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Protest against attack on Karl Marx’s Tomb in London.
07 Thursday Feb 2019
Posted in General, Uncategorized
Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI
Miscreants attacked the tomb of Karl Marx in High Gate cemetery, London yesterday and damaged the marble funeral stone in which the names of Marx, his daughter and other details are there. But the miscreants and the attackers don’t realise that the teachings of Marx can not be destroyed by destroying his tomb. ( Photo: At the Marx’s tomb on 08-12-2010). Strong Protest from all over the world. Protest the attack!Why intensified attacks on BSNL?
06 Wednesday Feb 2019
Posted in BSNL
Despite the assurance given by the Communications Minister to the AUAB, settlement of the demands are pending and the AUAB is compelled to issue strike notice to the government for 3 days strike from 18th February 2019. Probably, the statement of Mukesh Ambani, owner of Reliance Jio, that only BSNL is his competitor, is one reason. When Mukesh Ambani, favourite corporate leader to the government is stating that BSNL is his competitor, it is an open suggestion to the government that BSNL should be somehow killed or maimed. Denial of 4G spectrum to BSNL, delay in wage revision and pension revision, no action to reduce the pension contribution limited to the actual pay, denial of 30% pensionary benefits to DR officials etc. are clear hints that the government is going back on its commitments. The beneficiary is Reliance Jio.
HAL was denied Rafale plane order in favour of Anil Ambani’s new company which has no experience in plane building at all. Private companies were favoured for purchase of telecom towers, when better towers manufactured by Telecom Factories of BSNL were ready and available. There are several examples when PSUs were ignored and private corporates were favoured.
BSNL has been an unfavourable child from the first. Government thought that BSNL will be a total failure in the fiery competition with the private companies. When it is surviving this cut-throat competition, Central government is trying to kill it directly. But remember that there is a strong untied force of the workers to defend their own BSNL.
PMO meets to expedite strategic sales of PSUs. Air India, AIAISL, BEML, Dredging Corporation etc. included
06 Wednesday Feb 2019
Posted in Disinvestment
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Tuesday held a meeting to work out steps to expedite the strategic sale of PSUs identified by government think-tank Niti Aayog, a senior official said.
Niti Aayog has identified 35 PSUs, including Air India, Air India’s subsidiary AIATSL, Dredging Corporation, BEML and Scooters India for strategic sale.
“There is not much headway in strategic sale of CPSEs because of opposition by certain organisations. The PMO tried to identify these bottlenecks and come up with the road map to expedite the whole process,” the official, who did not wish to be identified, told PTI.
The government has set a target of Rs 90,000 crore to be mopped up from share sale of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) in financial year 2019-20, higher than the Rs 80,000 crore target this fiscal.
Niti Aayog recently submitted to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) the fifth list of CPSEs, profitable as well as non-profitable, which can go for a strategic sale. This takes the total number of PSUs identified for strategic disinvestment to 35.
The companies which have been shortlisted for strategic sale include Air India, Air India’s subsidiary AIATSL, Dredging Corporation, BEML, Scooters India, Bharat Pumps Compressors, and Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur units of steel major SAIL. (PTI)
AIBDPA Punjab Circle Union Conference.
05 Tuesday Feb 2019
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
In a well attended conference held at Bharat Nagar Chowk Telephone Exchange, Ludhiana on 04-02-2019, Punjab Circle Branch has been revived. The conference was presided over by veteran leader Com.Gurcharan Singh. Com.Balvinder Singh, Circle Co-Ordinator welcomed one and all. Inaugurating the conference, Com.KG Jayaraj, General Secretary explained the efforts and struggles being launched by AIBDPA in achieving the genuine demands of pensioners by which it has become the biggest pensioners organisation in BSNL. He also dealt in the current issues of wage revision, pension revision, medical issues and revival of BSNL , ensuing AIC at Kolkata and appealed to make the 3 days strike by AUAB from 18-02-2019 a great success. Com. Raghunath Singh, General Secretary, CITU Punjab State was the Guest of honour and delivered an informative and inspiring speech. Coms.Balbir Singh, Circle Secreatry, BSNLEU, Jathinder Pal, Vice President, CITU, Shri.Rakesh Kumar Mishra, GMT,BSNL and a host of leadrers addressed.
Circle Office Bearers were elected unanimously with Com.Kamaljit Singh (President), Com.Balvinder Singh (Circle Secretary) and Com.Kashmir Chand (Treasurer).(AIBDPA Website)
BSNL can still be made profitable
01 Friday Feb 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
At present BSNL is loss making as per the audited reports etc. How it was made loss-making is known to the workers.The central government and the DOT want it to be sold as in the case of VSNL, but it is not possible due to the very strong unions/associations in BSNL.
