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Com.R.A.Rajapure
retired from the service of MTNL on attaining
Superannuation on 31.12.2008. He had started his
career in erstwhile Bombay Telephones as a Telecom
Mechanic in the year 1966 while he was adolescent
ie., before he was 18 years of age. In 1974 he got
selected as Engineering Supervisor Phones (ESP)
through competitive examination and joined as
Junior Engineer at Andheri Strowger Telephone
Exchange and worked in various sections there and
at Khar Exchange.
In 1989 he got
promotion to the post of Asst. Engr and worked in
Malad Switch room, OP section and as AE(Stores)
under MM Cell till 1999. In 1999 he was promoted to
the position of DE on Officiating and posted at CC
unit under GM(PS) at Khar Telephone Exchange. In
Dec, 2006 he was assigned the work of DE(Extl),
Marol and promoted as DGM and posted at Marol
Internal in November, 2008 and worked there till
his retirement on superannuation.
He had rendered
total of 42 years and One month and 24 days service
in the Telecom service which itself was a big
achievement. He had started taking participation in
the Trade Union activities since joining the
department and dedicated himself for the cause
throughout his career span. Starting with FNTO in
1968 he worked as Organising Secretary of NFTEE
(National Federation of Telegraph Engineering
Employees Class III and later joined TESA Gr B
Officers Association and worked in various
capacities and reached the position of Circle
Secretary in 1983. After serving two consecutive
terms as Circle Secretary of TESA (Mumbai) he had
held the position as Vice President of CHQ till
1990. From 1992 to till recently held All India
Conference at Mysore he had served as Circle
Secretary of TESA.
He was one of the
chief architect and instrumental in the formation
of Coordination Committee and brought together all
recognized associations like TESA, JTOA(I), AFSOVA,
Electric and Civil Wings Association/Personal Staff
Association/SC&ST Association etc and even ITSA to
an extent under its banner to fight against the
evil design of Govt in the corporate structure.
Along with Joint Action Committee of Delhi he lead
the struggle in getting Rs.3000/- as MTNL before
absorption and thereafter for improvement in terms
and conditions in the absorption process and in
getting better pay scale to the Executives in
association with our leaders at Delhi like Com.
Bagchi and Com. Kaushik.
His sincere
efforts in bringing all 9 recognized associations
under the single banner of TEAM, today's only
Single Strong and Vibrant Organisation working for
the aspirations of the Executives of MTNL both at
Delhi and Mumbai is commendable. Till today he
could successfully resolve many issues of the
Executives. Recently he had started the movement of
Sangarsh Sammittee in Mumbai to fight for the
issues of Merger of BSNL/MTNL and Pension issue of
MTNL at par with BSNL. By forming TEAM he had set
an Example to BSNL associations and triggered the
moment and AIBSNLEA emerged as a single formidable
Association to safeguard the interest of BSNL
Executives.
Even while he was
at the flag end of his retirement he had worked
towards the twin goals of Merger of BSNL/MTNL and
pension to MTNL Executives at par with BSNL.
Emergence of
United
forum of Executives' of BSNL & MTNL
on 23/10/2008
and the resolution adopted therein, no doubt, shows
his resolute.
For a brief
period between 1990 and 1992 he had associated with
the formation of Lokadhikar Samittee (Kamgar Sangh)
and played crucial role in the absorption process
of Gr. C&D Employees of MTNL. He had also held
various positions in the MTNL Credit Cooperativfe
Society from 1975 to 1999, for almost 25 years.
Com. R.A.Rajapure
is an active and Selfless Trade Union Activist
devoted almost all his vulnerable span of life for
the cause of Executives and Non Executives. It is
truly more appropriate to say that he is the only
leader of the modern time who commanded both love
and respect from Management, all Unions and
Executives and Non Executives irrespective of their
affiliations. With such vast experience and
thorough knowledge concerning the issues he had
handled the problems, approached members for their
concern and helped the management in solving them
to the betterment of the organisation and to the
executives during his tenure. While delivering
speech on 5th Jan, 2009 during his farewell meet
organised by TEAM at Mumbai he categorically told
that merger of BSNL/MTNL and Pension to Executives
of MTNL are his two unfinished agenda to which he
will devote his full time from hereon.
TEAM as a whole
along with other Unions and Associations of MTNL is
indebted to such a Veteran Leader and wish him and
his beloved family a happy, healthy, wealthy,
prosperous and peaceful retired life. We TEAM
Members Salute him for his Devotion, Determination
and Conscious Efforts in forecasting and shaping
things for the benefit of one and all and wish to
have him with us to lead, guide, motivate and
direct us in materializing his unfinished agenda
and ahead. |