Monthly Archives: February 2014

FORUM CIRCULAR DATED 27-02-2014 – ORGANISE DEMONSTRATION ON 28-02-2014

27 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
Organise Lunch Hour Protest Demonstration on 28 February 2014 against proposal of Merger of BSNL & DOT and Formation of Companies bifurcating BSNL
The Meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations held today, 27th February 2014, presided by Com. Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNL has decided to organise Lunch Hour Demonstrations at C.O/Circle/SSA level offices protesting against the proposal of the Government for merger of BSNL and MTNL without solving serious issues like Disinvestment, Pension, Payscales and other HR issues as also on the formation of companies out of BSNL, like tower, land assets etc. The Forum had already given a detailed letter on these issues to the Prime Minister with copy to the Ministers of the EGoM, Secretary DOT and others concerned , but so far no response has been received.
This decision for immediate action is taken in view of the reports that the meeting of the Cabinet scheduled for tomorrow, 28th February, may discuss and take certain decisions. The decision of the Forum is being intimated to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Communications Minister and others today itself. A meeting of the Forum will again be held at 04.00 PM on 3rd March, Monday, at BSNLMS Office.
Organise the Lunch Hour Demonstration effectively and in all places.
V.A.N.Namboodiri New Delhi
Convener, Forum 27-02-2014

Obama tries to destabilise Venezuela

27 Thursday Feb 2014

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The US imperialism has always tried to destabilise any nation that does not agree with its dictates. The cases of Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba, Iran etc. are well known to all. Now it is trying to create disturbance and coup in Venezuela utilising the opposition parties. Excerpt from an article by Mark Weisbrot is given below in this connection:

“When is it considered legitimate to try and overthrow a democratically-elected government? In Washington, the answer has always been simple: when the U.S. government says it is. Not surprisingly, that’s not the way Latin American governments generally see it.

On Sunday, the Mercosur governments (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Venezuela) released a statement on the past week’s demonstrations in Venezuela. They described “the recent violent acts” in Venezuela as “attempts to destabilize the democratic order.” They made it abundantly clear where they stood.

The governments stated “their firm commitment to the full observance of democratic institutions and , in this context, [they] reject the criminal actions of violent groups that want to spread intolerance and hatred in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a political tool.”

We may recall that when much larger demonstrations rocked Brazil last year, there were no statements from Mercosur or neighboring governments. That’s not because they didn’t love Dilma; it’s because these demonstrations did not seek to topple Brazil’s democratically-elected government.”

We strongly oppose the US Imperialists machinations to overthrow the democratically elected government of Venezuela.

COMPACT suspends penalty on Coal India Limited.

27 Thursday Feb 2014

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The Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPACT) has suspended the penalty of Rs. 1,773 crore imposed on the PSU Coal India Limited by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged abuse of its market dominance. The case filed by the CIL will be heard in march.

It has been felt that the penalty was imposed on the CIL, to help the private coal companies.

Contract Workers in Tarapur Atomic Power Station on Strike

27 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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4,000 Contract workers of Tarapur Atomic Power Station are on strike since 24th February demanding regularisation and for increasing pay scale. These workers are mostly from the families who have been displaced for the construction of the Atomic plant and have completed more than 7 years as contract workers.
Our full support and solidarity to the striking workers for a fully justified cause. The Government should take immediate action for the regularisation of these workers.

Meeting with Director (HR)

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, met Shri A.N.Rai, Director (HR), BSNL on 26 February and discussed the following points:
1. USOF allotment of Rs. 1,250 crores in lieu of ADC for the year 2012-13 2. No surrender of CDMA spectrum by BSNL as recommended by TRAI since BSNL services will seriously suffer and will cause extra expenditure 3. Conflicting issues like difference in pay scale, 46.5% disinvestment of MTNL, Pension issues etc. to be solved before any decision is taken for BSNL-MTNL merger 4. Expediting the projects of NOFN, Erection 2200 towers in the naxal affected area and laying of cables for defence so as to get the spectrum released etc. 5. Efforts needed to get the orders issued for 78.2% IDA for pensioners by DOT.
The issue of contract workers, especially non-implementation of Govt. and corporate office orders on payment of minimum wages, social security measure like EPF and ESI etc. were brought to the notice of the Director (HR). He assured suitable action in the matter.

