Category Archives: AIBDPA – BSNL DOT Pensioners

AIBDPA (All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association ) is the organisation of the Pensioners retired from DOT and BSNL. The posting in this category are connected with their issues as also that of other pensioners. It is affiliated to NCCPA and BCPC, umbrella organisations of pensioners.

AIBDPA writes to Hon’ble Prime Minister on denial of Medical facilities under BSNL Medical Reimbursement Scheme to BSNL retirees since 2018-

17 Friday Jul 2020

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AIBDPA writes to Hon’ble Prime Minister on denial of Medical facilities under BSNL Medical Reimbursement Scheme to BSNL retirees since 2018- measures initiated by BSNL management to make payment of medical reimbursement only to the BSNL employees ignoring the retirees – urgent intervention sought.
AIBDPA/ MED-PM/2020 16th July, 2020
To
Shri Narendra Modi Ji
Hon’ble Prime Minister,
Government of India,
South Block,
New Delhi – 110 001
Respected Sir,
Sub: Denial of Medical facilities under BSNL Medical Reimbursement Scheme to BSNL retirees since 2018- measures initiated by BSNL management to make payment of medical reimbursement only to the BSNL employees ignoring the retirees – urgent intervention sought- reg.
We may kindly be permitted to bring to your notice one of the genuine and burning issues of the BSNL retirees for early intervention and redressal by your kindself.
We have great appreciation of your concern for the welfare of the senior citizens which have been expressed on several occasions. We take this opportunity to quote one such statement by your goodself. “One of our key priorities is the welfare of senior citizens and ensuring a good quality of life for them.”
In sharp contrast to your clear vision on the welfare of the senior citizens, the BSNL management is putting the BSNL retirees to utter distress by denying payment of their due medical claims for the last two years. This Association has taken up the issue with the CMD, BSNL several times through bilateral discussions and letters, but of no avail.
The sufferings of the retirees are beyond imagination, particularly during this difficult period of Covid-19. Pension Revision, due from 01-01-2017 is denied to BSNL retirees while their counterparts in central government have got two pension revisions according to 7th Pay Commission recommendations. You may kindly think about the plight of the hapless BSNL retirees who find it absolutely unable to purchase life saving medicines with the meager pension.
Meanwhile, the BSNL management made another attack on the BSNL retirees by curtailing the eligibility ceiling drastically for outdoor medical facilities through an Office Order dated 08-05-2020. The ceiling limit was reduced from 23 days pay + DA as on 1st April of the year of claim to 15 days pay + DA at the time of retirement. Despite opposition from all the organizations, both serving and retirees, the BSNL management was not even prepared to accept reasonable modifications of the Office Order. The worst affected are the past pensioners, particularly, pre 2007 retirees, as their DA at the time of retirement only is taken which is very meager.
Now, BSNL management has given instructions to add reimbursement of medical claims upto September, 2019 of BSNL employees with salary of June, 2020. Accordingly, pay slips are prepared and may be paid on receipt of the fund. We wholeheartedly welcome this move by the BSNL management. But at the same time we are at a loss to understand as to why retirees are ignored. What mistake these elders have committed for such a harsh, cruel and discriminatory treatment.
Respected Sir, there are BSNL pensioners suffering from chronic diseases like cancer, kidney and heart ailments. So also pensioners with geriatric ailments. They have to take medicines regularly and some of them have already died due to discontinuation of medicines. We do not know whether the BSNL management wants more such tragic incidents.
Therefore, we request the intervention of your kindself, to cause necessary action for payment of all pending medical claims, both indoor and outdoor, pending medical allowances ,onetime payment made for CGHS membership and to rescind the anti-pensioner office order dated 08-05-2020 by BSNL so that the hardships of BSNL pensioners are mitigated to a certain extent.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
K G Jayaraj
General Secretary
CC: (1) Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister for Communications & IT, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
(2) Shri Anshu Prakash, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
(3) Shri Kshtrapati Shivaji, Secretary, Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, Janpath Bhawan, B Wing, 8th Floor,New Delhi-110001.
(4) Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi-110001.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING OF NCCPA HELD ONLINE ON 16-07-2020.

17 Friday Jul 2020

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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING OF NCCPA HELD ONLINE ON 16-07-2020.

The National Executive of NCCPA has been held through video conferencing on 16-07-2020. Com.Shiv Gopal Mishra, President presided over the meeting. Com.K K N Kutty, Secretary General briefed on the agenda items. Out of 32 invitees, 23 comrades participated. Coms.V A N Namboodiri (Patron), K G Jayaraj (Deputy Secretary General) and H S Thakur (Organising Secretary) participated from AIBDPA.

