Prices of telecom services in India are likely to rise in the second half of the current financial year (2019-20), an Edelweiss report said today. The report says that  the price hike is likely to take place due to the fact that, the penetration in mobile broadband services has increased significantly and is nearing a saturation point. This is a good news for BSNL. It may be recollected that due to the implementation of predatory pricing by Reliance Jio, BSNL's revenue collections fell drastically, and the Company went deeper into financial crisis. If tariffs increase, BSNL's financial condition will also improve.

[ Source : ET Telecom dt. 16-04-2019 ]

BSNLEU and the BSNLCCWF have given call to organise dharna at Corporate Office and at all CGM offices, demanding immediate payment of the wage arrears of the contract workers and also demanding to stop the retrenchment. All circle secretaries are requested to download this poster and get it printed for organising the strike.

Despite it was raining, Surat district union organised a very effective election campaign meeting on 09.09.2019, addressed by the General Secretary. The meeting was presided over by Com.Salim Hafeji, District President. Com.Dubey, District Secretary, welcomed everyone. The meeting was also addressed by Com.M.K. Dave, Vice President (CHQ) and Com.D.K. Bakutra, Circle Secretary. In his address, the General Secretary explained about all the aspects related to the revival of BSNL, which is possible through united struggles, and by mobilising public opinion in favour of BSNL. He also explained about the issues taken up / settled by BSNLEU in the last three years. The General Secretary also replied to various rumours being raised by mischievous elements.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Haryana Circle, was held at Rohtak on 18^th November, 2019. Com.Naresh Kumar, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com.M.S. Kadian, Circle Secretary, welcomed all and presented a brief report. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, explained in detail the decisions of Ghaziabad CEC meeting held on 12^th & 13^th October, 2019, for participating the 8^th January, 2020 General Strike. He also dealt with the issue of BSNL’s Revival Package and VRS related issues. Com.Ramesh Chand Sharma, Organising Secretary (CHQ), BSNLEU and Com.Kuldeep Singh, CS, AIBDPA, also addressed the meeting. District Secretaries and Circle Union Office bearers participated in the discussion.

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has given a landmark judgement, wherein it has stated that, people wanting to agitate in a peaceful way cannot be called traitors, anti-nationals only because they want to oppose one law. The court has stated, “this court wants to express that such persons cannot be called as traitors, anti-nationals only because they want to oppose one law. It will be an act of protest only against the government for the reason of CAA.”

Regarding the right of the citizens to conduct peaceful agitations, the court has also stated as follows:-

“India got freedom due to agitations which were non-violent and this path of non-violence is followed by the people of this country till this date… Unfortunately, many laws which ought to have been scrapped after getting freedom are continued and the bureaucracy is exercising powers under them against citizens of free India.”

[Courtesy: Times of India dated 15.02.2020]

BSNLEU is organising a countrywide dharna programme tomorrow the, 26.06.2020. In this connection, the CHQ of BSNLEU has issued the following press statement. The circle secretaries are requested to translate this press statement in their Regional Languages and to distribute the same to the media at the circle and district levels. CHQ will soon send the Hindi translation of this press statement to the circle secretaries of Hindi speaking circles.

BSNLEU conveys it’s Best Wishes and Warm Greetings to all women comrades, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which falls tomorrow. Women constitute 50% of the population. However, the same is not reflected, so far as their role in the society is concerned. Gender discrimination and atrocities against women are increasing day by day. BSNLEU calls upon it’s leaders and cadres to fight against all forms of injustices against women. The CHQ has already called upon the circle and district unions to observe the International Women’s Day in a befitting manner tomorrow.

The deal of the Indian government, to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France, has raged a very big controversy. In this deal, Dassault Aviation has tied up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence. It is a well known fact that Anil Ambani has no background of any defence manufacturing. Further, it is also a well known fact that, Anil Ambani is almost in a bankrupt situation. Under these circumstances, it is being widely believed that, the Modi government has helped Anil Ambani to become the Indian partner of Dassault Aviation. The former French President, Francois Hollande confirmed few days back that, it was as per the direction of the Indian government that, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence is made the Indian partner of the Rafale jet manufacturer. The French government has not denied this. It has only stated that it was the decision of Dassault Aviation to induct Reliance Defence as it’s partner. But, the question arises, why the Dassault Aviation should select the bankrupt and inexperienced Reliance Defence as it’s partner? Further, it should also be noted that the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., the public sector aircraft manufacturer of India, was not made the partner, in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is maintaining a big silence. He should give a reply to the nation.

As already reported by the CHQ of BSNLEU, a meeting of the Redesignation Committee, will be held on 26-04-2019. The Restructuring Branch of the Corporate Office has issued the notification for the meeting today. 

It is a sad news for BSNL that, ultimately, Kerala circle has also gone into loss. Kerala circle had been consistently earning profit, ever since the formation of BSNL. In the financial year 2017-18 also, Kerala circle earned a net profit of Rs.373 crore. Alas, in 2018-19, Kerala circle has ran into a loss of Rs.260 crore.

BSNLEU has already expressed it’s unhappiness over the withdrawal of the 3 day hunger strike, which was to be held from 20.11.2019. Since there was no unanimity among all the constituents of the AUAB, to go ahead with the hunger strike, the programme had to be dropped. Still, BSNLEU strongly felt the need of an agitational programme to ensure settlement of the crucial issues related to VRS, as well as other burning issues of the employees. For the past two days, BSNLEU approached all the trade unions of the Non-Executives for organising a struggle. As a result of this, various organisations agreed to organise a one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019 at the Corporate Office, Circle and District levels. The BSNLEU has no intention to exclude any trade union from this hunger strike. All the organisations willing to raise their voice against the injustices in the matter of VRS and other issues have joined together for organising the hunger strike on 25.11.2019. All the circle and district unions are requested to immediately contact the other participant organisations for massively organising the one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019.

