A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday the 01.08.2019, at NFTE’s office, New Delhi. The meeting was presided over by Com.S. Sivakumar, General Secretary, AIBSNLEA. General Secretaries / Representatives of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM, TEPU and BSNLOA attended. The meeting expressed it’s extreme unhappiness that the unions and associations of BSNL are being completely kept in the dark, with regards to the so called revival package of BSNL. The meeting also expressed it’s deep concern about the deterioration of BSNL’s services due to lack of working capital. The meeting took serious exception to the repressive measures being taken by the BSNL Management, to deny legitimate trade union activities in BSNL. After serious discussions, the meeting decided to organise countrywide lunch hour demonstrations and gate meetings on 07.08.2019, on the following demands:-

Demands:

1. Honour the commitments given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, to ensure BSNL’s financial viability.

1. Extend immediate financial support to BSNL, for the maintenance of the services.
2. Extend soft loan to BSNL for it’s capital expenditures.

2. Remove the total ban imposed on capital expenditure by BSNL. Allow field units to carry out capital expenditure, where revenue is assured.
3. No retrenchment. Honour the commitment given on job security at the time of formation of BSNL.
4. Stop repressive actions for even legitimate trade union activities.

All the circle and district unions are requested to effectively organise the lunch hour demonstration and gate meeting, by coordinating with the other constituents of the AUAB. 

There was a lot of media publicity about the meeting held in the PMO yesterday, regarding the revival of BSNL and MTNL. The meeting has taken place and the new Cabinet Secretary, Shri P.K. Mishra, has presided over it. According to informed sources, nothing positive has emerged in yesterday’s PMO meeting. In fact, questions have been raised in that meeting, whether the revival of BSNL is necessary and if so, whether it is possible to revive BSNL? Similar negative questions have been raised in yesterday’s meeting and no meaningful decision has been taken. We have come to know that yesterday’s PMO meeting has appointed a Committee consisting of 4 / 5 Secretaries. This Committee will advise whether revival of BSNL is necessary, and if so, whether it is possible?

Auto Immune Disease is a disorder, wherein the immune system of the body attacks tissues of it’s own body. Times of India yesterday, has published a very meaningful cartoon, wherein the Auto Immune Disease is compared to the political situation prevailing in the country, wherein the government of the country attacks it’s own people based on religious discrimination. This cartoon is published in the wake of the “Citizenship Amendment Bill” was passed in the Lok Sabha.

It seems the conspiracies to kill BSNL never end. In the past, BSNL’s equipment procurements have been stalled many times, which had greatly affected it's network expansion. A similar attempt is being made now also.

An industry body called TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council) is the latest villain. As a result of it's complaint, the tender floated by BSNL on 23rd March, 2020, for procuring 50,000 4G mobile sites, has it roadblocks. The TEPC has objected that BSNL's tender conditions have made it impossible for the domestic vendors to participate in the tender. One such condition is that, the previous experience of having set up 20 million subscriber mobile network. The TEPC has also objected that procuring equipments from MNCs will pose a danger to “National Security”. Further, the TEPC has argued that, BSNL should give opportunity to the domestic producers, since public money is involved in the Company's revival. All these objections raised by the TEPC are untenable due to the following reasons. 

1. BSNL is procuring 4G equipments utilising it’s own money and not using public money. 
2. Even now, Airtel has entered into a one billion dollar contract with Nokia, for procuring 4G equipments. No objection was raised by TEPC on that contract. Why BSNL alone should be targeted? 
3. Why BSNL should be compelled to use low quality 4G equipments of local vendors, when private companies like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea are using world class equipments supplied by multinational vendors like Nokia, ZTE, Ericsson, etc.?
4. 100% equipments of the private telecom companies have been supplied by MNCs. If there is no threat for national security in that, then why the threat of national security is being raised in BSNL’s case alone?

