After 5 months of introduction of MNP (Mobile Number Portability ), the Idea Cellular has benefitted maximum with more than 6 lakh additional connections from other companies. Its port out is 8,83,369 and port in 15,22,429 thus having an advantage of 6,39,060 connections. Vodafone and Airtel are the second and third beneficiaries.
Reliance is the biggest loser with 11,29,228 connections lost. BSNL and MTNL is the second with a loss of 5,66,850 their port in being 3,05,634 and port out 8,72,484. Tata and Videocon are also on the losing side.

A good news for salaried employees!
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sudhir Chandra has announced that it has been decided to exempt employees whose annual salaries are below Rs. 5 lakhs from submitting Income Tax Returns. This will be with effect for the financial year 2011-12. The notification on this will be issued by the first week of June 2011.

The National Joint Action Committee meeting held on 30th May 2011 has decided to extend the observation of “Customer Delight Month” for one more month, June 2011. The committee discussed about the improvements in service and development this month and took the above decision. The details of the decisions will be put on Union Website.

As per PTI report, there are at least 30 corporate bosses in India who are getting salaries of more than one crore. These include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance), Sajjan Jindal( Jindals), Ajit Gulabchand ( Hindustan Constructions), G.H.Singhania ( Raymonds), Chanda Kochhar (ICICI Bank), Shikha Sharma (Axix Bank), S.Gopalakrishnan (Infosys) and S.D.Shibulal (Infosys).
In a country like India, where 80% of the people are getting about Rs. 20/- per day, these corporate honchos are getting crores of rupees as salaries. In addition, there will be other fringe benefits which may equal the salaries.
Still the Government wants to subsidise these big businesses. And even whatever concessions are given to the poor are being withdrawn one after another. Two kinds of justice, one for the rich and the other for the poor.
Can this be tolerated?

Revolutionary Greetings on CITU Foundation Day, 30th May.
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the vanguard of the working class movement in India, is celebrating its 41st Foundation Day on today, 30th May 2011 all over India. During its 40 years of existence, CITU has become the torch-bearer of the struggles of the toiling masses. At the initiative of the CITU many joint struggles have taken place.
Many all India federations of the Central Government Employees, PSUs etc. have got full support and guidance from the CITU leadership in taking up their issues and struggles. BSNLEU will always remember the clear guidance and assistance given by Coms. E.Balanandan, M.K.Pandhe, Chittabrata Mazumdar, Mohamed Amin, Tapan Sen, A.K.Padmanabhan and other CITU leaders which made it as the biggest union in BSNL.
The working class is facing severe challenges – the spiralling prices, attacks on the rights of the workers, the neo-liberal policies aggressively being implemented by the Central Government, disinvestment & privatisation of PSUs, the pitiable condition of the unorganised workers and so on. Sustained struggles are required to be organised to safeguard the interest of the workers. We hope, are sure that CITU will be in the forefront as always.
BSNLEU conveys its Revolutionary Greetings to CITU and Comrades on this 41st Foundation Day Anniversary of CITU.
V.A.N.Namboodiri
President, BSNLEU

I have already mentioned earlier that how the profitable Air India-Indian Airlines have been made loss making by the anti-PSU policy of the Government and complete mismanagement. The strike of the Indian Airlines Pilots has exposed many of these misdoings of the government and the management to favour the private air companies. All these anti-Air India decisions have put the PSU in real trouble. In the meantime the oil companies denied supply of petrol to the Air-India due to the non-payment of their dues. Although it is temporarily settled on the basis of the assurance of the Air India that in future the oil will be paid on day-to-day basis, a lot of issues remain.
Due to lack of cash, the Air India has now decided to reduce its flights mainly international. It will further reduce the revenue. Earlier it had withdrawn from the profit making routes to help th private companies. Whether the cash-strapped PSU will be able to pay the salaries of the employees regularly? The government is no mood to help the Air India except granting a meagre amount in an interval.
The painful experience of the Air-India Indian Airlines is a hard lesson for the BSNL workers. For BSNL, the situation still can be saved. That is why the JAC has decided to seriously implement the decisions with regard to improvement of services and strengthening of the company and also make the management and the Government to take suitable actions to save and strengthen BSNL. Any laxity on our part will be dangerous. Let us move ahead with our strategy and plans.

