BSNL Revival a must for the Nation

01 Saturday Jun 2013

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BSNL is the government company providing telecom services all over India, except in the metropolitan cities of Delhi and Mumbai where the services are provided by another government company MTNL. BSNL and MTNL are the continuation of the Department of P&T, and later Department of Telecom, which provided telegraph and telecom services since their introduction in India.

As per the neo-liberalisation policy being aggressively implemented by the Central Government, private companies were allowed to provide telecom services in the 1990s. At the same time, the government started moves, one after another, which resulted first in corporatisation and then in weakening of the new PSU, BSNL.

India is a country having lakhs of villages and rural areas, where the private companies are not much interested in providing services, since most of them are loss making. BSNL, which is committed to implement the universal service obligation of the government, is providing services in these areas. Naturally BSNL is suffering huge losses. In the crucial border areas, naxal affected areas etc. it is only BSNL, which provides services facing severe risks. BSNL and MTNL keep the tariff low despite severe competition.

The existence and growth of BSNL and MTNL is a must for the growth of the country and its security. The government has to realise this and ensure that BSNL and MTNL are helped to tide over the present crisis. It has to honour its financial commitments which it has given at the time of corporatisation.

The workers have to sincerely continue their maximum efforts to improve the services. Management has to become efficient to plan its programmes and implement effectively.

All out efforts are required from all stake-holders to revitalise and strengthen BSNL and MTNL.

Massive protest by Left Front in Kolkata

31 Friday May 2013

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A massive  demonstration was held in Kolkata today, 31st May, by the Left Front protesting against curbs on the democratic rights of the people and also demanding immediate enquiry and action against the brutal murder of SFI leader Sudipta Gupta. and against the Saradha Group for cheating the people. The protesters including the leaders were arrested and later released.

Protest by Wal-Mart employees in US

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by in TU News - International

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Employees of Wal-Mart, the biggest retail corporate in the world, will organise protest demonstration on 7th June at the HQ of the company at Bentonville, Ark in USA. They are protesting against the low wage and other unsatisfactory conditions and demanding better wages, more full-time jobs and respect for the employees. The protest demonstration is being organised by Organisation United for Respect at Wal-Mart, an organisation of the employees. The date fixed for the protest is on which the meeting of the Annual Shareholders meeting is being held at Ark.

The workers from all the Wal-Mart stores in US will be moving to Ark for the protest. They call the March by name Ride for Respect.

2199 towers in Naxal affected areas for mobile coverage – BSNL to do the work

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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The central government has cleared the long pending proposal of erecting 2199  towers in the naxal affected areas in A.P., Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, M.P.,Odisha, UP and W.Bengal in order to cover the so far not-covered areas by mobile connections. The proposal has been pending for some years. The recent drastic attack by the naxalites and killing of senior leaders of Congress in Chattisgarh have woken up the sleeping ministry which took the decision now.

The 3,046.12 crore project will be funded from USOF and no tender need be floated. BSNL will be entrusted with the work. Of course, the government very well know that no private telco will take up this dangerous task in the naxalite areas.

BSNL is dedicated to the nation and it will take up the responsibility. The Government should remember that it is only BSNL which it can depend upon any emergency and security of the nation and the people.

‘Lost Generation’, the huge unemployed youth in Spain

31 Friday May 2013

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Due to the recession and  austerity measures in Spain, the unemployment has increased multi-fold and even the highly qualified youngsters are finding it difficult to get jobs. The government jobs have been reduced drastically.

‘The unemployment rate for those between the ages of 16 and 24 has soared to 57.22 percent, and a record 27.16 percent overall, at the end of the first quarter as the country struggles through a double-dip recession sparked by the collapse of a decade-long building boom in 2008’, according to a report from Madrid, the capital of Spain. Another report says that the youth feel that they are the ‘lost generation’.

It is not only Spain, but almost all the countries in Europe are facing the serious aftermath of the recession.

DoT proposes Rs.2 crore penalty for illegal phone tapping

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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The DoT has suggested to the government to increase the penalty for illegal phone tapping from the present Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 crore. The increased illegal activities of phone tapping has been on the increase resulting in much complaints.

