New Delhi, December 17: As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions/Associations, massive dharnasare organised today, 17th December 2012 in the circle and SSA headquarters all over India demanding immediate repatriation of the BSNL non-optee ITS officers, procurement of equipment and materials for BSNL & MTNL to provide better service, adequate compensation for BSNL land-line operations which are loss making, immediate refund of BWA spectrum charges to BSNL & MTNL, justified sanction of funds from USO Fund, Pension to MTNL retirees by Government as in the case of BSNL, Immediate Presidential directive for 78.2% IDA fixation etc. The dharna will continue tomorrow, 18th December, also.

Despite Delhi High Court directive to repatriate the BSNL non-optee ITS officers who are on continued deputation for 12 years in BSNL &MTNL in violation of the existing rules, the BSNL management and the government are trying to get a cabinet decision for their permanent deputation. This is completely against the interest of the companies and also for their development and expansion. The workers demand is that there cannot be two types of employees in these PSUs, one absorbed in the companies and the other on permanent deputation. One of the main reason for the present financial difficulty and loss for both the PSUs is that the top brass are all officers on deputation, who are not much worried about the loss to the company. It is, therefore, that the workers are demanding the immediate repatriation of these 1400 and odd non-optee ITS officers.

The non-procurement of equipment and materials has been another main reason for the posting of loss to both the companies, BSNL & MTNL. The assurance given by the Government that it will allot sufficient funds from USO Fund for loss making land line connections, reimburse the Licence Fee paid etc. have been stopped. The government took away all the Rs. 40,000 crore surplus cash with the BSNL towards 2G-BWA Spectrum charges etc. The Joint Forum is demanding that all these should be returned to the PSUs.

Memorandum has been presented to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, and Secretary DOT as also CMDs of BSNL & MTNL, but no action has been taken by them to settle the issues mentioned above. Not even a serious discussion has taken place in the matter. A Parliament March with thousands of workers was organised a few days back demanding the settlement of issues at the earliest.

In Delhi, the workers organised dharna in the BSNL corporate office premises which was addressed by M.K.Bagchi, Chairman, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions and Associations, P.Abhimanyu, Prahlad Rai, V.K.Tomar and other leaders.

(Ganashakti)