Monthly Archives: April 2014

National Council meeting on 23-04-2014

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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30th meeting of the National Council held.
The 30th meeting of the National Council took place today the 23-04-2014. Shri A.N.Rai, chairman of the National Council, presided over. In today’s meeting the Staff Side strongly protested the indifferent attitude of the Management, in settling the long pending genuine problems of the Non-Executives, on the plea that the Company is facing a crisis. It was also questioned, how the top officers of the Company continue to incur extravagant expenditures when the Company is facing financial crisis. Further, the repeated statements being made by the CMD BSNL, to give a wrong picture, as if the Company has gone into loss only because of the huge expenditure being incurred for payment of salaries to the employees, was strongly protested by the Staff Side in the meeting. The Management was demanded to start early discussion on the charter of demands submitted to the CMD BSNL on 09-04-2014, and to find an amicable solution to the problems. As regards the decision of the BSNL Board to form a separate Subsidiary Tower Company, as well as the proposal to induct a strategic partner subsequently, they came under the severe criticism of the Staff Side. The Staff Side recorded it’s strong protest for the decisions and demanded to rescind the same. (Courtesy:BSNLEU Website)

National council Meeting held on 23-04-2014

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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The 30th Meeting of the National Council of BSNL was held today, 23-04-2014. Director (HR) Shri A.N.Rai presided. All the listed items were discussed.
A Brief Note on the meeting will be posted afterwards.

Is the wage burden, the reason for loss of BSNL?

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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Whenever the DOT or BSNL Management is asked about the financial condition of BSNL, they immediately blame the wage bill of the huge workforce of BSNL. They will point out that the wage bill comes to about 50% of the expenditure or so. Next point will be to implement VRS for about one lakh workers so that the expenditure can be reduced and BSNL saved. Even in interview with the CMD BSNL, the Business Lines column writer has reported the CMD BSNL, mentioning the wage increase as one of the main reasons of the financial difficulties.
In the report of the Group of Ministers from BSNL, again the main reason for the financial difficulties is mentioned as huge wage bill coming up to 50% of the total expenditure.
All the above arguments are a fallacy to mislead the government and the public. Let us examine the points one by one.
1. Did the wage bill increase? No. The wage bill for 2009-10 was Rs. 13,455 crore, for 2010-11 Rs. 13,791 crore, for 2011-12 Rs. 13,406 crore and for 2012-13 Rs. 13,856 crore. One can see that there is no increase as such, but only small amount more or less each year.
2. The wage bill comes to 50% of the revenue: The wage bill has increased in %, not because of the actual increase of wages, but due to loss of revenue. The revenue came down drastically during the period mentioned above. While the revenue was Rs. 34,708 crore in 2009-10, it reduced to Rs. 29,686 crore in 2010-11, Rs. 27,933 crore in 2011-12 and to Rs. 26,396 in 2012-13. it is because of this drastic reduction in revenue that the % of wage bill has gone up. For example, if the revenue has up to Rs. 50,000 crore, the wage bill come to only between 25%-30%.
3. Who is responsible for the loss in revenue? Mainly it is the anti-PSU policy of the government. Secondly, it is the inept management. And thirdly a casual attitude of some workers.The government and management do not miss any chance to cite the example of the private companies, their work, profit etc. But they once again forget a important thing. In the private sector, when there is any loss, the management is fully responsible. The CMD and top officers resign on their own or are sent by the company making them responsible for the loss. But the same management which caused the loss continues without any stigma in BSNL.
4. What is the efficiency rate of the company management?: The rate is very low. None of the projects are completed in time. Whether the installation of 2199 towers in the 9 naxalite affected areas, The construction of the OFC lines for the Defence to enable them to release the spectrum, NOFN, BBNL etc. Everything in lagging behind. Who is responsible? The Management.

The Management and the Government should wake up from the slumber, instead of sleeping over the works and projects and sincerely and seriously attend to work. The workers are always ready to put all their strength for improving the situation so that BSNL can be saved and an efficient service provided.

Use of Mobile Phone in Flight

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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The DGCA has issued new directions stating that the mobiles need not be put off during flight, but can be put on Flight Mode and non-transmitting activities can be done. It is the same with laptops also.
In the flight mode, the passengers can work, play video games, listen to music, watch pre-loaded movies, type emails, SMS etc.But the E-mails, SMS can be sent only after the plane lands at the airport.

Many countries had allowed these facilities earlier. Now the DGCA has cleared it for the passengers in India also.This will benefit many travellers who want to do some urgent work while sitting in the flight.

The National Council Staff Side meets

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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As usual, the meeting of the Staff Side of the National Council met today, one day before the meeting of the National Council to be held on 22nd April 2014, to discuss about the issues and finalise our arguments/points. Com. Islam, Leader Staff Side presided. Com. P.Abhimanyu, Secretary Staff Side presented and briefed about the issues. Detailed discussion took place with all the members actively participating. It was decided that maximum pressure should be exerted to settle the urgent issues of the workers.

