuted in the name of cow protection, love jihad or religious conversions. Same is true of their approach towards Dalits. Now the reports that even Hindus taking cows for milking have been targeted. All those who give dissent are labelled as anti-nationals and are even eliminated. Universities are being targeted and students movements raising their demands are being dubbed as anti-nationals. But our country which has grown on values of democracy and respect for all religions and inhibits people from diverse ethnic groups will not let this continue for long. She further said that fundamentalists and communalists of each brand supplement each other’s efforts thus further endangering communal feelings among the majority community. This has to be fought back vociferously. But for this we need unity at the broader level she said.

Speaking on the occasion Com Kartar Singh Bowani District Secretary of the party said that such events need to be organised at several places.

Dr Arun Mitra Asstt. Secretary of the district unit of the CPI said that we have to struggle hard against the ideology of hatred as being spread by the RSS and it outfits and builds our country based on love and brotherhood of all human beings.

Com Ramesh Rattan City secretary said that party will organise such events at different places.     

Others who spoke on the occasion include Com D P Maur, Com Gurnam Sidhu, Com Gulzar Goria, Com Charan Sarabha and Com Kewal Singh Banwait. 

Criminal action against wilful defaulters of banks loans demanded

Countrywide Strike against so-called banking reforms 

Ludhiana: 28th February 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

On the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), one million bank Workmen and Officers are observing country wide Strike TODAY agianst so called banking reforms by the Government. As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit : Ludhiana) held a massive demonstration  in front of  Canara Bank, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana.  Com. Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions, Com. D P Maur, General Secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Com B S Walia, President, PAU Employees Union, Com. Harvinder Singh, Sr.Vice President, PBEF Ludhiana and Com. Gurmeet Singh from AIBOA addressed the bank employees.  Com. Ashok Malhan, Com. Rajesh Verma, Vice Presidents, Pb. Bank Employees Federation and Com. Parveen Moudgil, Convener, Women Cell, Pb. Bank Employees Federation were also present. 

While addressing the bank employees, Com. Naresh Gaur said The Unions in the banking industry have been fighting for more than 2 decades against the reform measures of the Government as these are against the interests of general public and labour force in the country.  In the name of reform measures, every effort is being made by the successive Governments since 1991 to shift the control of public sector entities to the private and foreign investors. 

In order to create a conducive environment to the private and foreign investors further efforts are being made by the Government to amend the labour laws to suit their needs.  In the banking sector also, there are increasing instances of denial of trade union rights viz. right of representation in the Boards of the Banks, right to collective bargaining, violation of Settlements, questioning to right to strike etc.  Further, every effort is being made to outsource the permanent jobs, in the banking industry too, which is fraught with risks

Hence, UFBU is opposed to the retrograde anti-people banking/labour reforms, the moves of the Government infringing the hard-earned trade union rights and the hazardous practice of outsourcing of permanent jobs.

 The implementation of demonetization and the effects of the same are known to everyone.  The role and the performance of bank employees during the implementation period was appreciated by each and every one including the top management functionaries, Government, customers and the general public.  It is a pity that the day and night hard work and suffering of bank employees and officers are not given due recognition.  The eligible compensation to employees as per bipartite provisions for the extra hours of work performed by them is denied.  Officers were also made to work for long hours and on Sundays/holidays without compensation or with notional payment.

The cost of demonetization as well as the business loss during the demonetization period of nearly two months will have a cascading effect on the balance sheets of the banks, the brunt of which would ultimately fall on the bank employees and officers alone.  It is imperative that the demonetization cost needs to be reimbursed to the Banks by the Government.

Several issues pertaining to the bank employees and officers such as the appointment of workmen/officer employee directors in the boards of many banks, adequate recruitment in all cadres, removal of ceiling on Gratuity, exemption of Income-Tax on Superannuation benefits, improvements in pension/family pension schemes and issues relating to retirees are yet to be resolved.  Despite approval by Government, subsequent to decade long struggle of UFBU, the Compassionate Appointment Scheme is still not introduced in many banks.  Five-day banking is another long pending demand of bank employees and officers.  

The Government is very serious in continuing the retrograde reform measures ignoring the real menace in the banking industry i.e., alarmingly increasing bad loans.  Willful defaulters are also on the increase.  The whole country has so far witnessed that the method of evading repayment also is maximum done by the big and corporate borrowers.  The economy of the country is affected.  There is a need to fix accountability of those responsible for the bad loans.  Criminal action against willful defaulters of bank loans can only reduce such types of irregularities in the banking industry.