As per the call of the AUAB, the agitational programme of black-flag demonstration and black-badge wearing by the employees, are to be organised throughout the country tomorrow. The black-flag demonstration is to be organised during lunch hour, by maintaining social distancing. Comrades participating in the demonstration should compulsorily wear masks. Black-badge wearing by the employees has to be done for the whole day tomorrow. CHQ requests the circle and district unions to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to ensure the total success of these programme. Report and photos of the programme may be sent to the CHQ.

BSNLEU has given notice to the Management demanding payment of PLI for the year 2015-16 and observed nationwide demonstrations on 13th October 2017. As such the Director(HR) called both the recognised unions,i.e. BSNLEU and NFTE on 16th October and discussed the issue. Com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and com R.S.Chouhan, Vice President attended the meeting,since ,com P.Abhimanyu, GS is out of station. After detailed discussion, the Director (HR ) instructed the GM(SR) to hold the meeting of the PLI committee and to finalise the permanent formula for the payment of PLI including the pending PLI for the year 2015-16.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL has given call to conduct lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow the 27.03.2018, against the decision of the government to form BSNL’s Subsidiary Tower Company, and also against the decision of the DoT, to appoint Shri Amit Yadav, IAS, as the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company. Circle and district secretaries are requested to make maximum mobilisations, in coordination with the other constituents of AUAB, and make the programme successful. Memorandum (copy available on website)  should also be submitted to the Chief General Managers and the State Governors. Photos and reports of the programme should be e-mailed on bsnleuchq@gmail.com.

Shri R.S. Sharma, TRAI chairman has become a laughing stock, in the matter of Aadhaar safety. It is very important to note that R.S. Sharma was the former chairman of the UIDAI, which is the body incharge of Aadhaar. A hue and cry is already going on in the country, with regards to the safety of the data of the citizens, contained in Aadhaar. Complaints are being raised for quite some time that, there is no safety for the data of the citizens contained in Aadhaar. In response to this complaint, R.S. Sharma, TRAI chairman, disclosed his Aadhaar card number on his Twitter account. He challenged any one to do any harm to him, using his Aadhaar number. Within no time, all his personal data, contained in Aadhaar started appearing in the public. This data included his phone number, address, pan card details, voter ID number, WhatsApp profile photo, etc. Further, to humiliate R.S. Sharma, some one deposited Rs.1/- into his bank account. What more is required to prove that the data of the citizens, contained in the Aadhaar is not safe at all.

अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस: 8 मार्च - महिलाओं पर हो रहे अत्याचारों पर विशेष रूप से प्रकाश डालते हुए प्रभावशाली कार्यक्रम आयोजित करें...

सीईसी मीटिंग्स के निर्णयों के अनुसार, BSNLEU द्वारा हर वर्ष 8 मार्च को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस मनाया जाता है। सीएचक्यू द्वारा सभी सर्किल और जिला यूनियन्स को इस वर्ष भी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस प्रभावी तरीके से आयोजित करने का अनुरोध किया जा चुका है। सीएचक्यू यहां यह भी स्पष्ट करना चाहेगा कि कार्यक्रम का आयोजन महज रस्म अदायगी न हो। कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से हमारे समाज में महिलाओं को 'समान अधिकार से वंचित' रखने के मुद्दे पर प्रकाश डाला जाना चाहिए। हमारे देश में महिलाओं पर विविध अत्याचार किए जा रहे हैं। द थॉमसन रायटर्स फाउंडेशन ने अपनी 19 जून 2018 को प्रस्तुत रिपोर्ट में स्वास्थ्य, आर्थिक स्त्रोतों तक पहुंच, भेदभाव, रूढ़िवादी परंपराओं का अनुसरण (कस्टमरी प्रैक्टिसेज), यौन व अन्य प्रताड़ना और मानव तस्करी आदि के परिप्रेक्ष्य में हमारे देश को बेहद खतरनाक निरूपित किया है। वर्किंग क्लास मूवमेंट (आंदोलन) का यह दायित्व बनता है कि वह महिलाओं के साथ हो रहे  इस प्रकार के सभी अन्याय के विरोध में लड़ें। सीएचक्यू सभी सर्किल और जिला यूनियन्स से अनुरोध करता है कि इन सभी मुद्दों पर प्रकाश डालते हुए इस वर्ष भी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस प्रभावी तरीके से आयोजित करें।

कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के परिवार भूखों मरने की स्थिति में- महासचिव , BSNLEU ने डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से कहा और फंड्स जारी करने की मांग की...
सम्पूर्ण देश मे कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के वेजेस के भुगतान में बेहद विलंब हुआ है। कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा फंड्स जारी नही किए जाने से विगत 4 माह से वर्कर्स को वेजेस का भुगतान नही हुआ है। BSNLEU द्वारा इस संबंध में पत्र लिख कर डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) का ध्यान आकृष्ट किया जा चुका है। इसी क्रम में आज कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, जीएस, श्री एस के गुप्ता, डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से मिले और इस मुद्दे पर विस्तार से चर्चा की। उन्होंने डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) को बताया कि कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के परिवारों में भुखमरी के हालात निर्मित हो गए हैं। उन्होंने अनुरोध किया कि इस सम्बंध में यथोचित कार्यवाही कर  सर्कल्स को शीघ्र फंड्स जारी किए जाएं। डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) ने इस पर कहा कि उन्हें भी वर्कर्स के प्रति सहानुभूति है किंतु कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस में फंड्स का जबरदस्त अभाव है। उन्होंने आश्वासित किया कि वें इस संबंध में यथोचित कार्यवाही करेंगे।

BSNL का रिवाइवल- फिर जहां के तहां...
BSNL और MTNL के रिवाइवल के लिए कल PMO में हुई बैठक को ले कर मीडिया में काफी चर्चा रही। मीटिंग हुई, और इसकी अध्यक्षता नए कैबिनेट सेक्रेटरी श्री पी के मिश्रा ने की। सूत्रों से प्राप्त जानकारी के अनुसार, कल की मीटिंग में सकारात्मक कुछ भी नही हुआ। वस्तुतः, उक्त मीटिंग में सवाल उठे कि क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल करना जरूरी है, और यदि ऐसा है, तो क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल किया जा सकता है ? इसी प्रकार के नकारात्मक सवाल मीटिंग में होते रहे और किसी भी प्रकार का कोई सार्थक निर्णय नही हुआ। हमें ज्ञात हुआ है कि कल PMO की मीटिंग में 4-5 सेक्रेटरीज का समावेश करते हुए एक कमिटी की नियुक्त की गई है। यह कमिटी इस पर अपनी राय देगी कि क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल करना जरूरी है, और यदि है, तो क्या यह संभव है ?

The CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), NPR (National Population Register) and NRC (National Register of Citizenship) are against the secular character of the Indian Constitution.

• The spirit of the Indian Constitution is that the citizenship of any person should not be decided based on his / her religion. However, the CAA excludes the migrants of a particular religion, from getting Indian citizenship.

• The NRC (National Register of Citizenship) will be prepared based on the NPR (National Population Register). At the time of preparing NPR, each person should to tell the date and place where his / her parents were born. If these details are not provided, then, that person may be kept in the doubtful citizen’s list.

• Each person may have to give a big amount as bribe to the officials, to ensure that they get citizenship.

• When NRC is finalised in Assam, 19 lakh people lost their citizenship. A Kargil war hero, two MLAs are among those who did not get citizenship. How many crores of people will lose their citizenship, if the NRC is implemented in the whole of India?

• It is not only Muslims, but those who oppose and criticise the government may also not get citizenship.

• The CAA, NPR and NRC divide the people, especially the working masses, based on religion.    

23^rd March, 2020 is the martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Raj Guru. The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, has called on the employees to observe an “Anti-CAA, NPR and NRC Day” on 23.03.2020. The CEC has called on the employees to wear demands badge with black ribbon on that day. Lunch hour gate meetings should be organised and the preamble of the Indian Constitution should be read out on that day. All circle and district secretaries are requested to organise this programme very successfully.