DOT has proposed the higher penalty to be included in the proposed ‘Right to Privacy Bill’ which the government in preparing. This proposal is welcome. But at the same time it also should be ensured that even the government should not tap the telephones, except in case of national security etc.

MTNL posts loss of Rs.1,985.93 cr. loss for 2012-13

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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MTNL, the telecom PSU providing services in the metropolitan cities of Delhi and Mumbai, has posted a loss of Rs. 1,985.93 crore for the financial year 2012-13. This is more than the loss posted in 2011-12, which was Rs. 1,236.99 crore. MTNL is in loss for the last four years.

BSNL management has stated that the loss is due to the increased salary expenses of the employees. The employee expenses increased from Rs.1,236.99 last year to Rs. 1,927.33 crore this year. But this argument is faulty since it is normal for the salary increase in every year due to increments, pension contribution paid to the government etc. How can any management think that salary will not increase.

The real issue is that the revenue has not increased. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that the business improves as also the revenue. The management has utterly failed in this and hence the loss. Further the government has been squeezing the company by imposing high charges for spectrum and increased contribution to pension by taking the maximum of the pay scale for calculation of the pension contribution to the government. Further the arrears to be collected are huge and probably a good amount will be due from the Central and State governments.

Whatever are the reasons for the loss, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the PSU is supported financially for its revival. Of course, the workers have got a major role for improving the services to the people.

Violation after violation of rules by private telcos

30 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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It has become a routine for the private telecom companies to continuously violate rules, regulations and licence conditions to garner big profits. From the latter part of the 1990, when the private companies have been allowed to provide telecom services, these violations also started. This is despite the large concessions and benefits allowed to them by the government, to increase the teledensity in the country.

But even after these violations are exposed, the government machinery moves very slowly resulting in either that necessary actions are not followed to penalise them or they are taken very late and the offenders go scot free.

The latest example is the case of Airtel whic has cheated the government from paying the comparatively higher taxes for roaming and STD/SLD calls by converting them as local calls and paying the lower taxes. This relates to the period 2003 to 2005 with regard to 13 circles. Though the cheating was found out and notice issued, nothing was done.

At last now, the DOT is proposing a penalty of Rs. 650 crore to be paid by the Airtel. But whether it will be approved by the government / Minister is one question. There is no doubt that Airtel may approach court. Again the decision will not be implemented. And at last some understanding will be reached by reducing the penalty.Vodafone ( Hutch period) also is involved in similar cheating.

Another example is the Income Tax of Rs.14,000 crore to be paid by Vodafone. it is pending for many years. The government earlier stated that they will take a tough stand. But now, the same government is in a move to reach a consensus, which will mean, reducing the tax amount substantially and help the company.

These vacillations of the government  are not a coincidence. In fact, it is part of the neo-liberal policy being persued by it. These wrong policies should be thoroughly exposed and defeated.

14th Conference of CITU : Immediate Tasks

29 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in TU News - India, Uncategorized

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The Immediate tasks outlined for the coming period by the 14th AIC of CITU is reproduced below:

1. Week-long intensive campaign at all workplaces and industrial areas commencing from CITU Foundation Day on 30th May 2013 focusing on demands;

i)      Minimum Wage at not less than Rs 10,000 per month and its linkage with consumer price index for the purpose of Dearness Allowance; ii)     Same Wage as regular workers for same and similar work for the contract workers in respective industries and establishments to be enforced stringently through appropriate amendment of Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition ) Act 1970; and iii)     Universal Social Security coverage and assured pension for all workers both in unorganized and organized sector;

–     Covering widest spectrum of workers and activising all union level committees;  –     Widespread distribution of handbills; pasting posters, holding gate-meetings, shop level meetings, at workers’ residential colonies, area level meetings etc to be decided by the state/district/area/union level committees; –     Aiming to reach widest sections of workers irrespective of their affiliations; –     State committees monitoring and sending reports to CITU centre with every details including number of printed materials circulated and number of workers directly covered.

2.     The campaign is to culminate in next week-long massive mobilization and agitation, the form to be decided by the state committees, at district/block/ tehsil  level or staging dharna before the central/state government offices.