Category Archives: BSNL

DOT and Government should take immediate action for wage revision in BSNL

08 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in BSNL, Wage Revision BSNL - 2017

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The government decision of the  III PRC is already issued. In the case of BSNL, the DOT and Government should decide for wage revision immediately, taking in to consideration the fact that BSNL is having operational profit and the same is increasing, productivity is high, the loss is due to policy decision of the government on universal service and the workers were government servants earlier, where the pay revision is not connected with profit and loss etc. The affordability clause should be removed in case of BSNL for wage revision.

The success of the strike on 27th July has already shown that the workers are ready for further action for getting wage revision. Without making the workers to go on further agitational programmes, the government should take positive decision.

New Telecom Policy – ‘One Nation, One Licence’

03 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in BSNL, Telecom

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The New Telecom Policy expected to be finalised by the end of this year may change the Licence system for telecom services in the country. This was stated by Miss Aruna Sunderarajan, Secretary DOT. Earlier, the licences were granted on bid for each circles separately. This was the requirement of the private companies since they did not have services in all the circles. But BSNL was compelled to purchase spectrum in all circles at the maximum bid rate in each circle, whether required or not. While private companies paid only Rs. 3000 – 6000 crores for selected circles, BSNL was compelled to pay an amount of Rs. 18,500 crore.

Now the major telcos are providing service in most of the circles. If they have to bid by circle to circle and pay for all circles, it will be a good amount as paid by BSNL earlier. Hence it is to reduce that burden on the private companies that the All India licence is being thought of giving a new slogan ‘One India, One Licence’.

It is exposed that the policy decisions are taken by the government in the telecom sector always giving priority to the private companies. Already the government is in the processing of reducing the ADC, USOF etc. charges to be paid by the private companies as demanded by the them.

New Telecom Policy by December 2017

31 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by in BSNL

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Smt. Aruna Sunderarajan, Secretary DOT has stated that the New Telecom Policy will be finalised by the end of this year.

Every NTP, whether it is National Telecom Policy or New Telecom Policy, has been for more and more opening of the sector to the private corporates and giving them all help and benefits while curtailing and putting road blocks in the working the DOT/BSNL services. There is no doubt that next NTP also will follow the same lines.

Subsidy to the private operators, additional time to pay the spectrum charges, reducing ADC and USO Fund contribution are sure to be some of the policy issues. Of course, there will be further restrictions on the functioning of BSNL and MTNL, even disinvestment, privatisation etc.

Is not this government the government of the corporates, by the corporates, and for the corporates?

One third of BSNL land assets alone is Rs. 65,000 Crores!

31 Monday Jul 2017

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The book value of BSNL’s landed properties are pegged at Rs.975 crore. However, the recent valuation of BSNL’s landed properties reveal that, the value of one third of BSNL’s landed properties alone come to Rs.65,000 crore. These one third landed properties are located in the major cities of the country. The land at New Delhi in which the Corporate Office is located alone is valued at Rs.2,500 crore. This valuation was done as per the new “Indian Accounting Standard”, for which the consultant KPMG was engaged by BSNL. This information was disclosed to the PTI by shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Privatisation of PSUs means handing over these large tracts of land of the PSUs to the private corporates for real estate purposes. According to the government, the entire BSNL’s assets are worth only Rs. 975 crores and the selling price will be with this calculation. The corporates will reap huge profit.

But one thing. The united force of the BSNL workers will fight to the last against any privatisation of BSNL! The government could not implement disinvestment in BSNL so far, they could not implement VRS and unbundling of copper cables. If the workers stand united, it will be not easy for the government to implement their anti-national designs.

United Action a Must to Defend and Save BSNL

17 Saturday Jun 2017

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BSNL. the telecom PSU, fully owned by the government of India, is in one of the worst crisis, it had to face till now. Though NITI Ayog has denied that it has recommended strategic sale / closure of BSNL, the fact remains that something is moving in the corridors of power against the survival of BSNL.

All the earlier attacks like disinvestment, unbundling, VRS etc. could be defeated with the united strength of the organisations of the executives and non-executives with the full support of the workers and executives. Another such attack is in the offing now. In addition, in the name of loss, the government is trying to deny wage revision to the workers.

This is the moment to unite all the forces available at our command and to defeat the conspiracies and attacks against BSNL and ensure wage revision. Nobody can keep aloof from this historic task.

In the past we had done it. In future also we will fight unitedly to sava BSNL and its workforce.

 

Crisis of private telecom companies

02 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by in BSNL, Telecom

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]Inter Ministerial Group to study the crisis of private telecom companies.
The government has setup an Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) to study the financial crisis of the private telecom companies. The first meeting of this IMG begins on 12th June, 2017. As a precursor to this meeting, the DoT officers are holding a series of meetings with Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel and TATA Tele-Services. When the corporates earn hefty profit, they do not think about the country and the people. But, when the corporates land in crisis, the country and it’s government start worrying about them. Among all the telecom companies today, BSNL is having the least debt burden. Below is the list of loans taken by various private telecom companies.

