I have already mentioned earlier that how the profitable Air India-Indian Airlines have been made loss making by the anti-PSU policy of the Government and complete mismanagement. The strike of the Indian Airlines Pilots has exposed many of these misdoings of the government and the management to favour the private air companies. All these anti-Air India decisions have put the PSU in real trouble. In the meantime the oil companies denied supply of petrol to the Air-India due to the non-payment of their dues. Although it is temporarily settled on the basis of the assurance of the Air India that in future the oil will be paid on day-to-day basis, a lot of issues remain.
Due to lack of cash, the Air India has now decided to reduce its flights mainly international. It will further reduce the revenue. Earlier it had withdrawn from the profit making routes to help th private companies. Whether the cash-strapped PSU will be able to pay the salaries of the employees regularly? The government is no mood to help the Air India except granting a meagre amount in an interval.
The painful experience of the Air-India Indian Airlines is a hard lesson for the BSNL workers. For BSNL, the situation still can be saved. That is why the JAC has decided to seriously implement the decisions with regard to improvement of services and strengthening of the company and also make the management and the Government to take suitable actions to save and strengthen BSNL. Any laxity on our part will be dangerous. Let us move ahead with our strategy and plans.

BSNL is short of funds. Even at this juncture, it is reported that the telephone bills could not be delivered in time, which results in more delay in the amount being remitted. It is also reported that many subscribers are not getting bills at all, which finally will result in non-remittance and disconnection of phones. How to change the situation?
Earlier we had suggeted to the BSNL management that the distribution of bills and collection of charges can be done by the employees and some incentives could be given for this purpose. Accordingly the management issued an order dated 12-09-2008 entrusting the job to the employees and providing an incentive of Rs.2 for delivery of bills and Rs.3 for collection of cheques. It is still being effectively implemented in Kolkatta Telephones, W,Bengal etc., but not in all places. This system has got more advantages. The close connection with the subscriber is ensured. The charges are collected and the employees get some incentive. Delay is avoided.
During discussion with Director (HR) I mentioned that why can’t the management reiterate the instructions and get it implemented all over the country. He was agreeable. The orders are expected soon. But the main point is that our workers should sincerely implement the same and the management should make all necessary arrangements. BSNL will naturally get fiancially benefitted and service becomes better.

The next meeting of the National Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations / Unions has been fixed to be held on Monday, 30th May at 1500 hours. What are the major agenda of the meeting?
The main item is to review the implementation of the Customer Delight Month, called by the JAC for May 2011. What is the over all impact? Which are the circles effectively implemented and which are not? How it was implemented? A general report to be made on these issues.
What is the role of the workers? How much did the management support the programme and what are the results?
What more is to be done?
All these have to be discussed in detail.
Secondly, the question of extending it for one more month has to be examined. In my opinion it should be extended.
What is the present position of ITS absorption, 78.2% IDA and on other issues which had been taken up by the JAC.
How to bring those unions which have left the JAC?
All these issues have to be discussed and suitable decisions taken.

After attending meetings in Assam I started for Dimapur, the Circle head quarters of NE II Circle. It is in Nagaland. Although Kohima is the state capital, BSNL HQrs is at Dimapur. Along with Com. Bijoy Deka, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Assam Circle, I started for Dimapur by the night train. There was heavy rush and somehow we managed to get sleeper reservation. The compartments are not maintained properly, there is no water in the toilets. In fact, most of the toilets are filled up with luggage, bags etc. There were a lot of unreserved travellers also. Anyway we reached Dimapur, where our comrades were waiting. The IQ, quarters of the officers etc are all on the upstairs of a Corporation building, since BSNL do not have a separate building for the same. There are about 7-8 rooms with 5 to 6 beds and a common bathroom, toilet etc. When I visited more than 10 years ago also, it was like this only. Because of the insurgency and lack of buildings the earlier situation continues. But there is a good building for the CGM Office. The meeting was held there in the Circle Council room.
Com. J.C.Nath, Circle President, BSNLEU presided and Comrades M.B.Singh, Circle Secretary, NE II, Bijoy Deka, CS Assam, Gulapi Singh, CHQ Asst. Treasurer and Arup Bargugor, CS BSNLCCWF adressed. I spoke briefly, due to lack of time as I had to catch the 1320 flight to Delhi, but touched upon all the major issues including the need to strengthen BSNL. The pending cases including the regularisation of TSMs and Casual labours in the circle were brough to the notice of the the CHQ by Circle Secretary.There were a large number of comrades including Casual and Contract workers. Till recently, there were no other union in NE II and almost 100% votes were for BSNLEU except in the last membership verification. I congratulated them for the high support to CHQ.
After meeting we rushed to the airport. Although I boarded the flight at 1400 hours, I reached at Delhi residence only by 22 00 hours due to the delay in Kolkatta airport.

