The Minister for Communications, Ravi Shankar Prasad has ruled out privatisation of BSNL and MTNL. A PTI report is given below:
New Delhi, Mar 13 : Government today ruled out privatisation of BSNL and MTNL even as it admitted that the two state-run telecom service providers were not in the pink of their health.
Responding to a supplementary during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, said the intention of the government was to bring them back to profitability.
“The financial health of MTNL and BSNL are not in good shape. There are several reasons for this which I want to discuss in the House in greater detail one day. However, we will make them healthy,” he said.
Prasad also said that the two erstwhile profit-making entities have been incurring losses for some years and one of the reasons for their downfall could be traced into the way these were “forced to function in those days”.
“We need to improve health of these two companies. There is no attempt to privatise them,” he said, adding that 25,000 mobile towers are being installed by BSNL and MTNL to improve their services.
To another question, Prasad said the telecom subscribers base in the country is set to touch one billion mark soon from 97.9 crore as on December-end. Regarding mobile tariff, he said service providers have the flexibility to offer different tariff schemes depending on the market conditions and other commercial considerations. (PTI)
What is required from the Minister is not assurances and declarations; It is action and honouring of assurances and fulfilling them. BSNL and MTNL will bounce back if that is done.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 
We will make them healthy…But only words no action. Unions also miserably failing in guiding the staff and management in right direction. Two day strike??Who cares??Instead they sit in front of telecom minister house for drawing attention. Many points are missing in the demands charter:
1. Exploring new business verticals like education, banking etc. As we know many private telcos who are very professional in running business also failing to draw any profits in this field. Still sticking to only core business is foolishness. We have many exp. staff in accounting and after ERP FICO their load was reduced to great extent. Like AIRTEL n Vodafone we can also apply for banking licence, to diversify our business. Many RTTCs are lying idle due to no new fresh recruitment. We have many M.techs n MBAs who are eager to work at these places. But still no movement in crafting engg. colleges/ ITIs.
2. Full reimbursement of rural losses : First we have to clearly audit the exact loss due to rural operations then report to DOT to reimburse the full amount or shut down those exchanges. We are not running charitable trust. We are running a business entity. Simply telling that its a social obligation will not work any more. Employees should get suffered due to govt. social service. We should not be denied pay revision to serve the people and make bsnl deep red. DOT is earning lakhs of crores in spectrum auction. It should be used for that.
Many other points are there which I think not imp. than these two.
Well said Santosh, I hope union leaders ll consider your points. There are very imp. practical things for revival of BSNL. Otherwise this two day strike ll also go in parliament march way. No one ll care. Simply they ll issue a statement n our unions ll write in website as a grand success.
No struggle is in vain. The result may not be immediate. But the results will come at any rate. India did not get freedom in one day. Your comments on union is probably due to your inexperience. Whatever you are getting now is due to struggles and sactifices of workers like you who were there before you. No need to insult them.
Dear Comrade, No struggle is in vain. The results will be there today or tomorrow. India did not get freedom in one day. What you are getting to day is the result of struggles and sacrifices by workers like you who were there before you. There is no need to insult them.It is just insulting yourself. Sustained struggles are required in the present context even to keep one’s job. BSNL privatisation will result in retrenchment of thousands of workers. Our main fight is for survival of BSNL.