Reliance Communications Tata Tele-Services Bharati Airtel
₹44,000 cr. ₹30,000 cr. $14.09 billion

Aircel Idea Cellular Vodafone India
₹23,000 cr. ₹50,072 cr. €8.7 billion (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Uproot corruption to save BSNL

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

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BSNL workers, officers and the top management are making all efforts to bring back BSNL in to a profitable PSU and provide a better service to the customers. Workers even implemented their decision to increase working hours by one hour till 31st March 2017. BSNL is providing more than 20 lakh mobile connections for the last many months despite fiery competition. Operational profit is increasing and it is expected that by 2017-18, it will post real profit.

In addition to the anti-worker, anti-PSU policy of the government, one more reason for the present loss of the company is the rampant corrupt practices of a some employees/officers. At one time, BSNL topped the list of corruption, but it has come down. Still, even when the company is in loss, the corrupt practices go on. I am giving below such two press reports where CBI has caught one TDM , a retired Junior Accountant and one AGM in difference cases.

1. “JAIPUR: The CBI has arrested a telecom district manager (TDM) and a retired junior accountant of BSNL for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district.

According to a CBI source, the accused allegedly took Rs one lakh from a contractor to clear his bill following which they were arrested.

“TDM had demanded the bribe from the contractor of optical fiber cable, Sukhbeer Singh Sinsinwar, to clear his bill amounting Rs 60 lakh through his middleman, a retired junior accountant.

“They were caught by the team at the TDM’s residence in Bharatpur last night when they were taking the bribe amount,” the CBI source said.

After initial questioning, they were on Friday placed under arrest on the charge of criminal conspiracy. They were booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A search was launched at the office and residence of the officer, the source said, adding, they will be produced in a court later on Friday.”

2. “NEW DELHI: The CBI today claimed to have recovered cash and properties worth crores during its searches at the residential premises of a BSNL Additional General Manager arrested for alleged bribery.

In an operation late last evening, the agency had arrested Gupta Chandra Bidika, Additional General Manager, Microwave Project, Bhubaneswar.

He was caught red handed allegedly taking bribe of Rs one lakh for clearing bills worh Rs 10 lakh of a contractor.

“Searches were conducted at the residence of the accused at Bhubaneswar and Rayagada District (Odisha) which led to recovery of cash for Rs 14.93 lakh, USD 603, three bank locker keys; documents related to properties, including flats, plots at Bhubaneswar and shares, debentures, policies etc,” CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.

The agency sources claimed they had recovered documents related to a three-bedroom duplex flats at localities of Dharam Vihar, Netaji Subhas Enclave, Dreams Villa in Bhubaneswar.

The documents related to plots in Bhubaneswar, Khurda and Puri have also been seized by the agency, they said.”

We do not know what will the final result of the Inquiries. But the indication is clear. Unless the corruption is uprooted, BSNL will always be in danger. Such corrupt people give a bad name to the entire BSNL and its officers/workers. There should not be any tolerance of Corruption and corrupt people.

BSNL – MTNL Merger

17 Friday Mar 2017

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The Parliamentary Committee on Petitions headed by BJP MP Bhagat Singh Koshiani has recommended for Merger of BSNL and MTNL. It has also recommended for appointment of an Expert Committee to examine the matter.

Again and again the issue of merger of BSNL and MTNL is being raised. The Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations of Non-Executives and Executives had made its stand clear. The merger can be effected, provided that the huge liabilities of MTNL is made good by the government, the disinvested shares of MTNL are bought back and the pay scales of both BSNL and MTNL are made equal.

The Petitions Committee and the Expert Committee, when appointed should consider merger on this basis. The merger should be for the benefit of both and not for disaster.

 

BSNL installs 28,000 Mobile Base Stations for 3G, 4G Services

13 Monday Mar 2017

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As part of the Phase – 8 Expansion, BSNL will replace all the 2G base stations and install 28,000 new 3G and 4G Base stations in the country. This will be completed by 2017-18. At the same time BSNL has demanded the government for allotment of 4G Spectrum free to BSNL. This is most necessary not only to provide 4G but also to update to 5G services.

CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Shrivastava stated that the new base stations will be completed by the end of this financial year.

BSNL should be made mandatory for Central, State and PSUs

13 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by in BSNL

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BSNL and its employees including casual and contract workers are making all out efforts for the improvement of services and making the PSU viable. It is expected that by 2017-18, it will post profits. For the last two financial years there was operational profit.

It is the duty of the central government, who is the 100% owner of BSNL, to give all assistance to the PSU at this juncture. Two of the most important issues which will help BSNL in a large way are:

  1. Allow 4G Spectrum free to BSNL.
  2. Direct all central/state governments and PSUs to avail BSNL services mandatory as is the case of Air India Service.

Strong pressure should be brought upon the Central Government to achieve these important demands.