Unable to face the financial crisis created due to the non-payment of wages, many contract workers have committed suicide in BSNL. Com.Ramakrishnan, a physically challenged contract worker, working at Nilambur, Kerala circle, also committed suicide. Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and BSNL Employees have collected relief fund to the family of Com.Ramakrishnan and same has been handed over to his family. Com.Elamaram Kareem, MP & General Secretary, CITU, Kerala, handed over Rs.7 lakh, to the family of Com.Ramakrishnan, in a largely attended meeting in Nilambur on 26.12.2019. The meeting was addressed by Com.Elamaram Kareem, MP and Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF. Two days prior to this, Rs.5,61,200/- collected from BSNL employees, was handed over to the family of Com.Ramakrishnan.  BSNLEU appreciates and heartily congratulates the CITU and the comrades of BSNL for raising the funds to help the family of Com.Ramakrishnan.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY GOVT. OF INDIA REGARDING RETIREMENT OF STAFF ON SUPERANNUATION ON 31ST MARCH 2020

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Retirement of Government Servants on 31st March, 2020

Posted On: 31 MAR 2020 5:32PM by PIB Delhi

In view of the unprecedented situation arising out of country-wide lockdown declared by the Government consequent to the outbreak of COVID-19, it is clarified that the central Government employees who are attaining the age of superannuation on 31st March, 2020 in terms of Fundamental Rule 56 and  due to retire, shall retire from Central Government service on 31st March, 2020, irrespective of whether they are working from home or working from office.

The Corporate Office issued letter on 08.05.2020, cutting down the ceiling for Outdoor Treatment expenditure from 23 days’ pay to 15 days’ pay. Immediately, BSNLEU wrote a strong letter to CMD BSNL, demanding to restore the ceiling back to 23 days’ pay. A copy of this letter was endorsed to the CLC. The CLC in turn, has sent an email to the CMD BSNL, advising him to take appropriate action on BSNLEU’s letter. Obviously, the action taken by the BSNL Management, cutting down the Outdoor Treatment ceiling, has not gone down well with the CLC, especially when the nation is faced with the crisis of the Coronoa Virus Disease.

Airtel has reported a net loss of Rs.15,933 crore in the first quarter, i.e., from April to June, 2020. Airtel’s loss for the same period in last year was at Rs.2,866 crore.

[Source: ET Telecom – 29.07.2020]

The strike, called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL was a historic success on the first day, i.e., yesterday. It was total, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The attempts made by the BSNL Management to break the strike, by creating confusions, got a befitting reply from the employees, who brought BSNL to a grinding halt. Today, the strike is taking place more vigorously. The employees have expressed their determination to get the demands settled.

A Joint Committee on PLI has already been formed to decide about the quantum of PLI to be paid to the employees for the year 2015-16. The last meeting of this Committee was held on 16.10.2017. Thereafter, no meeting has been called on. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this with Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM(Restg.), today, and urged upon him to hold a meeting of the Joint Committee on PLI without further delay. The GM (Restg.) agreed to call on the meeting soon.

The two day Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, WB Circle was held at Katwa, Burdwan, on 27th& 28th October, 2018.  The meeting started with the hoisting of the Union Red flag by Circle President Com. Nazes Nouroz. Homage was paid to the legendary leader, Com.K.G.Bose, by garlanding his statue.  Com. Anjan Chatterjee, President, CITU, Burdwan (East) district, inaugurated the Conference.

After the inaugural session, the subjects committee started. 20 districts Unions, 36 Branch unions and 14 circle office bearers participated. Asstt. Circle Secretary, Com. Amitava Chattopadhyay presented the report on activities. Com. Madhusudan Saha, Circle Treasurer placed the un-audited statement of accounts.

Com. Animesh Mitra, Circle Secretary, in his speech,  emphasised the need to join the  two day General Strike to be held on 8th and 9th January, 2019 and also the strike to be organised in BSNL, as per the call of the AUAB, for settling the 3rd PRC to the BSNL Employees. He appealed to the delegates that a powerful campaign should be organized at the grass root level to make the strikes successful.  Com. Banani Chattopadhyay, Joint Convener, Working Women Coordinating Committee, reported on the functioning of the Committee in the circle. Decisions were taken to organise the struggle programme called on by the AUAB very effectively, and also to organise trade union classes throughout the circle, to educate the cadres. As regards the betterment of services, it was decided to effectively implement the "BSNL at your door step" movement with all seriousness.  A rally and public meeting were also organised effectively, in connection with the meeting.

