National Conference on Free Software, 2008 was the second one of its series. The first was held in Hyderabad on 3rd and 4th March, 2007. The same was organised by Department of History, University of Hyderabad and Swecha, an organisation working for Telugu localisation of Free Software. About 850 delegates from 9 states spread over the country have participated in that conference. Holding of the next conference in Kerala was announced in the concluding session of the Hyderabad conference in consultation with the delegates from Kerala.
The 2nd conference held in Cochin University of Science And Technology (CUSAT) was organised by CUSAT along with three others. IT@School, a project of Govt of Kerala for IT education in High Schools of Kerala which happens to be the most visible and widespread use of free software in any one education project was one among them. 3rd of the organising partner was Open Software Solutions Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd No S.Ind E-245, Kochi which was the first business organisation in Kerala, mandated by its bye law to provide services in Free Software Platforms and registered under the Co-operative Act 1969 with District Industries Centre, Ernakulam under the Department of Industries and Commerce Govt of Kerala, in the year 2000. The founding members of the society were software professionals organised themselves as part of a support team for Free Software Platform based IT projects of various Panchayaths in Ernakulam District. The 4th organisation, Appropriate Technology Promotion Society (ATPS) was a Society registered in 2001 under Travancore-Kochi Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act 1965 (Act XII of 1965). This society was formed by the voluntary resource persons of Peoples Plan Campaign of the 1996-2000 who were the formulators of the Electronics Industrial Infrastructure Development (EIID) Project as part of which the free software team was formed. ATPS has been providing necessary venture fund and technological support for OSS ICS LTD, when it lost the support from the District Panchayath on change of LDF team with UDF.
The organising committee was lead by Justice V R Krishnaiyer, Former Judge of Supreme Court as Chief Patron and Dr. Gangan Prathap, Vice-Chancellor of CUSAT, Sri. K Chandran Pillai, MP Rajya Sabha, Dr. Sebastian Paul, MP Lok Sabha, Prof. Mercy Williams, Mayor of Kochi, Sri. K V Thomas, Former Minister and MLA and Sri. A M Yusuf MLA as patrons. Sri. C M Dinesh Mani MLA and member syndicate CUSAT was the chairman of the organising committee. Sri. Chandramohanakumar, Registrar CUSAT, Smt. Arifa Teacher, Chairperson Kalamassery Municipality, Sri. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor Kochi were the Vice-chairpersons. Sri. Ignation Kunjumon, Director CIRM CUSAT and a free software activist and who was instrumental in introducing free software curriculum in Kannur university and many colleges in Kerala was the working chairman. Sri Joy Job Kulaveli, former general Secretary of All Kerala Private College Teachers Association and currently member syndicate of CUSAT was the General Convenor. Convenor was Sri. Joseph Thomas of ATPS. Joint Convenors were Sri. Jai Jacob of ILUG, Kochi and Sri. B Pradeep, General Secretary of KSEB Officers Association. Smt. Aysha Soman Secretary of OSS ICS LTD was the treasurer.
Initially, the organising committee was formed with the representatives from various organisations in the City of Kochi, the Organisations of workers of Central and State Govt employees, Education, Bank, Insurance, Telecom, Postal and other PSUs etc, CUSAT being one among them. But in the executive committee meeting immediately followed after the organisating committee formation, CUSAT team suggested the holding of the conference in the CUSAT campus. The Vice Chancellor, the Syndicate and the Registrar and various organisations inside CUSAT took the conference very seriously and mobilised the Faculty, Non-teaching staff, Research Scholars and the students as volunteers to work for the conduct of the conference. In the discussions that took place during the period, a project idea was mooted and got approved for conversion of the existing Centre for Information Resource Management of CUSAT into a FOSS based Knowledge Hub networking the free software professionals and the educational institutions in the region. This further enthused the organisers. With the declaration of this decision of the University, the conference has attracted the attention of wide spectrum of the people.
Hon. Minister for Education, Kerala Sri. M A Baby Inaugurated the Conference at 10 AM on 15th November, 2008 by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Chief Patron of the organising committee Sri. V R Krishnaiyer blessed the conference with his message throug Video Conferencing from his house, arranged by BSNL. It was his 94th birth day and was busy with visitors coming for wishing him. In his inaugural address, Hon. Minister pointed out the philosophy behind the software freedom concept and how it becomes relevant to other areas of knowledge as well. He described the free software movement as part of the general movement for the democratisation of the society as whole and socialisation of all means of production. Hon. Minister for Finance, Kerala Sri. T M Thomas Issac delivered the key note address in which he pointed out the relevance of free software and the conference aimed at reaching the benefits of the information technology to the common man. He stressed the need for democratisation of science and technology which is part of class struggle. The inaugural session chaired by Vice Chancellor Sri. Gangan Prathap was addressed by Hon. Minister for IT West Bengal and Sri. G Nagarjuna, Chairman of Free Software Foundation of India among others who dealth with various aspects of free software.
The plenary session held at 5 PM on 15-11-2008, chaired by Hon. Member of Rajya Sabha Sri. K Chandran Pillai was addressed by Hon. Member of Rajyasabha & Member Polit Bureau of CPI(M) Sri. Sitaram Yechury. Sri. Yechury in his keynote address dealt elaborately with the underlying causes of the on going global financial sector crisis. He explained that the crisis was part of the very capitalist system which creates artificial boom for over coming the crisis that follows one after the other and to ensure its survival. Each crisis is followed by an ever bigger boom and every crisis that follows the boom is more severe than the earlier one. Such dynamism is the very means of existance of capitalism. He referred to the industrial boom, the service sector boom, the IT boom and now the boom created through the repeated sale of same financial instruments called derivatives, which happened to be the epicentre of this present crisis. The crisis could erupt any where in the system. He attributed the root cause of the capitalist crisis to its exploitative character. Capital is accummulated by exploitation of labour. Balance of what is so accummulated alone is distributed among the people who are the consumers of what is produced. A portion of what is produced remains unsold. Such a situation of over production caused by the imbalance in growth of productive forces compared to the purchasing power of the people is arising out of exploitation of labour. Every period of crisis marks the destruction of a sizable portion of the productive foces, including retrenchment causing unemployment and war resulting in overall sufferings. The burden of crisis is transferred on to the shoulders of the working class by the capitalists, on to the under developed and developing world by the imperialism and so on. It is upto those who suffer at the hands of capitalist system, its boom as well as its crisis, to throw away the system and establish a new system based on equittable distribution saving the system from such repeated cycle of crisis. He also pointed out that the apitalism will move over to another period of boom, after destruction of the productive forces and then creating artificial boom somewhere, unless it is replaced by a better system of economic governance.
The 5 seminar sessions at 1 PM and 3 PM on 15th and at 9 AM, 1PM and 3 PM on 16th held in 6 parallel venues titled social, knowledge, technology, institutional, entrepreneur and software streams, 30 subjects were taken up for discussion. On an average chairman and 2 speakers initiated the discussions followed by interaction among the audience in all the 30 sessions. On an average 60 delegates took part in each session. Some of the sessions like the one on unicode font etc couldnot be discussed in full or conclusion arrived at and requires to be discussed further.
Parallel to the seminar sessions listed above, there were 17 workshops held in 3 venues on various subjects including certain commonly used free software platforms, packages and tools. On average 50 delegates participated in every such workshop.
18 open fora were also conducted in parallel to the above sessions held in 5 venues parallel. They were organised by 18 different participating organisations and there were on an average one two speakers and 45 participants.
In three sessions titled meet the personalities, Sri. Ananda Parthasarathy, well known IT journalist of Front line, Sri. Anjan Banerjee, Advisor to Govt of West Bengal and Sri. Naresh Seghal of Intel Bangalore
Poster exhibition on the theme of devastation of war, demystification of IT etc were also organised. Films on free software were exhibited. An educative exhibition was also organised from 12th to 16th of November in which more than 50 organisations including 9 public sector organisations exhibited their strengths. Some of the exhibits such as that of PSUs were on their services. Few others were on various aspects of demystification of IT among which some from higher education sector, where the use of free software is still limited, used proprietary platforms. 6 stalls of IT@School students who learn free software in their schools were attraction of every body very effective in furtherance of free software application. This disparity among the school and higher education sector underlined the need for further intervention in a massive way for the curriculum change in that sector. The display of logo on the backdrop of the main venue and an exhibition stall of NOVELL, a corporate organisation catering IT service both on free software as well as proprietary software platforms invited the protests of few free software fundamentalists alleging NOVELL collaborating with Micro-soft aginst the spirit of software freedom.
889 registered delegates participated in the two day conference. 120 invited speakers addressed various sessions. 66 faculty members of CUSAT took part in the conduct of various sessions, chairing, presenting papers, offering welcome, vote of thanks etc. 139 from organising institutions of CUSAT, IT@School, OSS ICS LTD and ATPS were engaged in the organising the conference. 300 Students including Research Scholars worked as volunteers for the smooth conduct of the conference. In all 1514 people were part of the conference. This massive participation made the conference the biggest ever mega event in the history of free software events reported hitherto.
The concluding session was addressed by the Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala Sri. V S Achuthanandan, the strongest supporter of free software movement in any Govt ever heard of. He stressed the anti-imperialist content of free software movement and requested every body to work for its wider use and application. This session was chaired by the Hon. Vice Chancellor of CUSAT Sri. Gangan Prathap. Hon. Minister for Industries Sri. Elamaram Kareem explained the relevance of free software in empowering and sustaining the PSUs and SMEs that are facing cut throat competition from MNCs and their new generation outfits. He pointed out that since Software and Information Technology acts as a tool of convergence that integrates various processes, services and even other technologies and utilities, has a wider application in providing cheap technology for Indian industries. Hon Minister for IT West Bengal Sri. Debesh Das declared the IT initiatives of the Govt of West Bengal. Sri. P Rajeev, resident editor Deshabhimani reminded the participants of the need for ensuring freedom of software in particular and knowledge in general.
This concluding session was marked with declarations of concrete programs of action that was discussed and formulated during the conference. The Hon. Vice Chancellor on behalf of the CUSAT declared the conversion of CUSAT Centre for Information Resource Management into a free software hub that will be networking the free software professionals to the local community through the educational institutions in the region. He on behalf of the vice-chancellors of participating universities of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal declared the setting up of a collaborative movement in furtherance of free software in the respective universities. Sri .. . . . . . declared the setting up a forum of university faculty for expanding the use of free software in the respective colleges on behalf of Professors from institution in the states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Sri. Easwar K, the Manager of Prajasakthi, the Telegu daily declared the resolve of his organisation to set up a free software service unit in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with the OSS ICS LTD, one of the organisers of the conference. Sri. Anvar Sadath, Executive Director of IT@School project of Govt of Kerala declared its intent for implementing Vidyamithra, the online management system for Educational Institutions being declared a collaborative project of OSS ICS LTD and IT@School in all the schools from the next academic year onwards. Sri. Prasantha S, advocate from Kochi declared the formation of a legal experts forum to organise and support the nation wide efforts for preventing software being patented, efforts for which is on at the instance of corporate houses through the recent draft on patent law released by the Central govt. Finally, a general declaration of the conference, calling upon the Govts concerned to support the free software and the people to start using free software in preference to proprietary ones was presented by the Convenor of the Organising committee of the First conference held in Hyderabad and a Member of FSFI ever since that conference.
On account of such declarations of 6 concrete programs of action, also, this conference stood unique in the history of free software conferences. Invitation from 4 delegations of states are received for hosting the next conference. A further meeting of the representatives of the concerned states will decide upon the venue for the next conference.
Joseph Thomas.
thomasatps@gmail.com
9447738369.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് ദേശീയ സമ്മേളനം.
സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് ദേശീയ സമ്മേളനം 2008 നവമ്പര് 15,16 തീയതികളില് കൊച്ചി ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക സര്വ്വകലാശാലയില് നടക്കുകയാണ്. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന്റെ കേരളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ശക്തനായ വക്താവായ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ശ്രീ. വി. എസ്. അച്ചുതാനന്ദന് തന്നെ അത് ഉല്ഘാടനം ചെയ്യുന്നു. കേന്ദ്ര സംസ്ഥാന മന്ത്രിമാരും വിവിധ വകുപ്പുദ്യോഗസ്ഥരും പൊതുമേഖലാ നടത്തിപ്പുകാരും വ്യവസായ പ്രമുഖരും ട്രേഡ് യൂണിയന് നേതാക്കളും ബഹുജന സംഘടനാ പ്രവര്ത്തകരും വിദഗ്ദ്ധരും പ്രൊഫഷണലുകളും അദ്ധ്യാപകരും വിദ്യാര്ത്ഥികളും ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തില് പങ്കെടുക്കും. വിവരം ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ മേഖലകളും സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് കുത്തകവല്ക്കരണത്തിന്റെ ദൂഷ്യ ഫലങ്ങള് അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവരായതിനാല് അവയുടെയൊക്കെ പ്രതിനിധികളെ ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തില് പങ്കെടുപ്പിക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം ഉണ്ടാകും. സ്വാഭാവികമായും സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നതില് നിര്ണ്ണായക പങ്കുള്ള നിയമ നിര്മ്മാതാക്കളും ഭരണ കര്ത്താക്കളും ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തില് പങ്കാളികളാകും. വിവരം ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ മേഖലകളിലും സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന് ഉപയോഗ സാദ്ധ്യത ഉണ്ടെന്നതും ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നവര്ക്ക് മറ്റുള്ളവരെ അപേക്ഷിച്ച് മേല്ക്കൈ നേടാനാവുമെന്നതും മത്സരാധിഷ്ഠിതമായ ഇന്നത്തെ സമൂഹത്തില് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന്റെ പ്രാധാന്യം വര്ദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
പുതുതായി നേടുന്ന ഏത് ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക സിദ്ധികളും അവയുടെ ഗുണഫലങ്ങളും എത്രയും വേഗം സമൂഹത്തിലെത്തിക്കുകയും അതുവഴി സാമ്പത്തിക മേഖലയ്ക്ക് സഹായം നല്കുകയും ചെയ്യുക എന്ന ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കുന്ന കൊച്ചി സര്വ്വകലാശാലയാണ് സംഘാടകരില് ഒന്ന്. സമ്മേളനവേദിയും അതാണ്. ഐടി@സ്കൂള് പ്രോജക്ടാണ് സംഘാടനച്ചുമതല പങ്കിടുന്ന മറ്റൊരു സ്ഥാപനം. അദ്ധ്യാപകരുടെ സംഘടിത ശേഷിയുടെ ഇടപെടലിലൂടെ സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിലേയ്ക്ക് മാറിയതു മൂലം ലോകം അത്ഭുതാദരങ്ങളോടെ നോക്കി കാണുന്ന ഒന്നാണത്. ബൈലോ പ്രകാരം തന്നെ സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറില് മാത്രം സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് നിര്മ്മാണം നടത്തുകയും സേവനം നല്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി 2000 മുതല് പ്രവര്ത്തിച്ച് വരുന്ന സ്ഥാപനമായ ഓപ്പണ് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് സൊല്യൂഷന്സ് വ്യവസായ സഹകരണ സംഘവും സംഘാടകരില് ഒന്നാണ്. 1998 മുതല് വിവര സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യയിലെ പുതിയ പ്രവണതകള് പഠിക്കുന്നതിനായി ജനകീയ ഐടി പഠനം സംഘടിപ്പിച്ച് ഈ രംഗത്തേയ്ക്ക് വന്നവരും എറണാകുളം ജില്ലാ പഞ്ചായത്തിന്റെ ജനകീയാസൂത്രണ പദ്ധതിയില് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നതിന് കാരണക്കാരായവരും ഓപ്പണ് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് സൊല്യൂഷന്സ് വ്യവസായ സഹകരണ സംഘം പ്രൊമോട്ടര്മാരും ചേര്ന്ന് 2001 ല് രജിസ്റ്റര് ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ട അനുയോജ്യ സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യാ പ്രോത്സാഹക സംഘം എന്ന സന്നദ്ധ സംഘടനയും സംഘാടകരിലൊന്നാണ്. അത് ഒഎസ്എസിന്റെ സാങ്കേതിക-സാമ്പത്തിക പിന്തുണാ സംവിധാനമായും പ്രവര്ത്തിച്ചുവരുന്നു.
ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തോടെ കൊച്ചി ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക സര്വ്വ കലാശാല സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് വികസനത്തിലും വ്യാപനത്തിലും മുന്കൈയ്യെടുക്കുകയും ആ പ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന് വലിയൊരു മുന്നേറ്റമുണ്ടാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഇവിടെ നിലവിലുള്ള വിവര വിനിമയ ശൃംഖലാ കേന്ദ്രം ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ആഗോള സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ വേര് പ്രവര്ത്തകരായ പ്രൊഫഷണലുകളുടെ സമൂഹവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടുത്തിക്കൊണ്ട് അവരുടെ സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് വികസന പ്രവര്ത്തനങ്ങള്ക്ക് ആക്കം കൂട്ടുകയും അവരുടെ നേട്ടങ്ങള് നമ്മുടെ നാട്ടില് അപ്പപ്പോള് ലഭ്യമാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഈ നേട്ടങ്ങളുടെ വര്ദ്ധനവിനും വ്യാപനത്തിനുമായി മറ്റിതര സര്വ്വകലാശാലകളുമായും വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുമായും സര്ക്കാര് വകുപ്പുകളുമായും പൊതുമേഖലാ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുമായും ധനകാര്യ-വ്യാപാര-വ്യവസായ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുമായും വിവര വിനിമയ-മാദ്ധ്യമ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുമായും ശൃംഖലാ ബന്ധം സ്ഥാപിക്കും. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് മേഖലയില് ഇത്തരമൊരു ബന്ധം സ്ഥാപിച്ചെടുക്കുക എന്നത് ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തിന്റെ സുപ്രധാന ലക്ഷ്യവും നേട്ടവുമായിരിക്കും. ആയതിലേയ്ക്ക് നയ രൂപീകരണവും ഭരണ നിര്വ്വഹണവുമടക്കം മേല്പ്പറഞ്ഞ മുഴുവല് മേഖലകളുടേയും പ്രതിനിധികളെ ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തില് പങ്കെടുപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ശ്രമം സംഘാടക സമിതി നടത്തുന്നതാണ്.
അറിവ് സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ പൊതുസ്വത്തായിരുന്നു. ഇന്നും ഒട്ടുമിക്കവാറും അത് തന്നെ സ്ഥിതി. പക്ഷെ, പലതും പിടിച്ച് വെച്ച് കുത്തകാവകാശം സ്ഥാപിക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം നടക്കുന്നു. സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് അത്തരമൊന്നാണ്. 1980 കള് വരെ അതും സാമൂഹ്യ ഉടമസ്ഥതയില് തന്നെയായിരുന്നു. തുടര്ന്നാണ് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് പേറ്റന്റിങ്ങ് ആരംഭിച്ചത്. ഇന്ത്യയില് ഇന്നും സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് പേറ്റന്റ് നിയമത്തിന്റെ പരിധിയിലല്ല. പരിധിയിലാക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം കുത്തകകളുടെ ഭാഗത്ത് നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. അതിനെതിരെ സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് പ്രവര്ത്തകരും ഇടതുപക്ഷ പുരോഗമന പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളും രംഗത്തുണ്ട്.
പക്ഷെ, സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് രംഗം ആഗോള കുത്തകകളുടെ കൈപ്പിടിയിലാണിന്ന്. അവര്ക്ക് ലൈസന്സ് ഫീ തരപ്പെടുത്തിക്കൊണ്ടാണ് ഒട്ടു മിക്ക ഇന്ത്യന് കമ്പനികളും അവരുടെ സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് സേവനങ്ങള് നല്കുന്നത്. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിലേയ്ക്ക് മാറിയാല് ഇന്ത്യയില് നിന്നുള്ള വിഭവം പാഴാകുന്നത് ഒഴിവാക്കാം. അതിലൂടെ മൊത്തം ചെലവിലുണ്ടാകുന്ന കുറവ് ഇന്ത്യന് കമ്പോളം വികസിക്കുന്നതിനിടയാക്കും. ഇന്ത്യന് സേവന ദാതാക്കളുടെ ലാഭം ഉയര്ത്തും. ഇന്ന് ആഗോളകുത്തകകളുമായുള്ള മത്സരത്തില് പിന്തള്ളപ്പെട്ടു പോകുന്ന അവസ്ഥയില് നിന്ന് നമ്മുടെ ചെറുകിട ഇടത്തരം സംരംഭങ്ങള്ക്ക് ആശ്വാസം നല്കിക്കൊണ്ട് അവര്ക്കും ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച വിവര വിനിമയ സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യ ഉപയോഗിച്ചുള്ള മാനേജ് മെന്റ് സംവിധാനം ലഭ്യമാക്കാം. ദുര്വഹമായ ചെലവ് മൂലം ഇന്നവര്ക്കത് അപ്രാപ്യമാണ്.
സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന്റെ മികവ് മേല്പ്പറഞ്ഞ നേരിട്ടുള്ള സാമ്പത്തിക നേട്ടങ്ങളില് ഒതുങ്ങുന്നില്ല. നമ്മുടെ കുട്ടികള്ക്ക് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറില് യഥാര്ത്ഥ അറിവ് നേടാന് അതുപകരിക്കും. ഇന്നവര് പ്രൊപ്രൈറ്റി സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറുകളുടെ ഉള്ളറകള് കാണാതെ പുറം മോടിയും അവയുടെ ഉപയോഗ ക്രമവും മാത്രമാണ് പഠിക്കുന്നത്. മറ്റ് മേഖലകളിലെ കുട്ടികള്ക്കാകട്ടെ, നിലവില് സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന്റെ ചെലവ് താങ്ങാനാവത്തത് മൂലം ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട മേഖലകളുടെ പഠനത്തിന് ആവശ്യമായവ ലഭിക്കാതെ പോകുന്നു. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്ട് വേറിലേയ്ക്കുള്ള മാറ്റം ഈ ദുസ്ഥിതിക്ക് പരിഹാരമാകും. നമ്മുടെ കുട്ടികള്ക്ക് മൂല്യവത്തായ മെച്ചപ്പെട്ട അറിവ് പകര്ന്ന് നല്കാനും അവരുടെ ഭാവി കൂടുതല് ശോഭനമാക്കാനും ഇതുപകരിക്കും. അവരുടെ തൊഴില് സാധ്യതകളും ഉയര്ത്തും.
സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറിന്റ മികവിനുള്ള അംഗീകാരമാണ് കോര്പ്പറേറ്റ് സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള് പോലും അവയിലേയ്ക്ക് മാറിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നത്. കാരണം, സ്വകാര്യ കമ്പനികള്ക്കുള്ളിലെ ജയില് സമാനമായ പരിതോവസ്ഥയില് പണിയെടുക്കുന്ന പരിമിതമായ മനുഷ്യ വിഭവത്തിനുണ്ടാക്കാന് കഴിയുന്നതിനേക്കാള് വേഗത്തിലും കാര്യക്ഷമതയിലും സ്വതന്ത്രമായ ചുറ്റുപാടില് തങ്ങളുടെ സൃഷ്ടിപരമായ കഴിവ് വിനിയോഗിക്കുന്ന എണ്ണമില്ലാത്ത സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് പ്രൊഫഷണലുകളുടെ കൂട്ടായ്മക്ക് പ്രശ്ന പരിഹാരം കാണാനും സോഫ്റ്റ് വേര് വികസിപ്പിക്കാനും കഴിയും. സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന്റ മേന്മയും അത് നല്കുന്ന ഭൌതിക നേട്ടവും വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന ഒരുദാഹരണം കൂടിയാണിത്.
ശൃംഖലാ സുരക്ഷിതത്വവും വിവര സുരക്ഷിതത്വവും ഉറപ്പ് വരുത്തുന്നതില് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ വേറിനുള്ള സാധ്യത പ്രൊപ്രൈറ്റി സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറുകള്ക്കില്ല. യുണിക്സ് സമാനമായ ലിനക്സിന്റെ സ്വതസിദ്ധമായ സുരക്ഷാ മികവുകള് മറ്റേത് പ്രൊപ്രൈറ്റി സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറുകളേയും വെല്ലുന്നതാണ്. അത് കൂടാതെ സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യയും മൂല കോഡുകളും (Source Code) പഠനത്തിനും ഉപയോഗത്തിനും ലഭ്യമായതിനാല് അതുപയോഗിക്കുന്നവര്ക്ക് പുറത്താര്ക്കും അറിയാത്ത സ്വന്തം സുരക്ഷാ സംവിധാനങ്ങള് ആസൂത്രണം ചെയ്ത് നടപ്പാക്കാം. ഉപയോഗിക്കാം.
പ്രൊപ്രൈറ്റി സോഫ്റ്റ് വേറുകളുടെ സുരക്ഷാസംവിധാനങ്ങള് രഹസ്യമാണ്, സ്ഥിരമാണ്. ഉപയോക്താക്കള്ക്കത് പഠിക്കാനാവില്ല. പക്ഷെ, സുരക്ഷാ ഭംഞ്ജകര്ക്കത് കഴിയുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഉപയോക്താക്കള്ക്ക് സുരക്ഷിതത്വമടക്കം ആവശ്യമായ സേവനങ്ങള് നല്കുന്നതില് ചെറുകിട സംരംഭകരുടെ സാധ്യതകളും സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന്റേയും ജനാധിപത്യത്തിന്റേയും മേന്മകളും ഇത് വെളിവാക്കുന്നു.
ഇക്കാരണങ്ങളാല് സമ്മേളനം എല്ലാ വിഭാഗം ജനങ്ങളുടേയും ശ്രദ്ധ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നു.
ജോസഫ് തോമസ്
കണ്വീനര്
04-10-2008.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Project Proposal 1 - Field Level Workshops - Crash program for familiarising BSNL services/products among BSNL Officers/workers.
