Finance Minister Arun Jaitley claims that because of the bold steps taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian economy has become the fastest growing economy in the world. Whereas, the former Finance Minister, P.Chidambaram claims that, Indian economy started competing with the developed countries, only after the Neo Liberal Economic policies were introduced in 1991, by the Congress government, led by P.V.Narasimmha Rao and Dr.Manmohan Singh. However, the trade union movement  keeps on saying that, whether the government is run by the Congress Party or the BJP Party, the Neo Liberal Economic Policies being implemented by both these parties, have only helped the rich to become super rich, while the poor have become miserably poorer. Yesterday's Times of India report proves what Arun Jaitley and P.Chidambaram say is wrong, and what the trade unions say is correct. 

As per the report published in the Times of India yesterday, the richest 1% Indians have 58% of the total wealth of India. Just 57 billionaires in India, have the wealth equivalent to the bottom 70% of Indians. Not only this, only 8 billionaires of the world, are having 50% of the world's total wealth with them. This is because, all the capitalist countries of the world are following the same Neo Liberal Economic Policies, being dictated by the World Bank and the IMF. Trade unions also say that Capitalism cannot solve the problems of mankind, and Socialism is the only alternative.

The SR Branch of the Corporate Office has started giving unwarranted instructions to BSNLEU. A few months back, BSNLEU requested it’s circle unions to give advertisements to the souvenir, to be released by the CITU, on the occasion of the inauguration of it’s Trade Union School at Delhi. At that time, the SR Branch gave instruction to BSNLEU that, advertisements should not be collected from customers, as per the CDA Rules. This was a totally unwarranted advice from the SR Branch, because the CHQ of BSNLEU only requested it’s circle unions to give the advertisements, and did not direct to collect advertisements from any customer. Now, a few days back, the SR Branch has again instructed BSNLEU not to criticise the government’s policies on it’s website. BSNLEU has the right to criticise the government’s policies which affect the working class. The SR Branch has no business to object this. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR), today, in the presence of Shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR), and raised his strong objection to the unwarranted instructions being given to BSNLEU, by the SR Branch. All concerned should understand that BSNLEU does not survive on the oxygen supplied by the Management or government. It continues to remain as the biggest trade union of BSNL for the past 14 years, because of the unwavering support being extended by the ordinary workers of BSNL.

Today’s Times of India has reported the decision of the NITI Aayog about privatising MTNL’s tower business. We reproduce the same hereunder:-

“The panel (read NITI Aayog), headed by economist Rajiv Kumar has also recommended that government should begin selling assets in MTNL, once a top state-run company, which is now the third-biggest loss maker behind BSNL and Air India. The proposal is to hive off the telecom PSU’s towers into a separate company and sell off the entity. An outright stake sale has not been proposed, given the large real estate holdings.”

बीएसएनएल ईयू द्वारा बीएसएनएल की वित्तीय स्थिति के संबंध में  कर्मचारियों को यह संदेश दिया जा रहा है। यह सत्य है कि बीएसएनएल विकराल वित्तीय स्थिति के मध्य फंसा हुआ है। कंपनी को हर माह अपने कर्मचारियों के वेतन की व्यवस्था के लिए भी काफी जद्दोजहद करना पड़ रही है। कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस के लिए मेडिकल व अन्य बिल्स के भुगतान के लिए फंड्स अलॉट करना भी संभव नही हो पा रहा है। कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स के वेजेस भुगतान में भी कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा फण्ड अलॉटमेन्ट के अभाव में भयंकर विलंब हो रहा है।

ऐसे समय में, कंपनी की वित्तीय समस्याओं को ले कर कुछ दुष्प्रचारक कर्मचारियों में भय निर्मित कर रहे हैं। इन दुष्प्रचारक तत्वों द्वारा फैलाई जा रही विभिन्न अफवाहों से कर्मचारी विभ्रम की स्थिति में है और अपने भविष्य को ले कर चिंतित भी। अतः बीएसएनएल ईयू यह अपनी जिम्मेदारी समझती है कि वह जो कुछ भी हो रहा है उसका यथार्थ चित्रण कर्मचारियों के समक्ष रखे।

हम यहां यह स्पष्ट रूप से बताना चाहेंगे कि बीएसएनएल की वित्तीय स्थिति पर रिलायंस जियो द्वारा सितंबर 2016 से शुरू किए गए मूल्य युद्ध ( Tarrif War) की वजह से बेहद भयावह असर हुआ है। न केवल बीएसएनएल, वरन एयरटेल, वोडाफोन और आईडिया भी अलाभप्रद स्थिति में पहुंच गए हैं। सच तो यह है कि सम्पूर्ण दूरसंचार उद्योग ही "तनाव" में है। बावजूद इसके, बीएसएनएल की स्थिति एयरटेल, वोडाफोन और आईडिया की स्थिति से कहीं ज्यादा बेहतर है। सभी निजी कंपनियों पर भयंकर कर्ज है। उदाहरण के लिए, एयरटेल पर रु 95,000 करोड़ का कर्ज है एवं वोडाफोन और आईडिया भी कुल रु 1,20,000 करोड़ के ऋण में है। तुलनात्मक रूप से, यह सुखद खबर है कि बीएसएनएल पर कुछ हजार करोड़ का ही कर्ज है।

