NOINO North Zone: BMS Gen. Secr. meets LIC Chairman

The All India Triennial Conference of Bharateeya Mazdoor Sangh recently concluded in Jalgaon on 19th February. BMS is the largest central trade union in the country with over 80 lakhs members. NOINO/NOIW/NOIP are affiliated to BMS.

The Conference elected Shri Baijnath Rai as the All India General Secretary of BMS. After his election Shri Baijnath Rai was on a tour to Mumbai on 22^nd March 2011.

PRESS MEET

In the afternoon, Shri Rai addressed the media. He told the journalists that it was the considered opinion of BMS that the fundamental reason for all the ills pervading the society & affecting the workers of this country was the unchecked corruption whether financial or mental. He also announced that a mammoth morcha representing all workers in the country under the banner of BMS would march to Parliament on 23^rd November 2011. The activists would spread out to the villages in the coming days to garner support for the morcha.

COURTESY MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN, LIC

Thereafter, Shri Rai visited the headquarters of LIC, i.e. Yogakshem. He met the Chairman, Shri T S Vijayan for a brief period. He was accompanied by Shri Ganesh Kamath, GS, NOINO; Shri S D Kulkarni, President, BMS, Maharashtra Pradesh; Shri Kamalakant Narkar, President, NOIP, Mumbai & Shri Brahmesh Hardikar, Secretary, NOIW. Shri Vijayan said that LIC took pride in the fact that it always took lead in nation-building activities & actively participated in several Government projects like the current UID project. He also said that contrary to the popular apprehension that LIC would not withstand the competition after opening of the insurance sector, it had performed wonderfully well to maintain its prime position in the market. He also said that the productivity of the LIC employees was one of the highest in the public sector.

Shri Rai said that BMS was aware of the yeoman service rendered by LIC in nation-building & appreciated the same. He raised the issues of one more pension option to the existing employees & automatic upgradation of pension. Shri Vijayan assured to find out a way to resolve these issues. Shri Rai said that BMS was also ready to talk to the Government in this regard at the appropriate time. The meeting ended after exchanging pleasantries.

MEETING WITH ACTIVISTS OF NOINO/NOIW/NOIP

After the meeting with Chairman, Shri Rai met the activists of NOINO/NOIW/NOIP in Mumbai. About 50 activists affiliated to the above three organizations were present. Shri Ganesh Kamath, GS, NOINO welcomed Shri Rai to Mumbai & LIC. He also briefly introduced Shri Rai extolling his virtues & his contribution to the growth of BMS particularly in West Bengal, long considered to be a bastion of the Communists. The activists then introduced themselves. Shri Rai was felicitated by Shri Kamalakant Narkar, President, NOIP, Mumbai. Shri Rai briefly addressed the activists. He said that he was aware of the splendid work done by all the organizations & that BMS was spreading across all cadres. He expressed hope that an organization in the Development officers affiliated to BMS would be established soon. Shri Brahmesh Hardikar, Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks.

From L to R: Shri Brahmesh Hardikar, Secy, NOIW; Shri S D Kulkarni, President, BMS, Maharashtra; Shri Baijnath Rai, GS, BMS; Shri Ganesh Kamath, GS, NOINO (introducing Shri Baijnath Rai); Shri Kamalakant Narkar, President, NOIP, Mumbai.