Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically discussed the following issues with Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, today. The issues raised by the General Secretary and the reply given by the CMD BSNL are as follows:-

(1)    BSNL’s 4G tender.

The General Secretary enquired about the status of BSNL’s 4G tender, against which the TPEA has raised a complaint. The CMD BSNL replied that the PMO has formed an Empowered Technology Group, consisting of experts from DRDO, IITs, etc., to look into the matter. He further stated that the Group has already submitted it’s report and now it is up to the government to take the final call.

(2)    Massive corruption in NOFN works at Jorhat in Assam.

BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, pointing out a massive scam that has taken place in the NOFN works at Jorhat in Assam circle. In today’s discussion, the General Secretary enquired about the action taken on the matter. The CMD BSNL replied that the case is being referred to the CBI, since outside agencies are also involved in the matter. The General Secretary demanded that the present CGM, Assam, should transferred out of Assam, to ensure a fair and free investigation. BSNLEU has already pointed out in it’s letter that, the CGM, Assam, is also involved in the matter. 

(3)   Violation of Corporate Office orders on outsourcing CSCs in UP(East) circle.

BSNLEU has already written a detailed letter on the issue. In today’s discussion, the General Secretary enquired about the status of the issue. The CMD BSNL replied the letter has not come to his notice and assured to look into the matter.

BSNLEU has been continuously demanding that the society dues deducted from the salaries of employees, should be remitted to the societies. In the mean time, the society dues of the employee who went on VRS, was also deducted from their leave encashment, but was not remitted to the societies. BSNLEU wrote to the CMD BSNL, pointing out that, the leave encashment money was paid by the LIC, as such the society dues deducted from the leave encashment should immediately be remitted to the societies. Now, the society dues deducted from the leave encashment of VRS optees, is being remitted to the societies by the Corporate Office. 

VRS ऑप्टीज के लीव एनकेशमेंट से काटे गए सोसाइटी ड्यूज कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा सोसाइटीज को प्रेषित किए जा रहे हैं....
BSNLEU द्वारा लगातार यह मांग की जा रही है कि कर्मचारियों के वेतन से काटे गए सोसाइटी ड्यूज, सोसाइटीज को प्रेषित किए जाएं।इसी दौरान, जिन कर्मचारियों ने VRS लिया, उनके लीव एनकेशमेंट से सोसाइटी ड्यूज की कटौती तो की गई किन्तु सोसाइटीज को प्रेषण नही किया गया। BSNLEU ने  CMD BSNL को पत्र लिख कर उनके संज्ञान में लाया कि लीव एनकेशमेंट की राशि का भुगतान LIC द्वारा किया गया था, अतः, लीव एनकेशमेंट से कटौती किए गए सोसाइटी ड्यूज, सोसाइटीज को तत्काल प्रेषित किए जाएं। अब,  VRS ऑप्टीज के लीव एनकेशमेंट से काटे गए सोसाइटी ड्यूज कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा सोसाइटीज को प्रेषित किए जा रहे हैं। 

कर्मचारी लॉकडाउन के चलते अपने कार्यस्थलों से दूर रहे- इस अवधि को "ड्यूटी" मानने की BSNLEU ने मांग की....
BSNLEU ने डायरेक्टर (HR) को उन कर्मचारियों की समस्या बाबद  लिखा है, जो अपने कार्यस्थल से बाहर थे और लॉकडाउन के तहत हवाई, रेल और यातायात के अन्य साधन बंद हो जाने से अपने कार्यस्थल पर पहुंच पाने में असमर्थ थे।  BSNLEU ने मैनेजेमेंट को अनुरोध किया है कि, ऐसे कर्मचारी, जो लॉकडाउन घोषित होने की वजह से अपने कार्यस्थान पर नही पहुंच पाए, को स्वयं का अवकाश आवेदित करने हेतु बाध्य नही किया जाए। BSNLEU ने मांग की है उक्त श्रेणी  के कर्मचारियों की अनुपस्थिति को "ड्यूटी" ही माना जाए।

The CHQ of BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) regarding the problem of some officials who have gone out of their places of duty and are unable to join duty, due to the suspension of Air, Rail and all other modes of transport, under the lockdown. BSNLEU has requested the Management that, such of those officials who are unable to return to their places of duty, due to the imposition of the lock-down, should not be compelled to apply for their own leave. BSNLEU has demanded that the period of absence of the above mentioned category of officials, should be treated as “on duty”.

