Tag Archives: GoM

GoM decides Refund of Spectrum Charges to BSNL, MTNL

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, PSU, Telecom

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The Group of Ministers(GoM) on Revival of BSNL which met yesterday, 9th January 2014, presided by Finance Minister P.Chidambaram, decided to refund the Spectrum Charges to BSNL and MTNL. BSNL will get a refund of Rs. 6,724.51 crore and MTNL Rs. 4,533.97 crore.
The charges are being refunded for the surrender of spectrum by BSNL for Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata and both Delhi and Mumbai for MTNL.
This has been one of the long pending demand of both the PSUs since the spectrum allotted to them was not technically and financially viable in the above areas.
“The refund will be made to ensure support for the revival and revitalisation of BSNL and MTNL in the competitive telecom sector. It shall also help these PSUs to arrange finances to meet basic financial commitments such as operation and maintenance of their telecom network,” the GoM stated.
The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations has been continuously pressurising the DOT and the Government to refund these charges, which will help the PSUs to reduce their loss and utilise the funds for development. It had also submitted detailed memorandum to the GoM on this subject.
This is not charity, but only refund of the money for the surrender of the airwaves, which the government can again auction for mopping up funds.
The GoM has to take decisions still on the demand of the Joint Forum to mandate all the Central and state Governments and their PSUs that they should use BSNL/MTNL services. The proposal is already with the Government. Another major demand is to waive the Licence Fee for these government companies.
Our pressure should continue in these matters.

Group of Ministers on Telecom will finalise M&A Norms

29 Friday Nov 2013

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The meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telecom, which is scheduled to meet on 3rd December 2013 is expected to finalise the norms for Mergers & Acquisitions for the telecom industry. Now that the telecom situation in the country, the spectrum auction etc. is almost normalised, the chance for M&A have increased.
The Telecom Commission may put certain conditions for the M&A in connection with the % of assets of the merging company, the charges for the spectrum allocation etc. so that there is no discrimination between the single technology operator and the double technology operator. The former company may have only GSM or CDMA, while the latter will have both GSM and CDMA.

Meeting of GoM on Revival of BSNL and MTNL

16 Friday Aug 2013

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It is reported that the meeting of the GoM on Revival of BSNL and MTNL has discussed the following and consensus reached:
1. The pay scales of BSNL may be brought to the level of MTNL pay scale by the next wage revision of 2017.
2. The pension for MTNL absorbed staff will be paid by the Government on the basis of X + 1, in which the pension equivalent to the pay scale of BSNL will be paid by government and the pension for the balance will be paid by MTNL.
3. The opinion/suggestion of the MTNL Unions/associations will be sought and taken in to consideration.

The details of the proposals/ decisions are yet to be confirmed.

DoT’s proposals on ‘Revival of BSNL”

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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It is reported in the press that DOT has suggested to GoM that the debt of MTNL and BSNL can be taken care of by the government, instead of refunding the charges paid by BSNL and NTNL for the broadband spectrum which has been surrendered. The amount paid by BSNL and MTNL for the spectrum is Rs. 8,300 crore and Rs. 4,500 crore respectively.

But this news could not be got confirmed from the DOT.

Forum to meet CMD BSNL on 22 July 2013

20 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Core Committee of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations will meet the CMD BSNL at 1030 AM on 22 July 2013 to discuss about the immediate actions to be taken to improve and expand the BSNL services. A detailed letter on the subject will also be handed over in addition to the copy of the Memorandum submitted to the Chairman of the GoM on Revival of BSNL/MTNL.

Revival of BSNL/MTNL – GoM to meet on 30th July

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Revival of BSNL/MTNL will meet again on 30th July. The first meeting was held on 12th June.

In the last meeting the DOT has presented the position of both BSNL and MTNL and requested for grant of Rs. 22,964 crore on issues connected with spectrum, preference for MTNL and BSNL for providing services in government departments, PSUs etc. and and also for entry in to the broadcast segment.

MTNL has posted a loss of Rs 5,321.12 crore for 2012-13, compared to Rs 4,109.78 crore in 2011-12. BSNL posted loss of about Rs 8,198 crore for 2012-13, compared Rs 8,851 crore in 2011-12.

Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations had submitted a memorandum to the GoM with detailed suggestions for the revival of BSNL. It was also requested for a meeting to present the views. But so far no communication has been received from the GoM. As per the decision of the Forum many comrades have met the Members of Parliament in their areas and presented the Memorandum with the request to take up our demands with the GoM. A massive campaign among the BSNL workers and outside on the demands raised by the Forum is necessary to get support of the people.

