2010
Procurement of equipments
The Joint Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations met on 1st January 2010 at New Delhi and discussed the latest situation with regard to the development of BSNL services and connected matters. The cancellation of the 45.5 million mobile tender by BSNL has created a serious situation for BSNL with no mobile lines to provide. The company which was in first position in both land lines and mobiles had gone down to third position in mobile, while keeping its first position in land lines, total market share going down to 16.38 from the earlier more than 20%. Mobile lines have to be purchased urgently. Under these circumstances, the Joint Forum decided to organize the following agitational programmes demanding immediate tender and purchase of 93.3 million mobile lines for expansion
Telegram campaign:
Circle/District/Branch Secretaries to send the following telegram to the Prime Minister, so as to reach before 6th January 2010.
To Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, New Delhi KINDLY INTERVENE TO SAVE BSNL BY IMMEDIATE FINALISATION OF 9.3 MILLION GSM LINES.Name of Circle/District /Branch Secretary
Demonstration at all centres on 5th January 2010.
These programmes were effectively implemented.
Memorandum to the Prime Minister
A Memorandum dated 5th January 2010 was submitted to the Prime Minister with the same demand. It was signed by Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU) Convener JF, B.R.Jhakatia (SEWA BSNL), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), G.L.Jogi (SNEA), V.Subburaman(TEPU), (BTEU), Hukam Singh (SNATTA) and Devi Prasad (AIBCTES).The JF leaders met the Communications Minister A.Raja on 4th January 2010 and requested the intervention of the Minister to speed up the 93.3 million GSM tender.
Retrograde Recommendations of Sam Pitroda Committee
The retrograde recommendations of the Committee headed by Sam Pitroda, former Secretary DOT and telecom expert, raised sharp reactions from the workers. It proposed 30% of disinvestment in BSNL, Retrenchment of one lakh workers, unbundling of the copper cables, outsourcing work etc. The Joint Forum conducted a detailed study and submitted its suggestions. In its meeting on 10th and 15th March 2010 , the JF discussed the issue and decided to strongly protest and go on agitation. The following programmes were decided:
One Day Dharna on 26-03-2010
Indefinite Strike from 20-04-2010
In order to bring NFTE also in the co-ordination ( which had moved from the Forum some time back), the name of the Joint Forum was changed to Joint Action Committee and the new office – bearers with Com. N.T.Sajwani (NFPTE) as Chairman and Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU) as convener was reconstituted. NFTE was keeping away from the Joint Forum after the Membership Verification on the plea of differences between the unions in many places.
Demands of Indefinite Strike from 20-04-2010
Settle ITS Absorption issue
No Disinvestment / No Privatisation of BSNLNo Retrenchment / No VRS
No unbundling of last mile copper and other infrastructure
No outsourcing
Immediate procurement of mobile lines
Ensure IDA Pension Revision to BSNL Retirees.
The Strike Notice was signed by Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU), Convener, N.T.Sawani (NFTE), Chairman, K.Vallinayagam(FNTO), V.Subburaman(TEPU), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), G.L.Jogi(SNEA(I), S.P.Sharma (BSNLWRU), K.Anil Kumar(ATM), Sathyanarayana (AIBSNLEA), N.D.Ram(SEWA BSNL), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL), D.P.Patwa (AIBCTES) and H.P.Singh(BSNLOA). The Notice for strike was served on 23-03-2010 after a massive demonstration participated by hundreds of workers at Corporate Office. All over India, the demonstrations were participated by thousands.
Meeting with secretary, DOT
Shri P.J.Thomas, Secretary, DOT, held a meeting with the JAC leaders. While the discussions were cordial, there was no clear decision or assurance.
Meeting with Minister of State, Communications
The Minister of State, Communications, Shri Gurudas Kamath, called for a meeting with the JAC leaders on 26th March 2010. The Minister heard the demands but could not give any favourable decision. He only stated that appropriate action will be taken.
In preparation of the strike, the Joint Action Committee issued press release and printed posters and circulated in large numbers. Detailed circulars were issued calling upon the workers to fully participate in the strike. State level conventions were successfully organized in many centres. This resulted in massive propaganda amongst workers and public.
Meeting with the Minister Communications Shri A.Raja was held on 16-04-2010 on the strike demands including against recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee, but there was no favourable result.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 
I heard you at Kozhikode , when the p&t department was splitting as postal department and telegram department is great danger . I used to wait at telegraph department to get a trunk call from Palakkad to know my mother’s latest health, as she was sick, Ravindranathan knows it. How ever ,the danger become a reality, and at present ,the telegraphic department is no more. But my servant inform me that what time she will come to day ? Why you people only think about union and not the advantages of change. Every thing in this universe is subject except the concept T.U.
About BSNL, I took a BSNL connection, for the net use, for Rs 1000 with out limit , and I need to pay only Rs 800 as I am an LIC employee. Now retired and from my pension I have pay Rs 1200 this month. But my Vodafone cell phone I used to pay about Rs.200 every month. You can blame the BSNL and present BJP with statics , which your own NFPTE employees won’t read, about this increase. The public sector charging its customers for their employees salary who were most of their time spent for TU works. Aravindkshan please stop this ……..
Changes are inevitable. But the changes should be for the benefit of the common people. Technology has changed and improved the standard of living. At the same time, it can be made further better. In the present system both the rich and poor are increasing. Is that what is required? The government is prepared to wave thousands of crores of rupees of tax arrears to Nokia, Vodafone and other corporates, but at the same time is not willing to pay BSNL which is its due, like the Rs.1,250 crores in lieu of loss making connections. It is not prepared to refund BSNL, Rs. 6,000 crores for the spectrum surrendered, even after the spectrum auction for about Rs. 90,000 crores is over. Minister declares that BSNL will not be allowed to die, but nothing is done to help BSNL. All the reserve fund of BSNL about Rs. 40,000 crore was taken away by the Government on one plea or another, making the BSNL cash starved to purchase equipment urgently required. BSNL can be made profitable, service can be made better.