As per media reports, Shri Anshu Prakash, presently serving as the Additional Secretary, Telecom, has been selected as the new Secretary, Telecom. According to reports, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), which met yesterday, has approved the name of Shri Anshu Prakash for the top post in the Department of Telecommunications. Reports appeared in the media yesterday, that the incumbent Secretary, Telecom, Ms.Aruna Sundararajan, who is retiring on superannuation on 31.07.2019, has been given an extension of 3 months. However, late in the evening, reports came that the ACC has approved the name of Shri Anshu Prakash.

A protest demonstration was organised at CGMT office, West Bengal circle yesterday, demanding appropriate action on those who are responsible for the lapses, which led to the fire accident, which has taken place in the Nodal Center, EZBC at Salt Lake, Kolkata on 23^rd July, 2019. The programme was jointly organised by CGMT(Office) & Kolkata SSA district union. The meeting was initiated by Com. Sujoy Sarkar, District Secretary, CGMT (Office), District. Com. Amitava Chattopadhyay, Asstt. Circle Secretary and others addressed and demanded immediate action. Com. Banani Chattopadhyay, President, BSNLEU, WB, presided over.

The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on Wednesday upheld the TRAI's decision to levy a penalty of ₹3,050 crore on Airtel and Vodafone Idea, for denying interconnection ports to Reliance Jio, when it started services three years ago. Telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan told this to the reporters yesterday the 24-07-2019. This decision of the Digital Communications Commission is a setback to Airtel and Vodafone Idea, which are already reeling under debt and losses.

डिजिटल कम्युनिकेशन्स कमीशन ने एयरटेल और वोडाफोन आईडिया पर लगाई गई रु 3,050 करोड़ की पेनल्टी को सही ठहराया...
डिजिटल कम्युनिकेशन्स कमीशन ने बुधवार को एक वर्ष पूर्व जियो द्वारा अपनी सेवाएं शुरू करते समय एयरटेल और वोडाफोन आईडिया द्वारा रिलायंस जियो को इंटरकनेक्शन पोर्ट्स हेतु इंकार की वजह से ट्राई द्वारा लगाई गई रु 3,050 करोड़ की पेनल्टी के निर्णय को कायम रखा है। यह जानकारी कल दिनांक 24.07.2019 को टेलीकॉम सेक्रेटरी अरुणा सुंदराराजन द्वारा पत्रकारों को दी गई। डिजिटल कम्युनिकेशन्स कमीशन का यह निर्णय पहले से ही कर्ज के बोझ तले दबे और घाटे में चल रहे एयरटेल और वोडाफोन आईडिया के लिए एक बड़ा आघात है।

 

Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.Gakul Borah, Treasurer, met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL today and discussed the following issues.

Payment of wage arrears to contract workers.

The representatives explained about the hardships being faced by the contract workers, due to the non-payment of wages for the past 6 months. They pointed out that 5 contract workers have already committed suicide and the families of other workers are in starvation. The representatives requested the CMD BSNL to release funds for payment of the arrears. The CMD BSNL explained about the financial difficulties being faced by the Company. However, he assured to look into the demand of the Union.

Curtailment of trade union rights and interim stay of Hon’ble Madras High Court.

The representatives brought to the notice of the CMD BSNL, about the gag order dated 02.07.2019, issued by the SR Branch of the BSNL CO., banning all trade union activities till the 8^th Membership Verification. They apprised the CMD BSNL about the order of the Hon’ble Madras High Court, which has granted interim stay to the Corporate Office letter and requested the CMD BSNL to intervene in the matter and to take necessary remedial action.

The next meeting of the AUAB will be held on 01^st August, 2019. This will be a crucial meeting, since it will have to take important decisions in respect of BSNL’s financial revival. The meeting will also decide about AUAB’s future course of action on important issues.