On the issues and demands of bank employees and officers including retirees, as mentioned above, it has been unanimously decided by the UFBU to observe One Day All India Bank Strike on the 28^th February 2017.

We sincerely regret the inconvenience to the esteemed customers/general public on account of strike by bank employees and appeal for their moral support to our just cause.        

Halt retrograde Banking Sector reforms

Bank employees held a massive demonstration Main protest organized in front of  Canara Bank

Ludhiana: 29th July 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

• Do not increase private capital in Public Sector Banks

• Do not encourage FDI in banking Sector

• Do not give license to corporates to start Banks

• Do not give license to private hands to open Small Banks and Payment Banks

• Do not consolidate and merge Banks

• Extend more credit to agriculture sector

• Recover bad loans through stringent measures

• Increase interest rate on deposits in Banks

On the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), one million bank Workmen and Officers are observing country wide Strike TODAY agianst so called banking reforms by the Government. As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit : Ludhiana) held a massive demonstration  in front of  Canara Bank, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana.  Com. Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions, Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana Unit), Com. Sanjay Sharma, Vice President, All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) and Dy. General Secretary, State Bank of India Officers Asociation, Ludhiana Zone, Com. J.P.Kalra, President State Bank of India Officers Association, Com. Iqbal Singh, Asstt. General Secretary, State Bank of India Staff Association, Com. D P Maur, General Secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions  addressed the bank employees.  Com. Ashok Malhan, Com. Rajesh Verma, Vice Presidents, Pb. Bank Employees Federation and Com. Parveen Moudgil, Convener, Women Cell, Pb. Bank Employees Federation were also present.    

While addressing the bank employees, Com. Naresh Gaur said that all of us are aware about the various attempts of the Government to push through banking reform measures in one way or the other.  The basic idea is to dilute and dismantle public sector banking and boost up private sector banking. We have been consistently fighting against such machinations.  We have been able to build up intensive campaigns, agitations, struggles and strike actions against all these measures.  We can also legitimately feel proud that due to all these persistent efforts, the speed with which these reform measures were proposed to be implemented, could not be of such dimension as planned. But we know that the Government is on their heels to somehow get their agenda implemented.

The Government has also announced their proposals for

merger of PSBs.  Already RBI has announced its scheme for granting licenses to corporates and industrial houses. Further RBI has announced their Guidelines on setting up of Small Private Banks and Payment Banks.  Thus there is a concerted attempt to hand over our banking sector more and more to private hands. We are already aware of the Government’s continuous attempts to push through their reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of Banks, etc.  More and more private capital and FDI are being encouraged.  Regional Rural Banks are sought to be privatised and the Bill has been passed by the Government in the Parliament despite protests by our Unions. Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACs) are under threat of winding up. Urban Co-operative Banks are under threat of delicensing. Private sector executives are imposed on the public sector banks.  All the Government schemes are being imposed on the Banks without proper infrastructure and manpower resulting harassment and problems faced by the bank staff.  Bank officers are being denied regulated working hours. Permanent and regular jobs are being outsourced on contract basis and contract employees are being exploited. Government would like to proceed on its agenda to amend the labour laws without any proper consultation with the trade unions. In the name of banking sector reforms, the attempt is to privatise the Banks and hand them over to the private corporates to enable them to further loot the precious savings of the people. Already our Banks are bleeding due to alarming increase in bad loans, thanks to the deliberate default by the corporates and big business enterprises. Instead of taking tough measures to book the culprits and recover the loans, efforts are taken to hand over the banks to very same defaulters. It is very clear that all their talks of banking reforms and proposals of merger and consolidation are only a ploy and game plan to divert the attention of the people from the massive bad loans in the Banks. Our country needs strong public sector banks and not necessarily big banks or global-sized banks. Our country needs banking expansion and not consolidation of banks and shrinkage of banking services to people. The focus should be the alarming increase in bad loans to the tune of about Rs. 13 lac crore. The efforts should be to recover the money by taking stringent measures and not hush it up through provisions, write-offs, CDRs and SDRs. 