The BSNL workers are going on strike demanding Pay revision, Pension revision and other demands. The demands include strengthening of BSNL also. The strike has to be made completely successful, so that the government is compelled to discuss and settle the issues.
Central Budget instead of vote on Accounts.
01 Friday Feb 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
The Central budget presented to the Parliament today by Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, on behalf of Finance minister Arun Jaitely, who is on leave, in nothing but election gimmicks. Only vote on accounts for the new one or two months was required, but this was made an election propaganda, placing a full budget, with many promises. The promises made by BJP in the last general election are not honoured at all even after about 5 years. Then where is the sincerity, where is the commitment ?
The M.Ps in the parliament are sure to expose the budget.
Charter of Demands of the three days strike by BSNL employees from 18th February 2019
01 Friday Feb 2019
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLEU
The following is the Charter of Demands for the 3 day strike from 18.02.2019.
= Implementation of 3rd Pay Revision with 15% fitment.
= Allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, as per the proposals submitted by the BSNL Management.
= Implement assurance of the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Revise pension of BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01.01.2017.
= Payment of pension contribution by BSNL as per the government rule.
= Settlement of the left out issues of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee.
= a) Approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy without any delay.
= b) Expeditiously complete the mutation and the process of transferring of all assets to BSNL, as per the Cabinet decision taken on the eve of the formation of BSNL.
= (a) Ensure financial viability of BSNL, as per the decision taken by the Group of Ministers, at the time of formation of BSNL.
= (b) Issue letter of comfort for BSNL’s proposals for taking bank loans.
(= c) Expeditiously fill up all vacant post of BSNL Board of Directors.
= 8. Scrap BSNL’s outsourcing for the operation and maintenance of it’s mobile towers.
[Date : 01 – Feb – 2019]
US wants to capture our oil and mineral resources – Nicolas Maduro, President, Venezuela
31 Thursday Jan 2019
Posted in General, WORLD NEWS
Caracas, January 30 : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro assured Wednesday that the main reason for the growing pressure exerted by the United States against his government is the desire to seize its oil and mineral resources.
In an exclusive interview with the Russian outlet Sputnik, the president made reference to the mineral and natural wealth of his country as the reason behind Washington supporting coup efforts against his country.
“The direct reason is seizing the oil of Venezuela, because we have the largest oil reserves certified, we certify what will be the largest reserves of gold in the world, we have the fourth record of the world’s largest gas, and we have large reserves of coltan, diamonds, aluminum, iron, we have drinking water reserves throughout the national territory, we are an energy and natural resources powerhouse,” said the Venezuelan president.
President Nicolas Maduro reiterated that his country is a sovereign and independent nation and that it is not part of the U.S. backyard. “They (the United States) consider us their ‘backyard’ and we say that we are not anyone’s backyard, we are an independent republic.”
Given the possibilities of a dialogue with the opposition political sectors, the Venezuelan head of state reported that there are reserved contacts between authorities of several countries to try a new approach that puts an end to the situation in Venezuela.
“At the moment it is in the stage of private conversations, telephone conversations, among presidents, foreign ministers, our foreign minister Jorge Arreaza is very active, and we hope that there will be good results in the next few hours,” said the Venezuelan president.
He indicated that it is “several governments, several instances” that “have launched the idea of a dialogue supported by the governments of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, Russia and other European countries.
The United States imposed sanctions on the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA Monday, blocking US$7 billion in company assets and warning that the payment of any purchase of crude oil made by local companies would go to blocked accounts.
However, the Bolivarian government responded that no vessel with crude oil will be landed in the United States, until payments are made to the Venezuelan government.(Courtesy: Ganashakti)
Pension Revision – Detailed letter of AUAB to Secretary DOT
31 Thursday Jan 2019
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU, Pension
The letter written by AUAB to Secretary DOT on Pension Revision is given below. The detailed letter put the demand very clearly for pension revision on the basis of IDA scales.
ALL UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF BSNL (AUAB)
No: UA/2019/ 31.01.2019
To
The Secretary (Telecom),
Department of Telecommunications,
Ministry of Communications,
Sanchar Bhavan, 20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110 001.
Sub: Delinking of Pension Revision for the Pre-2017 BSNL retirees from the Pay
Revision of BSNL employees reg:
Ref: Assurance given by the Hon Minister and Secretary, DoT in the meetings held on
02.12.2018 and 03.12.2018 that Govt decided to delink the pension revision of
BSNL pensioners from the pay revision.