श्री रवि शंकर प्रसाद एक बार पुनः संचार मंत्री बने...
श्री रवि शंकर प्रसाद, एक प्रतिष्ठित अधिवक्ता और मंजे हुए राजनेता, ने एक बार पुनः माननीय संचार मंत्री के रूप में पदभार ग्रहण किया है। श्री मनोज सिन्हा के पदभार ग्रहण करने तक, 2014 से संचार का यह पद उनके पास पूर्व में भी था। श्री रवि शंकर प्रसाद, कॉल ड्राप के मुद्दे पर निजी कंपनियों को आड़े हाथों लेने का साहस प्रदर्शित करने वाले प्रथम संचार मंत्री थे। सत्ताधारी बीजेपी के वरिष्ठ लीडर होने के नाते श्री रवि शंकर प्रसाद, अपने निर्णयों का निर्भीकता पूर्वक क्रियान्वयन करने के लिए जाने जाते हैं। हमें उम्मीद है कि माननीय मंत्री महोदय बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल के प्रकरण में DoT में बैठे नौकरशाहों द्वारा निर्मित अवरोधों को दूर करने में सफल होंगे। BSNLEU, श्री रवि शंकर प्रसाद का अभिनंदन करते हुए आश्वासित करती है कि बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल हेतु वह पूर्णरूपेण सहयोग करेगी।

The extended circle executive committee meeting of BSNLEU, Punjab circle, was held enthusiastically at Jalandhar today. Despite heavy rain, a large number of comrades from various SSAs of Punjab circle participated in this meeting. Com. A.K. Verma, Vice President presided over the meeting. Com. Balbir Singh, Circle Secretary welcomed every one and addressed the meeting. All the District Secretaries participated in the discussion and expressed their views regarding BSNL's present condition and about the 8th membership verification. Finally Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary addressed the meeting and explained about our approach towards the 8th membership verification, as well as about, the financial revival of BSNL, Land monetisation, VRS, 58 years, etc. He also clarified the doubts raised by the comrades. CHQ appreciates the Punjab circle union for organising an enthusiastic programme, despite heavy rains.

In Kerala circle, continuous struggles are taking place, demanding immediate payment of the wages of the contract workers. It is a matter of serious concern that, payment of contract workers has not been done for the past 8 months. Strike, dharnas, demonstrations, etc., are going on continuously. Human chains are organised in Kannur, Malappuram and Pathanamthitta SSAs. A wider platform, supporting the strike has also been formed.

The government has formed one more Group of Ministers (GoM) in connection with the revival of BSNL and MTNL. It is reported that this GoM will expedite the implementation of the Cabinet decisions already taken, in connection with the revival of BSNL and MTNL. Members of this new GOM are Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

[ Source : PTI dt. 28-12-2019]

It is informed by the Director( HR) today that, the deductions made from employees salary, towards GPF, is being remitted to the DoT.

डायरेक्टर (HR) ने सूचित किया है कि, कर्मचारियों के वेतन से की गई GPF कटौती की सम्पूर्ण राशि DoT को प्रेषित की जा रही है।

As per media reports, a committee of the DoT has recommended to the government, to ban Chinese Telecom Equipment makers, Huawei and ZTE, from participating in 5G trials. Following this, both the Chinese companies will be banned in the 5G auction process also. It is reported this decision is taken after the Government of India has imposed restrictions on public procurement, from countries sharing their borders with India.

[Source: ET Telecom – 29.07.2020]

BSNLEU extends best wishes and warm greetings to all, on the occasion of the 69^th Republic Day of our great nation. Democracy, secularism and socialism are the basic concepts of our constitution. Let us all strive to up hold these ideals.

The Corporate Office has already announced the formation of an Internal Committee , to decide about extending the facility of immunity from transfers, at the time of bifurcation. BSNLEU has already submitted a note to the members of the Internal Committee, on this matter. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) today, and enquired about the status on this issue. It was replied that the Internal Committee is yet to take the final decision. The GS, BSNLEU, once again strongly insisted that immunity from transfers should be extended to the circle and district secretaries, at the time of bifurcation. The GM (SR) assured to take an expeditious decision.

