Notice has been issued for holding an Extraordinary General Meeting of members of BSNL at New Delhi on 15.06.2020. This meeting is being held to accord power to the Board of Directors:-

(a)   To monetise/ sell/transfer/dispose off identified land/ buildings. The sale proceeds will be utilised for the revival / restructuring of the Company including repayment of loans and for meeting Capital and Operational expenditures.

(b)  To accord power to the Board of Directors to issue Government Guaranteed Bonds aggregating up to Rs.8,500 crores.

Shri Anantkumar Hegde, BJP MP, from Karnataka has spitted venom against BSNL employees. He has stated that, all the BSNL employees are traitors (Desh drohis). Participating in a function at Uttara Kannada, Karnataka state, he has stated that the Prime Minister has provided funds and technology to BSNL, but the employees are not willing to work. “BSNL has become a black mark for the entire country and we will finish it”, said Shri Anantkumar Hedge. All the 88,000 BSNL employees will be fired and the government will privatise BSNL, said Mr. Anantkumar Hegde.

BSNL has always gone to the rescue of the people, whenever natural calamities like cyclone, flood, etc., struck the nation and when all the private telecom companies shut down their services. The BSNL employees have organised many movements like "Customer Delight Year", "Service with a smile" "BSNL at Your Door Steps" , etc., to improve the quality of services and customer satisfaction. Shri Anantkumar Hedge, MP, does not know anything about the devotion and dedication of BSNL employees. BSNLEU strongly condemns Shri Anantkumar Hedge’s outburst.

Com. P. Swaminathan, TM, Kurnool SSA and com.T. Mastan Vali, TM, Ananthapuram, were killed in accidents while on duty. Due to the lack of proper communication between the Andhra Pradesh circle and the Corporate Office, undue delay has arisen in giving appointments on priority basis, to the wards of the deceased employees. BSNLEU CHQ and Andhra Pradesh circle union are continuously taking up this case. As a result of this, a fresh letter was written by Andhra Pradesh circle to the Corporate Office on 04.12.2017. This issue was discussed by the representatives of BSNLEU with shri A.K. Singh, DGM (Estt.) today. It was replied that necessary approval would be given by the Corporate Office within a few days. The Union representatives further pointed out that the due to the inordinate delay in giving approval to these cases, all the CGA vacancies of AP circle for the years 2015 – 16 and 2016 – 17 are already filled up. Hence, it was demanded that the Corporate Office should give it’s approval to consider the appointments against future vacancies. This is also accepted by the DGM (Estt.).  

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.

With extreme sadness, CHQ wishes to inform that Com.Sisir Battacharji, veteran leader of the Indian P&T trade union movement, passed away in a Kolkata hospital this evening. He was 95 years old, and had been unwell for some time. BSNLEU leaders of West Bengal and Kolkata circles were with him, when the leader breathed his last. It is pertinent to mention that Com. Sisir Bhattacharji had worked shoulder to shoulder with Com.K.G.Bose and other stalwarts. He had immensely contributed not only to the telecom trade union movement, but to the  P& T trade union movement as well. BSNLEU dips it's banner and pays it's respectful homage to the departed leader. It conveys it's heartfelt condolences to  the family members and relatives of Com.Sisir Bhattacharji. Branches are requested to fly the Union Flag on half-mast for three days, as a mark of respect to the leader.

The AUAB meeting held yesterday the 26.06.2018, noted with serious concern that the facilities of the lower level employees are being withdrawn by the Management, citing the financial crisis that the Company is undergoing. At the same time, the luxuries being availed by the top officers of the Company, and also the lavish expenditures being incurred by them, are not being restricted. Any austerity measure or restriction in facilities, should be implemented right from the top upto the bottom. It is unfair that the facilities of the lower level employees are curtailed, while the top officers continue to enjoy all the luxuries and indulging in lavish expenditures. This has to be stopped. Hence, as a first step, the AUAB meeting, has decided to give a letter to the BSNL Management, demanding immediate implementation of austerity measures for the top officers. If this is not done, the AUAB will take recourse to other measures.

1. Implementation of 3^rd Pay Revision with 15% fitment.
2. Allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, as per the proposals submitted by the BSNL Management.
3. Implement assurance of the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Revise pension of BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01.01.2017.
4. Payment of pension contribution by BSNL as per the government rule.
5. Settlement of the left out issues of the 2^nd Pay Revision Committee.
6. a) Approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy without any delay.

b) Expeditiously complete the mutation and the process of transferring of all assets to BSNL, as per the Cabinet decision taken on the eve of the formation of BSNL.

