I have posted a few days back in this blog the TRAI statistics for February 2012 on the subscribers base and market share of each telecom company. According to that, BSNL has 226. 51 lakh landline connections, 977.51 lakh mobile connections and a total of  1204. 02 connections with market share of  70.07 %, 10.73% and 12.76% respectively.  BSNL is first in landline connections, 5th in mobiles and fourth in total connections.

DOT and MTNL were the only establishments  providing telephone connections till 1995. As per the neo-liberal policy pursued since 1991 by the Central Government, private companies were granted licences to provide mobile connections in 1995. But at the same time DOT and MTNL were discriminated and were denied permission to provide mobile services, though they could have easily done it. This was the starting of the many discriminations against DOT/MTNL and later BSNL. During the last 17 years since the private companies were allowed to provide telephone services, one after another, policy decisions were taken in support of the private companies, concessions and relaxations were granted and the public sector companies, BSNL and MTNL were denied of equal field. There was no difference between UPA and NDA governments in this matter. Though the slogan ‘Business is not the business of the government’ was coined by the NDA government, the UPA government implemented the same more aggressively. This was the starting point of the mega corruptions one after another in telecom sector, including the 2G scam. The beneficiaries were the private companies, including MNCs. The hands of BSNL/MTNL were tied denying procurement of equipment, bringing new technology, taking away all the cash on one pretext or other and what not. This is the major reason why BSNL has come down to the present position. The top management headed by the ITS also have a great share in the present debacle.

BSNL Employees Union has from the first pointed out the need for continued efforts to improve the services and also fought with the government/management for getting procurement of equipments etc. for the company. Though very slowly, there has been improvement in the services after the JAC started ‘Customer Delight Year’ programme, but more is to be done to save the BSNL.

BSNL Employees Union has ensured a better wage revision, promotion  policy and similar benefit to the workers. But unless the BSNL improves, all these gains may go to the drain. It is the duty of the workers at to ensure that the services are improved and the management and government is compelled to change the anti-PSU and anti-BSNL decisions. It is a serious and protracted struggle. We have to win and save and improve BSNL. Each and every worker should be part of this great struggle. The people of the country has got a right for better service from BSNL .Let us jointly shoulder this great responsibility and march ahead.