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The last two- three decades have seen how the central government, whether BJP or Congress, has tried to destroy BSNL and MTNL, the government telecom companies in favour of the private companies. In this process huge corruption by the concerned ministers and government has been exposed. As a senior politician has stated, there is not a single Communications Minister who can be stated clean in this matter.
Each and every opportunity was utilised by the rulers to support and favour the private companies and discriminate the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL. While almost all other PSUs were formed within the first three decades after Independence with the objective of creating a base of for the infrastructure for development, MTNL and BSNL was formed to privatise the communication sector and hand over the same completely to the corporates. It was only through the Tough resistance from the workers and their unions, that the privatisation move of BSNL and MTNL by the government could not succeed. While government managed to disinvest and impose VRS through clever moves in MTNL, it could not succeed in BSNL due to the heroic struggles by the united workforce.
The General Elections are due within a few months. A charter on the issues of BSNL and MTNL workers are to be prepared and presented to the political parties for their support. It need not be limited to the telecom PSUs only. All the 240 or so central PSUs are facing similar attack and the CPSTU can focus the same. The General Strike for 48 hours (2 days) on 8th and 9th January 2019 has focussed the issue in the Charter of Demands. It has to be propagated effectively amongst the workers and the people.
Along with defending the PSUs, it should also be the target to improve the services. While fighting for their own rights, the workers have the responsibility to provide better service to the people, the customers. Much have improved, but but much more is to be done.
The ‘Do and Die’ should not only be on the demands of the workers, but also on for the service to be provided to the people. IT IS NOT ONLY TO GET THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE, BUT IS PART OF THE DUTY OF THE WORKERS TO THE NATION.