BSNL is short of funds. Even at this juncture, it is reported that the telephone bills could not be delivered in time, which results in more delay in the amount being remitted. It is also reported that many subscribers are not getting bills at all, which finally will result in non-remittance and disconnection of phones. How to change the situation?
Earlier we had suggeted to the BSNL management that the distribution of bills and collection of charges can be done by the employees and some incentives could be given for this purpose. Accordingly the management issued an order dated 12-09-2008 entrusting the job to the employees and providing an incentive of Rs.2 for delivery of bills and Rs.3 for collection of cheques. It is still being effectively implemented in Kolkatta Telephones, W,Bengal etc., but not in all places. This system has got more advantages. The close connection with the subscriber is ensured. The charges are collected and the employees get some incentive. Delay is avoided.
During discussion with Director (HR) I mentioned that why can’t the management reiterate the instructions and get it implemented all over the country. He was agreeable. The orders are expected soon. But the main point is that our workers should sincerely implement the same and the management should make all necessary arrangements. BSNL will naturally get fiancially benefitted and service becomes better.

The next meeting of the National Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations / Unions has been fixed to be held on Monday, 30th May at 1500 hours. What are the major agenda of the meeting?
The main item is to review the implementation of the Customer Delight Month, called by the JAC for May 2011. What is the over all impact? Which are the circles effectively implemented and which are not? How it was implemented? A general report to be made on these issues.
What is the role of the workers? How much did the management support the programme and what are the results?
What more is to be done?
All these have to be discussed in detail.
Secondly, the question of extending it for one more month has to be examined. In my opinion it should be extended.
What is the present position of ITS absorption, 78.2% IDA and on other issues which had been taken up by the JAC.
How to bring those unions which have left the JAC?
All these issues have to be discussed and suitable decisions taken.

After attending meetings in Assam I started for Dimapur, the Circle head quarters of NE II Circle. It is in Nagaland. Although Kohima is the state capital, BSNL HQrs is at Dimapur. Along with Com. Bijoy Deka, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Assam Circle, I started for Dimapur by the night train. There was heavy rush and somehow we managed to get sleeper reservation. The compartments are not maintained properly, there is no water in the toilets. In fact, most of the toilets are filled up with luggage, bags etc. There were a lot of unreserved travellers also. Anyway we reached Dimapur, where our comrades were waiting. The IQ, quarters of the officers etc are all on the upstairs of a Corporation building, since BSNL do not have a separate building for the same. There are about 7-8 rooms with 5 to 6 beds and a common bathroom, toilet etc. When I visited more than 10 years ago also, it was like this only. Because of the insurgency and lack of buildings the earlier situation continues. But there is a good building for the CGM Office. The meeting was held there in the Circle Council room.
Com. J.C.Nath, Circle President, BSNLEU presided and Comrades M.B.Singh, Circle Secretary, NE II, Bijoy Deka, CS Assam, Gulapi Singh, CHQ Asst. Treasurer and Arup Bargugor, CS BSNLCCWF adressed. I spoke briefly, due to lack of time as I had to catch the 1320 flight to Delhi, but touched upon all the major issues including the need to strengthen BSNL. The pending cases including the regularisation of TSMs and Casual labours in the circle were brough to the notice of the the CHQ by Circle Secretary.There were a large number of comrades including Casual and Contract workers. Till recently, there were no other union in NE II and almost 100% votes were for BSNLEU except in the last membership verification. I congratulated them for the high support to CHQ.
After meeting we rushed to the airport. Although I boarded the flight at 1400 hours, I reached at Delhi residence only by 22 00 hours due to the delay in Kolkatta airport.

North Eastern area consisting of the seven states, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, is least developed despite they are part of the Union of India. Though the government has initiated some plans and targets, the situation has not much improved. This can be easily realised by anybody visiting these areas. One of the reasons for the growth of the divisive forces and ultras is the non-development.

The Central Government should urgently take such developmental measures for these areas so that the standard of living is improved and equal opportunity is given for growth and employment.