The last date for filing Income Tax returns is 31^st July, 2019. However, the Central Board for Direct Taxation has extended this time limit for a month. Accordingly, the last date for filing Income Tax returns is 31^st August, 2019. All concerned comrades are requested to take note of this and to do the needful in respect of their filing IT returns.

Requests are being received from some circles, for bringing visitors to the Extended CEC meeting, to be held at Pune, from 29^th to 31^st July, 2019. As per the Union Constitution, only circle secretaries, central office bearers and district secretaries are eligible to attend the Extended CEC meeting. Hence, circle secretaries are once again requested to ensure that only district secretaries attend the Extended CEC meeting, apart from circle secretaries and central office bearers. If any district secretary is not able to attend, then the assistant district secretary should attend.

एक्सटेंडेड सीईसी मीटिंग में किसी भी विजिटर को अनुमति नही दी जाएगी.
कई सर्कल्स द्वारा, पुणे में 29 से 31 जुलाई 2019 तक आयोजित होने वाली एक्सटेंडेड सीईसी मीटिंग में विज़िटर्स को भी शामिल होने के लिए अनुमति दिए जाने हेतु निवेदन किया जा रहा है। यूनियन के संविधान के अनुसार एक्सटेंडेड सीईसी में शामिल होने की पात्रता केवल सर्किल सेक्रेटरीज, सेंट्रल ऑफिस बेयरर्स और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज को ही है। अतः सर्किल सेक्रेटरीज से एक बार पुनः अनुरोध है कि वें सुनिश्चित करें कि एक्सटेंडेड सीईसी में  सर्किल सेक्रेटरीज और सेंट्रल ऑफिस बेयरर्स के अलावा केवल डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज ही शामिल हों। यदि किसी डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरी के लिए उपस्थित होना संभव न हों, तो असिस्टेंट डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरी अटेंड करें।

It is a great news that the Hon'ble Madras High Court has granted interim stay to the BSNL Corporate Office letter dated 02-07-2019, banning demonstrations, dharna, etc., till the completion of 8^th Membership Verification. Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Tamil Nadu circle, had filed the petition in the Hon'ble Madras High Court, seeking stay for the Corporate Office letter dated 02-07-2019. That letter has threatened that any union, organising demonstration, dharna, etc., will be debarred from participation in the 8^th Membership Verification. This letter issued by the SR Branch of the BSNL Corporate Office is totally arbitrary, high-handed and violative of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Hence, BSNLEU decided to challenge this order in the court of law. The SR Branch should learn lesson from this and should not try to trample on the fundamental rights of the trade unions. The concerned authorities in the Corporate Management should ensure that the SR Branch does not indulge in such adventurous activities, which will spoil industrial peace in BSNL. CHQ heartily congratulates the Tamil Nadu circle union for this victory.

मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन तक ट्रेड यूनियन कार्यवाही पर प्रतिबंध लगाने के कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस के आदेश पर माननीय मद्रास उच्च न्यायालय का स्थगन.....
यह एक बड़ी खबर है कि माननीय मद्रास उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस के पत्र दिनांक 02.07.2019, जिसके तहत 8वें मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन की प्रक्रिया पूर्ण होने तक प्रदर्शन, धरना आदि पर प्रतिबंध लगाया गया था, पर अंतरिम स्थगन आदेश प्रदान किए गए हैं। कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस के पत्र दिनांक 02.07.2019 पर स्थगन हेतु कॉम बाबू राधाकृष्णन, सर्किल सेक्रेटरी, तमिलनाडु द्वारा माननीय मद्रास उच्च न्यायालय में पिटीशन दायर की गई थी। उक्त पत्र के माध्यम से धमकी दी गई थी कि किसी भी यूनियन द्वारा धरना, प्रदर्शन आदि किए जाने पर उस यूनियन को 8वें मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन में शामिल होने पर रोक लगा दी जाएगी। कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा जारी यह पत्र पूर्ण रूप से मनमानीपूर्ण, स्वेच्छाचारी व संविधान में उल्लेखित मूलभूत अधिकारों का उल्लंघन करने वाला था। इसी वजह से BSNLEU ने इस आदेश को न्यायालय में चुनौती देने का निर्णय लिया। SR ब्रांच को इससे सबक लेना चाहिए और ट्रेड यूनियन के मूलभूत अधिकारों को कुचलने की कोशिश नही करनी चाहिए। कॉर्पोरेट मैनेजमेंट में संबंधित अथॉरिटीज को यह सुनिश्चित करना चाहिए कि भविष्य में SR ब्रांच इस तरह की औद्योगिक शांति भंग करने वाली पराक्रमी (?) गतिविधियों से दूर ही रहे। इस जीत पर CHQ की ओरसे तमिलनाडु यूनियन को  बधाई।

Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, was in Mumbai on 20.07.2019 to hold discussions with the senior BSNL officers of Maharashtra circle. The representatives of BSNLEU, with Com.N.K. Nalawade, CS, BSNLEU, Mharashtra, Com. Ganesh Hinge, Circle Treasurer, BSNLEU, Maharashtra and Com.Yeshwant Kekre, District Secretary, CGM Office, Maharashtra, met the Hon’ble MoS(C). The representatives requested the Hon’ble MoS(C) to take positive steps for the revival of BSNL. They also requested the Hon’ble MoS(C) to ensure immediate release of funds by the Corporate Office, atleast for the payment of electricity bills. The Hon’ble MoS(C) assured to look into.

A convention of the Maharashtra BSNL Working Women was held at Mumbai on 20^th July, 2019. In this convention, a seminar on “Challenges before BSNL / Indian Working Women in the Changed Scenario” was held. Com.N.K. Nalawade, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Maharashtra circle, Ms.Neelatai Limaye, Secretary, Maharashtra Women’s Council, Shri Aman Jaiswal, GM (HR / Admn.)  and Com.Ravati Adhav, Convenor, addressed it. In this convention, the Maharashtra circle BSNL Working Women’s Co-ordination Committee was formed.

The three time Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, passed away on 20^th July, 2019. She suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away, despite treatment. She was the Chief Minister of Delhi for 15 years. During this period, Delhi underwent a very big structural change. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Ms. Sheila Dikshit.

BSNLEU demands that the government should ensure BSNL’s financial revival through capital infusion. It is being argued in the media that why should government waste the tax payer’s money for helping BSNL and MTNL. It is nothing but true that, BSNL has not received even a single naya paisa, as financial assistance from the tax payer’s money, during it’s existence of 18½ years. But at the same time, the Times of India dated 17th July, 2019, has reported the government has made a capital infusion of Rs.2.69 lakh crore in the public sector banks during 2018-19 and 2019-20. This capital infusion is made to help the public sector banks, which have written off  lakhs of crores of rupees as bad loans. It must be remembered that, a bulk of these bad loans are taken by the big corporates and not returned by them. The capital infusion made by the government is only to enable the public sector banks to give fresh loans to the big corporates. So, when the government can make capital infusion of Rs.2.69 lakh crores in the Public Sector banks, and that too within a period of two years, why can't it make capital infusion for the financial revival of BSNL? Our demand is more justified because, it is only because of the anti- BSNL steps of the government, that BSNL has been ruined.

