Is nonpayment of salary to BSNL employees in time and non-payment of medical bills and reimbursement to pensioners deliberate on the part of Govt and BSNL Management? It seems so.

It is estimated that Govt / DOT is due to pay Rs.39,000 crore to BSNL on various counts including refund of payment for WIMAX & CDMA Spectrum, refund of leave encashment, compensation for BSNL for loss incurred for providing rural telephones and various other services rendered. Govt is not in short of funds. If the same is paid to BSNL, the claims of staff can be easily paid.

In not paying the dues to BSNL, govt is deliberately creating unrest among the employees and pensioners. It is not understood whether strong pressure is made by BSNL management or is it sitting idle and submissive waiting for kindness from govt. AUAB, BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF have strongly protested and demanded for early payment of salary, medical bills/medical allowance and wages to contract workers. The DOT and BSNL Management should act without delay.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

When state PSUs are in financial difficulty, Kerala LDF Govt supports, grant financial assistance and take necessary action for their revival.

When PSUs are unable to pay pension to its retirees, Kerala LDF government gives assistance for payment of the same.

When central govt wants to disinvest / sell its PSU in the state, Kerala govt offers to take it over. Gradually it is made viable and workable.

While almost all of the state PSUs were made loss making by corrution and inefficient management under UDF rule, the LDF in Kerala during the last five years have strengthened and made almost all of them profitable.

This is the difference between BJP / UDF governments and Left governments. The Left always safeguard the interests of the people and the PSUs, asset of the people.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

By refusing to revise the pension by 15% as per the recommendations of the III Pay Revision Committee for PSUs, the Government is violating the assurances given at the time of corporatisation. The condition of affordability mentioned in the report is not applicable to the pensioners as the full pension is given by government as per Rule 37A of the CCS (Pension) Rules. BSNL has already paid pension contribution at the maximum of the scale. It is gross injustice not to grant pension revision to these pensioners.

AIBDPA has taken the issue with the government and is perusing the case strongly.

In a reply to a Parliament Question, Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devu Singh Chsuhan has stated that the assets of BSNL &MTNL are worth Rs. 1,33,952 crore and Rs. 3,556 crore respctively as on 30.09.2021. Net block of property, plant and equipment in respect of these companies are of Rs. 89,878 crore and Rs. 3252 crore respectively as on 31.03.2021.

These valuations are compltely undervalued and without correctly assessing the valuation. BSNL is having maximum land assets through out the country, including in central places in all cities and towns only next to Railways. In addition there are 7 Telecom Factories, 2 major Training Centres, about 30 minor traing centres having thousnds of acres of land. There are many heritage buildings, the value of which may be beyond description. ( Photoes of only CTO buildings at Mumbai and Kolkata as also BSNL HQ only are given here).

These most undervalued statistics are given only to justify their plan to sell the assets to private corporates, not only below market price, but also far below the average price which are shown in other land sale registrations.

The govt conspiracy should be exposed and defeated.

Death is certain for everyone who are born. This is an ultimate truth, which has got no exception. In short, one is born to die.

Kerala Circle Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF organised an effective convention against handing over of national assets to the corporates by the Modi government at YMCA Hall, Ernakulam on 30-11-2021. Com. N Guruprasad, Circle Chairman presided over the convention. Com.C Santhoshkumar, Convenor welcomed one and all. Com.S S Sunil, State General Secretary, BEFI inaugurated the convention. Coms. V A N Namboodiri, President, BSNL CCWF, K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, M Vijayakumar, AGS, BSNLEU, K Mohanan, Dy Secretary General, BSNL CCWF and P Manoharan, Circle President, BSNLEU addressed the convention.

All the three private telecom companies drastically raise the tariffs.

All the three private telecom companies have raised their tariffs drastically. While Airtel and Vodafone Idea have raised their tariffs by 20 to 25 per cent, Reliance Jio has raised it’s tariffs by 21 per cent. As a result, a customer who is paying Rs.129/- for 28 days, with unlimited voice calls and 2GB data per day, will hereafter has to pay Rs.155/-. Similarly, a tariff plan with 2GB data per day, with validity of 365 days, will increase from Rs.2,599/- to Rs.2,879/-. The Reliance Jio, with it’s predatory pricing, has closed down all other private telecom companies, except Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Now, all these three private telecom companies have come to an understating and have simultaneously raised the tariff. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Com.G.Sasidharan Achari, senior leader of BSNLEU as well AIBDPA passed away at Thiruvananthapuram on 25th November. He was 73. He has been the Circle Treasurer of AITEU Class iii and BSNLEU for more than two decades. His death is a great loss to the movement. His wife, Com.K.Leelamma was the convener of the Mahila Committee of E.III Circle Union and is still active in the progressive movement. Daughters: Priya and Prita.

My heartfelt condolences to the bereave family.

Red Salute to Com. Sasidharan Achari !

Kannur Dist Conference of AIBDPA was held on 28th Nov. 2021. A good number of comrades participated. Coms. K.Jayaraj, GS and Guruprasad, CS participated and addressed.

New office-bearers with Coms. Santhakumar (President) and K.Mohanan (DS) have been elected.