The Supreme Court has pulled up the government of India for not implementing it’s order dated 24.10.2019 on payment of dues by the telecom companies. In it’s order dated 24.10.2019, the Supreme Court laid down the definition for the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). According to this order, the telecom companies should pay licence fee, spectrum charges, etc., calculated on their total income, and not only on income from core business. According to this order of the Supreme Court, Vodafone Idea has to pay Rs.53,000 crore and Airtel has to pay Rs.35,000 crore. As per the Supreme Court order, the dues from the telecom companies should be paid within 3 months. However, even 4 months after this judgement, the private companies have not paid even a single naya paisa. It has also come to the light that the government has sent an advisory to the concerned officers stating that “no coercive action should be taken until further orders, to collect the dues from telecom companies.” The Supreme Court severely criticised the government for issuing such an advisory.

1) Com.Kum Singh Rawat, Retd. JE, Romnagar, Nainital – Rs.5,100/-

2) Com.Ram Ratan, Retd. TT, Gularbhoj, Nainital – Rs.2,100/-

3) Com. Kailash Pandey, Retd. TT, Dehradun – Rs.2,100/-

4) Com.Puran Singh Bhandari, Retd.TT, Chamba, New Tehri – Rs.2,000/-

5) Com. Jayendra Mohan Pandey, TT, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

6) Com. Narayan Singh Bohra, TT, Khatima, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

7) Com. Kailash Adhikari, JE, Ranikhet, Almora – Rs.1,100/-

8) Com. Vishawakarma, DS, Retd. JE, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

9) Com. Bhajan Lal, Retd.TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

10) Com. Hari Lal, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

11) Com. Udai Singh, Ghugatiyal, DS, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

12) Com. Sanjeev Molfo, JTO, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

13) Com. Jeewan  Singh Khati, Retd. JE, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

14) Com. Bhagwan Das, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

15) Com. Pyar Singh Rawat, Retd. TT, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

16) Com. Kirti Dutt Uniyal, Retd. JE, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

17) Com. Deep Kumar, Retd. TT, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

18) Com. Jai Shiv Kumar Chopra, Retd. PA, Haridwar – Rs.1,100/-

19) Com. Deepa Joshi, Circle Vice President, Retd. OS, Almora – Rs.1,100/-

20) Com. Bhagwan Singh Aswal, Retd. OS, Khatima, Nainital – Rs.500/-

The CHQ has prepared matters, to be used for making the placards / posters. Circle and District unions are requested to ensure that the placards / posters are sufficiently displayed during tomorrow’s dharna.

"पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड लौह आवरण से आच्छादित क्यों ?....

राष्ट्र को बताया गया है कि "पीएम केयर्स"  फण्ड कोविड-19 महामारी से लड़ने के लिए बनाया गया है।  बहरहाल, इस फण्ड को लेकर कई तरह के विवाद सामने आ रहे हैं। यह भी चिंतनीय तथ्य है कि "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड का ऑडिट करने का अधिकार CAG को भी नही है। साथ ही, "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड के एकाउंट्स के संबंध में RTI प्रश्न भी नही किया जा सकता है। इसका आशय यह है कि "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड पूर्ण रूप से लौह आवरण से आच्छादित है और इसकी गतिविधियां बेहद गोपनीय हैं। क्यों ?

यह एक जाहिर रहस्य (open secret) है कि सरकार द्वारा सभी PSUs को  "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड में डोनेशन देने के लिए दबाव बनाया गया है। प्राप्त जानकारी अनुसार 55 PSUs पर, "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड में  धनराशि का योगदान देने हेतु दबाव निर्मित किया गया है। इनमें से अकेले 38 PSUs द्वारा दिया गया डोनेशन ही रु 2,105 करोड़ बनता है। केंद्रीय मंत्रियों ने अपने आफिशियल प्रभाव का उपयोग करते हुए "पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड में डोनेशन देने के लिए PSUs को बाध्य किया है। BSNL में भी इस फण्ड के लिए कर्मचारियों के वेतन से एक दिन के वेतन की कटौती की गई थी। कुछ PSUs द्वारा दिए गए डोनेशन्स का विवरण निम्नानुसार है।

1. ONGC           – Rs.300 crore
2.   NTPC          – Rs.250 crore
3.   Indian Oil     – Rs.225 crore
4.   Power Grid  – Rs.200 crore
5.   Power Fin    – Rs.200 crore
6.   NMDC         – Rs.155 crore
7.   REC             – Rs.150 crore
8.   BPCL           – Rs.125 crore
9.   HPCL           – Rs.120 crore
10.   Coal India  – Rs.100 crore

"पीएम केयर्स" फण्ड के लौह आवरण (अति गोपनीयता) से हमें केवल निम्न मुहावरा याद आता है।

"सत्ता भ्रष्टाचार पनपाती है और निरंकुश सत्ता, पूर्ण रूप से दूषित कर देती है।"
 

(" Power corrupts and 
absolute power corrupts absolutely".)

Leaders of BSNL unions and associations, submitted memorandum to Hon’ble MPs shri Lakhan Lal Sahu, Bilaspur and shri Dinesh Kashyap, Jagdalpur (Bastar).