Com.K G Jayaraj raised the issues of pension revision of BSNL pensioners and denial of Medical facilities to BSNL retirees for the last two years and wanted to be taken up by NCCPA.

The email to Prime Minister demanding the order on freezing the DA/DR has to be sent by all units without further delay.

The detailed minutes/ circular of NCCPA wil be published. (from AIBDPA website)

AUAB DECISION FOR OBSERVANCE OF BLACK DAY ON 16-07-2020- AIBDPA FULLY SUPPORTS AND EXTENDS SOLIDARITY

10 Friday Jul 2020

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AUAB DECISION FOR OBSERVANCE OF BLACK DAY ON 16-07-2020- AIBDPA FULLY SUPPORTS AND EXTENDS SOLIDARITY AND REQUESTS ALL THE UNITS TO PARTICIPATE, WHEREVER POSSIBLE ACCORDING TO LOCAL CONDITION..

The AUAB meeting held yesterday the 06.07.2020 has decided to call on the BSNL employees to organise lunch hour black flag demonstrations on 16.07.2020. It is also decided that the employees should wear black badge on that day. The following are the agitational programme and charter of demands, as decided in yesterday’s meeting.

Agitational programme.

All the employees are called upon to wear black badge on 16.07.2020. Black flag demonstrations are to be organised by the employees during lunch hour on 16.07.2020, against the cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender and against the road blocks being created in the rolling out of BSNL’s 4G services.
A memorandum is to be submitted to all the MPs during the period from 13.07.2020 to 31.07.2020, urging upon them to intervene in favour of BSNL’s expeditious rolling out of 4G network, as well as the early revival of BSNL.
Twitter campaign is to be organised on 05.08.2020, demanding immediate rolling out of 4G network by BSNL and implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package.

Demands:

BSNL should immediately be allowed to roll out it’s 4G Services.
BSNL should take immediate actions to upgrade the 4G compatible BTSs.
Add on order for 4G equipments as per Phase VIII.4 tender should be issued immediately.
In the matter of procuring new equipments and upgrdation, there should not be any discrimination, between BSNL and other private telecom service providers.
The Government should immediately implement the decisions contained in BSNL’s Revival Package, like extension of Sovereign Guarantee for the issuing of Bonds.
Urgent measures should be undertaken by the BSNL Management for immediately improving the quality of service.
The Management should ensure that the salary payment of the employees is made on the last working of every month.
The Management should immediately take steps to ensure that the employees get cashless treatment from empanelled hospitals during Covid 19 pandemic. The Management should pay Rs.10 lakh to the family of the employees who die due to COVID-19. Based on the instructions issued by the DoT, the Postal Department has already introduced such a scheme to it’s employees.
(BSNLEU WEBSITE)

P and T TU Movement in India during II World War and thereafter (1939 – 1954) ( by B.N.Ghosh ) CHAPTER : XIV FIRE SPREADS

09 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, B.N.Ghosh Book, P&T TU History

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CHAPTER – 14 FIRE SPREADS

The Joint Council of Action in Calcutta felt necessity that with a view to making the strike a short lived one, it should spread throughout the country so that the government be forced to come to them. Accordingly, Sri.Keshab Ganguly and Sri. Sisirlal Sen Gupta , that two energetic members of the executive committee of the reorganization party were sent to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They left to Calcutta on the 30th dressed as up-country-men with fictitious names of Kesho Singh and Debi Singh .They addressed meetings in Hindi at Patna , Banaras ,Allahabad and Agra and tried to impress upon the P&T workers on the need of joining the struggle. As the All India Telegraph Union had already served the Government with strike notice and Telegraph workers of Bengal and Assam were already on strike, it was easy for Sri. Ganguly and Sri. Sen Gupta to persuade the Telegraphists to join the strike. The Telegraphists of Agra and Lucknow were already on strike, credit for which goes to comrades B P Banerjee and S N Misra, and as a result of this new effort, the strike is spread amongst the telegraph office staff of Bihar and most parts of UP. It is worth mentioning that wherever the Telegraphists under the A.I.T.U has gone on strike, those under I.T.A left their association and joined the strike.