Back ground : Suggestions made in the one day Conference on Public Sector Telecom Services & its future held on 14th at BTH, Ernakulam. Participants were representatives from BSNL management, BSNL Unions and Associations and Unions and Officers Associations of various Public Sector and social organisations. All of them emphasised. the need for strengthening the BSNL. One of the deficiency of the present day organisation noted by many was the lack of marketing drive from BSNL. Though various categories of personnel in BSNL are working in different areas such as installation, maintenance, service delivery, accounts, planning, management etc, the need for every body to be familiar with the BSNL products and services was felt by the participants. By and large, the pro-market forces, the right wing media campaign in favour of private operators and when encountered with specifics, BSNL personnel are unable to clear the doubts raised by the customers. The old Govt Department Official attitude of the BSNL organisation also is attributed to this ignorance of its own services and products. If BSNL personnel are aware of the attributes of BSNL products, then it is very easy to reach the present as well as prospective customers. Unless the BSNL personnel themselves are not familiar with the services, how can the public be expected of it. BSNL personnel, irrespective of the divergent nature of day to day duties, can and are expected to be aware of the basic attributes of the services and to guide and canvas the public they come in contact. This will be the first step of unleashing a powerful marketing and public awareness campaign on BSNL products and services. Hence the suggestion to have a crash program of familiarisation workshops for the entire BSNL personnel.
Previous model :
All the concepts applied in this proposal has already shown results in CTO, Cochin-682016. There, all the personnel were imparted such training at the time of conversion into CSC working between 0800 am to 0800 pm (which, it is reported, is still unique in the whole of BSNL, to have a CSC working and giving all services including cash collection and new mobile connections for such a long time, despite the Corporate Office directive to have such CSCs). Every body, including even, operative staff, technical maintenance staff and support staff who never dared to do work of facing the customers at public counter came forward to meet the public, give them proper guidance, give them the service they need and to attain the best customer satisfaction ever possible.Basic premises adopted and Concepts applied:
BSNL products are of superior quality than that of private operators. The deficiency is in service delivery and after sale support. Therefore, Best available marketing strategy is to improve the service delivery and after sales support, for which maximum BSNL personnel are to be deployed near to the customer, without compromising on the work they do at present. Such an initiative, doing away with the compartmentalisation of departments and sections, will help in meeting the sudden rush at public counters and extending service to the customers without delay and attaining maximum customer satisfaction with the help of staff from other sections or works, their normally assigned works being carried out during the periods when there is no rush at public counter.
The best marketing effort is to create public awareness on the services and products of BSNL.
To open up ones knowledge is the basic instinct of any human being. If every BSNL employee, irrespective of their area and nature of work, is made aware of the attributes and conditions of BSNL products, they will be the best campaigners and marketing personnel for BSNL products. Thus huge BSNL HR can be made a valuable asset than a liability while, at the same time, utilising their services effectively for providing quality service support instead of outsourcing.Outsourcing is not the best business model to be followed. Most of those who outsource their activities do so out of compulsions, to get the work done even when they do not have time to get HR recruited and fine tuned to the work or due to short term nature of the work or on considerations of cost. While doing so, they are fully aware that they are compromising on the quality. Examples are the Telecom Equipment suppliers. They retain inexperienced Indian operators for installation, maintenance etc of their equipments at a risk of even losing further business, as there is no other way out. But why should BSNL having quality manpower, often idling, for which they cannot be blamed, due to conventional services becoming outdated, should outsource their work to inexperienced operators at the risk of customer dissatisfaction and consequently loosing the business.
A little bit of motivation will do wonders with the existing HR. The awareness on the threats faced by BSNL itself shall be a really motivating factor. Lack of initiatives is the only factor that contributes to the existing inertia and lethargy.
Economic gain is not the only motivating factor.
Much, can be accomplished within the limitations and constraints of the available organisational frame work and authority, including building up pressure for bettering the organisational structure.
The program shall be implemented keeping in view the following points :Entire workers are to be covered in workshops conducted at three levels.
All Unions and Associations in BSNL are to be involved.
SSA level Faculty of 32 will include 16 nominated by Unions and Associations and 16 nominated by Management.
Commercial Officers and Accounts Officers of the concerned subject will form the Faculty Team for the SSA level workshops.
They shall sit together in groups and prepare the material with all relevant informations on the respective products and services which shall be supplied to the participants to be used for next level workshops.
SSA Faculties (Participants of the SSA level workshop) will lead the workshops at Area level and Area Faculties (Participants of the Area level workshops) will lead the workshop at Unit Level.
Faculty team at both levels will be the resource persons for the future and will be guiding the people in the field and at customer interface points, in case of any doubt arising for them at any time.
A Unit may be defined as an operative unit/section/subdivision/Division or combination of them according to geographical proximity the staff strength together which shall not be less than 50 and not more than 100.
Four rounds of workshops are required. With the first round 100% participats will become familiar with some of the services and atleast 25% will become familiar with bulk of the services. The faculty members will atleast become thorough with all the services. With subsequent 3 rounds at an intervel of 3 months all the personnel will become familiar with the services and their attributes. Subsequent rounds are beneficial to update the changes occured after the previous workshop.
Subsequent to the first year, the faculty team at each level will be empowered to update their information and convey the changes alone to the next level down below, which means only the unit level need meet whenever there is a change in the procedures or substantial changes in products/services.
Crash training program at a glance.
Discription SSA Level Area Level Unit Level.
Number of days 2 2 1
Choice of days Week days/working day Weekdays/working day Sunday/Holiday.
Number of sessions 4 4 4
Faculty 8 4 4
Participants 32 (SSA Faculty) 2 each from units All of the unit.
Inauguration PGMT GM AM/DE
Introduction GM (D) SSA F/M from Union. Area F/M from Union.
Land Line Service (Faculty) 2 COs and 2 AOs fm Areas SSA F/Member Area F/M
IMPCS Service(Faculty)SDE B/E, F/E, AO(Mob) SSA F/Member Area F/M
VAS & Leased Lines (Faculty)SDE BB, I/N, AO VAS SSA F/Member Area F/M
Business Dev/Marketing DGM (BD) & team SSA F/Member Area F/M
No of workshop days 2 12 50
Participants/workshop 50 70 60
Content for the Workshops.
Inaugural Session : 1 hour. Discussions/presentations on the background and the requirement of this program (Positive and motivating responses).
Head of the Unit. 20 minutes
Leaders of Unions & Associations : 5 to 10 minutes (Proportionate to their membership)
(Each of the following sessions shall have 3 hours divided and handled by Faculty members, each presenting their subject for half the period and answering to the questions for the remaining)
Session I Landline/WLL related products/Services – charges, conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session II Mobile related products/Services – charges, packages,conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session III Value added services (L/L,BB,Webhosting memmory etc ) - charges, conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session IV SSA Organisatin, Marketing, Service delivery,Service support, Customer care, bill
collection.
Concluding Session : 1 Hour for evaluation & Planning for the next level of workshops (Scheduling - Date and Venue - & Faculty Identification)
Calendar for the workshops.
Formation of core group : 1st day of the first week.
Core Group home work : 10 days
SSA Level workshops : : 4th and 5th day of Second week.
Area Level workshops : : 3rd week.
Unit level workshops : 4th, 5th & 6th weeks.
Staggering is suggested to have to one member each of core team in the area level workshops and Core team or SSA level Faculty in Unit level workshops. From the Second round onwards this need not be insisted and hence the entire course can be completed in three weeks by each concerned faculty managing the workshop in respective levels and areas.
Financial Analysis.
Total cost estimated comes to 21.16 lakhs of which only Rs. 4.25 lakh is to be spent in cash or kind for working lunch and refreshments, documents to be supplied and fuel for travel. All the rest is the salary component of core team and faculty members, existing space and infrastructure and good will which is only an effective utilisation and additional benefits accrued out of the existing resources or those available from outside.
Cost Benefit Analysis.
Benefits accrued are :
1.All the BSNL personnel in Ernakulam SSA gets familiarised with all the products and services of BSNL.
2.All of them become aware of the attributes of BSNL products and services so that they are able to guide the existing as well as prospective customers and undertake a purposeful campaign in favour of BSNL products and services.
3.Hence forth BSNL owns campaigners and marketing personnel in number, in capability, and in sincerity unmatched by any of its competitors, among the whole lot of customers themselves.
4.All of them can be made marketing personnel for any newly introduced packages as well, within days, with the additional informations passed on to them through a crash program which can be completed in a week's time or even within a day by resorting to other direct communication means, in emergency, which is possible only because they are tuned to the basic informations through this crash program.
5.They can also be used as service support personnel to reach them near to the customer through appropriate plans or schemes. Such schemes may include New connections of all varieties, cash collection, distribution of forms, passage of information, dues collection etc.6.This will go a long way in arresting the present downward trend in market share and revenue share.
7.The benefit to cost ratio, in terms of revenue, number of connections etc will be unimaginably high.
8.Staff productivity improves.
9.This crash training program with the involvement of all sections and the participatory discussions becomes the best ever staff motivation drive.
Previous model :
All the concepts applied in this proposal has already shown results in CTO, Cochin-682016. There, all the personnel were imparted such training at the time of conversion into CSC working between 0800 am to 0800 pm (which, it is reported, is still unique in the whole of BSNL, to have a CSC working and giving all services including cash collection and new mobile connections for such a long time, despite the Corporate Office directive to have such CSCs). Every body, including even, operative staff, technical maintenance staff and support staff who never dared to do work of facing the customers at public counter came forward to meet the public, give them proper guidance, give them the service they need and to attain the best customer satisfaction ever possible.Basic premises adopted and Concepts applied:
BSNL products are of superior quality than that of private operators. The deficiency is in service delivery and after sale support. Therefore, Best available marketing strategy is to improve the service delivery and after sales support, for which maximum BSNL personnel are to be deployed near to the customer, without compromising on the work they do at present. Such an initiative, doing away with the compartmentalisation of departments and sections, will help in meeting the sudden rush at public counters and extending service to the customers without delay and attaining maximum customer satisfaction with the help of staff from other sections or works, their normally assigned works being carried out during the periods when there is no rush at public counter.
The best marketing effort is to create public awareness on the services and products of BSNL.
To open up ones knowledge is the basic instinct of any human being. If every BSNL employee, irrespective of their area and nature of work, is made aware of the attributes and conditions of BSNL products, they will be the best campaigners and marketing personnel for BSNL products. Thus huge BSNL HR can be made a valuable asset than a liability while, at the same time, utilising their services effectively for providing quality service support instead of outsourcing.Outsourcing is not the best business model to be followed. Most of those who outsource their activities do so out of compulsions, to get the work done even when they do not have time to get HR recruited and fine tuned to the work or due to short term nature of the work or on considerations of cost. While doing so, they are fully aware that they are compromising on the quality. Examples are the Telecom Equipment suppliers. They retain inexperienced Indian operators for installation, maintenance etc of their equipments at a risk of even losing further business, as there is no other way out. But why should BSNL having quality manpower, often idling, for which they cannot be blamed, due to conventional services becoming outdated, should outsource their work to inexperienced operators at the risk of customer dissatisfaction and consequently loosing the business.
A little bit of motivation will do wonders with the existing HR. The awareness on the threats faced by BSNL itself shall be a really motivating factor. Lack of initiatives is the only factor that contributes to the existing inertia and lethargy.
Economic gain is not the only motivating factor.
Much, can be accomplished within the limitations and constraints of the available organisational frame work and authority, including building up pressure for bettering the organisational structure.
The program shall be implemented keeping in view the following points :Entire workers are to be covered in workshops conducted at three levels.
All Unions and Associations in BSNL are to be involved.
SSA level Faculty of 32 will include 16 nominated by Unions and Associations and 16 nominated by Management.
Commercial Officers and Accounts Officers of the concerned subject will form the Faculty Team for the SSA level workshops.
They shall sit together in groups and prepare the material with all relevant informations on the respective products and services which shall be supplied to the participants to be used for next level workshops.
SSA Faculties (Participants of the SSA level workshop) will lead the workshops at Area level and Area Faculties (Participants of the Area level workshops) will lead the workshop at Unit Level.
Faculty team at both levels will be the resource persons for the future and will be guiding the people in the field and at customer interface points, in case of any doubt arising for them at any time.
A Unit may be defined as an operative unit/section/subdivision/Division or combination of them according to geographical proximity the staff strength together which shall not be less than 50 and not more than 100.
Four rounds of workshops are required. With the first round 100% participats will become familiar with some of the services and atleast 25% will become familiar with bulk of the services. The faculty members will atleast become thorough with all the services. With subsequent 3 rounds at an intervel of 3 months all the personnel will become familiar with the services and their attributes. Subsequent rounds are beneficial to update the changes occured after the previous workshop.
Subsequent to the first year, the faculty team at each level will be empowered to update their information and convey the changes alone to the next level down below, which means only the unit level need meet whenever there is a change in the procedures or substantial changes in products/services.
Crash training program at a glance.
Discription SSA Level Area Level Unit Level.
Number of days 2 2 1
Choice of days Week days/working day Weekdays/working day Sunday/Holiday.
Number of sessions 4 4 4
Faculty 8 4 4
Participants 32 (SSA Faculty) 2 each from units All of the unit.