इसके अलावा, रिलायंस जियो से कड़ी प्रतिस्पर्धा के बावजूद बीएसएनएल के ग्राहकों की संख्या में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि हो रही है। वस्तुतः 2017 में बीएसएनएल के ग्राहकों की वृद्धि एयरटेल, वोडाफोन और आईडिया से अधिक थी। 2017 में बीएसएनएल की ग्राहक वृद्धि दर 11.50% थी, वहीं एयरटेल की वृद्धि दर थी मात्र 9.13%। वोडाफोन की ग्राहक वृद्धि दर केवल 3.83% रही तो आईडिया की 3.14%।

बीएसएनएल की समस्या सिर्फ यही है कि उसके राजस्व संग्रहण (Revenue Collection) में बेतहाशा गिरावट आ रही है। लेकिन दूरसंचार उद्योग के विशेषज्ञों का यह मानना है कि वर्तमान में जारी टैरिफ वार ज्यादा समय तक नही चलेगा, ज्यादा से ज्यादा मार्च 2019 तक यह जारी रहेगा। उनके अनुसार, इसके बाद टैरिफ में वृद्धि होना शुरू होगी। इसका मतलब बीएसएनएल सहित सभी टेलीकॉम कंपनीज के राजस्व में वृद्धि की शुरुआत होगी। परिणाम स्वरूप, बीएसएनएल की नगदी समस्या (Cash Problem) शनैः शनैः समाप्त होती जाएगी।

इसके साथ ही, AUAB द्वारा किए गए संघर्ष की बदौलत बीएसएनएल को शीघ्र ही 4G स्पेक्ट्रम भी मिलने जा रहा है। 4G स्पेक्ट्रम मिलने के 6 माह पश्चात बीएसएनएल सभी सर्कल्स में 4G सेवाएं प्रदान करने की स्थिति में होगा। इधर AUAB  सभी कर्मचारियों से सेल्स व मार्केटिंग में अपनी व्यापक रूप से सहभागिता का अनुरोध करते हुए  "बीएसएनएल-आपके द्वार" मूवमेंट की शुरुआत कर ही चुका है। इसके साथ ही AUAB ने मैनेजमेंट से अनावश्यक खर्चों में कटौती की भी मांग की है। AUAB ने उच्च प्रबंधन के आरामदेह और शाही खर्चों पर लगाम लगाने हेतु आवश्यक खर्च कटौती मापदंड का पालन करने की भी मांग की है। इन मापदंडों का अनुपालन सुनिश्चित करवाने के लिए AUAB की लड़ाई लगातार जारी रहेगी।

अतः बीएसएनएल ईयू सभी को सूचित करती है कि बीएसएनएल की वित्तीय समस्याएं शीघ्र ही समाप्त होंगी। बीएसएनएल का भविष्य बेहद सुनहरा है। हम दुष्प्रचारकों की अफवाहों और उनके द्वारा गढ़ी गई कहानियों पर विश्वास न करें।

आओ, हम विश्वासभरे कदमों के साथ एक बेहतर भविष्य की ओर अग्रसर होंवे। निःसंदेह भविष्य हमारा है।

The state-owned power distribution utility, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) has snapped services of the telephone services provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) office in Bhusari Colony since March 2 due to non-payment of bills. MSEDCL’s move has in return disrupted around 2,000 telephone and 1,000 wireless connections in the area, displaying the sorry state of affairs of state-run service providers and the lack of communication therein.

[ Courtesy: Pune Mirror dt. 06-03-2019 ]

Due to the disruption created in the telecom sector, by Reliance Jio, older telecom companies continue to suffer. Vodafone Idea, the biggest telecom company in the country, continue to run in heavy loss. It’s 4^th quarter (period from January to March, 2019) loss is Rs.4,881 crore. During the same period in 2018, Vodafone Idea’s loss remained at Rs.5,033 crore.

We have already reported that 147 scientists and scholars have written to the government, demanding withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). Scientist and Nobel Laureate, Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, has also raised his voice against the CAB now. In an interview to the Telegraph, Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, who is an Indian origin, settled in the US, has severely criticised granting of Indian Citizenship based on religion. He has stated that an independent judiciary will never accept the CAB. He has further stated that the disease of nationalism and racism have affected many parts of the world and have now affected India also. He has expressed his concern that the government itself is dividing the people in the name of religion. 

Com. P. Abhimanyu,  GS, telephonically talked to Shri S. K. Gupta,  Director (Finance), BSNL today,  and enquired about the status of the payment of salary for the month of April, 2020. The Director (Finance) replied that BSNL's revenue collections in the month of April are greatly affected due to the Lockdown and hence the Management is trying for bank loans to pay the salary.  The General Secretary urged upon the Director (Finance) to take necessary steps, to ensure early payment of the salary and  avoid sufferings of employees.

