Category Archives: BSNL

Prime Minister has to answer to the people.

06 Monday May 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL is a 100% Government company and dictated by the policies of the government. Whether required or not, the government is interfering in all matters to ensure that BSNL does not expand and is finished so that the private telcos, especially Reliance Jio can capture the entire market. BSNL is a thorn for the Reliance Jio and hence it has to be finished. And it is towards this idea, that central government is acting against BSNL.

But it has gone too far. The one lakh or so contract workers who are working continuously to keep the service maintained in good condition, are not paid their meagre wages for the last 4 months. This is totally unacceptable.

Mr. Prime Minister,  while thousands of crores of rupees are being arranged through loans etc. to the big corporates like Ambani, Adani etc. by you and your government, you are not even allowing BSNL to take loan from the banks to pay the wages to the contract employees.

In your own constituency, Varanasi, the contract workers are only paid about Rs. 1,500 /2000 monthly ( whereas the wages to be paid are Rs.10,500), and that also is not paid for ten months. Cruelty and inhuman action has a limit!

In similar situation in the KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation), when due to loss the company could not pay the wages and pension, the LDF government took up the responsibility and paid the wages and pension, despite the fact the government was in financial difficulty due to floods etc.

Mr. Prime minister, at least show human consideration to the starving families of the contract workers in BSNL. They dont require 50,000 or 60,000 crores of rupees like Adanis and Ambanis, not even 1% of that. You  spend thousands of crores of rupees for your costly dresses, but what about the hungry families, including children?

We request you to act immediately to ensure that the wages with arrears are paid to the BSNL contract workers.

 

 

BSNL stands with Odisha people.

06 Monday May 2019

Posted by in BSNL

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The Fani storm has ravaged Odisha, with about 10 people died, hundreds of houses collapsed and more than 12 lakh people in the relief camps. The situation is very grave and the support and solidarity from all are required.

As in any time of natural calamities like floods, storms etc. BSNL is always there providing service to the affected people, while the private telcos are mostly absent. This is the same with the Fani storm in Odisha. Though initially, there was some problem, BSNL has quickly come back providing service and all help to the people.

BSNL always stand with the people!

Merger of BSNL Circles in the agenda

06 Monday May 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

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The government and DOT seems to be always thinking about merger  and or bifurcation with regard to BSNL. Earlier it was the proposal for Merger of BSNL and MTNL. Later there was bifurcation of BSNL in to Tower Company. Both did not work out due to strong opposition from the unions.

As per media reports the present proposal is to merge certain circles in the name of loss and non-viability. The circles proposed to merge are Bihar and Jharkhand, M.P. and Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Haryana, East UP and West UP etc.  These are all circles which had been bifurcated earlier, after formation of new states, except that of East UP and West UP. It is not known whether the issue has been discussed with the Unions/Associations in BSNL, who are always very much anxious to improve the efficiency. By merging these circles, whether the efficiency will go up? Or is it due to non-availability of senior officers to hold the posts and reluctance to post promoted officials?

These are things which adversely affect the efficiency of the services and need to be discussed with the staff/union representatives. They should be informed and their viewpoints also taken in to consideration.

The DOT, BSNL has no right to deny wages to the contract workers.

03 Friday May 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL is a 100% owned government Company. About one lakh contract workers in BSNL have not been paid wages for these workers for four months or so. In some circles wages for 10 months or so have not been paid, This is horrible. How can the low paid workers feed their families? They manage their lives on day to day basis and denial of wages for months have destroyed their lives.

The government, at the time of corporatisation, assured the workers that BSNL will be assisted and their future will be  safe. What is happening to the government’s assurance?

Is it not discrimination and a cruel joke, that while those who gets lakhs of rupees and who are in better position are paid, while those at the lowest position and managing hand to mouth are denied their wages?

The immediate demand is that the government / DOT should assist the BSNL and grant sufficient funds to pay the wages of the contract workers.

Secretary Staff Side, NC, JCM demands the govt to implement court judgment on Pension to those recruited in 2003 but posted after 01-01-2004, as per court judgment

03 Friday May 2019

Posted by in BSNL, CG Employees, Pension

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The Confederation of CG Employees, as also Staff Side, JCM National council,  has demanded that the officials who were appointed after 01-01-2004, but recruited before the date should be made eligible for pension as per CCS (Pension ) Rules 1972 and not as per NPS. This is a good development.