Inauguration PGMT GM AM/DE
Introduction GM (D) SSA F/M from Union. Area F/M from Union.
Land Line Service (Faculty) 2 COs and 2 AOs fm Areas SSA F/Member Area F/M
IMPCS Service(Faculty)SDE B/E, F/E, AO(Mob) SSA F/Member Area F/M
VAS & Leased Lines (Faculty)SDE BB, I/N, AO VAS SSA F/Member Area F/M
Business Dev/Marketing DGM (BD) & team SSA F/Member Area F/M
No of workshop days 2 12 50
Participants/workshop 50 70 60
Content for the Workshops.
Inaugural Session : 1 hour. Discussions/presentations on the background and the requirement of this program (Positive and motivating responses).
Head of the Unit. 20 minutes
Leaders of Unions & Associations : 5 to 10 minutes (Proportionate to their membership)
(Each of the following sessions shall have 3 hours divided and handled by Faculty members, each presenting their subject for half the period and answering to the questions for the remaining)
Session I Landline/WLL related products/Services – charges, conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session II Mobile related products/Services – charges, packages,conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session III Value added services (L/L,BB,Webhosting memmory etc ) - charges, conditions, qualities, facilities, benefits etc.
Session IV SSA Organisatin, Marketing, Service delivery,Service support, Customer care, bill
collection.
Concluding Session : 1 Hour for evaluation & Planning for the next level of workshops (Scheduling - Date and Venue - & Faculty Identification)
Calendar for the workshops.
Formation of core group : 1st day of the first week.
Core Group home work : 10 days
SSA Level workshops : : 4th and 5th day of Second week.
Area Level workshops : : 3rd week.
Unit level workshops : 4th, 5th & 6th weeks.
Staggering is suggested to have to one member each of core team in the area level workshops and Core team or SSA level Faculty in Unit level workshops. From the Second round onwards this need not be insisted and hence the entire course can be completed in three weeks by each concerned faculty managing the workshop in respective levels and areas.
Financial Analysis.
Total cost estimated comes to 21.16 lakhs of which only Rs. 4.25 lakh is to be spent in cash or kind for working lunch and refreshments, documents to be supplied and fuel for travel. All the rest is the salary component of core team and faculty members, existing space and infrastructure and good will which is only an effective utilisation and additional benefits accrued out of the existing resources or those available from outside.
Cost Benefit Analysis.
Benefits accrued are :
1.All the BSNL personnel in Ernakulam SSA gets familiarised with all the products and services of BSNL.
2.All of them become aware of the attributes of BSNL products and services so that they are able to guide the existing as well as prospective customers and undertake a purposeful campaign in favour of BSNL products and services.
3.Hence forth BSNL owns campaigners and marketing personnel in number, in capability, and in sincerity unmatched by any of its competitors, among the whole lot of customers themselves.
4.All of them can be made marketing personnel for any newly introduced packages as well, within days, with the additional informations passed on to them through a crash program which can be completed in a week's time or even within a day by resorting to other direct communication means, in emergency, which is possible only because they are tuned to the basic informations through this crash program.
5.They can also be used as service support personnel to reach them near to the customer through appropriate plans or schemes. Such schemes may include New connections of all varieties, cash collection, distribution of forms, passage of information, dues collection etc.6.This will go a long way in arresting the present downward trend in market share and revenue share.
7.The benefit to cost ratio, in terms of revenue, number of connections etc will be unimaginably high.
8.Staff productivity improves.
9.This crash training program with the involvement of all sections and the participatory discussions becomes the best ever staff motivation drive.
Summary of observations & suggestions made in the conference on Public Sector Telecom Services at Ernakulam on 14-08-2008.
Summary of suggestions made by the participants of the PSTS conference on 14-08-2008..
Srl No. Observations. By
1.Flood of partly cooked IT packages, fragmented operation networks & slow and distorted communication channels(ASA)
2.Scattered informations & Fragmented information system and hence partly informed decisions (ASA)
3.SMBs looking for one-stop-shop for cost effective VPN service.(ASA)
4.Outsourced services are not efficiently executed and cost BSNL dearly.(AVK)
5.Outsourcing is done by foreign operators in India out of compulsions at a very dear cost.(AVK)
6.Work Outsourcing is not the best business model.(AVK)
7.Content processing in Communication system is not an optional value addition but a necessary link (Das)
8.Customer domain knowledge is critical to market access.(Das)
9.E-governance will be better suited business area for BSNL in view of identical mindset of the two, the Govt.(Das)
10.ERP for PSUs will be better suited business area for BSNL in view of identical mindset of both, the PSU.(Das)
11.Assimilation of technology is not at all a problem for BSNL.(DGM(A)/Toms Antony)
12.Providing Total Solutions in ICS is the best way to market BSNL infrastructure services.(Joby/Toms Antony)
13.Telecom operators, especially BSNL with its legacy of over a century, are the best to cater to ICS (Joby/Toms Antony/Das)
14.BSNL products and services are better compared to private operators, but their delivery is inefficient.(JT)
15.Conventional Telecom Services such as Telegraph, LL call, STD etc irrelevant today (JT)
16.ICS industry has come up as result of expansion of communication sector.(JT)
17.New products and services arising out of advancement in technology.(JT)
18.BSNL Cash reserve Rs. 50000 Crores.(KCP MP)
19.BSNL fixed assets of land and buildings at prime locations spread over the country. (KCP MP)
20.BSNL investment plan for the immediate future is to the tune of Rs.60000 Cores only.(KCP MP)
21.Mobilisation of capital for investment not at all a problem for BSNL.(KCP MP)
22.Surplus fund of PSUs amounts to about 2 lakh crores.(KCP MP)
23.Telecom Development in India has ever been through internal capital mobilisation (KCP MP)
24.Telecom has never received budgetary support in post independance period.(KCP MP)
25.Collective decisions in meetings and online execution of tasks saving the time for file movement.(KDS SNEA)
26.Encourage to evolve models and roll out (KDS SNEA)
27.Horizontal structure of organisational heirarchy is the best to utilise the initiatives of the officers and workers (KDS SNEA)
28.Online information system instead of file based ones to enable easy retrieval and on the spot use.(KDS SNEA)
29.Optimise resource utilisation through the application ERP (KDS SNEA)
30.Piramidal structure of organisational heirarchy prevents initiative from any of the bottom levels.(KDS SNEA)
31.Reference to CTO Ernakulam as a successful change management model(KDS SNEA)
32.Telecom has ever been technology intensive.(PGM/DGM(A))
33.Telecom in India has adopted latest technology within few years of its introduction anywhere in the world.(PGM/DGM(A))
34.System integrators of clients are getting the work done from BSNL only, without payment for such services. BSNL can give total solution and earn revenue. (Toms Antony)
Srl. Suggestions Activity Levels Activity
1.Tie up with KSEB for right of way upto the customer premises. (ATPS),(Local,SSA)
2.Need for change in customer perception of BSNL services.(AS/Anil) (Local & National,ATPS/SSA/CO)
3.Need for change in staff perception of customer relation,(AS/Anil),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
4.Summary disconnection without notice over the phone shall be avoided.(AS/Anil),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
5.Warning message over phone/alternate phone for few days before disconnection,(AS/Anil),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
6.Need for better customer relations to avoid disconnection of even heavy users for delay in payment.(AS/Nandakumar),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
7.Automated applications for corporate houses (ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
8.Explore new Business area in Information Communication Technology (ASA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
9.Increased use of Information Technology.,(ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
10.Need for corporate culture and professionalism (ASA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
11.Technology innovation, Technology assimilation & timely intervention in market (ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
12.Avoid outsourcing of critical works such as billing etc which resulted in public ire due to non receipt of bills in time.(AVK),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
13.Extended cash collection time at CSCs,(AVK),(Local & National,PP2/SSA/CO)
14.Extended NPC/service delivery/support time at CSCs (AVK),(Local & National,PP2/SSA/CO)
15.Need to get works executed within BSNL to avoid the risk of compromising efficiency.(AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
16.Cubical peer groups for each service area integrating the technology, customer interface & customer domain knowledge verticals.(Das),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
17.Peer group dynamics to be time based and need based.(Das),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
18.Need to consider HR as an asset.(Das/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
19.Need to do business in every know how owned by BSNL.(Das/Toms Antony),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
20.Need for austerity and proper use of resources to the best advantage of BSNL (General),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
21.Need for increased customer awareness on BSNL products/services.(General),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
22.Need for Staff motivation drive.(General),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
23.Need to generate business and revenue using the vast assets of BSNL.(General),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
24.Proper awareness campaign and discussion conducted before implementing changes (General),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
25.Service near to the customer (General),(Local & National,PP1/PP2/PP3/PP4)26.Single window for all services (General),(Local & National,PP1/PP2/PP3/PP4)
27.Need for better initiatives from the BSNL Management at all levels. (Joby/Das/PLF),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
28.Need for providing total solutions to meet the data communication needs of PSUs (Joby/DGM(A)/KDS),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
29.Need for providing total solutions to meet the e-governance requirements (Joby/DGM(A)/KDS),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
30.Need for identifying and providing information based services. (JT),(Local & National,PP4/SSA/CO)
31.Need to diversify (KCP MP),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
32.Frequent field level participatory workshops for familiarising and updating BSNL products/services.(KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
33.Need for Online administration & management system within BSNL to make it vibrant.(KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
34.Need for promoting individual/group/local initiatives (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
35.Need to have a proactive and dynamic product/service delivery and support (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
36.Online operation system (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
37.Support of Local bodies required for timely augmentation of connectivity (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
38.CTO Ernakulam model of changemanagement to be replicated (KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
39.Every BSNL personnel required to be involved in public awareness campaign.(KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
40.Need for better awareness on BSNL products and services among BSNL personnel (KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
41.Need for familiarisation of products/service attributes among staff(KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
42.Every BSNL personnel need to be involved in marketing the products near to the customer.(KDS/PSP),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
43.Need to spread the in house use of ERP to assimilate knowhow to sell ERP services.(KDS/TA/ASA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
44.Need to curtail wasteful expenditure.(PGMT),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
45.Management initiatives for quality improvement shall not be in a way to provocate the workers (PSP),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
46.Unions and Associations to be taken in to confidence for betterment of service,(PSP/Anil/AS),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
47.A Communication Research and Development Centre (AS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
48.Uniform operation, accounts & finance procedures throughout India (ASA),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
49.Need to account intangible assets. (Das),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
50.Need for change in Govt attitude towards BSNL/PSUs (General),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
51.EPF of Rs. 2,40,000 crores being handed over to private banks, can be utilised. (KCP MP),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
52.PSUs can invest in each others projects, if permitted by Govt.(KCP MP),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
53.Need to change the policy of Govt with respect PSUs (KCP MP/KDS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
54.No IPO of BSNL shares (KCP MP/KDS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
55.All Telecom Service Providers in Public sector only. (KDS/AS/NK),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
.
.Explanations.
.
.Activity Levels – Local & National – Local initiatives are possible and national initiatives are required.
.Activity Levels – National – Nothing can be done locally – Govt has to act.
.
.Action – Action to be taken by :
.SSA – BSNL Ernakulam SSA Management.
.CO - BSNL Corporate Office.
.PP1 - Project Proposal 1 – Crash Training Program for motivating and updating BSNL workers with details of BSNL products/services.
.PP2 – Project Proposal 2 - Reorganising the work at customer service centres.
.PP3 – Project Proposal 3 - Online management system within BSNL on ERP concepts to practice various aspects of ICS.
.PP4 – Project Proposal 4 – Identifying the various Information Based Services that BSNL can take up.
.ATPS – Appropriate Technology Promotion Society will take up the issue with the relevant authorities or continue to under take the campaign on the issue in its future programs.
.TU/ASSNS/GOVT – Tus and Associations concerned may take up the issues with the BSNL Management/Govt at appropriate levels.
.
.Sri Toms Antony gave a detail account of many leased line services of BSNL generally known only to those who are actively involved in providing them.
.These informations are to be spread within and outside BSNL to reach the customers.
