Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Balbir Singh, President and Com. John Verghese, AGS, met Shri Y.N. Singh, GM (BFCI), and discussed the issue of non-allotment of funds to the circles, for payment of wages to the contract workers. It was pointed out that wages of contract workers were not paid for the month of December and January in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu circles. The GM (BFCI) stated that this was due to lack of cash-flow in the Corporate Office. However, he assured that the funds would be allotted next week.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Balbir Singh, President and Com. John Verghese, AGS,  in their discussion with Shri Y.N. Singh, GM (BFCI) today, expressed their unhappiness about the Corporate Office’s direction to the circles, to reduce the strength of contract workers, as a measure of curtailing expenditure. The GM (BFCI) explained that last year, BSNL’s revenue has gone down by Rs.6,000 crore, and also the DoT has imposed a ban on BSNL’s taking bank loans for operational expenditures, which have warranted reduction in the strength of contract workers. The representatives suggested that the Company needs to reduce it’s expenditure on electricity, car rental, etc., instead of reducing the strength of contract workers. This issue will be further discussed at the higher levels of the Management.    

As per the call given by the CHQ, the various circle unions of BSNLEU have informed that comrades are participating in the March to Sanchar Bhawan programme, from their respective circles, as per the following details. These figures do not include the number of comrades coming to the March to Sanchar Bhawan, from the neighbouring circles of UP (West), Haryana, NTR, Rajasthan and Punjab, from where BSNLEU is mobilising a huge number of comrades. CHQ has already arranged staying accommodation for 2 days, i.e., 22^nd & 23^rd February, 2018, for all the 940 comrades. It is informed that staying accommodation cannot be arranged to other than these 940 comrades.

The Steering Committee of the Public Sector Trade Unions (CITU) is meeting at Visakhapatnam on 19.02.2018. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, who is a member of this Steering Committee, is participating in this meeting. The meeting will be discussing important issues being faced by the Public Sector trade unions, including Wage Revision, and the steps being taken by the BJP government to kill the Public Sector.

After the introduction of ERP, CHQ quota is being remitted in bulk by the CGM offices, without giving the break-up figures of quota related to each district union. The last CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at New Delhi in November, 2017, has directed the circle secretaries to provide information to the CHQ, about the district wise quota remitted from their respective circles, in the year 2016 and 2017. So far, these particulars have been provided only by Odisha, Gujarat and NE-II circles. Hence, it is reminded that all the remaining circle unions should immediately send the requisite particulars without further delay.

The mega bank fraud, in which diamond merchant Nirav Modi has cheated the Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs.11,300 crore has shaken the country. This scam has dented the image of the Modi government, which had been claiming that no major scam has taken place in it’s rule. While the Congress Party is utilising this scam to attack the BJP government, the latter is trying to escape by saying that, the fraud actually started during the rule of UPA government. But, what is more important to note here, is the policy of economic liberalisation followed by the UPA government, and which is being implemented more aggressively by the BJP government now. It is this economic policy, which has enabled the big corporates to loot the natural resources of the country, including the hard earned money of the people. The Modi government takes pride in claiming that it has implemented “Ease of Doing Business”. This has become “Ease of  Looting” for the big corporates.

Utilising the visit of Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, to Visakhapatnam, the district union of BSNLEU, organised a special meeting of BSNL employees at Visakhapatnam yesterday the 18.02.2018. Com.G.S.N.Raju, district president, BSNLEU, presided over. Com.Sagar, district secretary,BSNLEU, welcomed all. Even though it was Sunday yesterday, more than 200 comrades enthusiastically attended the meeting. Com.Latchi Raju,  Circle VP, BSNLEU, and leaders of SNEA, AIBSNLEA and SEWA BSNL were also present in the dias. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained about the ongoing struggle of "All Unions and Associations of BSNL" as well about the current status  of  the issues of Wage Revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, Pension Revision, rolling back the retirement age from 60 to 58,  and left out issues of the 2nd PRC. The General Secretary called upon the employees to make the "March to Sanchar Bhawan" programme a grand success, and also to effectively implement the call for Work According to Rule struggle. The speech of the General Secretary evoked very good response among the employees, and they expressed their determination to intensify the struggles.

A meeting of the contract workers, belonging to the three districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam was held at Visakhapatnam yesterday the 18-02-2018. More than 200 contract workers participated. Com.Latchi Raju, circle vice president, BSNLEU, AP circle, presided over the meeting. Com. Sagar, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Visakhapatnam, welcomed all the comrades. com.Narasinghrao, President, CITU, AP state and Com.Dharma Rao, Circle Secretary, BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Union, AP circle, addressed the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, addressed the workers elaborately and explained about the problems presently being faced by the contract workers, and about the solutions to them. Com.Narasingh Rao, President,CITU, AP state, translated the speech into Telegu. Com.G.S.N.Raju, district president, thanked all the participants.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, AGS, met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, today and discussed the following issues.

1. Extension of payment of Medical Allowance, without voucher, to pensioners.

Payment of Medical Allowance, without voucher, to the BSNL retirees, is implemented initially for 6 months. However, the same is not extended further. The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL, to ensure that the letter for extension of the same is issued without further delay. The CMD BSNL responded positively and assured to do the needful.