If the loans have been sanctioned wrongly, action should be taken on the concerned Executives.  If the borrower has cheated the Banks, criminal action should be taken against the defaulter. Providing for the bad loans, clean-up of Balance Sheet and making the Banks to incur the losses is not the solution to the problem.  It is obvious, all these are only diversionary tactics to escape from the accountability for the huge bad loans.  Kingfisher Mallya is only the tip of the iceberg.  There are many more sharks in the ocean of bad loans in the Banks.  Why the list of defaulters is not being published by them?  Why criminal action is not taken on the willful corporate defaulters?  Why all velvet treatment to them?  Why the attempt to convert the bad loans as equity investment in these defaulter companies?  Is it the corporate governance and good governance policy of the Government?  In IDBI Bank, 10 years ago, about Rs.9000 crores of bad loans were taken out of their books.  Now another Rs. 19,000 crores is the bad loan.  Instead taking action to recover these bad loans, the Government wants to privatise and sell the Bank to the very same private sector which is responsible for these huge loan default in IDBI Bank.

CPI will do its best to foil the nefarious deigns

Sat, Jul 23, 2016 at 3:54 PM

CPI rally followed by procession at Ludhiana Railway Station

Ludhiana: 23rd July 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Starting from the death of Rohit Vemulla to merciless beating of poor Dalits by those connected with Sangh Parivar to the foul language used by the former Vice President of Uttar Pradesh BJP has thoroughly exposed the nefarious designs of the forces of Hindutva to split the society on caste lines. These incidents are not spontaneous, these are a reflection of the anti Dalit casteiest approach of the RSS and followers of its ideology of Hindutva. Various speakers speaking on the occasion of a rally followed by procession organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) Ludhiana today at the Railway Station Ludhiana cautioned that these will result into splitting of the society on caste lines and religious beliefs which they very unashamedly want to use in the coming elections.

Dr Arun Mitra – Asst. Sec. said that since the Modi Led BJP government has come to power there has been a serious attempt to rewrite the history totally negating the contribution of the the congress and communists in the freedom struggle. Several BJP ruled state governments have removed the names of Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi from the history books. The role of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues is being belittled and instead the name of  Damodar Savarkar who had begged mercy from the British and assured of his cooperation to the British for his release from the Andeman Nikobar jail is being   highlighted. Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi is being eulogized. The universities are being made to be governed by the RSS ideologues while the progressive forces are being suppressed. The incidents of maligning the students and the teachers of JNU and then arresting Kanhiya Kumar on the basis of doctored video films has thoroughly exposed the designs of the present government.  Organizations affiliated to Sangh Parivar have been given free hand. Obscurantist thoughts are being propagated. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is citing the examples of plastic surgery in the ancient India whereby the head of animal could be sutured to the human body. Even the most advanced stem cell research is being highlighted to be present in the ancient India. 

Com D P Maur said that in the name of cow protection Akhlaq was lynched by these fundamentalists and now instead of punishing the culprits the family of Akhlaq is being framed. Those involved in the leather removal of the dead cows are being beaten and even forced to eat cow dung. Cases are being fabricated against them. Such incidents have happened even in Punjab but the Akali BJP government has turned a blind eye. He further said that the country’s sovereignty and integrity are in danger since the FDI has been allowed full scale even in the defense sector. Situation in Kashmir has deteriorated to the lowest level ever. Prices are soaring high and people are waiting for the Ache Din to come.

Dr Gulzar Singh Pandher said the CPI will do its best to foil the nefarious deigns of these forces. Law and order in the state is at its lowest ebb. Crime against all sections particularly women and the poor is on the rise. Police acts under pressure of their political masters so the justice is denied to them.

Others who addressed include Com Gurnam Gill, Com Vijay Kumar, Com Kuldip Binder, Com Jit Kumari,Com Anod Kumar, Com Feroze Master, Com Walaiti Khan, Com Iqbal Singh, Com Anil, Saroj, Ramchander, Ramchand, Tuntun. 

Citizens demand effective action to clean Buddha Nala

Smart City has no meaning without it

Ludhiana: 6 June 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):   Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 3:18 PM  

Speaking at the Public Function organized by the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha Ludhiana on 5^th June to mark the World Environment Day on the theme JAL HAI TO KAL HAI various speakers criticized the administration for its utter failure in implementing the Satluj Action Plan meant to clean the Buddha Nalla. Clear water of the Nalla starts becoming polluted as soon as it enters the boundary of the city as a result of industrial affluent and domestic waste being disposed into it.  