Respected Madam / Sir,
On the formation of BSNL, the employees working in DoT were absorbed in BSNL w.e.f
01.10.2000 with the assurance of better career prospects and payment of pension by the
Government of India. Accordingly Rule-37A was incorporated in CCS Pension Rules, 1972 to
ensure payment of pension on the combined service rendered in DoT and BSNL, on IDA
scales. On absorption, the employees were granted IDA pay scales w.e.f 01.10.2000.
Sub-rule 10 of Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, provides that “in addition to pension or
family pension, as the case may be, the employee who opts for pension on the basis of
combined service shall also be eligible to dearness relief as per Industrial Dearness Allowance
pattern”. Again as per Sub-rule 22 of Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the pensionary
benefits, including family pension shall be paid by the Government.
In accordance with the above provisions, DoT revised the pension of pre-2007
pensioners/family pensioners of BSNL on 15.03.2011, who retired during 01.10.2000 to
31.12.2006. The pension revision followed the pay revision in BSNL as pay revision
implemented immediately after the DPE guidelines issued on 26.11.2008. Pension revision
implemented through Cabinet decision with 30% fitment, which took time with the fitment
allowed by the DPE for CPSUs.
The pension/family pension of the pre-2007 BSNL pensioners were revised w.e.f. 01.01.2007
as follows by adding together:
i) The existing pension /family pension, including commuted portion of pension, if any.
ii) IDA 78.2% as on 31.12.2006.iii) Fitment of 30%, as per DPE guidelines.
On 03.08.2017, DPE issued guidelines for 3rd Pay revision with 15% fitment. Para 3 of the OM
under the heading Affordability provides that the revised pay scales would be implemented by
the CPSEs subject to the affordability of CPSE. BSNL and MTNL are unique CPSUs where
the retirees are paid pension by the Govt of India as per Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules,
1972. In BSNL, the pay revision is not implemented due to the affordability clause.
The pension Revision of Govt pensioners retired from BSNL cannot be linked with the
pay revision of the serving employees due to the following reasons:
1. All the BSNL retirees were Govt servants, recruited by DoT and absorbed in BSNL. Their
pension is covered by CCS Pension Rules, 1972 as in the case of Central Govt employees.
2. Pension revision for Central Govt pensioners already implemented.
3. As per the terms and condition for absorption, BSNL absorbed employees would continue to
get pension from DoT irrespective of the status of BSNL. As per para 2(b) of DoT order No:
40-13/2013-Pen(T) dated 20.07.2016, it has been clarified that “The liability towards
pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL employees (except those
recruited after 01.10.2000), as per sub rule 22 of Rule 37A of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972,
lies with the Government of India”.
4. The Affordability clause mentioned in DPE guidelines is applicable only for the pay revision
of the serving employees, not for the Pension Revision.
5. Pension revision has to happen even in the cases of:
i) If BSNL is not there?
ii) If BSNL is not profitable and No Pay Revision is implemented in BSNL?
iv) 3rd PRC given different fitment for the serving employees depends on its affordability. This
fitment will be reviewed after every 3 years. If the fitment varies, it will create anomaly
among pensioners.
v) Non-Executives are not covered by the fitment and the pay scales notified by DPE vide
OM dated 03.08.2017. Non-Executives wage revision is as per the negotiated settlement.
In Coal India, Non-Executives signed wage revision agreement with 20% fitment for 5
years period where as DPE guidelines stipulates that if 5 year wage settlement is made,
the fitment has to be proportionately reduced. However for the purpose of uniformity, Non
Executives as well as Executives in BSNL are extended the same fitment from 2nd PRC
period onwards. BSNL is a unique CPSU in that respect also.
6. BSNL retirees are no way connected with the affordability or paying capacity of BSNL. Their
pension is to be paid by the Govt of India, not by BSNL.
7. BSNL has already paid the pension contribution in full to the Govt of India, for their entire
service period in BSNL.
Since the matter of pay revision of BSNL employees pursuant to 3rd PRC recommendation is
yet to be settled, the issue of revision of pension for the pre-2017 BSNL pensioners is required
to be delinked from the pay revision of BSNL serving employees. It is already assured and
announced by Hon MoSC and Secretary, DoT in the meetings held on 02.12.2018 and
03.12.2018 that Govt decided to delink the pension revision of BSNL pensioners from the pay
revision.
However DoT letter to DoP&PW does not reflect this decision and lack recommendation or
proposal of DoT for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Without a proposal from DoT,
DoP&PW is unlikely to give any opinion in this regard. As per DoP&PW, the methodology is to
be worked out and suggested by DoT.