Srl No. Observations. By
1.Flood of partly cooked IT packages, fragmented operation networks & slow and distorted communication channels(ASA)
2.Scattered informations & Fragmented information system and hence partly informed decisions (ASA)
3.SMBs looking for one-stop-shop for cost effective VPN service.(ASA)
4.Outsourced services are not efficiently executed and cost BSNL dearly.(AVK)
5.Outsourcing is done by foreign operators in India out of compulsions at a very dear cost.(AVK)
6.Work Outsourcing is not the best business model.(AVK)
7.Content processing in Communication system is not an optional value addition but a necessary link (Das)
8.Customer domain knowledge is critical to market access.(Das)
9.E-governance will be better suited business area for BSNL in view of identical mindset of the two, the Govt.(Das)
10.ERP for PSUs will be better suited business area for BSNL in view of identical mindset of both, the PSU.(Das)
11.Assimilation of technology is not at all a problem for BSNL.(DGM(A)/Toms Antony)
12.Providing Total Solutions in ICS is the best way to market BSNL infrastructure services.(Joby/Toms Antony)
13.Telecom operators, especially BSNL with its legacy of over a century, are the best to cater to ICS (Joby/Toms Antony/Das)
14.BSNL products and services are better compared to private operators, but their delivery is inefficient.(JT)
15.Conventional Telecom Services such as Telegraph, LL call, STD etc irrelevant today (JT)
16.ICS industry has come up as result of expansion of communication sector.(JT)
17.New products and services arising out of advancement in technology.(JT)
18.BSNL Cash reserve Rs. 50000 Crores.(KCP MP)
19.BSNL fixed assets of land and buildings at prime locations spread over the country. (KCP MP)
20.BSNL investment plan for the immediate future is to the tune of Rs.60000 Cores only.(KCP MP)
21.Mobilisation of capital for investment not at all a problem for BSNL.(KCP MP)
22.Surplus fund of PSUs amounts to about 2 lakh crores.(KCP MP)
23.Telecom Development in India has ever been through internal capital mobilisation (KCP MP)
24.Telecom has never received budgetary support in post independance period.(KCP MP)
25.Collective decisions in meetings and online execution of tasks saving the time for file movement.(KDS SNEA)
26.Encourage to evolve models and roll out (KDS SNEA)
27.Horizontal structure of organisational heirarchy is the best to utilise the initiatives of the officers and workers (KDS SNEA)
28.Online information system instead of file based ones to enable easy retrieval and on the spot use.(KDS SNEA)
29.Optimise resource utilisation through the application ERP (KDS SNEA)
30.Piramidal structure of organisational heirarchy prevents initiative from any of the bottom levels.(KDS SNEA)
31.Reference to CTO Ernakulam as a successful change management model(KDS SNEA)
32.Telecom has ever been technology intensive.(PGM/DGM(A))
33.Telecom in India has adopted latest technology within few years of its introduction anywhere in the world.(PGM/DGM(A))
34.System integrators of clients are getting the work done from BSNL only, without payment for such services. BSNL can give total solution and earn revenue. (Toms Antony)
Srl. Suggestions Activity Levels Activity
1.Tie up with KSEB for right of way upto the customer premises. (ATPS),(Local,SSA)
2.Need for change in customer perception of BSNL services.(AS/Anil) (Local & National,ATPS/SSA/CO)
3.Need for change in staff perception of customer relation,(AS/Anil),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
4.Summary disconnection without notice over the phone shall be avoided.(AS/Anil),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
5.Warning message over phone/alternate phone for few days before disconnection,(AS/Anil),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
6.Need for better customer relations to avoid disconnection of even heavy users for delay in payment.(AS/Nandakumar),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
7.Automated applications for corporate houses (ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
8.Explore new Business area in Information Communication Technology (ASA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
9.Increased use of Information Technology.,(ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
10.Need for corporate culture and professionalism (ASA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
11.Technology innovation, Technology assimilation & timely intervention in market (ASA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
12.Avoid outsourcing of critical works such as billing etc which resulted in public ire due to non receipt of bills in time.(AVK),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
13.Extended cash collection time at CSCs,(AVK),(Local & National,PP2/SSA/CO)
14.Extended NPC/service delivery/support time at CSCs (AVK),(Local & National,PP2/SSA/CO)
15.Need to get works executed within BSNL to avoid the risk of compromising efficiency.(AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
16.Cubical peer groups for each service area integrating the technology, customer interface & customer domain knowledge verticals.(Das),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
17.Peer group dynamics to be time based and need based.(Das),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
18.Need to consider HR as an asset.(Das/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
19.Need to do business in every know how owned by BSNL.(Das/Toms Antony),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
20.Need for austerity and proper use of resources to the best advantage of BSNL (General),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
21.Need for increased customer awareness on BSNL products/services.(General),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
22.Need for Staff motivation drive.(General),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
23.Need to generate business and revenue using the vast assets of BSNL.(General),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
24.Proper awareness campaign and discussion conducted before implementing changes (General),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
25.Service near to the customer (General),(Local & National,PP1/PP2/PP3/PP4)26.Single window for all services (General),(Local & National,PP1/PP2/PP3/PP4)
27.Need for better initiatives from the BSNL Management at all levels. (Joby/Das/PLF),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
28.Need for providing total solutions to meet the data communication needs of PSUs (Joby/DGM(A)/KDS),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
29.Need for providing total solutions to meet the e-governance requirements (Joby/DGM(A)/KDS),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
30.Need for identifying and providing information based services. (JT),(Local & National,PP4/SSA/CO)
31.Need to diversify (KCP MP),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
32.Frequent field level participatory workshops for familiarising and updating BSNL products/services.(KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
33.Need for Online administration & management system within BSNL to make it vibrant.(KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/SSA/CO)
34.Need for promoting individual/group/local initiatives (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
35.Need to have a proactive and dynamic product/service delivery and support (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
36.Online operation system (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
37.Support of Local bodies required for timely augmentation of connectivity (KDS SNEA),(Local & National,SSA/CO/ATPS)
38.CTO Ernakulam model of changemanagement to be replicated (KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
39.Every BSNL personnel required to be involved in public awareness campaign.(KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
40.Need for better awareness on BSNL products and services among BSNL personnel (KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
41.Need for familiarisation of products/service attributes among staff(KDS/AVK),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
42.Every BSNL personnel need to be involved in marketing the products near to the customer.(KDS/PSP),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
43.Need to spread the in house use of ERP to assimilate knowhow to sell ERP services.(KDS/TA/ASA),(Local & National,PP3/PP4/SSA/CO)
44.Need to curtail wasteful expenditure.(PGMT),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
45.Management initiatives for quality improvement shall not be in a way to provocate the workers (PSP),(Local & National,PP1/SSA/CO)
46.Unions and Associations to be taken in to confidence for betterment of service,(PSP/Anil/AS),(Local & National,SSA/CO)
47.A Communication Research and Development Centre (AS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
48.Uniform operation, accounts & finance procedures throughout India (ASA),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
49.Need to account intangible assets. (Das),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
50.Need for change in Govt attitude towards BSNL/PSUs (General),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
51.EPF of Rs. 2,40,000 crores being handed over to private banks, can be utilised. (KCP MP),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
52.PSUs can invest in each others projects, if permitted by Govt.(KCP MP),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
53.Need to change the policy of Govt with respect PSUs (KCP MP/KDS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
54.No IPO of BSNL shares (KCP MP/KDS),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
55.All Telecom Service Providers in Public sector only. (KDS/AS/NK),(National,TU/ASSNS/GOVT)
.
.Explanations.
.
.Activity Levels – Local & National – Local initiatives are possible and national initiatives are required.
.Activity Levels – National – Nothing can be done locally – Govt has to act.
.
.Action – Action to be taken by :
.SSA – BSNL Ernakulam SSA Management.
.CO - BSNL Corporate Office.
.PP1 - Project Proposal 1 – Crash Training Program for motivating and updating BSNL workers with details of BSNL products/services.
.PP2 – Project Proposal 2 - Reorganising the work at customer service centres.
.PP3 – Project Proposal 3 - Online management system within BSNL on ERP concepts to practice various aspects of ICS.
.PP4 – Project Proposal 4 – Identifying the various Information Based Services that BSNL can take up.
.ATPS – Appropriate Technology Promotion Society will take up the issue with the relevant authorities or continue to under take the campaign on the issue in its future programs.
.TU/ASSNS/GOVT – Tus and Associations concerned may take up the issues with the BSNL Management/Govt at appropriate levels.
.
.Sri Toms Antony gave a detail account of many leased line services of BSNL generally known only to those who are actively involved in providing them.
.These informations are to be spread within and outside BSNL to reach the customers.
Future of Telecom Services in Public Sector
Paper presented by Hon. Member of Rajya Sabha Sri. K Chandran Pillai in the one day Conference on Public Sector Telecom Services at BTH, Ernakulam on 14-08-2008.
Dear All,
Efforts to bring representatives of all the stake holders of the Public Sector Telecom Company and to identify the issues that are to be sorted out to ensure its continued existence is to be well appreciated. I too do it first.
Telecom sector has a unique status among the various industrial sectors, not only because of its importance as one of the basic infrastructure facility, but because of the un precedented technological advancement, convergence of communication and computers, convergence of VOICE, IMAGE and TEXT into DATA, emergence of integrated data networks and the internet, resultant integration of various information based services and the consequent possibility of restructuring and re-engineering of each and every service sector, the single major commodity which they deal with is information, etc. taking place in that area. The advancement in technology, that from electrical to electronic, to integrated circuits, to micro processors and micro chips helped in mass production and consequent price reduction combined with expanding market has contributed to unprecedented expansion of communication network and services. Cost of per line connectivity is reported to have been reduced from 50000 to 1000 with the transition from electro-mechanical switches and cable based system to the present micro-processor based wireless system. The present day expansion of telecom facility is attributed to the entry of private operators in the fray, according to an analysis based on formal logic. But, it is in fact a result of the technology change from electrical to micro-chips and micro-processors. It opened up chance for private capital to make quick bucks. I neednot go into those aspects as I know that those from Telecom sector will discuss those peculiarities for the consumption of the customers. But the effect of these changes on the other sectors of economic activities cannot go unnoticed.
History of Telecom development in India shows that before Independence the Technology was provided, naturally, by the British. Thereafter till the end of eighties, the technology came from almost all advanced nations like Britain, France, Itally, Germany and Japan. Note that not from USA. But, by the middle of 1980's, with the appointment of Mr. Sam Pitroda as the Chairman of Telecom Commission and the institution of C-DoT, his so called brain child, the Indian Telecom Market was opened to USA. Still some of the problems of this Technology shift from European to US haunts us. Our communication system conforms to European standards, while IT equipments available in the market conforms to US standards. One such glaring example is the common MODEM available in indian market, which is charged as for VOICE, FAX and DATA, but incapable of identifying the caller number due to the mismatch in the standards used for transmission of tone.
This shift from European to US has to be read with the leadership role of USA in the field of Computer Hardware and Software. All the first 5 software corporates are US based. That means by 1990, USA was somehow able to avert a huge crisis in its economy caused by the downward slide of its engineering industry, including automobile, market for which was captured by others like Japan. The leadership of USA in the area of communication technology, fondly renamed as information technology, which is one of the area with which US economy was sustained, with the increased flow of wealth from all the nations that started using computer hardware and software, was passively acceded to by others to avoid a collapse in the global capitalist economy with the a crisis in its leading one.
I need not tell you that Telecom switches are using software and that the size of the switch comes down with the increased use of software. Every piece of equipments used in information communication sector has a software component now. Software, once upon a time, the property of Tele communication sector alone was taken out of communication industry and is now supplied to it at huge cost, embedded in the equipments, which even the communication experts are unable to handle, the maintenance for which the producers or suppliers themselves are to be retained, a way of loot with proprietary systems.
We have to learn lessens from the dynamism with which the information technology industry was nursed and brought up, identifying innumerable number of uses and thereby business avenues. This appreciation is not meant to imitate them in their cut throat competition and unmindful exploitation of the society as a whole. We can use such dynamism for the well being of the society at large. The business model created in Software, the development of ready to use packages, identified for each and every area and aspect of information handling, howsoever minute it may be, has become one of the mainstay of the present day economy. But for this business model created by capitalism, the spread of information technology to this extend would not have been possible. This credit goes to them. But, the effect of this new found industry shall not go unnoticed. Wealth from all the other sectors, using information, is being siphoned away at the cost of those sectors and ultimately risking the very health of the economy. Health of any economy is dependent on balanced development based on primary sectors, where alone real wealth is generated.
Balanced growth of economy is alien to Capitalism. Its existence is based on constant upheavals and that is the trend behind the present day neo liberal policies. That is what we witness in share markets. Initial Public Offer of BSNL shares to the extent of 10% is under consideration, it is reported. Justification mooted out is the requirement of about Rs. 60,000 Crores for immediate expansion. History of Telecom in post independent India shows that it has grown without any budgetary support. On the contrary, it has supported even the wasteful expenditures of the Govt. It is worth while to recall the earlier assessment of Rs.1,60,000 crores required for expansion and the proposal for collection of licence fee from private operators to meet it and later conversion of licence fee into profit sharing to the extend of only Rs. 50,000 Crores and that too finally waived, how much is not known yet, the process of which commenced with Minister Sukh Ram, which shows the hollowness of such declarations. What exactly happened was that the private operators came to stay to compete with BSNL. The much trumpeted resource mobilisation has miserably failed. In fact made it a failure. You are aware of the further decisions of TRAI etc with respect to ADC, USO etc. Added to this is the fraud committed to loot the BSNL of its revenue.
Cash reserve of BSNL is reported to be Rs.50,000 Crores. (Remember the sale of VSNL having Rs. 2400 Crores of cash reserve for a meagre price of Rs. 1400 to TATA and consequent laments of the then minister when TATA withdrew that money for reinvestment in their own businesses which was the natural and accepted course for TATA. BSNL having Rs. 50,000 Crores in Cash reserve alone in addition to fixed assets like land and buildings at prime locations throughout India need not have any scarcity of funds. Link it with the yet another decision of the Govt to appoint private banks as EPF managers. Rs. 2,40,000 Crores is the figure. Why not the Govt itself or through the earlier fund manager SBI invest in telecom. Why not PSUs invest in other PSUs. Who is blocking it. The Govt. There is no justification or need for handing over the Govt and PSU funds to private and then private investing in PSU. Yes, there is yet another arguement that the vigilance of share holders alone will make the PSUs shred its lethargy and work properly. I am leaving this question to be answered by this house.