Addressing on the occasion Maj. Sher Singh Aulukh said that Satluj Action Plan was outlined and as a follow up of this P Ram Committee was formed. Our organisation had been actively associated with the work under this. As a part of this three Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) were established at Village Bhattian, Baloke and Jamalpur. Also five green bridges were to be constructed for bio remediation of waste water flowing in Buddha Nallah. M/s.Green Infrastructure, Pune had laid down condition for proper working of the green bridges viz Lifting of Municipal Solid Waste, Functioning of STPs and Outlets into Buddha Nallah should be plugged.   As per our observations none of these three conditions have not been implemented satisfactorily (Photographs from some sites are being attached as an evidence). As a result the whole project seems to be failing.

Dr Rajinder Pal Singh Aulukh said that transparency should be ensured in this work and responsibility should be fixed on the concerned. As a double check of the samples of treated water after STPs the citizens should be allowed to take samples on their own and get them checked. The monitoring committee should meet quarterly to assess the progress made. 

  

Mr. M.S.Bhatia, Organising Secretary said that whereas the citizens should realize their responsibility, it is the duty of the administration to ensure the implementation of various clauses and to create awareness in the public. He said that it is imperative that throwing of solid waste/ refuge should be totally banned and made illegal. Violators should be penalized. A vociferous awareness campaign should be carried out with the help of NGOs who are already working for this cause and the population living around the Buddha Nallah should be involved. The working of the STPs should be continuously monitored in coordination with the NGOs working for this cause. In the first step the factors effecting the proper working of STPs should be identified. Thereafter corrective measures should be taken. To our information none of the outlets draining untreated effluent directly into the Buddha Nallah have been plugged. Strict measures in a time bound framework should be taken to plug all the outlets. Violators should be penalized. Road should be constructed both sides which also clear the encroachments on the banks of the Nallah and plantation should be done. 

A memorandum regarding the concerned issues of environment of Ludhiana particularly the water pollution was presented to Shri Devinder Singh Additional Commissioner (MC) Ludhiana by the office bearers of the Jatha. Shri Devinder Singh in his address said that the issues raised by the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha are very relevant and the corporation is seized with these. We have already started a movement with the help of the citizens.

Mrs.Kusum Lata – National Awardee Headmistress gave a talk on water management. She said that the citizens have to be cautious about these situations. Rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory. She presented a play by the students of Govt. High School Sarabha Nagar on Environment.

Shri Ranjit Singh- National Awardee Headmaster (Retd.) and  Vice President of the Jatha along with Shri Sukhdev Chandel  organized a quiz competition on environment and gave prizes to the winners in the form of saplings.

An intra-school painting competition was organized in different schools on the theme SAVE WATER-SAVE LIFE. The best three entries from each school were awarded in the function. The posters prepared by the students were displayed at the venue.

Shri Surinder Kumar recited poems on the environment.

Mr.Parveen Kumar, Harpreet Kaur and Jaspreet Mohan Singh Khurana prepared on the spot a 40 feet long painting for environment day. 

Anita Sharma from Belan Brigade in her address said that without providing the basic animities to the citizens Smart City concept has no meaning.

Col.Gill from Lets Clean Ludhiana Trust cautioned the RO users. The government should not encourage RO system. 

Many organisations working for the cause participated and supported the efforts.

Others who addressed and participated in organizing the event include Shri Krishan Lal Malik, MrsGurcharan Kocher, Shri Pardeep Sharma, Swaroop Singh, Er S P Singh, Dr Babita Jain, Sohan Singh, I.S.Sodhi, Rajwinder Singh, Shri Amritpal Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Radhika Jaitwani, Ravi Arora, Shri Ramadhar Singh, Randhir Singh Dheera, Anod Kumar  

Inter School Mathematics Fair by BJGVJ

Over 100 students from 15 schools participated

Ludhiana: 6th October 2015:(*M S Bhatia//Punjab Screen Bureau):