The methodology may be recommended to DoP&PW for giving its approval on the
subject. To avoid an anomaly between serving and the retired employees prior to
01.01.2017, the following method suggested.
a) The pension/family pension of the pre-2017 BSNL pensioners will be revised w.e.f
01.01.2017 as follows by adding together:
i) The existing pension /family pension, including commuted portion of pension, if
any
ii) IDA as on 31.12.2016.
iii) Fitment of 15%.
b) For the serving employees, fitment will be calculated as 15% w.e.f. 01.01.2017 itself
and pension contribution will be paid accordingly by BSNL. However, payment of pay,
allowances and perks will be made by BSNL depending upon its affordability. In the
month of retirement, the payment will be made based on full 15% fitment (Atleast in the
last month, payment will be made based on full 15% fitment).
Anomaly which may arise if pension revision is done with 15% fixation and pay revision
is done with lesser fitment.
A pensioner retired on Oct 2016 with Rs 50,000 last basic pay is getting Rs 25,000 as basic
pension as on 1-1-2017. Now if his basic pension is revised as per PRC with 15% the revised
basic pension will be Rs 63,100 [ i.e. Basic Pension+119.5% DA as on 1-1-07 + 15% fitment]
His batch mate retired on March 2017. His basic pay was also Rs 50,000 on 1-1-17 and last
basic pay on March was also Rs 50,000. Now his pay on 1-1-17 is revised as per PRC with
10% (say) fitment. So his revised pay on 1-1-17 will be Rs 1,20,700. Accordingly his last basic
pay on March would also be Rs 1,20,700 and pension will be 50% of Rs 1,20,700 i.e. Rs
60,350. Thus he will be getting Rs 63,100 – Rs 60,350 = Rs 2750/- less pension compared to
his batch mate retired before 1-1-17 whose pension is revised to Rs 63,100 as per 15%
fixation.
How to solve this anomaly:
Method 1
Fix the pay of 2nd person notionally with 15% fitment but actually with fitment of 10% (say) till
last month of his retirement. The Basic Pay of the last month of his retirement may be restored
as per 15% fixation and pension will be paid on last pay drawn actually. Hence for January and
February his basic pay will be Rs1,20,700 and for March it will be Rs 1,26,200 and accordingly
pension fixed at Rs 63,100 which is equal to his batch mate retired before 1-1-2017.
Method 2:
Fix the pay of 2nd person notionally with 15% fitment but actually with fitment 10%(say).
Hence at the time of retirement his actual Basic Pay will be Rs 1,20,700 and notional Basic
Pay will be 1,26,200. Now calculate his Pension as per his last drawn notional pay and his
pension will be 50% of 1,26,200 i.e Rs 63,100/- which is equal to his batch mate retired before
1-1-2017.
NOTE: This system of fixing pension on notional last pay drawn is already in vogue for BSNL
pensioners retired between 1-1-2007 and 9-06-2013 while extending the benefit of 78.2 IDA
Merger. Their Pay has been notionally revised by merging 78.2% IDA from 1-1-2007 and
Revised pension is being paid on revised notional last pay drawn from 10-06-2013.
Yours Sincerely,
Sd/- P.Abhimanyu (Convener) C.Singh (Chairman)
Copy to: (1) The PS to Hon Minister of State for Communications, New Delhi – 01
(2) Member (Fin), Telecom Commission, DoT, New Delhi – 110001
(3) Additional secretary, DoT, New Delhi – 110001.
(4) The Chairman & Managing Director, BSNL, New Delhi – 110001.
(5) The Director (HR), BSNL Board, New Delhi – 110001
(6) The GM (SR), BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi – 110001
AUAB demands honouring of assurance on delinking of pension revision
31 Thursday Jan 2019
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU
AUAB protests deviation from the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) on delinking Pension Revision from Pay Revision.
In the meeting held on 03.12.2018, between the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and AUAB, it was assured that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision. However, the officers sitting in DoT are trying to deviate from the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C). For example, in the letter written by the DoT, to the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, the decision of Hon’ble MoS(C) was diluted. In that letter, the DoT had asked the DoP&PW, whether pension revision can be de-linked from pay revision. In yesterday’s meeting with the Additional Secretary also, the DDG(Estt.), DoT, was arguing that pension revision would be done only after pay revision is done. The representatives of the AUAB strongly protested this dilution and demanded that the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) should be implemented. On hearing both the arguments, the AS(T) directed that the AUAB and the DDG(Estt.) DoT, should hold further discussion on this issue. Accordingly, further discussion took place yesterday, between the representatives of the AUAB and Shri S.K. Jain, DDG(Estt.), DoT. The AUAB categorically told that the decision of the Hon’ble MoS(C) that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision should be implemented. After observing the stiff resistance against dilution of the Hon’ble MoS(C)’s decision, the DDG(Estt.) assured that the issue would be further discussed with the AS(T). (Courtesy: BSNLEU Website)