The Postal Class III Employees of Patna and Lucknow had gone on sympathetic strike . The RMS P Division workers of Patna under the able leadership of Comrade. G.P. Gopal however became full pledged strikers and where on strike for full 8 days under protection of the Bihar Provincial Trade Union Congress with which the RMS P Division Union, a branch of the All India Postal and RMS Union , got itself affiliated . The strike later on spread amongst the RMS workers of A Division at Allahabad. Besides, Com. V.G.Dalvi, Com Dharia and Susil Kavelkar took active part in conduction the strike at Bombay. Com. P.M/Krishnan was at the helm of Strike Committee in Madras while Delhi strike was conducted by Com. Y.D. Sarma and by Com.Mehaboob Hussain, Vice President of Delhi Provincial branch of the Post Men Union. Comrades S P Anand and Mohd Hayat , Vice President and Secretary of Punjab and N.W.F Province , conducted the total strike in that Circle. The specialty of strike in Calcutta and Bombay was that not a single postman and lower grade staff had attended the office from the 11th July onwards.

The strike at Delhi was also virtually complete. In New Delhi, out of 156 postmen only 2 were at work on the first day and in Delhi, out of 184 postmen only 10 attended duty on the first day and on subsequent days there was further dwindling down. The over-whelming majority of post man and lower grade staff of Bombay, Madras, Bengal and Assam UP, Punjab and NW FP Bihar and C.P joined this unit struggle which was a struggle for existence.

The Government false prestige stood in their way to agree to come to settlement with the Post Men Union , but from the 21st midnight, from whence the entire P & T workers of all arms of service of Bengal and Assam struck work, the situation completely changed. Sri. Krishnaprasada, ICS Director General of Post and Telegraphs left Delhi and reached Pune on the 22nd and met Sri B G Kher, the Chief Minister of Bombay State and discussed with him the question relating to bringing about an amicable settlement between the Government and the strikers. (To be continued)

AUAB calls for agitational programmes on BSNL and workers issues

07 Tuesday Jul 2020

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The AUAB meeting held yesterday the 06.07.2020 has decided to call on the BSNL employees to organise lunch hour black flag demonstrations on 16.07.2020. It is also decided that the employees should wear black badge on that day. The following are the agitational programme and charter of demands, as decided in yesterday’s meeting.

Agitational programme.

All the employees are called upon to wear black badge on 16.07.2020. Black flag demonstrations are to be organised by the employees during lunch hour on 16.07.2020, against the cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender and against the road blocks being created in the rolling out of BSNL’s 4G services.
A memorandum is to be submitted to all the MPs during the period from 13.07.2020 to 31.07.2020, urging upon them to intervene in favour of BSNL’s expeditious rolling out of 4G network, as well as the early revival of BSNL.
Twitter campaign is to be organised on 05.08.2020, demanding immediate rolling out of 4G network by BSNL and implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package.

Demands:
BSNL should immediately be allowed to roll out it’s 4G Services.
BSNL should take immediate actions to upgrade the 4G compatible BTSs.
Add on order for 4G equipments as per Phase VIII.4 tender should be issued immediately.
In the matter of procuring new equipments and upgrdation, there should not be any discrimination, between BSNL and other private telecom service providers.
The Government should immediately implement the decisions contained in BSNL’s Revival Package, like extension of Sovereign Guarantee for the issuing of Bonds.
Urgent measures should be undertaken by the BSNL Management for immediately improving the quality of service.
The Management should ensure that the salary payment of the employees is made on the last working of every month.
The Management should immediately take steps to ensure that the employees get cashless treatment from empanelled hospitals during Covid 19 pandemic. The Management should pay Rs.10 lakh to the family of the employees who die due to COVID-19. Based on the instructions issued by the DoT, the Postal Department has already introduced such a scheme to it’s employees.

All the circle and district unions are requested to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to make the agitational programme a total success. Circle and district secretaries are requested to go through the AUAB circular for full details. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

7th July 2020 – Birth Centenary of Com. K.G.Bose

06 Monday Jul 2020

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The Birth Centenary of Com. K.G.Bose, former President NFPTE and the inspiration for a whole generation of P and T workers and CG employees starts with 7th July 2020. He was born on 7th July 1921 and passed away on 11th December 1974 at the age of 53.
He led the historic struggles of 1946 Postal Strike, 1960 Indefinite Strike and the One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968. He was jailed and dismissed from service in connection with the proposed 1949 strike.
He was founder leader of the 12th July Committee in W.Bengal which organized many struggles of the working class. He was elected as MLA in W.Bengal and as also nominated as a Member of the Pay Commission for State Government employees.
His younger brother Com. Moni Bose was also an important leader of NFPTE and was General Secretary of the E.III Union and Patron of BSNL Employees Union.
BSNL Employees Union has called upon to observe the birth centenary year of Com. K.G.Bose by organizing meetings, garlanding his photo etc. AIBDPA calls upon its members to participate and organize the same jointly in a befitting way.
Red salute to Com. K.G.Bose on this 100th Birth Day!(Courtesy: AIBDPA website)

Supernumerary Benefits to the BSNL Recruited Retirees.

