Several hundreds of Non-Executives, who were recruited and sent for training by the DoT, but were appointed after the formation of BSNL, are being treated as BSNL recruiters. They are not issued with Presidential Orders. Hence, they are not entitled for government pension and GPF. Several of these affected employees have approached the court. Various CATs and the High Courts of Kerala and Rajasthan have given judgements that, these officials should be treated as DoT recruitees. However, the BSNL Management has appealed against these judgements in the Supreme Court. The case is lingering on for several years. BSNLEU is continuously insisting upon the BSNL Management to take steps for the early disposal of this case. In the meeting held with Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), on 30^th March, 2021, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, once again discussed this issue. He also discussed this issue with the Sr. GM (SR) and DGM, Legal, NTR circle. BSNL Management has to advise it’s Advocate in the Supreme Court, to take steps for the early completion of the hearing of this case. BSNLEU will further pursue this case actively, for an early settlement. 

As per the latest Consumer Price Index, released by the Labour Bureau yesterday, the 31^st March, 2021, IDA rate is to get reduced by 1.1%, w.e.f. 01^st April, 2021. Accordingly, the 171.5% IDA that has become due from 01.01.2021, will get reduced to 170.4%, w.e.f. 01.04.2021. Hence, the quantum of IDA increase, that remains to be paid to the Non-Executives of BSNL is 10.5%. The CHQ of BSNLEU is pressurising the BSNL Management to take steps to pay this IDA increase at the earliest. BSNL Management has referred the matter to the DoT.

BSNL’s 4G service launching is getting terribly delayed. The stand of the government that, BSNL should procure the core equipments of 4G only from Indian companies, is delaying BSNL’s 4G launching. This delay is threatening the very future of BSNL and it’s employees. BSNLEU is continuously taking up this issue at the level of the Minister for Communications and Prime Minister. Even currently, BSNLEU is organising street corner meetings throughout the country, demanding the government to allow BSNL to procure 4G equipments.

In this backdrop, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with the CMD BSNL, yesterday the 30.03.2021. During the discussion, the CMD BSNL informed the General Secretary that, the Empowered Technology Group (ETG), headed by Shri Vijay Raghavan, Principal Advisor to the Prime Minister on Science and Technology, had decided to allow BSNL to procure it’s 4G equipments from global vendors, such as Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung, etc. The CMD BSNL told that BSNL is taking steps to float a tender for this. Certainly, this is a welcome development and very big relief to BSNL. However, it will take at least one more year for BSNL to launch it’s 4G service by procuring equipments from the new tender.

In his discussion with the CMD BSNL yesterday, the 30.03.2021, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, referred to the recent media reports, stating that the government is planning to raise Rs.40,000 crore, by monetising BSNL’s tower and optic fibre. The CMD BSNL replied that, the Management has no information about this. The General Secretary told the CMD BSNL that, any move by the government to sell BSNL’s tower and optic fibre, in the name of monetisation, would be opposed by the employees tooth and nail. The General Secretary also made it clear to the CMD BSNL that, monetisation of BSNL’s mobile towers means nothing, but privatisation of BSNL’s towers, which the employees will not allow.

BSNLEU is continuously taking efforts for getting Presidential Orders issued to around 400 TSMs who have directly been promoted as Telecom Technicians. BSNLEU is pursuing these cases for the past several years. After prolonged efforts, the cases have been sent by the Corporate Office to the DoT. Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Shri Sunil Purohit, DDG (Pers.), DoT, The General Secretary requested the DDG (Pers.), DoT, to take expeditious steps for  issuing Presidential Orders to the officials. The DDG (Pers.) is very positive and assured to do the needful at the earliest.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), today and discussed the following issues.

(1)   No online exam for the Non-Executives.

BSNLEU is insisting upon the Management to conduct all the LICEs for the Non-Executives, without further delay. Under these circumstances, the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office had proposed to hold the LICEs for the Non-Executives 'online'. BSNLEU has already strongly opposed this. Today, the General Secretary told the Director (HR) that, all LICEs, from one Non-Executive cadre to another Non-Executive cadre, should be held only ‘off-line’. After discussion, the Director (HR) agreed to the view point of BSNLEU.

(2)   Starting the preliminary works for holding the LICEs.

The various LICEs for the Non-Executives are not held for a long time. The General Secretary met the CMD BSNL last week and discussed this issue. The CMD BSNL told that, the process of 'Restructuring' would be completed in the month of April, 2021, and that the LICEs would be held thereafter. In his meeting with the Director (HR) today, the General Secretary once again insisted to immediately start the preliminary works for holding the LICEs, so that the exams could be conducted immediately after completion of the 'Restructuring'. The Director (HR) agreed to do the needful.

(3)   Transfer of JE’s from Leh SSA to other SSAs of J&K circle.

In view of the sub-zero temperatures prevailing in Leh SSA of J&K circle, BSNLEU has already demanded that, the requests of JEs, for transfer to other SSAs of J&K circle, should be considered, on completion of two years of service. The Director (HR) has already assured to consider this issue sympathetically. In today’s meeting, the General Secretary demanded to take necessary action on this issue, which the Director (HR) agreed to consider.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met the CMD BSNL and Director (HR) last week and requested speedy implementation of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court order, on the payment of IDA to the Non-Executives of BSNL. The GS, BSNLEU, was assured that prompt action would be taken on this matter. In accordance with this, the Corporate Office has referred the matter to the DoT. This is because, the DPE has written to the Secretary, DoT, to take the needful action, for the implementation of the court order. CHQ will pursue this case further.

When she was in the opposition, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman told that , the government is responsible for the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. But, now, after becoming Finance Minister, the same Ms.Nirmala Sitharaman, says that, it is the oil companies that are responsible and not the government.