We are giving below the letter written to other unions by Forum for solidarity and support in the SAVE BSNL Campaign:

FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110 001.

Forum/GL                                                                                           24.12.2014

Sub:   SAVE BSNL Campaign – Support requested.

Dear Comrade,

BSNL, the telecom PSU, fully owned by the government, is facing serious difficulties both financially as well as in providing a satisfactory service to the customers.

BSNL, though being the market leader both in landlines and Broadband, is far below major private telecom operators, with only less than 10% of market share. The Company is in loss for the last 4 years, with an accumulated loss of about Rs.28,000 crores, though in the first seven years, it had earned more than Rs.48,000 crores as profit.

The loss of market share and also poor service have been mainly due to the non-procurement of essential mobile equipment, broadband modem, cables, dropwire, telephone instrument, towers etc. BSNL, though granted licence for mobile connections only in 2002, after 7 years of the same granted to private companies, forged ahead with positive growth and became the second biggest mobile connection provider and was almost going to became number one. But the Central Govt. denied its permission to purchase mobile and other equipments and ensured that no development and expansion takes place in order to allow the private players to move ahead.

The govt. went back from all its promises to financially assist BSNL for its loss making connections in rural areas, which was socially necessary for universal service. Further the government took away the more than Rs.40,000 crores of surplus cash balance with BSNL on one plea or another putting BSNL unable to purchase equipment to expand and develop.

The inefficiency of BSNL top Management, who do not belong to BSNL and are mainly ITS (Indian Telecom Service) officers on deputation from govt., has worsened the situation. Many of them are influenced by the private telecom companies, resulting in a precarious situation.

The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations have been taking up all these issues both with the Government and BSNL Management. The BSNL workers went on a one day successful strike on 11^th July, 2007, only on the demand of procuring mobile connections and developmental issues, which resulted in some temporary results. Both the earlier UPA and the present NDA government are continuously taking pro-private and anti-BSNL decisions making BSNL financially unviable and crippling its services.

The Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations of Non-Executives and Executives had organised several agitational programmes to pressurise government and Management to take suitable decisions for the Revival of BSNL. Since there is no response, the Forum has decided further programme of agitation as follows:

1. 3 days Dharna at all SSA offices (District) Circle offices (State) capitals and at BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi from 6^th to 8^th January, 2015.

2. A Parliament March by thousands of BSNL Workers on 25^th February, 2015.

3. Indefinite Strike from 17^th March, 2015.

It is also decided to submit a Memorandum signed by more than one crore people and employees to the Prime Minister on the day of the Parliament March with demands for taking necessary measures for Revival of BSNL. A massive SAVE BSNL Campaign is also being organised. Copy of the Memorandum to be signed by the public is enclosed herewith for your information and necessary action.

We seek your full support and solidarity in the SAVE BSNL Campaign and the programmes of action. You are also requested to direct your units to give support to the SAVE BSNL Campaign being organised by BSNL Unions / Associations.

With Warm greetings,

Yours Fraternally,

VAN Namboodiri

Convener, Forum.

Mob: 9868231431

To

Com.

General Secretary,

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