BSNL FOR BETTER SERVICE – GoM ‘ON REVIVAL OF BSNL’

16 Sunday Jun 2013

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The Government has now appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM) with Finance Minister P.Chidambaram as Chairman for ‘Revival of BSNL &  MTNL’. Other members of the committee are Dy. Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal,  Commerce & Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, Minister for Information % Broadcasting Manish Tiwari and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension  V.Narayanasamy.  The constitution with these heavy weight ministers shows that high priority has been given to the issue.

Of course, telecom has always been an important sector for the government. Hence it was always under the direct control of the government as a Department, first P&T and later Department of Telecommunications. The Cabinet Ministers who looked after the Ministry include celebrities like Rafi Ahmad Kidwai, Jagjivan Ram, I.K.Gujral,  C.M.Stephen, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Sushama Swaraj  and others. The growth of telecom infrastructure and services have always been a priority with the government, since it is closely connected with the growth of the country itself.

But that priority given earlier has been changed now, after the introduction of the neo-liberal policy for the last two decades. Now the priority is to allow the private players to maximise their profits at the cost of the PSU telecom companies and the country. The naked support to the MNCs and private companies can be seen in each and every decision taken by the government and the discrimination against BSNL & MTNL.

Hence the priority for the GoM on Revival of BSNL & MTNL will naturally focus on further growth of the private companies. The GoM is certain to be in favour of disinvestment and VRS both of which BSNL Employees Union and the Forum have been able to stop through united struggles. It may also decide some insignificant support to BSNL & MTNL with harsh conditions.

The workers can not allow such decisions which will gradually  put a lid on the existence of BSNL, as the government has now decided in the case of telegram services by deciding to close the same unceremoniously  by 15th July 2013.

It is why the Forum has given a detailed Memorandum to the GoM with effective and practical suggestions, which if implemented, will completely change the present scenario and will strengthen BSNL and ensure a better service. The Forum has also decided to organise programmes including an All India Convention at Delhi for wide publicity for our demands and support from the people. The workers have to come forward to implement the programmes and restore the great tradition of the Telecom services in the past.

Forum plans to revitalise BSNL for better service

13 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Telecom

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations which met today, 13 June 2013, called upon the entire BSNL employees to unitedly face the crisis and determinedly to make all efforts to revive BSNL, both financially and also in providing a better service to the people. The Forum sought meetings with the Finance Minister, who is the Chairman of the Group of Ministers on  Revival of BSNL and MTNL as also Communications Minister to present its view points included in the Memorandum submitted to them.

The meeting also decided to organise an All India Convention at New Delhi in August 2013 to be followed by Circle and State Conventions in the next three months to propagate its views and suggestions and get maximum support from the people for the revival of BSNL.

 

GoM on Revival of BSNL & MTNL to meet on 11th June

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

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The Group of Ministers (GoM) appointed to recommend on the revival of BSNL & MTNL and headed by Finance Minister P.Chidmbaram, is scheduled to meet on 11th June as per media reports.

The Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations have already submitted its memorandum to the GoM, as also to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, DOT and CMD BSNL. Forum has approached the leaders of political parties as also many Members of Parliament to get support to the proposals.

Since the meeting of the GoM is now fixed for 11th June 2013, all the Circle and District Secretaries of BSNL Unions & Associations are reminded  to meet the MPs of their constituency, give a copy of the Memorandum and request to take up the issue with Finance Minister and the government for acceptance and implementation of the same. Our comrades should take this responsibility seriously.

 

 

Forum Meets Parliament Members

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Telecom

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After the Memorandum by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has been submitted to the Finance Minister, Chairman of the Group of Ministers on Revival of BSNL and MTNL and other members of the Group, the Forum leaders have been meeting the Members of Parliament of various parties and requesting them to take up our case with the government and the Group of Ministers.

The Forum has already submitted to / met and discussed the Memorandum with Com. Sitaram Yechury, Basudeb Acharya, P.Karunakaran, Tapan Sen ( all CPI(M), Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy (Cong.), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), Sushama Swaraj, Arun Jaitely (BJP) and all Members of Parliament from Delhi State. Forum has asked the Circle/District leaders of the Forum to meet the MPs of their area, submit the memorandum to them and request them to take up the matter with thew GoM and also with the government.

The Press statement issued by the Convener has been published in some dailies. Peoples’ Democracy, Weekly Organ of the CPI(M), has published a good write-up on the Memorandum. Forum leaders at all levels are requested to give maximum publicity to the issues of BSNL and the demands raised in the Memorandum.