North Eastern area consisting of the seven states, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, is least developed despite they are part of the Union of India. Though the government has initiated some plans and targets, the situation has not much improved. This can be easily realised by anybody visiting these areas. One of the reasons for the growth of the divisive forces and ultras is the non-development.

The Central Government should urgently take such developmental measures for these areas so that the standard of living is improved and equal opportunity is given for growth and employment.

I was in Assam from 24th to 25th May. I visited Bongaigaon and Guwahati and addressed meetings of the BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. I had detailed discussions with the leaders of BSNLEU, AIBSNLEA and SNEA, affiliates of the Joint Action Committee, on the actions to be taken to fully implement the programmes like “Customer Delight Month” and other programmes going to be given by the JAC. It was very fruitful and I was able to get a lot of information regarding the special conditions of Assam.
First I went to Guwahati by flight on 23rd May from Delhi and reached there by night. Early next morning along with Com. Bijoy Deka, Circle Secretary BSNLEU, Bikash Baruah, Circle Secretary and Circle Organising Secretary, BSNLEU I started for Bongaigaon and reached there by about 11.00 hours. We received by a large number of comrades. A meeting of the JAC leaders were held in the Union office, which was attended by the Circle and SSA leaders of the JAC Unions. The present situation and the ways and means of how to improve the services were discussed and plans made for the same. In the meanwhile it was brought to my notice that the GM was victimising the executive associations and other leaders on one count or other and the demand was made that the GM should be got transferred.
The convention of JAC held at the Railway Union Office at about 1300 hours was participated by hundreds of workers. The hall was packed to the full and workers were standing outside and in the compound. All the leaders of the JAC as also JCTU addressed the meeting. I explained in detail about the present position of the BSNL and the programmes of the JAC and the necessity to implement them effectively. The issues of the Casual and Contract Labour as also the BSNL retirees were focussed. The anti-working class policy of the government has to be fought and defeated. Comrade R.S.Ray presided and the meeting was addressed by Coms. D.C.Paul, Convener JAC, Bijoy Deka, CS BSNLEU, Bikesh Baruah, CS BSNLCCWF, J.K.Dhar, DS SNEA, Janmin Ali DS BSNLEA, Adhikary, Org. Secretary SNEA, DS AIBSNLEA Sanjiv Deb JCTU, Sadin Sikdar, JCTU and other leaders.The meeting was very successful. There is good co-ordination amongst the JAC constituents. The recent agitation by the casual and contract workers were fully supported by the Executive Associations and BSNLEU which resulted in the increase in wages. BY about 1630 hours we returned and reached Guwahati by about 2130 hours.
The joint meeting of BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF and AIBDPA started at 1000 hours on 25th May in the Conference Hall at Guwahati. A large number of workers were present. It was presided by over by a presidium consisting of all the Circle Presidents of unions viz. Manabindra Saha (AIBDPA), Dayal Bauah (BSNLEU) and Bijoy Deka (BSNLCCWF). I spoke in length on all the issues of Retired Employees, Casual and Contract workers, regular employees and the call of the JAC to improve the services. Comrades S.N.Sarma Circle Secretary AIBDPA, Vikas Baruah CS BSNLCCWF, Ambika Bezbaruah and other leaders addressed. Clarifications were given by me to the doubts and questions raised.
A separate meeting of the circle and district leaders of BSNLEU, AIBSNLEA and SNEA was held and detailed discussion took place and the road blocks in the developmental activities and how to overcome them so that the services are improved and more connections provided. Comrades R.Dutta Choudhary AIBSNLEA, K.K.Das AIBSNLEA, I.H.Mandal SNEA, MR Das, JAC and other leaders actively participated in the discussions. It was decided to continue the customer Delight Month more effectively. By the time all the meetings were over it was about 1700 hours.
The two days programmes in Assam were very effective. Assam is one circle where BSNLEU has always been the number one union of the non-executives with about 90% support. It has always implemented the CHQ programmes effectively. There are a large number of committed and dedicated leaders and workers. Thanks to all the union functionaries of Assam.

I will be proceeding to Assam to-day to attend the meetings of the BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF at Bongaigaon, Guwahati and Dimapur. Agitation of the Casual and Contract Workers are going on in Assam to get the minimum wages etc. Further report later.

The Call of the Joint Action Committee to observe May 2011 as Customer Delight Month has been an apt and appropriate decision to improve the services and strengthen BSNL. The reports received from the fields indicate that except in few circles, the programme is yet to start in an effective manner. In some other circles it is being implemented very effectively. The main thing is that the ordinary workers have started understanding the grim situation and is trying to improve the work culture and service. This is a good sign.
It is therefore necessary that the National JAC takes a decision to extend this programme to a few months more.