The population of India has crossed 121 crore as per the Census Report 2011 released today. It is an increase of 18 crores during the last 10 years. This is equal to the combined population of US, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan! 17.5% world population is in India alone!

There are 62.37 crore males and 58.65 crore females. The male female ratio is 1000 : 914.

Further details on the Census Report will be published tomorrow.

The four member committee appointed by the Joint Action Committee has recommended for observing May 2011 as “Customer Delight Month” as an urgent step to improve the BSNL services and better customer care. The details of the implementation are being chalked out and the final decision will be taken by the JAC Meeting which will be held in 5th April 2011.

The JAC leaders met the CMD BSNL today ( 31-03-2011) and had detailed discussion on improving the services and connected matters. (Details will be put in BSNLEU website).

It is interesting to know the manpower and age profile in BSNL.
Manpower:
1.Management cadre : 8015 3%
2.Executive : 48420 17%
3.Non-executives :226819 79%
4.Industrial workers : 2495 1%
Total :287749

Age Group:
1. Below 24 : 1%
2. 25-29 : 3%
3. 30-34 : 4%
4. 35-39 : 4%
5. 40-44 : 9%
6. 45-49 :26%
7. 50-54 :30%
8. 55-58 :19%
9. 59-60 :4%

Average age: 48.96

(Courtsey : BSNL Note to Parliamentary Standing Committee dated 23-02-2011)

As per the Consumer Price Index (CPI), IDA for BSNL staff will increase from 43% to 47.2% with effect from 01-04-2011. An increase of 4.2%. Orders are expected soon.

As per the decision of the Joint Action committee meeting held on 29th March 2011, the sub-committee formed for preparing the strategy and plans for revival of BSNL will meet at 1130 hours today. The committee consists of V.A.N.Namboodiri, P.Abhimanyu, G.L.Jogi and Prahlad Rai.

In the present circumstances the urgent requirement is to improve the financial viability of the company as also provide better service to the customers. The meeting is expected to discuss and recommend to the JAC what actions are to be taken in the matter.

The Committee may also meet the CMD and Director (HRD) to day to present its view to the management.

Since Kapil Sibal has taken over charge as the Communications Minister, much of his time is being spent for bailing out and saving the private telecom companies out of the several problems risen in connection with the 2G scam. Immediately after taking over, he stated that there is ‘zero loss’ in the 2G spectrum allotment, while all the evidences including the report of the CAG has pointed out at a loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore to the exchecquer.

The latest is his effort to ensure sufficient loans to the private companies from the banks. After the scam and the enquiries being conducted by the CBI, ED, PAC etc., the banks have taken a strong position on giving loans to these tainted telecom companies. Now the Communications Minister has met Prime Minister to take necessary measures to compel the banks to give loan to these private telcos. He is pressuring the Finance Minister also.

But what about the help to BSNL and MTNL, the government-owned public sector companies? Minister is silent. While he has met the big business and telco bosses several times, he did not have the time to meet and discuss with the staff unions on the important issues of the BSNL and its workers.

The list of corporate czars being summoned by the ED and CBI have been increasing one after another to give evidence in the 2G scam. Now it is the turn of the Public Accounts Committee to summon them. The PAC headed by Murli Manohar Joshi has now asked a list of high-profile business bosses to appear before the PAC. They include Ratan Tata, Anil Ambani, Vinod Goenka of DB Reality, S Tel Promoter C.Sivasankaran and Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra among others.

Niira Radia, the corporate lobbyist and head of the Vaishnavi Corporation has also been summoned in connection with the 2G scam which has resulted in 1.76 lakh crore loss to the Government.

In the meantime, CBI is reported to have intimated the Supreme Court they will issue charge sheet to former minister A.Raja and others shortly.

The question is whether the inquiry will result in conviction or will drag for years and vanish in the thin air like that of Boffors case? When high and mighty people are involved, what happens is known to all. Let us wait and see.

After getting the registration, All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA)has released the first copy of the ‘Tele Pensioner’ on 28th March 2011. It includes the Pension Revision order issued recently and other important documents and articles.

The subscription for three years is Rs.100/- Single copy Rs. 10/-

The Joint action Committee of the BSNL Employees Unions & Associations is meeting today, 29th March 2011, to discuss about the recommendations of the BRPSEs with regard to VRS, reduction in retirement age etc and to plan out agitational programmes against the same.

The JAC will also plan the “Save BSNL” campaign to ensure its financial viability and the strategy to improve its services to the public.