A meeting between Ms. Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, Telecom, and the representatives of the AUAB is taking place at 17:00 hrs. today, in Sanchar Bhawan. Issues contained in the charter of demands of the AUAB, for the ongoing struggle, will come up for discussion in this meeting. Top officers of the DoT and BSNL will also be present in this meeting. As a prelude to this meeting, representatives of the AUAB are meeting at 14:00 hrs. today, to workout their strategy for the meeting. 

AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों और एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम के बीच मीटिंग सम्पन्न...

AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने श्री अंशु प्रकाश, एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी से मिल कर समयबद्ध वार्तालाप हेतु गठित कमिटी जिस तरीके से सम्पन्न हुई, उसकी कड़े शब्दों में शिकायत की। साथ ही उन्होंने 03.12.2018 को सम्पन्न मीटिंग में माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री द्वारा दिए गए आश्वासनों के क्रियान्वयन में किए जा रहे विलंब की भी कड़े लहजे में शिकायत की। तत्पश्चात, AUAB की  एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी के साथ विस्तार से चर्चा हुई। एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी द्वारा दिए गए जवाब निम्नानुसार है।

(1) 3rd पे रिवीजन:

कैबिनेट और संबंधित मंत्रालय 15% फिटमेंट के साथ देना स्वीकार नही करेंगे क्योंकि बीएसएनएल की वित्तीय स्थिति इतनी अधिक सैलरी भुगतान की अनुमति नही देती है।  AUAB और बीएसएनएल मैनेजमेंट को स्वीकार्य योग्य प्रस्ताव देना चाहिए। अगले सप्ताह पुनः एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी से मीटिंग होगी।

(2) बीएसएनएल के लिए 4G स्पेक्ट्रम:

नीति आयोग और डिपार्टमेंट ऑफ एक्सपेंडिचर (DoE) के बीएसएनएल को 4G स्पेक्ट्रम के आवंटन के संबंध में अपने अलग विचार हैं। फिर भी, बीएसएनएल को 4G स्पेक्ट्रम के आवंटन हेतु फरवरी 2019 के प्रथम सप्ताह में संभावित टेलीकॉम कमीशन की मीटिंग में आवश्यक अनुमति प्राप्त करने के लिए DoT द्वारा पूर्ण प्रयास किए जाएंगे।  

(3) वास्तविक मूल वेतन पर पेंशन कॉन्ट्रिब्यूशन का भुगतान:

डिपार्टमेंट ऑफ एक्सपेंडिचर ने कुछ स्पष्टीकरण चाहें हैं जिसका जवाब बीएसएनएल को प्रस्तुत करना है । बीएसएनएल द्वारा 1-2 दिन में स्पष्टीकरण प्रेषित करने का आश्वासन दिया गया है।  

(4) पेंशन रिवीजन:

इस मुद्दे पर बेहद उपयोगी वार्ता हुई। एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी ने  बीएसएनएल के गठन के समय बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को पेंशन भुगतान से संबंधित जारी किए गए डाक्यूमेंट्स की कॉपीज मांगी है। बीएसएनएल मैनेजमेंट उन्हें डाक्यूमेंट्स शीघ्र उपलब्ध कराएगा।

अगले सप्ताह AUAB और एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी के बीच पुनः मीटिंग होगी।

As per the decision taken in the 37th meeting of the National Council, held on 20.11.2018, the Management agreed to implement the EGI (Employees Group Insurance) for the DR employees among the Non-Executives. BSNLEU had urged upon the Management to hold the meeting expeditiously. Now, it has been agreed to hold the meeting on 25.03.2019.

BSNLEU, Raigarh District Union of Maharashtra circle, kick-started it's election campaign yesterday the 16-08-2019. Com.Purushottam Gedam, District Secretary, welcomed every one and addressed the meeting in detail. The meeting was also addressed by Com. Balachandra Mane, ACS, Com.Ganesh Hinge, Circle Treasurer, Com. Yusuf Hussain, Circle Secretary, Contract Workers Union, Senior leader Com.Anil Jog, etc.