2. Holding meeting of the Staff Welfare Board.

The Union representatives told the CMD BSNL that the BSNL Staff Welfare Board meeting has not been held for a very long time, as a result of which staff welfare issues could not be discussed. They urged upon him to hold the meeting at the earliest. The CMD BSNL assured to do the needful.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, AGS, met Shri S.K.Sinha, GM(Admn.) today and insisted the early issuing of letter by the Corporate Office, for the extension of payment of Medical Allowance, Without Voucher, to the BSNL retirees. They also insisted upon the GM(Admn.) to expeditiously implement the Rs.429 mobile plan to BSNL employees, in lieu of the Rs.200/- SIM, as has already been agreed in the 35th meeting of the National Council. The GM(Admn.) assured that the needful would be done.

On behalf of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS,BSNLEU, Com.K.Sebastin,GS,SNEA and Com.Prahalad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, met Ms.Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary,DoT, today, and insisted that the demands raised by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, should be settled. The representatives specifically drew her attention to the issues of 3rd Pay Revision and Pension Revision. It was a brief meeting. However, the Secretary,DoT, keenly listened to the views of the representatives, and assured that the issues would be looked into.

In the meeting held with Ms.Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, DoT, yesterday, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, urged upon her to immediately issue the necessary clearance to the BSNL Management, for starting negotiations for Wage Revision of the Non-Executives. The GS, BSNLEU, pointed out to the Secretary,DoT, that the DPE, in it's guidelines issued for the Wage Revision of the Non-Executives, has not laid down the condition of "Affordability". Further, he also brought to the notice of the Secretary, DoT, that the BSNL Management has already written to the DoT, seeking to issue clearance, for starting negotiations for Wage Revision of the Non-Executives, and that the DoT has not responded to it so far. The Secretary, DoT, assured to look into it, and to do the needful.

Assam, West Bengal, NE-II, Chennai Telephones, TF (Kolkata), TF (Jabalpur), Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, NE-I, Inspection Circle, J&K, Kolkata Telephones, will be accommodated in:- Chugh Dharamsala, No.8, Udayan Marg, Near CNG Pump House, Gole Market. Mob: 09654825396.

TF (Mumbai), Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, will be accommodated in: - Arya Samaj Mandir, Rajendra Place, Near Rajendra Place Metro Station. Phone No.011-25760006.

Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, will be accommodated in:-  Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Hindu Mahasabha Bhawan, Mandir Marg, Near Birla Mandir, Phone No: 011-23365138 / 23365354.

UP (East), Andhra Pradesh, will be accommodated in: -  Shri Guru Ravidas Vishram Dham Mandir, Guru Ravidas Chouk, Prabhat Road, Dev Nagar, Opp. Khalsa College, Karol Bagh, Phone No: 011-28712259.

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL was held today. Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, presided over. Details connected with the March to Sanchar Bhawan, to be held on 23.02.2018, were discussed. After discussion it is decided that March to Sanchar Bhawan will start from Eastern Court, Janpath, at 11:00 AM. It is also decided to invite leaders of the Central Trade Union, to address the rally.

At a time when thousands of BSNL employees are gearing up to participate in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, the DoT has written to the BSNL Management, conveying their stand on the various demands raised by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL. In this letter, the DoT has mentioned that, since BSNL is continuously running into loss, it’s employees are not eligible for wage revision. As regards pension revision, the DoT has stated that pension revision would be done only if wage revision is implemented. On the issue of Subsidiary Tower Company, the DoT has stated that the Tower Company has already started functioning. The reply of the DoT only shows it’s high handedness as well as anti-BSNL stand. Under these circumstances, we are left with no other option, but to intensify our struggles further.

CHQ of BSNLEU heartily welcomes all the comrades who are coming over to Delhi, to participate in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, to be held tomorrow the 23.02.2018. According to the information received from various circles, more than 2,000 members of BSNLEU are participating in this historic rally, from the states nearby to Delhi, and also from far away circles. Accommodation has been arranged to the comrades coming from far away circles, and the place where the accommodation is arranged to each circle is updated on the website, and also communicated to the circle secretaries. All comrades who have come from outside, are requested to kindly take care of their personal belongings as well as their health. The climate in Delhi is very pleasant now. In case, any assistance is required, comrades are requested to feel free to call the General Secretary, Dy. General Secretary and Com. T.A. Biju, Office Secretary.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL, has decided to invite the Central Trade Union leaders, to address the March to Sanchar Bhawan. Com. Tapan Sen, MP and General Secretary, CITU, has kindly consented to address the rally, even though we approached him only in the 11^th hour. We are very grateful to him. It is once again informed that the March to Sanchar Bhawan will start at 11:00 AM from the Eastern Court, Janpath. All comrades are requested to be present on time.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL, in it’s meeting held yesterday the 21.02.2018, has decided that the constituent unions and associations shall participate in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, with their respective flags and banners. Hence, comrades of BSNLEU are requested to participate in the rally with the banners and flags of BSNLEU.

Open Signal, a mobile analytics company, has reported that the 4G download speed in India is the slowest among the 88 countries of the world, where 4G service is being provided. The Government of India is making big noises about Digital India. However, it is a matter of shame to know that even countries like Pakistan, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Tunisia are providing faster download speed than India. The mobile customers of Singapore get the fastest download speed on 4G at 44 mbps, followed by Netherlands at 42 mbps and Norway 41 mbps. But, on an average, the 4G speed in India, has been measured as 6 mbps. It is also reported that, the actual speed can be much lower.

[Curtesy: Times of India dated 22.02.2018]