For the past so many years, the AUAB is spearheading struggles and movements to safeguard and strengthen BSNL. The AUAB has also played a crucial role in getting 4G spectrum to BSNL for free. In the present case also, wherein vested interests are hatching conspiracy to scuttle BSNL’s procurement of 4G equipments, the AUAB will make the needful intervention. The Convenor, AUAB, is already in contact with other constituents of the AUAB to finalise appropriate action.

CROP-2020 योजना के तहत, किराए में हुई वृद्धि के बोझ को कम करने के लिए BSNLEU ने CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा..
मैनेजमेंट द्वारा कंप्रेहेंसिव रेंटिंग आउट पॉलिसी (CROP-2020) घोषित की गई है। इस योजना के तहत रिटायर्ड कर्मचारी और अपने कार्यस्थान से इतर स्थानों पर क्वार्टर लेने वाले कर्मचारियों द्वारा देय किराए में बेतहाशा वृद्धि की गई है। संशोधित किराया 01.09.2020 से देय होगा। किराए में वृद्धि के  मद्दे नजर, रिटायर्ड कर्मचारी अपना क्वार्टर छोड़ भी नही सकते हैं, क्योंकि कोविड-19 महामारी की स्थिति में किराए का आवास ढूंढना बेहद दुष्प्रद है। अतः, BSNLEU ने, किराए में संशोधन के चलते हुई वृद्धि के बोझ को कम करने का अनुरोध करते हुए CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा है।

All Unions and Associations in BSNL in the meeting held on 4^th October, 2017 decided agitational programmes demanding 3^rd PRC with 15% fitment benefit from 21.01.2017 and to stop formation of Subsidiary Tower Company. The programme is begin with lunch hour demonstrations at Corporate Office, Circle and SSA HQs on 16^th October, 2017. A powerful demonstration is held at BSNL Corporate Office at lunch hour on 16^th October, 2017. The meeting is presided over by Com. R.S. Chauhan, Vice-President (CHQ) and Circle Secretary in NTR of BSNLEU. The meeting is addressed by Coms. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, C. Singh, GS, NFTE, K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Mohindar Singh, CS, FNTO, Badri, AIGETOA and S.P. Singh, Dy.GS, BSNLOA. All the leaders appealed to the workers to be united to intensify the struggles in the coming days on both the issues and to be ready for 2 days strike on 12^th & 13^th December, 2017 and also for Indefinite Strike till the wage revision is settled.

There are only five more days for the strike. It is utmost important on the part of the Unions and Associations this time, to ensure that 100% of the Non-Executives and Executives participate in the strike. Some comrades are under the impression that the two day strike will become 100% success automatically, since all the Unions and Associations have joined the strike. This is totally a wrong notion. 100% strike can be achieved only through tireless efforts at the field level. The remaining five days should be effectively utilised, to meet the each and every employee individually, and to convince them to wholeheartedly to join the strike. It is the duty of the leaders and front line activists to ensure that no employee goes on leave this time. CHQ requests all the comrades to swing into action immediately.

As per the decision, the All Unions and Associations of BSNL is organising a powerful lunch hour demonstration in front of the Sanchar Bhawan tomorrow. As per the Cabinet decision, Subsidiary Tower Company will come under the control of the Board of Directors of BSNL. As such, the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company should be appointed only by the BSNL’s Board of Directors. However, the DoT, in a high-handed manner, has appointed an IAS officer as the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company, without even informing the Board of Directors of BSNL. This it self clearly shows that, the Subsidiary Tower Company will not come under the control of BSNL. The whole game plan of the government is, to snatch the entire mobile towers of BSNL, in the guise of forming a separate tower company. Hence, opposing the formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company, and also opposing the high-handed action of the DoT, of appointing an IAS officer as the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company, the AUAB will be organising a powerful lunch hour demonstration in front of the Sanchar Bhawan tomorrow.

The DoT has given it’s final approval for the merger of Vodafone India Ltd. with Idea Cellular. The name of the new company will be Vodafone Idea Ltd. This will be the largest Indian Telecom Company, in terms of number of subscribers and quantum of revenue. Both the company’s have paid Rs.7,268 crore, in cash and in bank guarantee, to the government, for this merger.