A well attended election campaign meeting was held yesterday the 13.09.2019, at Panbazar, Gawahati. Com. Bijoy Deka, CS, initiated the discussion and Com.Animesh Mitra, president, spoke in detail and explained about all issues related to BSNL's financial condition, the anti-BSNL policies of the government, and the 8th Membership Verification.  He called upon the employees to be prepared for united struggles to strengthen BSNL.

Reduction of the retirement age from 60 to 58 years, is one of the threatenings that has made a large number of BSNL employees to opt for VRS. Rumour mongers did over time to spread this mischievous rumour, to force a large number of employees to opt for VRS.

But, now the State Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has declared in the Parliament on 27-11-2019, that the Government has no proposal to reduce the retirement age of it’s employees, from 60 to 58 years. This reply of the Minister, given in the Parliament, has nailed down a very big lie, spread by mischievous elements.

BSNLEU has already made it known that the BSNL Management, vide it's letter no. BSNL /4/SR/2000 dated 2nd January, 2001 has given the assurance that, "Age of superannuation for all the Non-Board level employees in BSNL will be regulated in accordance with Government rules."

Already, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance has informed the Parliament on 25-11-2019 that, the government has no proposal to fix the retirement age of government employees as 60 year or 33 years of service, whichever is earlier.

Hence, all the employees who have opted for VRS, due to the fear, that retirement age will be reduced, can now withdraw their option.

In connection with the hunger strike organised on 24.02.2020, the AUAB has issued a press statement on 22.02.2020, wherein the present scenario prevailing in BSNL, the non-implementation of the revival package announced by the government, sufferings of the employees due to non-payment of salary, etc., have been explained in nut-shell. This press statement of the AUAB has been widely published in the national, as well as the regional media.

Based on the demand raised by BSNLEU, the BSNL Corporate Office has issued online training for the 116 candidates, who are awaiting JTO Phase-I training. However, the CGM, ALTTC, did not issue any letter, implementing the decision of the Corporate Office. Hence, once again, BSNLEU wrote to the Director (HR) on this issue. Following this, the CGM, ALTTC, has issued letter for online JTO Phase-1 training, which will start on 06.07.2020.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri has said that running airways and airports is not the job of the government. The Minister told that he is telling this from his heart. According to the Minister, handing over of the natural wealths of this country is the only job of the government. Running banks, telecommunications, insurance, railways, etc., are not the jobs of the government.     

[Source: Times of India: dated 30.08.2020]

A meeting is held today between the CMD BSNL and the Core Committee today. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, BSNLEU, Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA and Com.K.S. Kulkarni, AGS, NFTE, attended today’s meeting. In the meeting, the following information is given by the CMD BSNL.

Financial results of BSNL for 2016 - 17.

The CMD BSNL shared some information with regards to BSNL’s financial results for the year 2016 – 17, which are encouraging. Operating profit (EBIDTA) is estimated to be Rs.1,684 crore and the net loss of the Company is estimated at Rs.4,700 crore. The CMD BSNL also informed that according to the new valuation mechanism, the net worth of BSNL is valued at Rs.34,319 crore and that, the net asset worth of the Company is estimated at Rs.91,684 crore.

BSNL to roll-out 4G service on 31.01.2018.

The CMD BSNL informed that BSNL will announce the rolling-out of it’s 4G service on 31^st January, 2018. He told that BSNL has demanded from the government, the allocation of 5MHz of 4G spectrum, in the 2100MHz bandwidth. The price of this 4G spectrum comes to Rs.16,000 crore. BSNL has demanded that 50% of this amount should be adjusted through capital infusion by the government, and the remaining 50% would be paid by BSNL in 10 equal instalments, said the CMD. He also told that the DoT is positive to the demand of BSNL, and that a final decision is expected to be taken soon. After allotment of 4G spectrum by the government, BSNL would install 10,000 BTSs for rolling-out 4G service.

Core Committee members raised serious issues with the CMD.

In today’s meeting the members of the Core Committee raised certain serious issues with the CMD BSNL. They told that the issues of non-settlement of 3^rd Pay Revision and formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company with an IAS officer as it’s CMD are seriously agitating the minds of the employees. Cancellation of the free calling from landlines on Sundays, as well as change in the timing of the night free calling, acute shortage of equipments for providing FTTH connections, frequent and large scale damaging of BSNL’s cables were taken to the notice of the CMD.