06 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, Pension

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Officials were recruited after formation of BSNL who are not having government pension as per Rule 37(A) of the CCA (Pension) Rules 1972 as is being received by the BSNL absorbed DOT employees.

As per recommendations of the II Pay Revision Committee 2007 for PSU employees, those retiring are eligible for 30% of supernumerary benefits. But BSNL has only agreed for 25%  ( EPF- 12%, Gratuity – 4.8%, PRMB – 3.2% and pensionary benefit 5%) so far despite continued pressure by the unions. This is a big injustice to the BSNL recruitees.

BSNL Management should reconsider the matter and do justice to them by granting full 30% supernumerary benefits as recommended by the II PRC.

Sustained Struggles to save BSNL -22 Magnificent Strike – Magnificent Achievement

04 Saturday Jul 2020

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Sustained Struggles to save BSNL -22
Magnificent Strike – Magnificent Achievement.

Meeting with Secretary DOT

Shri P.J.Thomas, Secretary DOT held a meeting with the JCA leaders. While discussions were cordial, there was no clear decision or assurance.
Meeting with State Minister of 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 for the strike, the JAC issued press release and printed posters and circulated the same in large numbers. Detailed circular was issued calling upon the workers to fully and actively participate in the strike. State level conventions were organized in many centres. This resulted in massive propaganda amongst the workers and public.
A meeting with the Minister Communications, Shri A.Raja was held on 16-04-2010 on the strike demands including against the recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee. But there was no favourable decision.

Magnificent Strike – Magnificent Achievement

The strike on 20th April 2010 was magnificent on all counts. The strike which started at 0600 AM on 20th April saw hundreds of BSNL executives and Non-Executives gathering in front of BSNL Offices / Exchanges and demonstrating in support of their demands in the strike. By about 0900 hours almost all the workers had gathered in big cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, Thiruvnanthapuram, Ahmedabad Patna, Bhuvneswar, Bhopal etc. and at circle and SSA headquarters and started demonstration. All offices, exchanges were deserted. So many offices stood closed, as there was nobody even to open them. The banners of Joint Action Committee and its constituent unions / associations were fluttering over the premises. The workers shouted slogans in support of the important demands. It was an exhibition of complete unity of all the executives and non-executives for a common cause. In many centres, leaders of Postal, Central government, State government, Insurance and other PSUs as also Pensioners Associations were present to convey their solidarity and support. The striking workers were addressed by Central trade Union leaders in many places.
Central trade Unions including INTUC, BMS, CITU, AITUC, HMS, TUCC, UTUC, AUTUC etc. had already adopted resolutions supporting the strike. CITU in its All India Conference at Chandigarh called upon all its units to extend full support to the strike. All India Insurance Employees Association called upon all its units to organize demonstrations in front of BSNL Offices in solidarity. AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF, Confederation and NFPE gave similar call. AISGEF extended its support. We received support from many PSU unions. We got so much support mainly due to the fact that the issues focused were issues of not only BSNL employees but they were general issues and against the anti-worker policies of the government. The complete unity of the JAC was another factor.

In the Rajya Sabha, Com.Tapan Sen, M.P. raised the issue in the presence of the Prime Minister. Com. Basudev Acharya M.P. raised the same in the Lok Sabha.
The management became panicky. The Minister of Communications Shri A.Raja immediately called for a meeting with the JAC along with Secretary DOT Shri P.J.Thomas, Member Services Shri S.C.Mishra, CMD BSNL Shri Kuldip Goyal, Director (HR) Shri Gopal Das and other senior officers.
The meeting started at 11.00 hours. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JAC, conveyed to the Minister that we wanted concrete decisions on the issues raised and that we are not satisfied with vague assurances. All the issues raised in the strike notice were discussed which continued for more than two and half hours. Despite the fact that Parliament was in session, the Minister patiently heard our demands and viewpoints.

