Comrade L.Umamageswaran, former
President (National Council) is retiring on superannuation on 31st
January 2016. He was President for two
terms, 1996-99 & 2007-11, both eventful tenures. The Association was in a active shape, with
lively interaction among all the zone/members and several agitations were
conducted. Particularly the one conducted in 1999 was an historical one. The indefinite strike conducted in 1999 by
the administrative employees has been recorded by the Central Trade Unions in
their annual reports as an historic and unprecedented in the annals of the
central government employees.
If it was Com. S.N.Somu who
rejuvenated this Association by undertaking all-India tours, the credit for
consolidating the Association must go to Com. Uma. Before taking over as President, Com. Uma was
Tamil Nadu Zonal Council Chairman. He
never allowed his personal discomforts or domestic compulsions to come in the
way of his association activities. When
Uma was Zonal Chairman a problem cropped up in the zone. In a blatant show of favouritism and in
violation of transfer policy, the then Zonal Director accommodated an
individual on promotion in Chennai itself after cancelling a transfer order issued
to another Head Clerk from Port Blair to Chennai. In addition to this an UDC had been
transferred from Nagercoil to another station without any provocation. The members all over the zone were seething
with anger against this action of the zonal administration and wanted the
association to give a fitting reply.
When these developments were taking
place Uma had met with a serious accident while travelling in a bus and was
recouperating in his home. Some seven to
ten members went to his home to discuss about the problem. The doctor had advised complete bed rest for
about a fortnight. But inspite of that
he patiently heard us and gave instructions to hold a lunch hour demonstration
in the first instance. And against
doctor’s advise he came to address the demo and also discussed the issue with
the Director. The Station Director who
had been misled by some individuals with vested interests relented only after a
two day dharna and reversed all the orders and restored the position.
Similarly all-India agitation was
going on over the Charter of demands.
Com. Somu was in Delhi supervising the agitations and leading the
negotiations. The responsibility to
conduct the agitation successfully in the zone fell on the shoulders of
Uma. He was busy arranging protest
demos, inviting leaders from Confederation etc. to address the meetings. Amidst all this his marriage had been fixed and he was giving invitations to
friends and colleagues. One officer,
after receiving the marriage invitation jocularly asked “Uma, I will
definitely attend your marriage, but will you attend it?” The State conference conducted in Pondicherry
under his leadership was a great success.
Com. Somu had worked with so much energy that he achieved in
a single term what could take normally twice the period. Therefore he had grown tired both physically
and mentally and while searching for a successor, Uma fit in to the
position. The years when Uma was the
President were turbulent ones. We had
been fighting for our Charter of demands.
Suddenly the 90% order, the precursor to upgraded pay scales order had
been issued. This completely changed the atmosphere. The members all over the country were very
much agitated and the National Council meetings reflected their sentiments. Two agitations were conducted in 1997 and
1999. The ’99 strike was
unprecedented. Being a sectional association
representing only a part of the employees, it was really remarkable in the
history of the central government employees.
The strike had created all round support from other trade unions and
political parties. Com. Umamageswaran
led the agitations as well as the negotiations very ably. But for the fall of
the government we could have expected some substantial improvement in the
demand.
One remarkable thing I find about him
is the qualitative change he brought out in the discussions. He would approach the subject rationally,
raise pertinent questions which will help in arriving at correct decisions. He
was always able to take appropriate decisions suitable to the situation. It was he who led all the negotiations. The thing that he was there gave us
tremendous strength and we will be relaxed because he will take care of all the
essentialities. Negotiation is an Art. You have to convince the authorities across
the table within the short time allowed.
Some unexpected questions may crop up suddenly and one has to be ready
with the answers. One has to be careful
about not offending the participants, however bad the provocation may be. Com. Uma really excelled in the job.
All the negotiations during the
2007-2008 struggles with the Ministry were led by Uma. Several meetings were held with Secretary,
Minister etc. Particularly the meeting
with the Secretary, MIB held on 6th November 2007 is
remarkable. That was the first meeting
during the struggle. The staff side
blinked to the submissions made by our team.
They had no answers to our questions.
Uma was quoting from the official records such as Cabinet Note, minutes
etc. We could see the helplessness of then
Secretary of I&B Smt. Asha Swaroop.
After the meeting, on the instructions of Uma a detailed note was
presented to ministry.