With all due respect to your sentiments and eagerness to protect the BSNL, I must warn you that your goal cannot be achieved in isolation, insulated from the reality that the threat to the existence of Public Telecom Service Company comes from its very owner the Central Govt itself. This warning is not to deter you from your endeavor to take steps to protect the company, but to impress upon you the seriousness of the threat. Disinvestment forms part of over all policy frame work of the UPA Govt (now free from the constraints put in by the left parties through CMP) to withdraw from service sector to leave it to the finance capital in the context of Imperialist Globalisation. The ideas behind Globalisation is to do away with all sorts of social security measures, job security, state control on the market inorder to give free hand for finance capital. Free market also means exit of small entrepreneurs, closures, mergers, cartalisation and finally share market crisis, often artificial and calculated and at times spontaneous. Therefore, no body can depend on the share market, without risking their savings. To achieve your objective, you must close ranks with all those who are interested in similar aims, protecting their work, their wages, a decent livelihood and social security.
As far as the customers are concerned, their immediate interest tends them to opt for the cheap and quality service. It is quite natural. BSNL faces the problem of organisational rigidity and lack of dynamism, inherent with a large nation-wide, vast organisation as it is. It may not be able to respond as quickly as others to the price variations brought by its competitors. But the customers, in Kerala, by and large, they are having a better social outlook, and are pro public sector, has to see to the long term interest as well.
On the part of BSNL business organisation, it has to strike hard to attain customer satisfaction. The lethargy shall not be tolerated. Mis-management, corruption, wastage of resources, if any, have to be put an end to. BSNL services are said to be far better than any other. But service delivery has to improve. From the notes circulated for discussion, I am to understand that you are discussing the possibility of diversification of activities, products and services as well. Lateral and vertifical diversification, which means dynamism, is a means of sustenance of an organisation in the competitive environment. Telecom services in Public Sector shall have a role to play in the well being and betterment of our society.
Wish you all success and hope that concrete suggestions and decisions will come out of this forum.
K Chandran Pillai (Member, Rajya Sabha).
Dt: 14-08-2008.
Friday, July 11, 2008
സ്വതന്ത്റ സൊഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് പ്റസ്ഥാനം, ഒരു വിലയിരുത്തല്.
പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലായിരുന്ന, ഈ രംഗത്തെ പ്റൊഫഷണലുകളുടെ അറിവായിരുന്ന, സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യ കൈയ്യടക്കി, അവയെ നിഗൂഢവല്ക്കരിച്ച്, അവയില് കുത്തകാധിപത്യം സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, നിലനിര്ത്തി, തനത് മേഖലയിലെ മേലേക്കിടയിലുള്ള ഒരു ചെറിയ വിഭാഗം തൊഴിലാളികള്ക്ക് താരതമ്യേന മെച്ചപ്പെട്ട കൂലി കൊടുത്തുകൊണ്ട് ആ മേഖലയിലെ തന്നെ ബഹുഭൂരിപക്ഷത്തേയും ഇതര മുഴുവന് മേഖലകളേയും കടുത്ത ചൂഷണത്തിനിരയാക്കുകയാണ് ഇന്ന് സാമ്റാജ്യത്വം ചെയ്തുവരുന്നത്. പൊതുസ്വത്തായിരുന്ന തങ്ങളുടെ ഉപകരണങ്ങള് തട്ടിയെടുത്ത് ചൂഷണോപധിയാക്കിയ, തങ്ങളുടെ കണ്മുന്പില് നടക്കുന്ന, സാമ്റാജ്യത്വ കുടിലതയ്ക്കെതിരെ ആഗോളമായി വിവര സങ്കേതിക വിദ്യാ തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ സ്വാഭാവിക പ്റതികരണമായാണ് സ്വതന്ത്റ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് കൂട്ടയ്മ ഉയര്ന്നു വന്നത്.
ഇരുപതാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിന്റ്റെ അവസാന പതിറ്റാണ്ട് വരെ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് സാമൂഹ്യ ഉടമസ്ഥതയില് തുടര്ന്നിരുന്നു. അടിസ്ഥാന സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറുകളില് ചെറിയ ചില കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്ക്കലുകള് വരുത്തി അവയ്ക്ക് പേറ്റെന്റ്റ് നേടി പണമുണ്ടാക്കാനുള്ള മാര്ഗം തെളിഞ്ഞത് ഉറുഗ്വേ വട്ടം ഗാട്ട് ചര്ച്ചയുടേയും അതില് ധാരണ ഉണ്ടാകാതെ വന്നപ്പോള് സാമ്റാജ്യത്വ ശക്തികള് പടച്ചുണ്ടാക്കിയ ലോക വ്യാപാര സംഘടനയുടേയും കുടക്കീഴിലാണ്. ഭൂമിയിലോ മറ്റുല്പാദനോപാധികളിലോ സ്വകാര്യ ഉടമസ്ഥത നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകള്കൊണ്ട് ഉരുത്തിരിഞ്ഞ് വന്നതും നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകളായി നിലനില്ക്കുന്നതുമാണെന്നതിനാല് ഇന്നത്തേ തലമുറയ്ക്ക് പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥത നിലനിന്നിടത്ത് അക്കാലഘട്ടത്തിന്റ്റെ ആവശ്യമെന്ന നിലയില് സ്വകാര്യ ഉടമസ്ഥതയുടെ പുതിയ ബന്ധങ്ങള് ഉരുത്തിരിഞ്ഞു വന്നതാണെന്നും തുടര്ന്ന് വളച്ചുകെട്ടലിലൂടെയും ബലപ്റയോഗത്തിലൂടെയും ശക്തിപ്പെട്ടതാണെന്നും മാറിയ ചുറ്റുപാടില് പൊരുത്തപ്പെടാത്ത ഈ ബന്ധം മാറ്റപ്പെടാവുന്നതണെന്നും മനസിലാക്കാന് ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടുണ്ടാകും. പക്ഷെ, എണ്പതുകളിലും തൊണ്ണൂറുകളിലുമായി നടന്ന സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിന്റ്റെ രംഗത്തെ സ്വകാര്യ വെട്ടിപ്പിടുത്തവും അതിന്റ്റെ ഫലങ്ങളും സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് രംഗത്തു തന്നെ പണിയെടുത്തുകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന പ്റൊഫഷണലുകള് നേരില് കണ്ടറിയുകയാണിന്ന്.
മുതലാളിത്തം വളര്ന്നത് അക്കാലഘട്ടത്തിലെ കൈത്തൊഴിലുകാരുടെ തൊഴിലുപകരണങ്ങള് പിടിച്ചു പറിച്ചുകൊണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അവരുടെ വ്യക്തിസ്വത്തായിരുന്ന ചെറു ഉപകരണങ്ങള്ക്ക് പകരം വന്കിട യന്ത്റങ്ങള് സ്ഥാപിച്ചുകൊണ്ടൂള്ള കൂറ്റന് ഫാക്ടറികള് പടുത്തുയര്ത്തിക്കൊണ്ടും അവയില് നിന്നിറക്കിയ ഉല്പ്പന്നങ്ങളുടെ കുറഞ്ഞ വില എന്ന ആകര്ഷണം ഉപയോഗിച്ച് അവരെ രംഗത്തു നിന്ന് നിഷ്ക്റമിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുമായിരുന്നു. കൈത്തൊഴിലുകാര് ചിതറിക്കിടന്ന അസംഘടിതരായിരുന്നു, വെട്ടിപ്പിടുത്തം പരോക്ഷമായിരുന്നു, അന്ന് പിടിച്ചുപറിക്കപ്പെട്ടത് ഭൌതികോപകരണങ്ങളായിരുന്നു, ബൌദ്ധിക സ്വത്തവകാശം അന്ന് ബാധകമായിരുന്നുമില്ല. ഇന്നാകട്ടെ, രംഗം വിവരവിനിമയമാണ്, ഇരകള് പ്റൊഫെഷണലുകളാണ്, അവരൊഴിച്ച് മറ്റാര്ക്കും നാളിതുവരേ വഴങ്ങാത്ത വിവരവിനിമയ ശ്റുംഖലയാകട്ടെ പടര്ന്ന് പന്തലിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു, അതുപയോഗിക്കാനും മറ്റാരേക്കാളും അവര്ക്കാണ് കഴിയുക, ഔപചാരികമായതെങ്കിലും, ജനാധിപത്യം, പൂര്ണ്ണമായല്ലെങ്കിലും വളരെയേറെ വികസിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു, സാമ്റാജ്യത്വം തങ്ങളുടെ താല്പ്പര്യത്തില് ബൌദ്ധിക സ്വത്തവകാശം നിലവില് വരുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു, സ്വത്തവകാശം സമൂഹത്തിനുമാകാം, പുറംപോക്കുപോലെ, നദികള് പോലെ, മേച്ചില്സ്ഥലം പോലെ, റോഡുകള് പോലെ. പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലായിരുന്ന, പ്റൊഫെഷനലുകളുടെ അറിവായിരുന്ന സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറും വളച്ചുകെട്ടപ്പെടാത്ത വിധത്തില് പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയില് നിലനിര്ത്താനാവശ്യമായ നിയമ ചട്ടക്കൂടാണ് ജി.പി.എല്. സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് രംഗത്തെ പ്റൊഫെഷണലുകലുടെ പ്റതികരണം ചടുലവും ശക്തവും തീക്ഷ്ണവുമായത് സ്വഭാവികം മാത്റമാണ്.
ഇന്ന് നമ്മുടെ നാട്ടില് ഭൂമി പുറംപോക്കുകള് പോലും വളച്ചുകെട്ടപ്പെടുന്ന അവസ്ഥയില് പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയുടെ പ്റശ്നം, മറ്റുമേഖലകളിലും അതിന്റ്റെ പ്റയോഗ സാധ്യത, ഉല്പ്പാദനോപാധികളുടെ പൂര്ണ്ണമായ പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലേക്കുള്ള പരിവര്ത്തനതിന്റ്റെ ഗതിവേഗം കൂട്ടുന്നതിനുള്ള സാധ്യതകള് തുടങ്ങി ഒട്ടേറെ വിഷയങ്ങള് സജീവമാകാന് ഈ വിഷയത്തിന്മേലുള്ള ചര്ച്ചകള് വഴിയൊരുക്കുന്നു.
സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് രംഗത്തെ ഇത്തരം പ്റവണതകള്, ഉല്പ്പദനോപാധികളുടെ സ്വകാര്യ ഉടമസ്ഥതയില് അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ മുതലാളിത്തം മാറ്റി പൊതു ഉടമസ്ഥതയില് അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ ഒരു സോഷ്യലിസ്റ്റ് വ്യവസ്ഥ സ്ഥാപിക്കാന് നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന പ്റസ്ഥാനങ്ങള്ക്ക് പ്റചോതനമേകുന്നതാണ്. തൊഴിലാളി വര്ഗത്തിന്റ്റെ ഭാഗമെങ്കിലും നാളിതുവരേ തൊഴിലാളികളെന്ന് സ്വയം വിശേഷിപ്പിക്കാന് തയ്യാറാകാതിരുന്ന, ഇന്നും അതിന് പൂര്ണ്ണമായി തയ്യറായിക്കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല, ബൌദ്ധിക തൊഴിലാളികള് സംഘടിത തൊഴിലാളികള്ക്കൊപ്പം അണിചേരുന്നതിന്റ്റെ വ്യക്തമായ സൂചനകൂടിയാണിത്. അദ്ധ്വാനശക്തിയുടെ ചരക്ക് രൂപവും സന്പത്തിന്റ്റെ പണരൂപവും മിച്ചമൂല്യം സ്വയത്തമാക്കുന്നതിലൂടെയുള്ള പരോക്ഷമായ ചൂഷണവും അത് സാധരണ തൊഴിലാളികളില് നിന്ന് മറച്ചുപിടിക്കാന് മുതലാളിത്തത്തിനെ സഹായിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. പക്ഷേ, ബൌദ്ധിക തൊഴിലാളികളായ വിവര സങ്കേതിക വിദ്യാ രംഗത്തെ പ്റൊഫെഷണലുകളുടെ കാര്യത്തില് അവരുടെ കയ്യില് നിന്ന് തട്ടിപ്പറിച്ച ഉപകരണങ്ങള് അവര്ക്കെതിരെ തന്നെ ഉപയോഗിക്കപ്പെടുന്പോള് കുത്തക സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ക്ന്പനികള്ക്കെതിരേ നില്ക്കാന് അവര് നിര്ബ്ബന്ധിതരായിത്തീരുകയാണ്. ലോകവ്യാപകമായി പ്റൊഫഷണലുകളുടെ കൂട്ടായ്മ കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കാനും അവരുടെ അദ്ധ്വാനവും കഴിവുകളും പരസ്പര പൂരകമായി പ്റയോജനപ്പെടുത്താനും അതിലൂടെ കുത്തക സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് കന്പനികളേക്കാള് വിപുലമായ വിഭവങ്ങള് സമാഹരിക്കാനും കുത്തകകള്ക്കെതിരേ ശക്തമായി പ്റതികരിക്കാനും അവരുടേതിനേക്കാള് മെച്ചപ്പെട്ട സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ഉപകരണങ്ങളും ഉല്പ്പന്നങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടാക്കാനും തങ്ങളുടെ വരുതിയിലുള്ള വിവര വിനിമയ ശ്റുംഖലയും അതിലൂടെ കോര്ത്തിണക്കപ്പെടുന്ന പ്റൊഫെഷണലുകളുടെ ആഗോള കൂട്ടായ്മയും അവര്ക്ക് സഹായകമാകും. മുതലാളിത്ത ആഗോളവല്ക്കരണത്തിനെതിരേ തൊഴിലാളി വര്ഗ സാര്വദേശീയതയുടെ ഒരു രൂപരേഖ ഇവിടെ തെളിയുന്നു.