The main assurances from the minister were as follows:

1. A Cabinet Note will be prepared, referred to other concerned ministries and then sent for consideration of the Cabinet on ITS absorption issue. This will be done within 4 months. In the meanwhile BSNL will start the process of recruitment of DGMs and Management trainees. How many numbers will be recruited shall be decided by BSNL.
2. Considering the strong opposition of the unions, before taking final policy decision regarding disinvestment of BSNL, the unions will be consulted and taken in to confidence.
3. In the same way, in the case of VRS, Outsourcing as well as infrastructure sharing, the unions will be consulted before any final policy decision is taken.
4. The Unions impressed the urgency of at least minimum 36 million (3crores) mobile lines being procured for this year. CMD BSNL assured that 20 million lines are already available and 10 more millions lines will be obtained.
5. The JAC insisted that order for IDA Pension Revision for officials retired before 01.01.2007 should be issued without further delay. DOT and Management stated that this cannot be done without Cabinet approval since there are no rules at present in the matter. It was directed by the Minister that a Cabinet Note shall be finalized by the end of this month and after circulating to the concerned ministries, it should be submitted to cabinet within next three months for consideration.
6. When the delay for DOT approval for wage revision for BSNL non-executives was brought to his notice, the Minister directed DOT to resolve the issue expeditiously within 15 days.
7. The question of grant of 78.2% IDA instead of 68.8% IDA was brought to the notice of the Minister, who asked BSNL to discuss the issue with the unions.
After the draft minutes were received, the Joint Action Committee met and after discussion decided to call off the strike and the same was conveyed to the Minister and the final minutes of the meeting were issued. Accordingly, the magnificent strike which started in the morning was called off after 15.30 hours.
Impressive Achievement

The widespread strike has woken up the management, which was taking the strike in a casual way. Concrete decisions on time bound basis have been reached.
With regard to disinvestment, outsourcing, sharing of infrastructure as also VRS etc. the JAC has expressed its strong opposition and that the workers will never agree to any such proposals. Minister Shri A.Raja was fully sympathetic, but these are government policies. We have been able to stop them now. We have been assured that that the unions will be consulted before taking any final decision. The Telecom Commission which was to meet and take decision on BSNL IPO on 21st April 2010 postponed the meeting in view of the latest developments. The unions cannot be complacent and will have to be prepared for further struggles if the government proceeds with anti-worker decisions. This is the third time that JF / JAC is stopping disinvestment of BSNL during the last few years. Thus the strike has temporarily halted a major offensive of the government. (To be continued)

Mighty Protest Action on 3rd July 2020 by Central TUs against Centre’s anti-worker policies.

04 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, CITU, CTU

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The 10 Central Trade Unions – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UCTU – organised country wide protest actions on 3rd July 2020 opposing the anti-worker, anti-people policies and decisions of the central government. BMS kept away due to political reasons, but its workers are also completely unhappy against the attack on the workers.
Utilising the Covid situation, the central and state governments under BJP has increased the working hours from 8 to 10 or 12, PSUs are being privatised, ban on recruitment and wage freeze are being imposed. Labour laws are mutilated to the disadvantage of the workers. The latest to be privatised are the Railways by introducing private trains. EPF and ESI rules are being weakened taking away the social security of the workers. The demand of the CTUs for financial assistance to the workers who are without work and income has not been conceded.
BSNLEU and other Unions and Federations in central and PSUs have also participated in the protest action.
AIBDPA had given full support and solidarity to the programme. The struggle will certainly continue against the anti-worker policies. (Courtesy:AIBDPA website)

BSNL Pensioners are restive. Do not ignore them.

01 Wednesday Jul 2020

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The lakhs of BSNL pensioners are unhappy and restive since their most important issues are being delayed by the BSNL management and central government. Neither medical reimbursement nor medical allowance has been paid for the last one and half years.  15% Pension revision due from 01-01-2017 is not settled, though three and half years are over.

VRS Pensioners are not fully paid their due Ex-Gratia amount.

This injustice is being done against the the sincere and committed workers who have provided yeomen service to the people of this great  country during their service of 35 to 40 years under all difficult and different situations. They were part of the great Posts and Telegraphs Department earlier, before they were forcibly converted in to the BSNL corporation. Had  they  continued in the government service, just like the ITS officers, there would have been no difficulty in the pension revision and medical bills / allowance.

The BSNL Management and Centre is doing great injustice. They should immediately rethink the matter and ensure that the medical allowance / reimbursements are paid as also the Pension revision is made.

In the same way, the claims of the VRS retirees like Ex-Gratia should be paid without any further delay.

AIBDPA , the Biggest pension association in BSNL, has taken up all these issues with the government and is making all out efforts to get the same settled.