Communications Minister has ordered an inquiry against BSNL management regarding the allotment of valuable BWA spectrum to franchisees for a song and that too, violating eligibility criteria etc. BSNL had paid Rs. 8000 crore to Government for BWA Spectrum and it has granted licences to four franchisees only for Rs.1000 crore!

The full details of this deal will be out  in a few days. It is a shame and crime that such scams are being done in BSNL, which is fighting for its survival.

Immediate enquiry and action against the culprits should be taken.

Air India is in real trouble.Its employees have not so far been paid the salary for the month of January 2011. This has become a regular affair due to paucity of funds. Now the company is trying for a loan of Rs. 600 crore to pay its employees.

Air India was a profitable PSU. It was only because of the pro-private decisions of the government and the incapable management that the preent situation has come. The anti-policy of the government is not only against Air-India but against all PSUs. It is the same with the BSNL also.

Our main task is to defeat this neo-liberal policy of the government and ensure that BSNL survives and get strengthened.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) took decision to pay 9.5% interest for the EPF contribution for this year after all financial calculation. But the private companies opposed stating that they can not pay 9.5% interest. Consequently, the finance ministry also started objecting to 9.5% and questioning the EPFO decision. EPFO has  reiterated their stand that sufficient balance is there to pay the 9.5% interest.

In fact, the finance ministry is advocating for the employer and wants to deny the rightful claim of the worker.

THE EPFO should implement its decision early. The workers can not be deprived of their rightful claim.

The recognition orders have been delayed in issue. It was ready by the evening of 8th February 2011, but the CMD BSNL has already left on tour to attend a Parliamentary Committee at Tawang; hence approval could not be obtained. On his return on 11th February it will be approved and orders issued.

It was assured by the CMD BSNL and GM(SR) yesterday (07-02-2010) that there is no problem in issuing the recognition order for BSNLEU and it will be issued by today. But till evening the order has not been issued. On enquiry it is reported that the CMD has not returned the returned file to SR so far. However, it is assured by the management that the recognition order will be issued tomorrow for sure.

It is more than 4 days after the results were declared. There should not be so much delay causing anxiety on the one side and giving chance for unnecessary rumours.

Former Communications Minister A.Raja, former Secretary, DOT  Sidhartha Behura and former PA to Minister,  R.K. Chandolia have been remanded to CBI custody further. CBI demanded further custody to which the court agreed

A bigger scam than the 2G is reported in the media. The newspaper reports indicate that the Government has lost about Rupees 2 lakh crore in the spectrum deal of ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation) with a private company, Devas Multimedia. It is owned by a former ISRO official MG Chandrasekhar.

The opposition parties has already demanded a statement from the Prime Minister, since the ISRO comes under the Prime Minister himself.

At the same time Kapil Sibal Minister Communications has stated that there is no loss to the Government. It is the same reply he has given to the 2 G scam also.

The Delhi high Court has set aside the order of the Air India Management derecognising the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU)for going on strike last year. The High Court said : ” The impugned order dated 26th May 2010 derecognising ACEU is bad in law as it was passed without any show cause notice to the petitioner, ACEU and without affording the petitioner an opportunity of being heard.”

However the court said the derecognition notice issued be treated as a show cause notice and directed ACEU to respond within four weeks.

I congratulate the ACEU for their voctory in getting back the recognition.

BSNL bosses are in big trouble! Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has pointed out that BSNL has given costly BWA Spectrum almost free to the franchisees on revenue sharing basis causing huge loss to the BSNL.

BWA Spectrum is used for Wimax services. BSNL had already paid about Rs. 8000 crore as entry fee to the government for BWA Spectrum. This valuable spectrum has been given by BSNL  to four franchisees (companies) for running wimax services  on condition of revenue sharing without any entry fee or other charges.This according to reports will allow these companies access to about 50,000 towers 20,000 office premises of BSNL!

It is reported that Kapil Sibal has written to Secretary DOT as follows: ” It has been pointed out that ‘cheap access’ has been provided to these franchisees by BSNL, including costly Broadband Wireless Access (BWA, the technical name for Wimax) spectrum in metropolitan cities for which BSNL has already made massive upfront payment”. Kapil Sibal added ” These shell companies (franchisees) are reportedly more interested in selling their stake to potential buyers rather than broadband network roll-outs. As a result, the commercial/financial interests of BSNL has been sacrificed during the selection of Wimax franchisees last year.”

BSNL Management is in real trouble. Let us see what the Management has to say. It has however become clear that the BSNL interests are being sabotaged.( Based on report in Hindustan Times dated 08-02-2011

The National Steering Committee of the United Forum of BSNL Unions met today, 7th February, and reviewed the V Membership Verification held on 1st February 2011. The meeting decided to quickly start the process of negotiations, holding of the National Council Meeting, formation of National/Circle and District Councils as also formation of Steering Committees at all levels.

Settlement of the pending issues are the immediate agenda.