78.2% IDA for Pensioners – Discussion with Secretary DOT and Member (Finance)

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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78.2% IDA for Pensioners – Discussion with Secretary DOT and Member (Finance)

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA, met Shri M.F.Farooqui, Secretary, DOT and discussed about the urgent need to issue orders for grant of 78.2% IDA fixation to the pensioners retired before June 2013. Com. Namboodiri pointed out the undue delay in the DOT for giving replies to the three queries raised by the Department of Expenditure and sought that immediate action be taken in the matter. He also pointed out that it is more than ten months since the regular employees and the pensioners retired from June onwards have received the benefit. Secretary DOT appreciated the anxiety of the pensioners and stated that DOT will take immediate action in the matter. He also called the Member (Finance) and advised her to speed up the reply and process.

Com.Namboodiri met Smt. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance) and had detailed discussion on the same issue. She confirmed the call from the Secretary DOT and assured that immediate action will be taken to finalise the reply to the DoE and send it.

Red Salute to Com. V.I.Lenin !

21 Monday Apr 2014

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220px-Lenin22nd April is the Birth Anniversary of Com. V.I.Lenin, the architect of the historic 1917 October Revolution in Russia, which resulted in the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the first socialist state in the world. He was the Prime Minister  of USSR since 1922 till his death on 21st January 1924. But he was the most important leader of the country as also the General secretary of the powerful Communist Party of the USSR.  He died at the age of 53, having born in 1870.

Lenin during his leadership of the USSR brought revolutionary changes in the society. He was both theorist as well as practical in implementing the socialist path. Implementation of Marxism in the concrete circumstances in Russia/USSR resulted in unprecedented growth in all spheres. His concept and explanation of Marxism is called as Leninism.

He is considered as one of the top most Marxists the world has ever seen.

My Red Salute to Com. V.I.Lenin on his 144th Birth Day Anniversary.

Presentation on Formation of Subsidiary Tower Company.

21 Monday Apr 2014

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BSNL Management along with the representatives of M/S KPMG Consultants gave a Presentation today on the ‘Project Unnati’, the proposal for monetising the the BSNL Towers by forming a subsidiary company for managing the ‘Tower business of BSNL. Shri Neeraj Varma, GM SR and Shri Bhandari GM explained the details. All the unions/associations were invited to the presentation.

The Unions’/Associations’ representatives strongly opposed to the proposal for forming the new Tower Company.  They stated that they were not considered before the BSNL Board took the decision on such an important issue which affects the BSNL and the BSNL workers. They opposed the formation since  it is nothing less than separating the tower business from BSNL and later privatising it. The future of the employees who will be deputed/absorbed in the new company will be disastrous.

The Unions/Associations stated their strong protest and asked the available officers to convey the same to the Management.

From the BSNLEU, Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS and Swapan Chakraborty, AGS participated.

 

21st April 1526 – the Panipat War and Start of Mughal Dynasty

21 Monday Apr 2014

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The Mughals ruled India for more than three centuries. It started with the Panipat War in 1526 with Babar defeating Ibrahim Lodi and the end of  Lodi Dynasty. The war started and ended on 21st April 1526. The Mughal dynasty continued till 1857, for at least namesake, when the British crushed the First war of Independence. The Mughals, in fact, had lost their power much before.

The conquerors win not through the sheer numbers of army, but through tactics and war strategy. In the 1526 Panipat War, the Lodis had 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers with about 1,000 war elephants. But Babar had only about 10,000 – 15,000 soldiers, but had the cannons and a clear strategy. Naturally, Ibrahim Lodi was defeated and killed in the war.

In many other wars also, you can see the victory of the better strategy and use of better arms.

Indians were lacking in both. Further there were people to join with the enemy and help them. That is why we were ruled by foreigners for centuries.

Now we are free. Instead of foreign military, MNCs are coming and trying to control the finance of the country. Let us not get in to the trap. Let us fight this capitalism and crony capitalism and remain free both politically and economically and progress.

 

Change of Designation Committee on 24th April 2014.

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in BSNL News, BSNLEU

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The first meeting of the reconstituted ‘Change of Designation  Committee’ entrusted for making suggestions on the subject will be held on 24th April 2014. BSNLEU demanded for the change of designations of the non-executive years back and a committee was appointed for the same. After much delay a report was jointly submitted on the change of designation for RM and TM, signed by the committee (including official side), but it was not approved by the Management. hence the new committee.

We are at a loss to understand why the management has not approved the committee report earlier. If there is no assurance that the management will accept the recommendations of the committee, then why a new Committee. Of course, the union has demanded it.

Let us hope that the Official side and Management will see reason and agree for the changes.