Similar was the experience in 2008 during the Fast unto
death struggle. Shri Priyaranjan Das
Munshi was seemingly impressed by the presentation of Uma and he openly conveyed
it in the meeting. Again to our
misfortune, Shri Das Munshiji became indisposed and our demand suffered a
setback. The reasons for the demand
lying unsettled till date, lies elsewhere.
This is not the space to discuss them.
Com Uma is a person with a presence of
mind and capable of giving apt replies.
The Prasar Bharati Act had been notified in 1997. Hon’ble MIB Shri Jaipal Reddy was visiting
the stations and assuring the employees that they need not worry about the
change in the status and the government will take care of their
requirements. During the course of his
tour he visited AIR, Chennai. At that
time an SIU study had been conducted in DMCs and hundreds of stenographers, LDC
etc. posts were identified for abolition.
Shortly before the Minister’s visit DG, Doordarshan had issued an OM
asking the zonal offices to identify the surplus staff for redeployment. As soon as the Minister finished his speech
Uma raised this point and told the Minister that while he was telling the
members not to worry about their future DG, Doordarshan had issued such an
order. The Minister was taken aback and
he enquired with the JS (B) who was accompanying him. The JS (B) was not aware of the development. But the Minister immediately told the
gathering that nothing of that sort will happen and any order if issued will be
taken back. Later he took to task the JS
(B) for issuing the order without his knowledge. True to the Minister’s words after his return
to Delhi the said orders was withdrawn and no action was taken.
In another instance, the National
Council meeting had been fixed in Delhi in 1998 end. The atmosphere was surcharged with strong
rumours that upgraded scale order will be issued leaving out administrative
staff. Our Kerala comrades had arranged
a meeting with Shri O.Rajagopal, Minister of State in the Vajpayee
government. Uma went along with Kerala
comrades to meet him. As soon as he
started telling that they were from AIR & DD, the Minister said “I don’t
have any sympathy for you. When I
requested personally to allow the telecast of PM’S speech during your
agitation, you did not listen. When all
the Kendras relayed the speech it did not go on in DDK, Tiruvananthapuram” He was referring to the SSS agitation.
Immediately Uma told “Sir, first of
all we are from administrative side and we do not have any role in the telecast
of programmes. Moreover the irony is the
government has rewarded those who scuttled the telecast, with higher pay
scales, but we have been left out” Then the Minister understood the situation
and directed them to the MIB Shri Pramod Mahajan.
Similarly in 2007 the talks with
Hon’ble MIB Shri Das Munshi during the strike, was going on regarding upgraded
scales to Administrative employees. The
official side suggested that the issue may be referred to VI pay commission and
the Minister asked for our reaction.
Com. Uma immediately replied that the issue should not be referred to
pay commission and must be settled by the ministry. Then the Minister asked “Even if the pay
commission recommends higher pay scales for you, will you still want upgraded
scale.” Yes, Sir, answered Uma
emphatically. Actually others in the
negotiating team were confused and worried.
They got worried because they were afraid that after pay commission
recommendations are implemented our pay may not be revised. But Com. Uma explained that the case is not
like that and the Minister only wanted to know how much we are attached to the
issue. He also told that if the pay
commission recommends higher scales, which is a remote possibility, nobody can
stop it. There are many more instances like this.
When the amendment to Section 11 of
Parsar Bharati Act was under consideration of the Parliamentary Committee,
ADASA was called upon by the Committee to give our views on the amendment. As usual Com. Uma presented the views. Shri Rao Inderjit, MP was the Chairman. We strongly protested the amendments and told
the Committee to reject them and direct the government to transfer the services
of the employees. The hearing was
over. After some days we visited the Ministry. As soon as we entered the room of the Deputy
Secretary, she abruptly said “We were afraid that all our efforts will go waste.”
She was referring to the amendment. We
later came to know that the Committee was convinced of our arguments and while
the official side was called for consultation they had been grilled. But with political pressure the Committee was
asked to ratify the proposal.
There are several such instances. But considering the space I’m stopping with
this. The person who did all these and
more is retiring.
But what a great difference between the Association that he
led, which he left and what is existing today!
I very much wish that those golden days may return. Will they…… ever return…..!
However, We bid you farewell Comrade Uma.
As you know a government servant retires.
But not a Trade unionist.
R.SURENDRAN
former TN Zonal President.
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