As regards changing the designations of the left out Non-Executive cadres, the final meeting of the Designations Committee was held on 26.09.2017, and unanimous decisions were taken. However, these proposals could not be sent for the approval of the Management Committee, due to the problems created in the minutes, by the Management. However, this problem was set right in the meeting held on 15.02.2018. Thereafter, the new designations went for the approval of the Management Committee, which has returned the file. The Management Committee is of the view that the new designation of Assistant Telecom Technician should not be given to cadres such as ayah, peon, safaiwala, sweeper, etc., and has suggested to propose some other designation. Discussion took place in today’s meeting. While partially agreeing with the view of the Management Committee, BSNLEU strongly expressed the view that the designation of Joint Telecom Technician should not be denied for technical cadres like Lineman, Technician (TF), Wireman, etc. It was agreed to discuss the issue further. The final meeting in this regard will take place on 31.05.2018.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Assam circle was held at Silchar on 29.09.2018, presided over by Com. B.K. Kakati and Com.B.C. Roy. Com.Bijoy Deka, circle secretary, presented the report on activities and initiated the discussion of the subjects committee. In connection with this circle executive committee meeting, a mass meeting was also organised at Silchar on 29.09.2018. It was addressed by veteran leader Com.M.R. Das, Com. Gakul Borah, Treasurer (CHQ) and Com.Bijoy Dekha, circle secretary. Com.Gakul Borah, Treasurer (CHQ), explained the latest developments related to the wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, 4G spectrum issue, pension revision and pension payment on actual basic pay. He also explained about the achievements of BSNLEU in settling the issues of the Non-Executives, such as promotion to the E1 pay scale, relaxation for JE LICE, gratuity to casual labourers, change of designations, undoing the downgradation of Sr.TOAs from 7100 to 6550 pay scale, one time relaxation of the 10th standard qualification for appearing in the Telecom Technician LDCE, etc. Further, he called upon the executive committee members to actively take part in the “BSNL At Your Doorstep” movement, called on by the AUAB.

The AUAB, in it's meeting held on 11-12-2018, has decided to call upon the circle and district level AUABs, to organise "Joint General Body Meetings", during the period from 26th to 29th December,2018. Yesterday, the AUAB has issued circular, containing the details of the settlement reached in the meeting held on 03-12-2018, with the Hon'ble MoS(C), and the consequent deferment of the indefinite strike. The details contained in this circular should be explained in the "Joint General Body Meetings". CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to take the initiative to organise the "Joint General Body Meetings" and to explain the contents of this circular in those meetings.

The AUAB in it’s meeting held yesterday has decided to organise a March to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on 06.03.2019. It is also decided in the meeting that the March is to be organised by mobilising the Executives and Non-Executives from the circles near Delhi. The CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon our comrades from UP(West), UP(East), Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab to participate in this March massively. Since the time at our disposal is very less, the circle secretaries of these circle unions are requested to immediately take steps for the mobilisation and to make the March a success.

अभी तक BSNL ने 4G सेवा शुरू क्यों नही की - चेन्नई हाइकोर्ट ने डॉट को नोटिस जारी किया...
चेन्नई हाइकोर्ट की मदुरै बेंच ने डॉट को नोटिस जारी कर पूछा है कि BSNL ने अपनी 4G सेवा क्यों शुरू नही की है। तमिलनाडु के विरुधु नगर के किसी वेंकटेश ने इस संबंध में याचिका दायर की थी। उन्होंने कहा है कि सभी निजी दूरसंचार कंपनियों ने 4G सेवा शुरू कर दी है किंतु BSNL को अभी शुरू करना है। याचिका कर्ता ने आरोप लगाया है कि BSNL द्वारा 4G सेवा शुरू करने में हो रहे विलंब की वजह से निजी कंपनियां लाभान्वित हो रही है। उन्होंने कोर्ट से प्रार्थना की है कि वह केंद्र सरकार और BSNL को 4G सेवा की शीघ्र शुरुआत हेतु आदेश जारी करें। याचिका कर्ता द्वारा की गई पहल की हम सराहना करते हैं।