In the same way, it is necessary that those who were recruited before 01-10-2000, but appointed after 01-10-2000 in BSNL as also all the casual labour regularised after 01-10-2000 should be eligible for pension  as per CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. The case was taken earlier, but the govt. did not agree. Now after the court judgment, the demand has got full justification and legal approval.

The letter from the Staff Side, National council, JCM is reproduced below:

No.NC-JCM-2019/Pension/NPS April , 2019
The Secretary

Government of India
Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan.
Khan Market, New Delhi.

Judgment in WP (C)3834/2013 & in WP(C)
2810/2016 dtd. 27/03/2017.
CRPF Lt. No.PAO/CRPF/MHA/NPS/DA-9(1)/
2018-19/797, dtd. 15th March 2019.
Sir,Lt. Dtd. 15th March 2019.
of Delhi, dtd. 12th Feb. 2015 and
27 March 2017.

Sub: Extension of old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who were selected During the year 2003 and who had joined service On or after 01/01/2004.
Ref: 1) Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi
2) Min. of Home Affairs (Pay & Accounts Office)
* * *
You are aware that the Staff Side of National Council(JCM) is representing in various forums to withdraw the National Pension System and to restore the old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Defence Civilian Employees recruited on or after 01/01/2004, since the NPS is determental to the employees as there is no defined guarantee for Pension during the old age. This was one of the important demand, for which the NJCA has served Strike notice on the Govt. For observing In-definite Strike. However due to the assurance given by the Group of Ministers, the proposed In-Definite Strike was deferred.
Sir, at present based on the Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in the above referred cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to extend the benefits of the old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Para-Military forces who were selected during the year 2003, but joined service on or after 01/01/2004. In this regard your kind attention is drawn to the letter of Ministry of Home Affairs, dtd. 15th March 2019 referred at (2) above (copy enclosed for ready reference). The Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to transfer the NPS contribution of the concerned employees to the GPF Scheme and also to bring the employees who were selected during 2003 on the basis of notification issued during 2002/2003 and joined service on or after 2004, under the coverage of CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
A large number of Central Govt. Employees in various Departments Like Railways, Defence, Postal and other Departments are similarly placed. These employees were selected for appointment during the year 2003, based on the employment notification issued during 2002/2003 however due to delay in receiving the Attestation Forms(Police Verification Report), Medical fitness etc., they were forced to join service on or after 01/01/2004. Due to no mistake of theirs’ they were brought under the coverage of NPS, thereby denying them the benefit of GPF and Defined Guaranteed Pension under the CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. These employees also have now started representing for extending the benefit given to the Home Ministry Staff for them, and their demand is fully justified and is covered under the Judgment of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.
Sir, in view of the above, it is requested that you may kindly look into the matter and arrange to issue instructions for extending the benefit given to the Para-Military forces in the Home Ministry to the similarly placed Central Govt. Employees by extending them the benefit of Old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. A copy of your instruction may please be endorsed to this office.
Thanking you,

sign secretary


 
 
Encl: 1) Copy of Ministry of Home Affairs Lt. Dtd. 15th March 2019.
2) Copy of the Judgment

“Save BSNL – Save Nation” – Closure / privatisation of BSNL will be a national calamity

14 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in BSNL

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Certain points with regard to the “Save BSNL – Save Nation” campaign