BSNL के वित्तीय उन्नयन (रिवाइवल) के लिए सरकार द्वारा पूंजी लगाना सुनिश्चित करना जरूरी क्यों ?
BSNLEU मांग करती है कि सरकार पूंजी लगा कर BSNL का वित्तीय उन्नयन सुनिश्चित करे। मीडिया में इस बात पर बहस हो रही है कि कर दाताओं का पैसा सरकार BSNL और MTNL की मदद करने में क्यों जाया करें। यह एक सच्चाई है कि अपने अस्तित्व के 18.5 वर्षों में BSNL को वित्तीय सहयोग के रूप में कर दाताओं का एक नया पैसा भी प्राप्त नही हुआ है। किन्तु, इसके साथ ही, टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया ने अपने 17 जुलाई 2019 के अंक में रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की है कि वर्ष 2018-19 और 2019-20 में सरकार ने पब्लिक सेक्टर बैंक्स में 2.69 लाख करोड़ की पूंजी डाली थी। यह पूंजी उन पब्लिक सेक्टर बैंक्स को सहयोग करने हेतु डाली गई थी जिन्होंने करोड़ों रुपयों का बैड लोन राइट ऑफ किया था। यहां ध्यान देने योग्य तथ्य यह है कि बैड लोन का बड़ा हिस्सा कॉर्पोरेट्स का था जो उनके द्वारा चुकाया नही गया था। कैपिटल इंफ्यूजन के माध्यम से सरकार द्वारा पब्लिक सेक्टर बैंक्स को मदद इसलिए दी गई थी कि वें पुनः बड़े कॉर्पोरेट्स को नए सिरे से लोन दे सके। अतः, जब सरकार पब्लिक सेक्टर बैंक्स में रु 2.69 लाख करोड़ की पूंजी डाल सकती है और वह भी 2 वर्षों की अवधि में, तो फिर BSNL के आर्थिक उन्नयन के लिए BSNL में पूंजी क्यों नही लगाई जा सकती है? हमारी मांग ज्यादा वाजिब इसलिए भी है कि केवल सरकार द्वारा उठाए गए  एन्टी BSNL कदमों की वजह से ही BSNL की दुर्दशा हुई है।

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the circle executive committee meeting of BSNLEU at Srinagar yesterday. Today, he addressed a meeting of the active workers in the Union office at Srinagar. A good number of workers attended the meeting. The General Secretary spoke on financial condition of BSNL, the government's approach towards the revival of BSNL and the role to be played by the trade union movement.

The circle executive committee meeting of Jammu & Kashmir is being held at Srinagar. Com. Krishan Lal, circle president, is presiding over. Com. Rauf, ADS, welcomed. Com.Basheer Ahmed Khan, circle secretary, presented the report on activities. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, addressed the conference and spoke in detail about the issues connected with the revival of BSNL.  He explained the circumstances under which BSNL went into crisis and also outlined the roadmap for it's revival. In-depth deliberations were made by the members for improving the services in J&K circle. The subjects committee is continuing.

After coming to power for the second time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has drawn an action plan for the first 100 days. An important aspect of this 100 day programme includes major steps for the privatisation of the Indian Railways. The plan includes:-

• Handover running of trains to private players.
• Increase passenger and freight charges by withdrawing subsidies to provide ‘level playing field’ to the private players.
• Privatisation of the railway production units, the jewels of Indian Railways, through corporatisation.
• Destroying the indigenous production capacity by buying trains from private companies and keeping our production units idle.

We are enclosing herewith the statement issued by the CITU on the privatisation of Indian Railways. CHQ directs all it's circle and district unions to actively participate in all the campaign programme, being organised by the Railway / Central trade unions, against the privatisation of the Indian Railways.

• In her budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has set an ambitious disinvestment target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the current fiscal.
• The Niti Aayog has already drawn a comprehensive list of over 40 CPSEs for disinvestment. The list includes profit-making entities as well.
• In PM Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi, workers at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) have given an ultimatum of 15 days to the government to rethink over privatisation of the rail coach factories.
• In Punjab, workers at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala are threatening to go on strike.
• Similar protests are taking place in Chittaranjan Locomotive works in West Bengal and Salem Steel Plant in Tamil Nadu.
• The Left-led trade unions are spearheading protests against the government’s decision.
• RSS-backed Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh has called for a national convention of all PSU workers.

[Courtesy :  India Today web news dated 17-07-2019 ]