EPF PENSIONERS STAGE DHARNA AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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THE EPF PENSIONERS,THE LOWEST PAID PENSIONERS,HAVE
CONDUCTED A HUGE DHARNA AT JANTAR MANTAR,NEW DELHI
ON 25TH FEBRUARY DEMANDING SETTLEMENT OF THEIR LONG
PENDING DEMANDS INCLUDING MINIMUM PENSION OF RS.6500.
A HOST OF LEADERS REPRESENTING CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS
AND PENSIONERS ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING COM.TAPAN SEN,
GENERAL SECRETARY,CITU,COM.S.K.VYAS,SECRETARY GENERAL,
BCPC,COM.KG.JAYARAJ,GENERAL SECRETARY,AIBDPA ADDRESSED.
THE DHARNA WAS ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL CO ORDINATION
COMMITTEE OF EPF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS AND WAS LED BY
COM.M.N.REDDY,GENERAL SECRETARY,ALL PENSIONERS AND
RETIRED PERSONS ASSOCIATION

Cabinet meet on 28th February may take important decisions on BSNL, MTNL issues.

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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The meeting of the Cabinet scheduled to be held on 28th February is expected to take important decision with regard to many issues including restructure of BSNL, MTNL, financial assistance etc.
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has already submitted its suggestions/Demands/proposals in this matter to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Communications Minister, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL and others.
In case issues are not settled, there is no other go but to resort to agitational programmes.

Cabinet may waive the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 of BSNL

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has been continuously demanding the Government and DOT that the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 crore put in the records of the BSNL should be waived and that the interest and capital amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded to BSNL. Now the following report in Business Line indicates that the Cabinet may consider waiving of the balance notional loan. That is not sufficient. The entire loan should be waived and that the amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded.

The report in the Business Line is reproduced below:

The Union Cabinet is likely to a take call on waiver of notional loan on BSNL estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore in its next meeting on February 28.

“Cabinet may take up notional loan waiver matter of BSNL on February 28. With interest and other charges, it is estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore,” a source told PTI.

Since the time of corporatisation of BSNL in October 2000, a 15-year notional loan has been showing in the financial books of loss making state-run telecom firm.

The loan is being discharged at the rate of 14.5 per cent and penal interest of 2.75 per cent over and above normal rate interest rate.

An amount of about Rs 983 crore as principal remains outstanding against BSNL on which the interest is charged by government.

BSNL has been logging losses since 2009-10. The company’s profits had started declining after 2004-05, when it had made net gains of Rs 10,183 crore.

The public sector firm had posted a loss of about Rs 7,784 crore in financial year 2012-13.

Government has constituted Group of Ministers, headed by P Chidambaram, to revive loss making telecom firms BSNL and MTNL. The proposal of notional loan waiver is part of various recommendations made by the GoM to Cabinet for BSNL.

BSNL opposes TRAI’s recommendation of surrender of CDMA spectrum

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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News, February 25, 2014

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) proposal to take back the spectrum it held in the 800 MHz band ahead of the
CDMA spectrum auction.
Earlier, in its pre-auction recommendation for auctioning spectrum in the 800 MHz band, the regulatory body had put forward this proposal to enable the government to carve out a contiguous block of pan-India CDMA spectrum. TRAI has recommended that BSNL be allowed to keep only one block of spectrum (1.25 MHz) in all service areas except Assam, Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir where it could retain its current CDMA spectrum holdings of 2.5 MHz
each.
At present, BSNL has 2.5 MHz of CDMA spectrum in 19 circles and 3.75 MHz of spectrum in Kerala. Citing a steady fall in BSNL’s CDMA subscriber base, TRAI has suggested that the operator may be allowed to just hold 1.25 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz to continue providing services to rural customers.

BSNL has claimed that TRAI’s proposal if accepted by DoT, will lead the loss-making operator to make additional investments worth Rs 3 billion by migrating the majority of its 10 million-plus
CDMA customers to lower frequencies, thereby compromising on quality of the service.

Why delay payment of NOFN to BSNL and Partners?

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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The media has reported that the delay in the cabinet decision for payment of Rs.1,500 crore to BSNL, Powergrid and Railtel (70%, 15%, 15%) for the administrative charges is delaying the NOFN activities. The National Optical Fibre Networks proposes to connect the villages through out he country, which is an ambitious programme of the government.
The government should pay the amount to the BSNL and others to enable them to move quickly and proceed with the laying of the cables etc.