Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Meeting with Director (HR)

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, met Shri A.N.Rai, Director (HR), BSNL on 26 February and discussed the following points:
1. USOF allotment of Rs. 1,250 crores in lieu of ADC for the year 2012-13 2. No surrender of CDMA spectrum by BSNL as recommended by TRAI since BSNL services will seriously suffer and will cause extra expenditure 3. Conflicting issues like difference in pay scale, 46.5% disinvestment of MTNL, Pension issues etc. to be solved before any decision is taken for BSNL-MTNL merger 4. Expediting the projects of NOFN, Erection 2200 towers in the naxal affected area and laying of cables for defence so as to get the spectrum released etc. 5. Efforts needed to get the orders issued for 78.2% IDA for pensioners by DOT.
The issue of contract workers, especially non-implementation of Govt. and corporate office orders on payment of minimum wages, social security measure like EPF and ESI etc. were brought to the notice of the Director (HR). He assured suitable action in the matter.

EPF PENSIONERS STAGE DHARNA AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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THE EPF PENSIONERS,THE LOWEST PAID PENSIONERS,HAVE
CONDUCTED A HUGE DHARNA AT JANTAR MANTAR,NEW DELHI
ON 25TH FEBRUARY DEMANDING SETTLEMENT OF THEIR LONG
PENDING DEMANDS INCLUDING MINIMUM PENSION OF RS.6500.
A HOST OF LEADERS REPRESENTING CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS
AND PENSIONERS ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING COM.TAPAN SEN,
GENERAL SECRETARY,CITU,COM.S.K.VYAS,SECRETARY GENERAL,
BCPC,COM.KG.JAYARAJ,GENERAL SECRETARY,AIBDPA ADDRESSED.
THE DHARNA WAS ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL CO ORDINATION
COMMITTEE OF EPF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS AND WAS LED BY
COM.M.N.REDDY,GENERAL SECRETARY,ALL PENSIONERS AND
RETIRED PERSONS ASSOCIATION

Cabinet meet on 28th February may take important decisions on BSNL, MTNL issues.

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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The meeting of the Cabinet scheduled to be held on 28th February is expected to take important decision with regard to many issues including restructure of BSNL, MTNL, financial assistance etc.
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has already submitted its suggestions/Demands/proposals in this matter to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Communications Minister, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL and others.
In case issues are not settled, there is no other go but to resort to agitational programmes.

Cabinet may waive the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 of BSNL

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Telecom

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has been continuously demanding the Government and DOT that the Notional Loan of Rs.7500 crore put in the records of the BSNL should be waived and that the interest and capital amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded to BSNL. Now the following report in Business Line indicates that the Cabinet may consider waiving of the balance notional loan. That is not sufficient. The entire loan should be waived and that the amount already paid by BSNL should be refunded.

The report in the Business Line is reproduced below:

The Union Cabinet is likely to a take call on waiver of notional loan on BSNL estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore in its next meeting on February 28.

“Cabinet may take up notional loan waiver matter of BSNL on February 28. With interest and other charges, it is estimated to be around Rs 7,500 crore,” a source told PTI.

Since the time of corporatisation of BSNL in October 2000, a 15-year notional loan has been showing in the financial books of loss making state-run telecom firm.

The loan is being discharged at the rate of 14.5 per cent and penal interest of 2.75 per cent over and above normal rate interest rate.

An amount of about Rs 983 crore as principal remains outstanding against BSNL on which the interest is charged by government.

BSNL has been logging losses since 2009-10. The company’s profits had started declining after 2004-05, when it had made net gains of Rs 10,183 crore.

The public sector firm had posted a loss of about Rs 7,784 crore in financial year 2012-13.

Government has constituted Group of Ministers, headed by P Chidambaram, to revive loss making telecom firms BSNL and MTNL. The proposal of notional loan waiver is part of various recommendations made by the GoM to Cabinet for BSNL.

BSNL opposes TRAI’s recommendation of surrender of CDMA spectrum

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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News, February 25, 2014

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) proposal to take back the spectrum it held in the 800 MHz band ahead of the
CDMA spectrum auction.
Earlier, in its pre-auction recommendation for auctioning spectrum in the 800 MHz band, the regulatory body had put forward this proposal to enable the government to carve out a contiguous block of pan-India CDMA spectrum. TRAI has recommended that BSNL be allowed to keep only one block of spectrum (1.25 MHz) in all service areas except Assam, Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir where it could retain its current CDMA spectrum holdings of 2.5 MHz
each.
At present, BSNL has 2.5 MHz of CDMA spectrum in 19 circles and 3.75 MHz of spectrum in Kerala. Citing a steady fall in BSNL’s CDMA subscriber base, TRAI has suggested that the operator may be allowed to just hold 1.25 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz to continue providing services to rural customers.

BSNL has claimed that TRAI’s proposal if accepted by DoT, will lead the loss-making operator to make additional investments worth Rs 3 billion by migrating the majority of its 10 million-plus
CDMA customers to lower frequencies, thereby compromising on quality of the service.

Why delay payment of NOFN to BSNL and Partners?

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Telecom

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The media has reported that the delay in the cabinet decision for payment of Rs.1,500 crore to BSNL, Powergrid and Railtel (70%, 15%, 15%) for the administrative charges is delaying the NOFN activities. The National Optical Fibre Networks proposes to connect the villages through out he country, which is an ambitious programme of the government.
The government should pay the amount to the BSNL and others to enable them to move quickly and proceed with the laying of the cables etc.

78.2% IDA – Meeting with Dept. of Expenditure Officers

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL News

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Today, 26th February, Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Shri Vijay Kumar Singh Director (ADM), Department of Expenditure as also Shri Vivek Ashish Under Secretary and Shri Sanjay Kumar, Section Officer and discussed about the approval for 78.2% IDA for BSNL retirees. The Association representatives stated that undue delay has already taken place in the matter and that the pensioners are restive and requested for early approval which will benefit the pensioners. All the officers assured that the delay has taken place as they were fully engaged with the restructure process of BSNL/MTNL being proposed by the Empowered Group of Ministers. However, they assured that the process of approval for 78.2% will start by today/tomorrow and will be finalised without further delay.

Casual/Contract Workers’ Demonstration today

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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As per the call of the BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU, massive demonstrations will be held in all SSAs of BSNL on the demands of the casual and contract workers, including regularisation, minimum wage, social security measures etc.

All circle/SSA secretaries are requested to intimate CHQ about the implementation of te programme after the same is conducted.

(The BSNLCCWF website is under repair and will be available shortly)

Planning Commission considering Regularisation of Contract Workers?

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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It is reported in the Economic Times dated 26 February that the Planning Commission is in discussion with companies to frame guidelines for regularisation of contract workers. It is stated that this move is being initiated due to the reduction in the number of regular workers and increase of the contract workers who are engaged to do the work of regular employees.
The Trade Unions in the country have been continuously demanding for the regularisation of the large number of contract workers. In BSNL, there are about 3350 casual and about one lakh contract workers. BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation is on agitation for the regularisation of these workers.

As the first phase of the action, massive demonstrations will be organised today, 26 February, in all SSAs as per the call of the federation.

Infant deaths – 64% Newborn dies within one month in Delhi!

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in General

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It is unbelievable! As per a report by the “Save Children” organisation, about 64% of the new born children in Delhi dies within 28 days of their birth. In the same way, 10 lakh babies are dying within 24 hours in the city.

Despite India got Independence more than six decades back, the health condition has not improved much. Such infant mortality may be there in very few countries.

The Central/State governments as also the public institutions have to seriously consider the issue and improve the health condition and facilities for the common people. Then only the situation will improve.