A massive election campaign meeting was held at Nasik on 13-09-2019. Com.Rajendra Lahane, presided, Com.Anil Patil, DS, Nasik welcomed all. Com.John Verghese, AGS, spoke on VRS, which is CRS in disguise, Reduction of retirement age from 60 to 58, overall situation of BSNL with facts and figures, assets of BSNL and the liabilities compared to other telecom operators. BSNL has the biggest assets in the country next only to railways and this assets are being eyed by the corporates, Com.N.K.Nalawade, Vice President (CHQ) and CS, Maharashtra, spoke at length about BSNL's present crisis, non-payment of salary of employees and contract labour wages and other issues. He highlighted that, BSNLEU remains in the forefront for uniting all the unions and associations for fighting unitedly against the wrong policies of the Government. Every one promised to massively vote for BSNLEU.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Hon'ble Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has informed the Parliament on 27.11.2019 that, the government has no proposal to decrease the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 58 years. This categorical reply given by the Hon’ble Minister in the Parliament has nailed down the lies being spread by mischievous elements in BSNL that, the government is going to reduce the retirement age of the government employees from 60 to 58.

At a time when the announcements of the government on the revival of BSNL remain on paper, and at a time when the employees are facing extreme hardship due to non-payment of salary and non-remittance of deductions made from their salaries, the AUAB has organised a very successful hunger strike throughout the country yesterday, drawing the attention of the government and the BSNL Management. Executives and Non-Executives have massively responded to the call of the AUAB and have made the programme successful. Here are some of the views of hunger strike.

1) Com. N.P. Patange, rtd OS, Belgavi TD - Rs.2,000/-

2) Com. C. D. Kolkar, Belgavi - Rs.2,000/-

3) Com. A.Y. Nayak, OS rtd, Belgavi - Rs.1,000/-

4) Com. B.A. Beesako, OS, Belgavi - Rs.1000/-

5) Com. A.S.Koulge, OS, Belgavi - Rs. 1,000/-

6) Com. Naresh Reddy, CWC member - Rs.1,000/-

7) Com. Shivanna, JE, BGTD - Rs.1,000/-

8) Com. Meenakshi, TT, BGTD  - RS.1,000/-.

9) Com. C. G. Prashanth, Belgavi - Rs.500/-

10) Com. B. M. Kamble, TT, Belgavi - Rs.500/-

11) Com. Ashok Kamble, Belgavi - Rs.500/-

12) Com. S. B. Kamble, OS, Belgavi - Rs.500/-

13) Com. Y. N. Patil, TT, Belgavi - Rs.500/-

BSNL’s 4G tender has ultimately been cancelled today. The BSNL Corporate Office has issued the notification for this. Vested interests have been trying for cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender, on the plea that it has violated government’s “Make in India” policy. Based on it, the government put BSNL’s 4G tender on hold. Ultimately it has been cancelled today. Once again, the private lobby has succeeded in blocking BSNL’s 4G network roll out, with the blessings of the Modi government.

It is alarming that India’s GDP growth has steeply fallen during the 1^st quarter of the current financial year (from April to June, 2020). The GDP growth has declined by 23.9%.  Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, has already declared that the country’s economy is suffering due to the act of god. She has referred the COVID-19 as an act of god.

But the Finance Minister and the Modi government should accept that Indian economy was seriously affected even before COVID-19 came. The mindless demonetisation done by the government, as well as the introduction of the GST, have seriously affected the micro, small and medium industries (MSM sector). To come out of this situation, the Modi government gave Rs.1.4 lakh crore to the Indian corporates, by cutting down the wealth tax. However, this did not work at all. Even before India was attacked by the COVID-19, the economy of the country was badly affected by the mismanagement of the Modi government, as a result of which domestic demand shrunk and millions of jobs were lost. The government should not hide behind the COVID-19, but should take appropriate steps to increase the purchasing power of the working people. The Central Trade Unions have demanded a cash  payment of Rs.7,500/- every month, for 6 months, to all the families which are not paying income tax. Only such meaningful steps will bring the Indian economy back on the track, by increasing the purchasing power of the working masses.

The original date for the March to Sanchar Bhawan was fixed as 28-02-2018. Subsequently, it is changed to 23-02-2018, in view of the Holi festival. This is already intimated through our website updating. Since the notice for the agitation was prepared before the change of date and many General Secretaries had already signed it. That is why date of the March to Sanchar Bhawan is mentioned as 28.02.2018 in the notice. Necessary correction in this regard has already been made. March to Sanchar Bhawan will be held only on 23-02-2018. Circle Secretaries are requested to immediately inform CHQ, the number of comrades coming from each circle.