1. BSNL formed on 01-10-2000 as part of the neo-liberal policy of the central government as the first step towards telecom privatisation. The declared aim of the government was to make it the first telecom company in the world and award Maharatna status. BSNL was 7th in the world at that time.
2. From the start, BSNL was discriminated against private operators, who were given licence for the first time in 1994-95. Licence for providing mobile service was granted to private companies by 1995, but denied to DOT/MTNL/BSNL. Only after approaching court and strong protest from employees, it was granted after 7 years in 2002. This caused great loss in market share to the PSUs.
3. Licence Fee to be paid by the private companies for grant of licence, was changed from Licence Fee to Revenue Sharing which resulted in a loss of more than Rs. 1,000 crore to the government ( 1995 – 1999 period)
4. BSNL surpassed all other telcos within three four years and was competing for the first place with Airtel by 2005. For this purpose, global tender to purchase 45.5 million mobile lines was finalised, but this was cancelled by the government on flimsy grounds to favour the private companies. Again, tenders for 93 million and 5 million lines were also cancelled. (After sustained struggles by the workers 22.5 million (50% of the first tender) was only allowed). This created the biggest down fall for BSNL and stopped its onward march in a big way.
5. The government wanted to disinvest, impose VRS on one lakh workers, unbundle the priceless copper wires etc. to weaken BSNLEU, but had to withdraw all these after protracted strike by workers in 2005-07 period.
6. BSNL was in profit from the start and was so till 2009-10. It had more than Rs. 29,000 crore accumulated profit. Large amount of dividend given to DOT.
7. Cash balance of about Rs.40,000 crore of BSNL in the banks were gradually taken away by the government on one pretext or other. First it was about Rs. 12,500 crores interest for a notional loan of Rs. 7,500 crore, which was never given. Rs. 18,500 crore was taken as cost of spectrum, while the amount paid by the private operators was only about Rs. 5,000 to 6,000. This was done by compelling BSNL to take licence all over India, not allowing to participate in the tender and charging at the highest rates. This way, all the surplus cash was appropriated.
8. As per government orders, pension contribution for the employees is to be on the basis of the actual salary which the employee is drawing. This is to be paid by the BSNL to the government, since the government is paying pension for BSNL absorbed employees as per the agreement in 2000. But the government is forcibly collecting pension contribution on the maximum of the pay scale, all these 18 years. This will come to more than Rs. 6,000 crore at the least.
9. The BWA spectrum was returned to the government since it was not useful, but the payment already made to the government is not refunded so far despite assurances.
10. At the time of formation of BSNL, it was assured that since the company is providing services in the villages, remote areas, naxal affected areas, border areas etc., which are loss making and in which the private companies are not interested, government will assist BSNL through Access Deficit Charge (ADC), Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) etc. to ensure communications services throughout the country. These were all withdrawn within a few years without any justification.
11. In the same way, all government projects like NOFN, NFS etc are allotted to BSNL to implement, but at the same time, sufficient funds are not allotted. In fact, to complete these projects for the government, the company has to spend much more than what is paid by the government. Further a good portion of the work force has to be utilised for the same adversely affecting regular service.
12. 4G Spectrum, which has been allotted to the private companies two years back, is not allotted to BSNL, hampering its upgradation of services. Govt. tried formation of separate Tower Company to destroy BSNL, by hiving of the money earning sector.
13. BSNL is in loss for the past few years due to the above as also due to cut throat competition, which has resulted in the lowest charge for telecom services throughout the world. All the private companies are also in loss. Bank loans of more than one lakh crore are to be paid by Idea, Vodafone etc. Though Reliance Jio says they are in profit by manipulating accounts, it is in loss of more than Rs.2 lakh crore. This is now mainly due to the predatory prices being started by Reliance Jio to finish all other companies including BSNL.
14. After the entry of Reliance Jio, the Government has been giving undue favours to it. Prime Minister Modi’s photo was put in the front page advertisements of Reliance Jio, as if the Prime Minister himself is its Brand Ambassador. They were allowed to continue special offers for more than 6 months against the existing regulation, below cost tariffs were introduced; cables were laid without the permission the local authorities etc.
15. The officers who questioned such illegal and irregular activities were shunted from top posts. J.S.Deepak, Secretary, DOT was shunted to another department for enquiring TRAI why no action is taken about the predatory pricing of Jio. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communication Minister was probably shunted out as he started actions to improve the BSNL services.
16. NITI Ayog recommended for closure or privatisation of BSNL. It is pertinent in this context to mention the statement of Mukesh Ambani, owner of Reliance Jio, that BSNL is its only competitor. Despite all the competition and anti-policy of the government BSNL is increasing its market share from 9.4 to 9.76 and also mobile connections.
17. BSNL requires loan for developmental activities. But the government is not permitting to avail loan. In fact all other companies are doing their business only by taking loans which have gone up to more than Rs. 3 or 4 lakh crore.
18. Government is proposing VRS for more than 54,000 employees from the existing 1.76 lakh workforce. When the workforce was more than 3.5 lakhs, BSNL was making good profits. By implementing VRS, no company has improved. Case of MTNL for study. Reducing the work force will only be detrimental.
19. BSNL has suggested monetisation of the building, land asset etc. to pass over the crisis. This is not allowed at first. Now the govt is proposing monetisation of assets for the expenditure towards VRS.
20. The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), the joint platform of the BSNL officers and employees, is on continuous struggles, strikes and agitation to improve the services and against privatisation and closure. That is why the government is unable to implement its anti-BSNL programmes easily. Three days strike was organised recently demanding 4G spectrum, permission to take loans, refund of extra collected pension contribution etc.
21. While special cabinet meeting was held to find out methods to assist the Jet Airways, which is in distress, the government is not taking any such steps to assist its own company BSNL.
22. If BSNL is privatised, the present lowest telecom charges will be astronomically increased by the private companies as a cartel. It was only when BSNL entered the mobile sector, that the charges were reduced to more than half. Disappearance of BSNL will not only adversely affect the BSNL subscribers, but the entire 120 crores of mobile subscribers, as all of them will have to pay the higher tariff, which will be introduced.
23. Salary for the month of February was delayed by the management probably to compel the workers to opt for VRS. Ten years back, the proposal to implement VRS for one lakh workers could not be implemented due to agitation by workers. Nobody opted.
24. BSNL can be made profitable and service improved by:
a) Allot 4 G Spectrum immediately followed by 5G spectrum.
b) Allow BSNL to take loan for developmental activities.
c) Refund all dues to BSNL including refund of extra collected pension contribution, service dues by central government, refund of interest collected for the notional loan etc.
d) Stop the unjustified favouritism to Reliance Jio, violating all rules and regulations.
e) Discuss with the employees’ unions/associations for improvement of services.
f) Implement Pay Revision, Pension Revision etc from the due date, w.e.f. 01-012017
g) Withdraw the proposal to send out 54,000 workers through VRS. Make payment of wages to the contract workers coming to about one lakh, which payment is delayed for 3 to 10 months.
h) There is good news that BSNL has earned about Rs.6500 crores in the Enterprises sector, despite stiff competition.
i) Restore the USOF, ADC etc. to cover up the loss of providing universal connectivity including remote localities, border areas etc.
Fill up all the posts of Directors of the company, including that of Director (Finance) which is vacant for years together.