CHQ circular no.10, carrying the decisions of the online CEC meeting, held on 10^th & 11^th September, 2020 is attached hereunder. Hindi translation of this circular will be updated on website / circulated shortly. Circle Secretaries of non-Hindi speaking circles are requested to translate this circular in their regional language and to send it to the district secretaries. This circular should be widely circulated among the office bearers at the circle, district and branch levels.

The unions and associations of Karnataka circle organised had made a massive mobilisation in the strike preparatory meeting held at Bengaluru today. Com.K.S.Sheshadri, CS, NFTE, presided over the meeting. Com.C.K.Gundanna, CS,BSNLEU, welcomed all. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS,BSNLEU, com.Gopalakrishnan, Secretary,NFTE, com.Panduranga Naik, Jt. Secretary,SNEA, com. Srinivasa Reddy, AGS, AIBSNLEA, com.T.Jagdish, SEWA BSNL, com.Sridhara Babu, Jt.Secretary, AIGETOA, com.Pattaiah, AGS, FNTO, com.Mallikarjun, President, BSNL MS, and com.Mohan, CS,ATM addressed the meeting and explained the demands. The leaders urged upon the employees to massively participate in the two day strike, and also to get ready for an indefinite strike, in case the issues remain unsettled.

In a bid to meet competition from private telecom operators,  BSNL  launched mobile TV service called 'Ditto TV' and also limited 'Fixed Mobile Telephony' yesterday.  FMT is an app that virtually turns mobiles into cordless phone working in sync with landlines within home premises.

The NITI Aayog has recommended disinvestment / privatisation of 11 Public Sector Companies including BHEL, MTNL, Ashok Hotel, etc. Media reports also say that, the NITI Aayog is considering disinvestment through the strategic sale route, of 50 Public Sector companies. As regards BSNL, today’s Times of India says as follows:-

“Surprisingly, NITI Aayog has not given any roadmap for BSNL, that reported loss of around Rs. 4,800 crore in 2016-17.”  

Since the Non-Executives and Executives of BSNL are continuously conducting militant struggles against disinvestment / privatisation of BSNL, under the leadership of the AUAB, the NITI Aayog is reluctant to touch BSNL. However, if our struggles stop, then the day of BSNL’s privatisation will also come. Hence comrades, let us mobilise each and every Non-Executive and Executive of BSNL, in to the struggles called on by the AUAB.

The two day Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU is to be held on 22nd and 23rd October, 2018, at ALTTC, Ghaziabad. The UP(West) circle union, which is hosting the meeting, is  taking all out efforts to make the programme successful. The meeting will discuss important issues such as, developments related to 3rd  wage revision, non-implementation of the assurances given by the Hon'ble MoS(C), 2 day General Strike to be held on 8th and 9th January, 2019, agitational call of the AUAB, revival of BSNL,etc. As usual, only CEC members will be allowed to attend the CEC meeting. For details, CEC members are requested to contact Com.Upendar Singh Teotia, circle secretary, UP(West),  on 09868816250.

It is learnt that IDA increase from 1st January 2019 will be 3.2%. Together with this, the total IDA will be 138.8% (135.6%+3.2%), w.e.f.01.01.2019.

The salary for the month of February, 2019, is not yet paid. BSNL Management says, "We have no money". To tackle the problem, BSNL needs to take bank loan. But, the DoT refuses to allow BSNL to take bank loans, for meeting operational expenses, ie., for payment of salary, etc. Compared to private companies, BSNL's debt is very small. Then, why the DoT is not allowing BSNL to avail bank loans? why the BSNL employees are being made to suffer, without payment of salary? The game plan of the government is very clear! It is a conspiracy to create panic among employees, to force them to go on VRS. Already, media reports have said that, the BSNL Management and the DoT are seriously considering a VRS proposal, for BSNL employees. So, all conspiracies are being hatched, to force the employees to go on VRS in a large scale. The government wants to reduce the strength of the employees drastically. If less number of employees are there, it will be easier for the government to sell BSNL to some corporates in future. Let us understand the game plan of the government. Let us unitedly fight to defeat the conspiracies of the government.

A National Convention of workers was held at New Delhi today. It was called on by the Central Trade Unions and Industrial Federations and Unions. The Convention was held near the Parliament Street Police Station. BSNLEU participated in the Convention by mobilising our comrades from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP(West), UP(East), NTR and Corporate Office. The Convention was addressed by Com.Ashok Singh (INTUC), Com.Tapan Sen, GS, CITU, Com.Amarjit Kaur, GS, AITUC and many others. All the speakers addressed effectively, exposing the pro-corporate and anti-worker policies of the Narendra Modi government. The Convention unanimously decided to organise a country wide General Strike on 08th January, 2020.

Clarifying on rumours around Voluntary Retirement Scheme for government employees, the Central government today said there is no such proposal. In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Jitendra Singh said, “There is no such proposal of Golden Voluntary Retirement Scheme under consideration of the Government.”

       Singh also clarified that there is no proposal in the Government to reduce the retirement age of Government employees below 60 years. Earlier on December 5 also, Singh had told Rajya Sabha, “There is no proposal to reduce retirement age of Government official below 60 years.” The government’s response had come on a question whether it was considering to retire government officials either at the age of 60 years or after completing 33 years of service.

[Courtesy - Financial Express - December 12, 2019]