കൊച്ചി,
11-07-2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
SIGTUR
SIGTUR 8th Congress
Against Globalisation and for TU Rights!
Background of the Eighth Congress of Southern Initiative
on Globalisation and For T.U. Rights
to be held at Kochi
19th to 23rd April 2008
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions and its friendly organisation have decided to hold the Eighth Congress of Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights at Kochi (Kerala) from 19th to 23rd April 2008. It is an important event in the struggle against capitalist globalisation and for Trade Union Rights we are expecting about 100 delegates from foreign countries would participate in the Congress while the Indian contingent is likely to be about 150. The Congress would review the ongoing struggles against globalisation all over the world and chalk out programme of action to strengthen the struggle.
The real face of globalisation is now clearly visible as never before. According to available data globalisation has given rise to extreme inequalities in the world arena at unprecedented level of concentration of wealth in the hands of few individuals while overwhelming majority of the population is living in harrowing conditions of life. It is admitted internationally that one per cent of the global population has cornered 40 per cent of the total wealth in the world while 50 per cent of the world population is living a poverty stricken life with only one per cent of the global wealth. In India too, 48 billionaires in dollars control nearly 30 per cent of the national income while 40 per cent of the children in the country are anemic which shows the shocking impact of globalisation on the living condition of the mass of our population. According fortune magazine in USA out of 10 richest persons in the world 4 are from India which in Japan the number is only 2.
Top 20 per cent of the world population living in advanced capitalist countries has cornered 85 per cent of the world income. While bottom 20 per cent is living on only 1.3 per cent of the world income. This exposes the claim of a "global village" as advocated by the supporters of globalisation. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisations have become instruments of "global village". As one African delegate in the UNCTAD meeting correctly pointed out that what is taking place in the world is "blood transfusion in reverse". Blood is sucked out from the poverty stricken countries in the world and injected into the advanced capitalist countries!
IS GLOBALISATION IRREVERSIBLE?
The tall talk that globalisation is irreversible is meaningless. The present stage of globalisation is unsustainable and unacceptable because it has imposed additional miseries on the working people of the world. Working class and the people in the world are bound to rise against the policies of globalisation and neo-liberalism since their living conditions are growing becoming intolerable. Downsizing of manpower outsourcing of regular jobs to cheap labour through contract system, entailment of social security measures and deterioration of working conditions, utter neglect of occupational health of the workers, restraint of wage rise of the workers and attack on trade union rights to marginalize the trade union movement have become the order of the day.
Dismantling, privatisation and disinvestments of public sector have helped the private sector companies to enhance their profitability by unheard of loot of public assets. The reckless entry of multi-national corporations in domestic sector ruining the indigenous industry has strengthened the grip of foreign capital over the national economies of the developing countries.
The UNDP has rightly characterized the present economic development in the world as an indication of "futureless growth". Thousands of hectors of forests are denoted every year for housing construction, furniture making and manufacturing of paper. With the absence of new programme of planting of trees the atmospheric pollution has increased phenomenally. The emission of carbon dioxide by several factories coming every year, along with impure air coming out of exhausts of millions of cars have dangerously added to the carbon dioxide content of atmosphere causing global warming and green house effect. The rise in temperature is resulting in melting of snow in Antarctic and Arctic seas which are threatening the increase in sea level and consequent threat of flooding of several cities on the shores of seas all over the world. The atmospheric pollution is affecting health of the working population. The pollution of rivers has given rise to the increase in waterborne diseases of the people.
Globalisation has immensely increased the power of multi-national corporations. As Prof. Joseph Stiglitz has noted, "For many people, multi-national corporations have come to symbolize what is wrong with globalisation, many would say they are primary cause of its problems. These companies are richer than most countries in the developing world. In 2004, the revenues of US car company General Motors were $191.4 billion, greater than GDP of more than 148 countries. In its fiscal year ending 2005, U.S. retailer Wal-Mart’s revenues were $285.2 billion, larger than combined GDP of sub-saharan Africa. These corporations are not only rich but politically powerful. If Government decides to tax or regulate them in ways they don’t like, their threaten to move elsewhere. There is always another country that will welcome they tax revenues, jobs and foreign investment" – (Making Globalisation Work Pages 187-188)
THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
The USA is the largest polluter of air in the world accounting for 25 per cent of all the green house gases. For example, Wyoming the least populous state in USA with a population of half a million emits more carbon dioxide than 74 developing countries with a combined population of nearly 400 million while Texas another state in USA with a population of 22 million exceeds the emission of carbon dioxide of 120 developing countries with a combined population of over 1.1 billion people. Unless these emissions are reduced drastically the future of the world will be dark.
Under these circumstances in 1997 in the city of Kyoto in Japan heads of the state of 150 countries adopted what is known as Kyoto Protocol cutting back emissions of carbon dioxide from 1990 levels by several countries by 2012 which includes Europe by 8 per cent USA by 7 per cent and Japan by 6 per cent. It however did not visualise cutting back of emission levels by developing countries. Though USA signed the declaration the Government later on decided not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Thus the largest polluter of atmosphere in the world is refusing to protect the future of the people of the world and TU movement all over the world cannot ignore this aspect in their movement for a cleaner globe.
WHITHER MILLENNIUM GOALS
According to official estimate developing countries owe $1.5 million to World Bank, IMF and International Banks. The repayment liabilities are so large that less funds are available for economic development.
In September 2000, when the world entered a new millennium heads of the state of 150 countries assembled in the Millennium Summit at United Nations and adopted a declaration known as Millennium Development Goals which pledged to reduce poverty by half till 2015. The Eight millennium Goals included 1) eradication of poverty and hunger 2) to achieve universal primary education 3) to promote gender equality and empower women 4) to reduce child mortality 5) to improve material health 6) to combat HIV/AIDS malaria and other diseases 7) to ensure environmental sustainability and 8) to develop a global partnership for development.
Half the period to achieve the millennium goals are already over but there is not much visible progress to achieve this goals. It is now openly admitted that these goals are not likely to be achieved. On the contrary the condition in several developing countries are likely to deteriorate due to the policies of globalisation.
Under these circumstances unless the policies of globalization are reversed the struggle to eliminate poverty is not likely to achieve any progress. The trade union movement in the world to-day is facing a challenging situation. It must face these challenges squarely and defeat the policies of globalisation if the interests of the working class is to be fully protected.
Effective struggle against globalisation is possible only by developing and strengthening of international solidarity by the trade union movement. Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR) is a modest attempt to develop such a solidarity. Despite difficulties the solidarity has been growing resulting in emerging resistance to the policies of globalisation.
CITU'S CONTACTS WITH WESTERN AUSTRALIAN UNIONS
CITU's contact with Western Australian Trade Union Council was developed in early nineties through a research scholar from University of Western Australia. Ms. Donna White wrote to CITU about her visit to India in connection with a research project and she asked help from CITU to find some material regarding working conditions in India. The CITU readily agreed to help her. She was deeply impressed by the help given by the CITU and kept regular contacts with us. Later her husband Rob Mecham, who was also a research scholar, visited India an informed us that the Western Australian Trade Union Council was led by leftist elements and they would like to keep regular contacts with CITU. The CITU welcomed the proposal.
The CITU was invited to attend the Indian Ocean Regional conference at Perth. The CITU nominated Chittabrata Majumdar and Tapan Sen in the delegation. We were later informed to send one artist who could sing Indian songs. The CITU nominated Mangala, grand daughter of Com. E.M.S. Namboodiripad, who sang several progressive songs from India The Indian delegation created a good impact in the conference and relations between CITU and Western Australian Trade Union Council were strengthened further.
In 1988, the Western Australian Trades and Labour Council (WATLC), an affiliate of Australian Council of Trade Unions, was extremely concerned about the process of economic liberalization and deregulation which was likely to affect the trade union rights of workers. It convened a meeting of some progressive academiecians of the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University to jointly work out an appropriate strategy of solidarity action to meet the challenges of the situation. A sub-committee of the academicians proposed to call a conference of union leaders in Indian Ocean Region and applied for ILO funding. However, the ILO did not agree to provide funds for the proposal and the idea remained in cold storage.
Rob Lambert, who was actively associated in South Africa with Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the struggle against Apartheid regime, joined the Western Australian University in late 1988 and got in touch with WATLC and using his experience in South Africa proposed that the academic conference will not serve the purpose of developing international solidarity. The WATLC therefore decided not to pursue the idea of academic gathering but to give top priority in establishing and building contacts with genuine trade unions in Asian region that were fighting the policies of neo-liberalism.
During 1989 and 1990 Lambert visited countries in Asia and found common forms of subjugation and exploitation in the region, while trade union movement was facing brutal repression. Jay Naidoo then General Secretary of COSATU expressed the support to the proposal to bring the trade union movement opposed to the policies of globalisation on the common platform so that an international movement could be developed. It was therefore decided to hold a preliminary workshop to explore the possibilities of development of international solidarity movement.
FIRST WORKSHOP 1991 - PERTH
In May 1991 a small workshop was held in Perth (Western Australia) Twenty four delegates participated in it, half of them were from Australia. One third of the foreign delegates were from COSATU. KMU from Philippines joined the workshop while then newly established solidarity union from Indonesia joined the workshop. Arokia Das from Malaysia who was recently released from prison for participating in trade union activities also joined the workshop. There were delegates from Sri Lanka Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. The workshop felt the need for organizing solidarity action in the region to fight against the policies of globalisation and for trade union rights. It therefore emphasized the development of organizational strength at the workplace for organizing any action programme.
The Indonesian trade unions who participated in the workshop later organized protest action demanding trade union rights outside ILO office at Jakarta. The protests, however, were followed by widespread repression by the military. Factory leaders were victimized. Leaders lost their jobs and had to face longdrawn interrogation by the army. The trade unions in the region expressed solidarity with their brothers in Indonesia.
The workshop evoked strong criticism in Australia. The National Civic Council (NCC) having strong Catholic Church links and active in the right wing of the Labour Party of Australia as well as Australian Trade Union movement launched a virulent attack against the workshop in their May 1991 journal Social Action in the following words:
"The initiative for the Conference came from the left of the trade union movement in Western Australia, and appeared to have a distinct WFTU flavour about it."
"The Soviet backed World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has been anxious to build regional initiative between union allied and favourable to it and unions associated with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)." It further criticized the workshop that, "The delegates did not necessarily represent recognized trade unions in their respective countries."
ACTU President, Fergusson also characterized the workshop as unrepresentative and attended by unrecognized unions. The participants of the workshop however were determined to carry forward their objective to fight against globalisation and for trade union rights. They tried to contact other trade unions in the region who oppose the policies of globalisation and they got positive response from trade unions of different countries.
The critics were opposed to any determined struggle against globalisation policies and wanted to function within the framework of globalisation. The working class in Australia from their practical experience in their country veered round the concept of opposition to globalisation. The enlarging attack on T.U. rights in Australia highlighted the urgency to fight for preserving T.U. rights won after bitter struggles in the past. The Indian Ocean Regional Co-ordination could not be stopped, it went ahead with more determination.
SECOND CONGRESS – 1992 PERTH
The Second International Congress after launching of Indian Ocean Initiative was held at Perth in November 1992, which was attended by 140 delegates. For the first time the CITU participated in this congress. As stated in the website of SIGTUR, "The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) had a large delegation who contributed significantly to the debates." COSATU sent a nine member delegation led by Zwelinzima Vavi who later became General Secretary of COSATU. New countries, which participated in the congress, included countries like, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. The Congress constituted Regional Coordination Committee (RCC) which as to meet once in a year to review the organizational activities and to chalk out programme for further action. The discussion in the Congress veered round the topic of denial of trade union rights in Asia and Africa and the struggles conducted by trade unions to achieve these rights. The Principles of the participation formulated by the RCC became popular among the Asian countries, which opened up vista of new form of international solidarity and co-operation.
The Regional Co-ordination Committee (RCC), formed after formation of Indian Ocean Initiative as a follow-up action of the workshop, chalked out principles for participation which included the following major points:
1. The organization participating must confirm the ILO conventions 87 (Collective Bargaining) and 151 (Public Employees).
