BSNL Completes 15 Years – Struggle to Continue for Survival, Restoring Past Glory
On this 1st October 2015, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the telecom PSU, will complete 15 years of its service to the people. There used to be great celebrations of the day in the BSNL Corporate Office, Circle Offices etc. earlier, but it seems that all these are forgotten.
But workers have not forgotten. Formation of BSNL was not the demand of the workers. They were against it. They organized sustained struggles against corporatizing telecom services from the Department of Telecom. But, unfortunately, the agreement between DOT and three main Federations speeded up corporatization.
BSNL was formed on 1st October 2000. In the front lawns of the Sanchar Bhawan, the office of the DOT, then Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, while inaugurating BSNL, declared that BSNL will be granted the Maharatna Status, financial assistance will be provided by the Government and it will be made the No.1 telecom company in the world. Nothing happened; it was all empty promises. Whatever assistance was given in the initial stage was discontinued. On the contrary, the government took actions one after another,( including stopping of purchase of equipment which was most necessary), to destabilize and weaken BSNL, in order to allow the private companies to grow and maximize their profits. It is well known, whether the UPA or the NDA, it is the government of the corporate, for the corporate and by the corporate. Both of them, one after another, ensured that BSNL is stunted and is kept like a bonsai tree, allowing it not to grow.
It is only through sustained struggle of the workers that BSNL continues without being disinvested or privatized. It was through the 100% strike of the workers in 2007, that at least some equipment could be purchased, even after the cancellation of tenders at the behest of Minister. The “Customer Delight Year” and such programmes initiated by the Joint Action Committee/Joint Forum/Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations helped to improve the services.
While there was good profit during the first 7-8 years, it is loss during the last 5 years. But due to the continued concious effort of the unions and workers as also some recent initiatives by the Management, the situation is turning around. The loss is coming down for the last two years and the number of new connections is increasing. It is expected that the company will be profitable by three-four years.
But it is not an easy task. The anti-people, anti-worker, anti-PSU policy being adopted by the Modi government is a threat to the future of BSNL also. The workers have to be vigilant and ready for action against these wrong policies, as earlier. BSNL is our home and it has got to be protested. Let us make all out efforts for the same.
STRUGGLE FOR UNITY, UNITY FOR STRUGGLE AND STRUGGLE AND UNITY FOR PROGRESS!
MAKE ALL OUT EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE PAST GLORY OF BSNL!
GREETINGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED AND HELPED BSNL TO SURVIVE!
REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS TO THE COMRADES WHO FOUGHT AND SUSTAINED BSNL ALL THESE YEARS!
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 
Why unions of bsnl always go in wrong directions. For the sake of mere 1000 rs hike , unions provoked workers to opt for bsnl. Now also this misguiding is continuing. How bsnl comes to profit in 4 yrs. We lacked 4g which is latest trend for revenue generation. Instead we want to give wifi which can’t generate any revenue. At least now joint forum has to decide for united struggle to revert back to DOT of atleast payment of salaries via dot, instead of mere 1000crs uso support…
I am sorry to state that you are not updated in the above matter.Our union strongly objectedd and went on strike twice against corporatisation. We did never agree for corporatisation. It was the three Federations which agreed. Secondly, once BSNL was formed and the three federations have agreed for absorption, there will be no meaning for some people not to absorb. Even those few employees who did not opt for absorption due to one reason or other wanted absorption and got absorbed.
As long as the good wages were agreed both in 2000 and also in 2007 revisions, not a single person wanted to go back to DOT. They got such an increase in the wages that they surpassed the wages of several PSUs, which were more than BSNL earlier. Everybody appreciated their absorption in BSNL, till the company started posting loss. Of course, the Unions demanded for repatriation to DOT, organised agitations, but the government declined that no repatriation can be given.
The new thinking which you mentioned started, when a doubt arose whether there will be a wage revision in BSNL or not because of the loss to the company.The main issue is to make the company profitable and of a better service. It is not only money, but it is also service to the people. That is why the unions are taking interest in improving the services and trying for financial viability. The last few months have shown less loss and less reduction in disconnection. This is a good sign. If this increases, naturally it will benefit the company and the workers. Let us think positive, instead of negative. Many PSUs have come back after going down. When the house catches fire, the effort is to make that it is put down. Taking a position that the fire can not be put down, so nothing is to be done is a negative way of thinking.