26 Thursday Mar 2015
Posted in Telecom
Tags
New Delhi, Mar 26 : The Supreme Court today lifted its embargo and allowed the government to finalise the result of the just-concluded biggest and “fiercest” auction for telecom spectrum, fetching a whopping revenue of Rs 1.09 lakh crore. (PTI)
The result of the spectrum auction was not declared due to an earlier order of the court. Now it has been removed.
26 Thursday Mar 2015
Tags
At the time of the corporatisation of DOT services to BSNL in October 2000, the government gave three main assurances to ensure its financial viability. (1) Access Deficit Charges (ADC) will be collected from the private telecom companies and the same will be paid to BSNL (2) BSNL have to pay licence fee just like other telecom companies, but the same will be refunded to it and (3) There will be liberal support from the USO Fund for providing universal service (means providing telephone connections in the village and rural areas as part of the governments commitment to provide universal service). It was also declared at the time of inauguration of BSNL by the then Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan that BSNL will be granted the status of Maharatna, which is above Mini Ratna and Navaratna status.
For a few years, ADC was collected and paid to BSNL. Later it was topped. In lieu of it an amount of Rs.1,500 crore was sanctioned and paid in 2011-12 and an amount of Rs. 1,250 crore was allotted for 2012-13. But so far this latter amount is not paid to BSNL. ADC is completely stopped also.
In the same way, for a few years, the Licence Fee paid by BSNL was refunded. Now the refund is not given.
Though USO Fund was being paid to BSNL, it was far less than required. Approximately an amount of about Rs. 3,000 crore was being received by USOF from all the telecom companies together, but only about an amount of Rs. 200-300 was being paid to BSNL. The fund got accumulated to more than Rs.20,000 crore. Now all the companies are made eligible for USOF and BSNL is getting only a small portion.
With regard to grant of Maharatna, BSNL is granted only Mini Ratna, which in fact, is an insult to such a big company.
By going back from the assurances on financial viability and grant of Maharatna status, which gives more power to the PSU to take decisions etc., the government was making BSNL a loss making company. BSNL is in loss of about Rs. 10,000 crore for providing services in the interior and difficult areas. If the government fully compensate this loss, then the company will be in profit.
The Forum demands that the Government should honour its assurances and continue the support already assured at the time of the formation of BSNL. This is a major demand of the Forum included in the notice for Strike on 21-22 April 2015.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
The meeting of the BSNL Unions and Associations held on 25th March 2015 at BSNLMS Office has reviewed the preparations for the strike and decided to hold state level conventions wherever it was not conducted and also to hold SSA level conventions at all places. Massive campaign should be organised for getting support from the people.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Tags
The spectrum action is over after a very long 19 days. The government will get Rs. 1,09,874 crores from the auction of 800 MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz spectrum. This is the biggest auction of spectrum so far. There has been stiff competition to get the spectrum by the private companies.
We demand that from the spectrum sale, at least Rs. 10,000 crore should be paid to BSNL as immediate assistance to purchase equipment for expansion and maintenance.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum
The 2.25 lakh executives and non-executives are going on Two days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding that the government takes necessary measures to revive BSNL and strengthen it. The strike notice signed by the General Secretaries of the unions/associations have been served on the CMD BSNL and Secretary DOT with copy to the Hon’ble Communications Minister on 12th March 2015. Neither the DOT nor the BSNL Management has called the Forum of Unions/Associations to discuss the demands so far.
As per the call of the Forum, a massive Parliament March, participated by thousands of BSNL employees, Pensioners and casual Contract workers was organised on 25th February 2015 as a prelude to the Strike. Earlier a three days dharna was organised on 6-8 January 2015. Circle level conventions have been organised in many circles with the General Secretaries participating and preparing the workers for the strike. Call has been given for holding SSA level conventions as part of the SAVE BSNL Campaign. Serious campaign is going on in preparation for the strike. This is a “DO OR DIE” battle and every employee should be part of it.
What are the main demands raised by the Forum? Let us examine one by one.
One of the main reason for the present unenviable situation of BSNL is the lack of equipments. The mobile lines, Broadband Modem, Drop wire, telephone instruments, cables etc. are in acute shortage, which are required for the expansion and maintenance of service. Since 2006, this shortage continues,resulting blockade of advancement. While the private companies are free to purchase equipment without tender, BSNL has to go through a series of procedures before any purchase has to be made. Secondly, there is no fund with BSNL. When funds were available, the government did not allow purchase. The government should now allow BSNL to take loans from Banks with its guarantee, otherwise banks will not give loans.
While the private companies are allowed to purchase from the Chinese companies which are comparatively cheap and efficient, BSNL is denied permission for the same citing national security. This should be cleared.
Management is purchasing towers from private companies, while the Telecom Factories of BSNL are producing the same, citing low cost for the private towers. This should be stopped. The towers manufactured in Factories should be made cost-friendly and the same should be purchased by the BSNL, which can save a lot of money.
Many equipment could be manufactured in the Telecom Factories. (It is better to call them BSNL Factories instead of TFs.) These would be of good quality and cost-friendly and suitable for the BSNL network.
The undue and unnecessary delay being caused by the Quality Assurance in checking the equipment manufactured by the BSNL Factories should be reduced, so that equipment are made available quickly.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
Medical Allowance being paid to BSNL Pensioners has been stopped since last three years. Pensioners are suffering. Some retirees have passed away. More may expire without getting the MA.
BSNL Management has to remember that these are the workers who toiled and provided service for 30-40 years.
Management should urgently restore the Medical Allowance to Pensioners. It is their responsibility not a favour.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
Crashing of planes and accidents have increased and thousands are killed.
Is it that air space has shrinked? Safety concerns are not addressed? Human errors increasing or technical failure?
Just like road accidents, air accidents also have become common. What is the remedy?
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Tags
BSNL Employees as per call of Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations are going on strike on 21-22 April demanding steps for the revival of BSNL.
On the same issue as also on the issue of casual and contract workers, BSNL CCWF has also given strike notice for the same days.
Leaders of Forum, Unions, Associations and Casual and Contract Workers Association should co-ordinate together and make the strike a big success.
This is a ‘Do or Die’ situation. Unity in struggle is most important.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom
BSNL is passing through a difficult period. It is in loss, its market share has gone down to below 9% and its subscribers are surrendering land lines. A herculean effort is required to ring it back to normal. The Forum, which is the umbrella organisation of all the unions and associations is on a campaign trail to get the support of the people for its revival. The 2.5 lakh workers are fully committed to the revival of BSNL.
In this context, it is only appropriate that a member of the staff side /union / association should be included in the Director Board. Workers’ Participation should not only be a slogan, but is also to be practised.
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in General
Tags
A Historic Judgment by the Supreme Court! Draconian Rule 66A of IT Act has been scrapped by the Supreme Court. Those charged under this provision will be free. This is a great victory for freedom of expression.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 