BSNL Employees Credit Co-operative Society Ltd., Bengaluru, has donated Rs.20,000 to the Contract Workers Relief Fund, being collected by BSNLEU. Shri Chandrappa, President, and Shri Doraiswamy, Vice President of the Society handed over the cheque to Com.S.Kumar, District Vice President, BSNLEU, Bengaluru telecom district. CHQ heartily thanks the BSNL Employees Credit Co-operative Society for it’s large heartedness.

Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Karnataka circle, has informed that, so far around 2,000 contract workers of that circle have been benefitted  out of the relief fund collected and distributed by BSNLEU and SNEA.   BSNLEU collected Rs.7,11,488 (including the contribution of the AIBDPA) and SNEA collected Rs.7,33,812. Distribution of food materials to the contract workers has been jointly carried out by both the organisations.

BSNLEU and SNEA district unions of Madikeri SSA, Karnataka circle, have collected Contract Workers Relief Fund. Out of this fund, food materials worth Rs.700/- each were distributed to 140 contract workers. These materials were distributed on 26th and 27th of May, 2020. Com.V.J.Antony, District Secretary, BSNLEU and Com. Raghavendra, District Secretary, SNEA, together with the other office bearers, distributed these relief materials.

Recently Government of India took decision to freeze the Dearness Relief to the Central Government pensioners, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. Immediately, the DoT vide it’s letter number 1/Misc/Pen/Issue/BSNL/DDG(Accounts)/2019-Part.1/1407-1439 dated 28.04.2020, issued instruction stating that the BSNL employees retiring in April, 2020,  should be retirement benefits  at the old rate of Dearness Relief, i.e., at 157.3%. Vehemently opposing this arbitrary action of the DoT, BSNLEU wrote to the Secretary, Telecom, on 28.04.2020. In that letter, BSNLEU has stated that the DoT has no authority to deny whatever Dearness Relief already approved to the BSNL pensioners, by the DPE. It may be noted that the DPE, on 03.04.2020 itself has already approved Dearness Relief to BSNL pensioners @160.7%, w.e.f. 01.04.2020. Now, the DoT has gone back from it’s decision of denying Dearness Relief @160.7% to the BSNL employees who retired in April, 2020. It has issued letter yesterday the 26.05.2020, withdrawing it’s letter dated 28.04.2020. In this letter, the DoT has also stated that all pension related benefits be released @160.7% Dearness Relief.

With the view to mitigate the sufferings of the contract workers during the lock-down period, the CHQ of BSNLEU gave call for raising a “Contract Workers Relief Fund. So far, 20 circle unions have collected Rs.65,62,402/-. These donations have been collected from the employees, retirees, Executives and other well-wishers. Apart from this, the SNEA, Karnataka circle union, has collected Rs.7.5 lakh. Despite the restrictions imposed in movements during this lock-down period, a major part of the donations collected have already been distributed to the contract workers as relief, in the form of food materials. The AIIEA and CITU also have distributed relief in certain parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka circles. The CHQ of BSNLEU salutes all the 20 circle unions, their leaders and the district unions for collecting this huge amount at a very tough time and also for making arrangements to successfully distribute the relief materials. The CHQ also expresses gratitude from the depth of it's heart, to all the employees, retirees, Executives and well wishers, who have generously donated for the Contract Workers Relief Fund. The details of circle wise donations collected are given in the list attached.