2. "Unions which are established by the state or are part of the state which seek to control workers in the interest of capital and the state cannot be part of the initiative. Furthermore unions which are established with the assistance of employers and are dominated by employees, should be excluded."
3. This initiative will include unions, which are active at the grass roots level in organizing and representing the interests of the working class."
4. The initiative will not exclude or include unions/federations solely on the basis of their political and ideological orientation or their tactical and strategic goals within their countries, which aim to further the interests of the working class."
It therefore concluded, "To the extent that we achieve a principled and broad based inclusive orientation, we will become a forum of intense, creative debate on working class interests. In an era when the powerful forces of global capital and finance capital, represented by international institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, are ranged against the working class movement, such an approach is of paramount importance. We must be a catalyst for dialogue and debate, as well as strategic initiative aimed at the protection and renewal of the working class movement."
Thus, the new initiative provided for a broad framework of the international trade union movement to protect the interests of the working class by fighting against the machinations of the capitalist class.
THIRD CONGRESS 1994 PERTH
The Third Congress was again held in Perth in 1994, which was participated by 140 delegates. The meeting was dominated by the question of repression on the trade union movement in Indonesia. The President of ACTU Ferguson advocated ties of friendship with unions bolstered by the military dictatorship on the plea that they could be reformed. However, 10 delegates who came from Indonesia were representing genuine democratic unions and were opposing Australian Governments, policy of supporting the scab unions. This was a serious threat to the very basis of formation of initiative itself. However, Ferguson could not carry forward his objective due to the firm stand taken by the national affiliates of ACTU who supported the stand of the democratic trade unions of Indonesia. The CITU supported the stand taken by the militant trade unions of Australia.
In 1995, conservative Government came to power in Australia, which passed laws curtailing drastically trade union rights at the workplace. The WATLC took initiative in organizing powerful regions campaign, which culminated in a protest march, which was participated by over 20 thousand workers.
The demonstration was addressed by the representative of COSATU who expressed firm solidarity with the Australian workers. The CITU sent fraternal message of solidarity with the Australian workers. The KMU also sent a message of solidarity stating that: "we are with you on the streets of Western Australia."
The SIGTUR website reported, "The Far Eastern Economic Review, carried an article headline Role Reversal: State attracts Asian criticism on workers rights. Rees, the author commented".
"When it comes to dishing out criticism of human rights, Australia is mere used to giving than receiving. But a … proposed labour legislation.... has reversed the usual roles. Answering the calls for support from their Australian counterparts, unionists in several Asian countries have demonstrated against the legislation since it was introduced."
The article took note of the fact that President of CITU M.K. Pandhe branded the proposed legislation, a "ruthless attack on workers rights." In protest note to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi Pandhe stated, "It is to our astonishment that the state government is going all out in its bid to disrupt industrial relations. This will tarnish the image of Australia" (Far Eastern Economic Review October 19, 1995)
FOURTH CONGRESS 1997 - KOLKATA
The CITU had the privilege to host the fourth Congress now it was named as Southern Initiative on Globalization and Trade Union Rights. The SIGTUR website had aptly described the Kolkata Conference in the following words:
"In the ensuring strategic debates, a new emphasis was placed on understanding the restructuring dynamics of industry sectors in order to more effectively work out ground strategy. The new dimension gained momentum within the network's Fourth Regional Conference hosted by CITU and held at Calcutta, India. The meeting of 260 delegates was a remarkable experience as CITU had mobilized its constituents. Banners and posters lined Calcutta's crowded streets and more than 20,000 workers participated in the opening events. CITU organized factory and community visits that revealed the unions, social base in West Bengal's working class. The meeting demonstrated the vitality and organizational capacity of union movement in a developing nation for it was no mean feat to organize and finance such a large meeting. This was the first meeting outside of Australia where the dynamic style and procedures were shaped by the Indian leadership.
"This was a learning curve for many delegations, bringing to their mind the importance of cultural awareness in the construction of a new internationalism. The success of the Indian meeting consolidated the vision of a Southern rather than a geographically bound network of democratic unions, where a southern identity denoted a political experience of exploitation and marginalisation than arose out of a particular position of subordination in the new global economy."
The SIGTUR website concluded, "The Indian meeting had another significant impact on the evolution of SIGTUR strategy. The 1997 workshop based meeting at Calcutta brought to the fore the devastating effect downsizing, outsourcing, casualisation and the privatization of state assets on the condition of the working class across all sectors and all countries, the workshop outcomes provided a damning indictment of the social and economic impacts of neoliberal globalization."
All major trade unions in India participated in the meeting. Among them were Umraomal Purohit (HMS), Subrata Mukherjee(INTUC) and H.Mahadevan (AITUC), Jyoti Basu, Vice-President of CITU was the main speaker in the inaugural meting at Indoor Stadium.
FIFTH CONGRESS : JOHANNESBURG 1999
The Fifth Congress of SIGTUR was held in Johannesburg (South Africa) which was attended by 121 delegates and observers from 14 countries. It was held at Honey Dew near Johannesburg from 25th to 29th October 1999, which was hoasted, by COSATU. For the first time the conference was held as SIGTUR.
Dr. Blade Nzimande, General Secretary, South African Communist Party inaugurated the Conference which was also addressed by Zwelinzima Vavi General Secretary COSATU. Both the speakers sharply criticized the policies of globalization and called for united struggles to defeat these policies.
The action plan envisaged the following main issues:
1. Unions to move from servicing to organizing model,
2 . Educate members on globalization and its impact,
3. Strengthening the capacity of union leadership to respond to threats from globalization,
4.To develop from union membership to union activism,
5.To organize casual/contract/unorganised workers in the unions,
6.Special attention on involvement and representation of working women and young workers within unions,
7. To take up issues of unemployed in the Charter of Demands of the unions.
The congress decided to observe the May Day 2000 on issues of Trade Union Rights and collective bargaining, no surrender to IMF and Word Bank, no encroachment by WTO, Right to work and no discrimination in Export Procession Zones. It gave a call to raise the voice of protest against arrests of trade unionists in many countries.
The congress highlighted the struggle against mining giant Rio Tinto and decided to strengthen the campaign against MNCs.
SIXTH CONGRESS : SEOUL 2001
The sixth congress of SIGTUR was held at Seoul in South Korea in 2001 which was attended by about 200 delegates from 16 countries. The main theme was stressed as "unity, capacity and power". It was held in an atmosphere of series of local struggles organized by Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who hoasted the conference.
The congress gave special emphases on Action orientation in the struggle against globalisation. One day of the conference was devoted to the observation of International Day Against Globalization in which speakers from all countries pledging to strengthen the struggle against the attacks of the MNC's.
A demonstration of all delegates along with participants in South Korea protested again the U.S. army occupation in the country. Slogan demanding the withdrawal of the U.S. army was given during demonstration.
By a resolution the congress gave a call for campaign demanding release of jailed unionists Dan Byung-Ho from South Korea and Tian Chua from Malaysia. During the congress a solidarity action was also organized in support of striking FEDEX workers in South Korea.
The Plenary Session considered at length the impact of globalization policies on women and youth. The session highlighted the serious attacks faced by them and stressed the need for paying more attention by the trade unions on their problems.
Regarding the struggle against privatization and casualisation the congress noted that the struggles had been strengthened all over the world but need to be strengthened further to reverse the policies. International actions are more and more necessary to protect the valuable assets of public sector undertakings.
While the congress was in progress the news of U.S. and U.K. troops entering Afghanistan came. The imperialist attacks on Afghanistan was condemned by the congress and demanded withdrawal of foreign troops from the soil of Afghanistan. The speakers criticized the Taliban forces and called for a democratic Afghanistan free from the fundamentalist forces.
SEVENTH CONGRESS : BANGKOK 2005
The Seventh Congress of SIGTUR was held at Bangkok (Thailand) in 2005, which was participated by 120 delegates from 11 countries. For the first time the Congress was being held in a region where trade union movement is less developed. The Congress decided that SIGTUR should consider further extending its dialogue with the exiting international organizations since many of its members are also members of the ICFTU, WFTU and other organizations. It also agreed to strengthening existing progressive trade unions organizations and expand to include other organizations that share similar goals and objectives of SIGTUR.
The SIGTUR further agreed to establish a website to popularize the struggles conducted by the trade unions associated with the SIGTUR. The website would also give periodic information about various aspects of globalisation so that proper education of the working class is planned all over the world. This website can also counteract capitalist propaganda aimed at the policies of globalization and neo-liberalism.
SIGTUR Congress was scheduled to be held in 2003 at Sao Paolo, Brazil, to be hosted by CUT. However due to elections in Brazil where the re-election of Lula Government was extremely important it was not possible to hold the conferene as planned. Hence, there was a gap of 5 years in holding the SIGTUR Conference.
On this question SIGTUR observed, "Although SIGTUR had been participating in adhoc campaign, it was highly held within the participants, that our network had not been as active as focused as we would have wished."
The Regional Co-ordination Committee of SIGTUR held at Perth, Australia on 3-5 July 2005 decided to hold the Eighth Congress in India on 19th to 23rd April 2008 with a view to strengthen the ongoing struggles against globalsition and to revitalize SIGTUR organizationally. The meeting expressed solidarity with the working class of Philippines who have been fighting against brutal repression by the Government of Philippines. A delegation of SIGTUR expressed their protest to the Embassy of Philippines in Western Australia and demanded release of all arrested trade union activists and withdrawal of all penal actions against T.U. leaders for participating in normal TU activities.
FORWARD TO EIGHTH CONGRESS OF SIGTUR
The Eighth Congress of SIGTUR at Kochi will be a milestone in the history of SIGTUR since it will review the rich experience in 17 years of its activity and chalk out future course of action. SIGTUR has emerged as a unique forum where delegates from different countries dispassionately express their views and come to a common conclusion in the interest of the working class of the world. SIGTUR experience has succinctly shown that ideological differences should not come in the way of evolving common approach on issues facing the working class at the global level to-day.
The working class of India of all affiliation is welcoming the proposal to hold the Congress and are contributing their might to make the congress a grand success. They are working forward to a satisfactory outcome of the congress that will give a clarion call for the working class of the world that globalization can be defeated by the united might of the working class of the world. Already National Preparatory Committee has been formed by several organizations to make effective preparation for a successful conference. The Committee has finalized the blue print of the Congress in consultation with Regional Coordiantion Committee and its convenor Rob Lambert.
The Unions in Kerala have formed a Reception Committee on 28th February 2008 of 105 members with M.M. Lawrence as the Chairman and Chandran Pillai M.P. as Secretary. The Reception Committee has formed sub-committees to take care of all aspects of preparations of the congress. Foreign delegates will experience the rich traditional hospitality of Kerala. Despite difficulties the workers are contributing for adequate preparations of the congress.
Chief Minister of Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan will address the valedictory session of the Conference. Labour Minister of Govt. of Kerala P.K. Gurudasan and Industry Minister Kerala will also participate in the congress and express their support to the policies of SIGTUR. Trade unions of all affiliations in Kerala are expressing their support to the congress and will convey their greetings to the delegates attending the congress. The congress will culminate in a massive rally of workers while a cultural evening and official dinner will also be organized as a part of congress deliberations. A video presentation on history of SIGTUR will also be made during the Conference.
The congress will have in-depth discussion on contemporary issues before the international T.U. movement. The issues, which would be discussed in different commissions in the congress would include growth in power of MNCs in the era of Capitalist Globalisation including privatisation; Worldwide attack on social security and working and living conditions; Organizing Informal Sectors - casualised, contrctualised and outsourced workers; Working women under globalization; Problems of migrant workers and Tasks of the T.U. movement; Challenges of organizing strong T.U. movement; Strengthening the International Unity and Solidarity of Working Class and Defining the role of SIGTUR.
Background papers will be presented for a detailed discussion and consideration of rich international experience of conducting struggles on these issues. After finalization of papers they will be published as a policy document of the SIGTUR.
The participants in the congress will have an opportunity to listen experience of struggle of Australian workers against anti-working class labour laws, the heroic struggle conducted by South African workers against privatization and neo-liberalization, the militant struggles of the TUs in Philippines against dictatorial regime's policies to suppress the legitimate struggles of the workers, glorious and long drawn struggles of the workers of South Korea for TU Rights and against attacks on the living conditions of the working class, the struggles of the workers of Latin America including Brazil against the depredation of globalization. They will also hear the experience of the struggles of the workers in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Some other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America who will attend the congress will also explain the character of their struggles against the dictates of the World Bank and IMF.
The Eighth Conference of SIGTUR will be a historic occasion to pool the common experience of the trade union movement in different countries in the world against neo-liberalism and globalization. It will strengthen the international solidarity of the trade union movement in developing countries and open the path of dialogue between the trade union movement in North and South so that worldwide unity of the working class can be built.
Working class of the world, if united, has strength to defeat the policy of globalisation dictated by World Bank and the IMF.
Working class and the toiling masses can chalk out their own destiny, free from exploitation and threat of war!
Trade unions will not tolerate any attack on trade union and democratic rights of the workers.
Long live the international unity and solidarity of the working class in all the continents!
Long live SIGTUR!
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