Survival of BSNL most important for the BSNL recruitees.

12 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by in BSNL

≈ 2 Comments

Almost all the DOT officials, who absorbed in BSNL will be retiring by 2025. They will get government pension, whatever be the future challenges. But survival and strengthening is most important to the BSNL recruitees since they will be in service for about 20 years more. Their future is most important to the unions and associations. They are the future of the company.

Clearly discriminating against the new recruits, DOT and BSNL management wanted to break the unity of the workers. That is why the unions/associations are working hard to ensure justice to the BSNL recruitees. The central government has introduced the New Pension Scheme for all PSUs. It is also introduced to the state and central employees from 2004. NPS is nothing but No Pension Scheme in effect. That is why the Central Government employees have gone on strike demanding withdrawal of PFRDA and NPS.

In BSNL, the unions /associations are trying to get 30% pensionary benefits to the newly recruits, which was only 18% earlier. Now it is increased after sustained struggles, but not yet reached 30%. The struggle is going on. Immediate wage revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017 is another important demand which has to be settled urgently.

United struggles are required to settle these issues. The young generation has to come forward and lead the struggles along with the veterans. That will be the key to success.

VRS is a Trap to Kill BSNL and its workers – Do not fall prey to it.

12 Friday Apr 2019

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

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The full form of VRS is Voluntary Retirement Scheme. But it is not voluntary. If, voluntary, how can the management propose VRS for 54,000 in BSNL. It is pressure tactics and cheating the workers. By delaying salary of February in almost all circles, the BSNL management is creating fear amongst the workers to opt for VRS. VRS is a loss to the worker. Promotion, Pension and other benefits will be adversely affected. No youngster is getting the jobs vacated, since the proposal will be that the post will go along with the person taking VRS. BSNL work is going to suffer. If the funds being utilised for VRS is spend for development and upgradation, BSNL will be strengthened.

It is not the number of workers that is making the company down. It is the adverse policy and favour to private and discrimination against BSNL. If this is stopped BSNL will improve and reach its past glory.

The same management which proposes VRS is keeping retired officers as consultants, which is a contradiction.

VRS is not voluntary, but compulsory in practice. What has happened in many PSUs shows, that after VRS, the next stop is privatisation. The corporates want that the workers are reduced before privatisation.

Those new recruits, some of whom support VRS, should know that once the VRS is success, the next step is privatisation, which will adversely affect the entire work force. Do not get trapped.

Allotment of 4 G Spectrum to BSNL – TRAI returns file to DOT.

12 Friday Apr 2019

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

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It is understood that the TRAI has returned the file regarding the allotment of 4 G Spectrum stating that the DOT is to decide on the matter.The TRAI in a letter to the telecom department is stated to have said that the allocation of the spectrum to public-owned entities is an administrative matter and the government would be in the best position to dispose of the matter.