As a part of the campaign for popularization of mathematics, Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ) Ludhiana  organized an Inter School Mathematics Fair (exhibition of working/semi working models)  and Quiz  Contest on 6th October 2015 Tuesday under the aegis of Punjab State Council for Science & Technology  with theme Contribution of Mathematics in Strengthening Science, at  Sanatan Vidya Mandir, Sr. Sec. School, Behind Arya College for Boys, Civil Lines , Ludhiana. Dr Arun Mitra  General Secretary while inaugurating the fair said that mathematics has contributed a lot in strengthening science, scientific outlook and development of society which has provided us with rational outlook. Sh. Pardeep Kapoor, District Science Supervisor was the Chief Guest. Sh. M.S.Bhatia Org. Secretary -BJGVJ told that over 100 students and teachers from 15 schools participated in the mathematics fair. In all 12 models of mathematics were displayed in the event of model competition. Ten teams from different schools participated in the Quiz competition. Sh. Ranjit Singh -State and National awardee Headmaster(Retd) compered the stage. A bench of judges comprising Sh. Ranjit Singh, Er. S.P.Singh and Sh.Sohan Singh State Awardee teacher(Retd) gave their judgement in model competition in which first prize went to R.S.Model Sr. Sc. School, second prize Sikh Missionary Public School, third prize Sanatan Vidya Mandir, Sr. Sec. School. The appreciation award to Gov. Sr. Sec. School Lehal. In the Quiz competion the teams of S K S K Educational Institute first prize, Ramgarhia Sr. Sec. School for Boys second prize and R.S.Model School third prize and appreciation award to  Sikh Missionary School. Maj.Sher Singh Aulakh-President BJGVJ presided over the function. Dr Sarabjit Singh, Director college of Nursing, Narangwal was the guest of honour.  Mrs. Kusum Lata-State and National Awardee Headmistress and Secretary BJGVJ gave the importance of National Mathematics Day and she also conducted the quiz competition. All the participants were given certificates of participation. In the last Mrs. Sadhana Sharma Principal of Sanatan Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec. School  presented vote of thanks and lauded the role of Jatha for constantly building rationalist outlook in the society. Others who were present included Sh.Jagdev Singh  Principal Nightingale College of Nursing and Education Narangwal and teachers from various schools. Students from Satguru Ram Singh Government Polytechnic College for Girls Rishi Nagar helped in conducting the function.

*M S Bhatia is the Org. Secretary of Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha, Ludhiana  and an active social worker also> His Mobile Number is: 99884 91002

Seminar against The Land Acquisition Ordinance 2015

Seminar opposed the govt conspiracy 

Ludhiana: 9 May 2015:(Punjab Screen Bureau):
The Land Acquisition Ordinance 2015 is a devious move of the BJP government to grab the land of the farmers in the name of development completely diluting the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act 2013. This ordinance completely ignores the provisions of the previous act whereby the farmers were taken into confidence before acquiring their land for the matters of public interest. This was said by Com Bhupinder Sambar - General Secretary Punjab Kissan Sabha while addressing seminar organized by the Social thinkers Forum and Lok Sahit Manch Ludhiana at Punjabi Bhawan here today.  
It was after long drawn struggle, he said,  that in 2013 the infamous clauses of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 of the British government was amended. According to this Land Acquisition would not be permitted in the fertile multi crop and irrigated land as it could jeopardize country’s food security. Moreover reasonable compensation was to be paid to the land owners in advance. Only a minimum required land for any project should be acquired  and if the land remains utilized this should be returned to the original owner as per the 2013 Act. Moreover possession of the land would be taken only after full compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families has been completed. In addition social impact assessment was to be made before acquiring the land. Com Sambar further cautioned that the present Ordinance dilutes the Act of 2013 to the extent that most of these features just diminish and the ordinance is as tyrannical as the act of 1894. This Ordinance completely ignores the clauses on consent social impact assessment. This also allows acquisition of multi crop irrigates fertile land. The ordinance and acquisition without going into social impact will be a big threat to our biodiversity as the corporate houses will ruin our eco system in the name of development to benefit them. This ordinance is aimed at facilitating acquisition of the land for private companies and land mafia.

He elaborated that out 85000 hectares acquired in Maharashtra, 15000 Hectare is lying idle. In Madhya Pradesh out of 45000 hectare  21000 is lying unutilised. Similar is the situation in many other states. Even the CAG has pointed out that this ordinance amounts to major transfer of wealth from the rural population the corporate world.

Dr Arun Mitra Convener of the Social thinkers’ Forum said that as per some analysis the government’s move to acquire one kilometer land on each side of the railway tracks and the roads will lead to 36% of the cultivable land be taken over leading to crisis of food security in our predominantly agricultural country and uprooting of 28 crore of people.

In the end in his vote of thanks Adv. Mitter Sain Meet, General Secreaty- Lok Sahit Manch thanked the main speaker and the others who enriched the discussion with their valuable ideas. He said that the NDA government, in its drive to snatch the land from the farmers, issued the ordinance to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement(Amendment) Act 2013. This procedure is totally undemocratic. The others who participated in the discussion include Com D P Maur, Dr. Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, Mrs. Gurcharan Kaur Kocher, President-Punjab Istri Sabha Ludhiana, Com. Ramesh Rattan, Com. Gurnam Singh Gill, Com. Charan Sarabha, Gurnam Sidhu.