After sustained struggles and pressure by the JAC / Joint Forum, the BSNL management has been compelled to procure equipment on a fast track basis. Although not in adequate quantities, telephone instruments, cables, drop-wires, Broadband Modems and GSM equipments are on the supply line to the field level. In some places they have reached, it is yet to reach in many other places.

After continued struggle we could obtain these. Now it is the responsiblity of the executives and non-executives to ensure that the development and expansion takes at a fast rate. This is our first real chance to improve the services and expansion, since earlier we were completely handicapped with the lack of all kinds of necessary equipments.

I hope that the SSA level management also will rise to the occasion. It is their job to ensure the supply of the equipments and motivate the workers for more and more expansion. The workers should take it as a challenge to increase the connections in mobile, landline, broadband and other services also better service. My suggestion is that each and every week the SSA level management and representatives of workers should meet, discuss the plans and implement it effectively as a crusade. The challenge of improving the services, providing more connections and getting more revenue is the task of the moment. Let us all pull together and restore the glory of BSNL.

I am shocked to find out that the top officer-bearers of SNEA viz. President G.L.Jogi, General Secretary K.Sebastin and former AGS A.A.Khan were transferred out of Delhi. I am yet to find out why the BSNL managment has taken this unprecedented action, but whatever the reason, it is fully unjustified and unwarranted. All of them are not only  respected leaders of SNEA, but the BSNL employees as a whole.

I would demand the management to immediately cancel the transfers and ensure that normalcy is restored. If the management has got any problem, it can be discussed and amicably settled.

In continuation of its sustained demand for ending the discrimination and grant of 30% fitment / 5 advance increments for the post-2007 recruitees including TTAs, Sr.TOAs, RM etc., BSNLEU has written a detailed letter to BSNL  with live examples for immediate settlement of the issue.  It is posted in the BSNLEUwebsite www.bsnleuchq.com. The issue has already been taken in the  National Council and discussed and all the additional details required for the settlement are furnished now.

The management can not avoid a favourable settlement. Justice has got to be meted out to the concerned officials.

BSNL has been in loss for the last three financial years. The loss has been increasing year after year and it has now reached about Rs. 8,000 crore. The main reasons for the loss are the backing out of assurances on financial issues by the DOT and the inefficiency  of the top  management.

In order to restore the efficiency and financial viability of BSNL the following actions by DOT and BSNL are required immediately.

1. The Access Deficit Charge (ADC), Reimbursement of Licence Fee and liberal subsidy from USO Fund should be restored or Rs.10,000 crore to be given as subsidy to BSNL per year.

2.  The spectrum charges, both of 3G as well as Broadband coming to about Rs.18,000  paid by BSNL to DOT be refunded to BSNL, the incumbent operator and government company.

3.  Urgent implementation of repatriation of non-opted ITS officers to DOT and immediate recruitment of required top-level management to fill up the vacancies.

4. Promotion of  efficient and eligible executive officers to top management through modalities to be finalised in discussion with the associations.

5. Recruitment of Regular Mazdoors by regularising the left out casual labour engaged by DOT/BSNL  for long period.

6. Regular (at least monthly) discussion between the management and unions at all levels, from Corporate to SSA, regarding the improvement of the services, fast development, procurement of equipments, financial management etc. Workers to be taken in full confidence.

7. All  executives/non-executives to be given suitable training in marketing and maximum numbers engaged in that section. Incentives to be provided.

8. Wasteful expenditure to be avoided. Zero tolerance to corruption.

There can be many other good suggestions, which can also be included.

BSNL /Telecom has a great tradition in efficient service and it is property of the people. This has to be maintained efficiently and improved for the benefit to the people.

DOT,BSNL,Workers should jointly enable the PSU to provide the best service to the people.

The latest instruction / order issued by the DOT that the BSNL unions/Associations cannot directly correspond with DOT is a misguided one. BSNL was formed from the DOT and a lot of issues concerning the BSNL staff are still to be settled by the DOT, including that of pension and some retirement benefits. Wages and some other staff issues also need the approval of DOT. The policy decision with regard to functioning of BSNL is taken at DOT/government level in which the BSNL and its employees are very much interested. There are a lot of similar issues which have to be decided by the DOT or to be approved by the DOT.

In such a situation, the BSNL Employees Unions will have to take up these issues with DOT. Unless there is much pressure, just like strike notice, the BSNL management does not bring them to the notice of the DOT. Therefore, it is necessary to have a channel of communication for the unions with DOT in the interest of the BSNL and its employees.

The next National Council was to be held by 24th June 2012 as decided by the last National council meeting. But despite the continued demand by the unions, the date for the next meeting has not been fixed. The delay is unwarranted and inexcusable.

The BSNL management should immediately fix the date and hold the same at the earliest.

Recruitment of new employees in BSNL has become an urgent necessity. The six lakh workers in Dept. of Telecom in 1984, has now been reduced to about 2.70 lakh workers. Though the use of latest technology and computerization have to a certain extent reduced the required number of staff, the present situation of shortage of staff is adversely affecting the services. The shortage is adjusted by outsourcing the services.  Of course, this is part of the neo-liberal policy of the government.

The unions have to seriously discuss the issue and put the demand for recruitment of staff wherever required to effectively maintain the services.

The agreement between the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations and BSNL management on the  13th June strike issues, signed on 11th has been appreciated by all. Accordingly, the strike has been deferred also.

Now, it is for the management to ensure that the decisions of the agreement are fully and quickly implemented. Any delay or watering down will certainly put a question mark on the sincerity of the management.  Fast track methods have to be adopted in implementation of the assurances so that the workers are convinced.

I surely welcome the CMD BSNL letter to the employees asking for suggestions for the improvement of BSNL and its services. In fact the letter is not even a single minute earlier.

The Joint Action Committee has placed many suggestions in the past and is placing further suggestions now and then. The BSNL Management and especially CMD should go through it and implement if found suitable.

The portal in which the suggestions are to be put should be made available to all the employees by making the password known to all.

Further, the present movement should not be limited to a circular but should be acted upon and continued.

BSNL has been formed from the P&T which was giving  service to the people of this country for more than a century.  The P&T services were efficient and one of the best in the world. Comparatively it was free from corruption.

But after formation of BSNL, the corruptive practices have increased and there are many vigilance cases going against even top level officers, who are expected to give the best example  to the employees. Though not the best, but all from top to bottom are getting reasonable and good wages. As such why anybody should indulge in corrupt pracices and give a bad name to the company and the serrvices. Sustained effort is necessary on the part of all for zero tolerance towards corruption and bribery.

In this connection, it is also to be pointed that the casual and contract labour are being exploited by the Contractors and the BSNL management. This should stop. Such exploitation not only give a bad name to BSNL but also demean all the concerned persons,including those who close their eyes to this curse.

Can’t we start a cleaning process to remove this dirt  from BSNL?