DOT refers the matter to TRAI and TRAI returns the same with out any recommendation. These are calculated moves to delay allocation of spectrum to BSNL. Delay is, in fact denial. Neither the government, nor DOT nor TRAI want to allot 4G Spectrum to BSNL. The Modi Government only wants to favour Reliance Jio and is only interested in closure or privatisation of BSNL.

It is high time that the government takes a favourable decision. Whenever BSNL is trying to come out of its difficulties, the centre, the owner of the company, always try to obstruct it.
Modi Government is a government of the corporates, by the corporates and for the corporates. It is against the people, it is against the PSUs and it is only for the MNCs and corporates.

The people of the country will certainly give hard hit to this government.

LET US UTILIZE THE OPPORTUNITY WISELY.

11 Thursday Apr 2019

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

≈ 1 Comment

The pension revision of BSNL retirees from 01-01-2017 stands frozen now. But why? The Hon’ble Minister of Communications and the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications had given categorical assurance for pension revision delinking wage revision in the discussion had with AUAB on 2nd and 3rd December, 2018. But the DoT has not initiated any action on it and are still pursuing for pension revision after wage revision. How can the buerocracy dare to take such a stand without the support of the government.? Yes, it is a treacherous game plan being enacted by both the government and the dominant section of buerocracy in DoT. Is it an isolated issue.? Certainly not. In the same meeting with AUAB, the Minister had given some other assurances also,viz, wage revision, 4G spectrum to BSNL, Pension contribution on actual pay instead of maximum of the pay scale. None of these have been implemented so far and the entire BSNL employees had to go for a three days strike from 18th February, 2019 against the cheating..

Meanwhile BSNL was pushed back to an acute situation that the salary to the employees for February , 2019 had to be deferred. It is no secret that Reliance Jio is allowed by the government to operate freely with predatory pricing violating the rules and license provisions.ever since its launching in September, 2016. This has virtually put the entire telecom sector to great crisis and all the service providers are incurring huge losses. The aim of Mukesh Ambani, the richest corporate in India and owner of Reliance Jio is to dominate the telecom service sector by grabbing the customers of other companies and to increase the market share and revenue share to 50%.. However, BSNL is the only operator resisting the Reliance Jio to a great extent with comparitively less liability. This has embarassed Mukesh Ambani and is pressurising the Modi government to eliminate BSNL from the telecom sector and naturally the government has to oblige as it is the government for the corporates . This is the real backgound for the present created crisis in BSNL.This is nothing but part of the anti-PSU policy of Modi government, another glaring example seen recently is ignoring the reputed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in the corrupt Rafale deal for the sake of Anil Ambani’s company.

The cheating of workers and pensioners is nothing new and the on the contrary has become the hallmark of Modi government. The retrograde recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission was implemented unilaterally by Modi government against which an indefinite strike from 11th July, 2016 was declared by the Joint Action Council of Central government organisations. The Modi government was thus compelled for a negotiation with the JAC on 30-06-2016 and the Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave assurances on increased minimum pay and fitment, Option 1 (Parity in pension), the only positive recommendation for the pensioners and increase in medical allowance. But the government did not honour its commitment and central government employees and pensioners were cheated. Despite sustained struggles, Modi government has not done anything on the New Contributory Pension Scheme which is proved now to be a No Pension Scheme.

Modi government during its five year term never wanted to concede any of the demands of the workers, put forward by the Central Trade Unions against which many struggles including nation wide strikes were conducted. Labour laws were amended to suit the interests of the employers and the fixed term job amendment is nothing short of enslaving the workers. The farmers and agricultural workers were also compelled to wage several struggles against non-implementation of assurances and the worsening situation in the farm sector. Now the people are convinced enough as to how the adverse impacts of the neo-liberal policies being implemented vigorously by the Modi government have affected their life.

It is pertinent to mention here about the hollow promises given by the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014; Rs.15 lakh to the bank account of every Indian, 2 crore jobs every year, Petrol @ Rs.40 per litre etc. In addition to these enormous damage is done to the secular fabric and communal harmony of the country during the last five years. Constitutional institutions are filled with ‘yes men’.; even judiciary is not spared. Now, we have to think very seriously what will be our future if the same BJP is voted to power? No doubt,it will be a complete disaster. The need of the hour is a secular and democratic government in the country which will have an alternate policy focusing on the welfare of the poor and common people.. So let us be careful while utilizing the franchise in the ensuing general elections. (Telepensioner Editorial)