7. (a) Ensure financial viability of BSNL, as per the decision taken by the Group of Ministers, at the time of formation of BSNL.

(b) Issue letter of comfort for BSNL’s proposals for taking bank loans.

(c) Expeditiously fill up all vacant post of BSNL Board of Directors.

8. Scrap BSNL’s outsourcing for the operation and maintenance of it’s mobile towers.

A formal meeting was held between BSNLEU and Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR), today. From BSNLEU, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, attended. From the Management Side, Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.), Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) and Ms. Samita Lutra, GM(Rectt.) were present.

1. Resuming the wage negotiation of the Non-Executives.

BSNLEU strongly demanded that the wage negotiation of the Non-Executives, which had been discontinued, should resume. GM(SR) replied that  the Corporate Office had written to the DoT, seeking some clarifications, which had not come so far. The Director (HR) directed the GM(SR) to write to the DoT, stating that the BSNL Management wants to resume the wage negotiation with the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives.

2. Settlement of the downgradation of of the Sr.TOAs from 7100-200-10100 to 6550-185-9325.

BSNLEU strongly demanded that the BSNL Corporate Office should offer one more opportunity to the affected Sr.TOAs for giving a fresh option for promotion under NEPP. Serious and prolonged discussion took place on this issue. Finally, the Director (HR) rejected the demand of the union, stating that 3 extensions had already been given to the Sr.TOAs for giving / changing their options, and that no more option could be given. They argued that if the union’s demand is accepted, it will result in increased expenditure to the Company on account of increase in payment of pension contribution, which cannot be accepted in the present financial crisis being faced by the Company.

3. Holding the JE LICE under 50% quota, as an ‘off-line’, instead of ‘on-line’ and to notify the date of the exam.

BSNLEU had already informed through the website that it’s demand for holding the JE LICE as ‘off-line’ exam had already been accepted. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU demanded that the ‘off-line’ exam for JE LICE should be held expeditiously. The Director (HR) accepted this.

4. Relaxing the 10th standard qualification condition for candidates to appear Telecom Technician LDCE.

BSNLEU is continuously demanding that a one time relaxation should be given to the non-10^th standard candidates to appear in the Telecom Technician LDCE. In today’s meeting, this was strongly insisted. The Director (HR) finally agreed to study the judgement of a related court case and then take a final decision.  

5. Inordinate delay in holding the Standing Committee meeting

BSNLEU had already written to the Management to immediately hold the Standing Committee meeting since it is not held after August, 2018. This issue was discussed in today’s formal meeting. Since, there is urgency to hold a National Council meeting by the end of April, 2019, it was agreed to hold the Standing Committee meeting in May.

भारतीय रेलवे का निजीकरण..

नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार द्वारा, अपने पूर्व कार्यकाल में, भारतीय रेलवे के निजीकरण हेतु आवश्यक जमीनी कार्यवाही की जा चुकी हैं। अब सत्ता प्राप्ति पश्चात अपनी दूसरी पारी में इस प्रक्रिया को तीव्र गति से पूर्ण किया जा रहा है। 100 दिनों की अवधि में सरकार ने कम से कम 2 निजी ट्रेन शुरू करने की योजना बनाई है। हम, CITU द्वारा सरकार की कोशिश के विरोध में जारी प्रेस विज्ञप्ति प्रस्तुत कर रहे

On 1st September, 2019, the 8th Membership Verification campaign programme was held at GM Office, Golmuri Telephone Exchange, at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand circle. 25 members were present there in the meeting. Veteran leader Com.Krishna Singh presided over the meeting. Com.Bijoy Paswan, DS Ranchi, Com. Binod Singh, Vice President,  Com. Ram Naresh District Secretary, addressed the meeting. Com. Animesh Mitra, President, narrated the main issues related to the 8thMembership Verification in detail and also about the current position of the important issues.  Meeting started at 11:30 am and concluded at 02:30 pm. it is reported that discussion on election preparation has already started at Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

As regards the verification of the caste certificates of the ST employees of Maharashtra circle is concerned, the Director(HR) assured in the Formal Meeting held with BSNLEU on 14-01-2020 that, the direction of the DoP&T letters on the subject would be implemented. Accordingly, direction was given to the CGM, Maharashtra that, the task of verification of caste certificates should be taken up with the District Collectors / Magistrates, by the BSNL Management itself. In the meanwhile, the Establishment Branch of the Corporate Office issued a letter on 20-01-2020 stating that, the ST employees who had opted for VRS, should approach the Scrutiny Committees for the verification of their caste certificates. This letter naturally created a confusion among the affected ST employees. Hence, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically raised this issue with Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), who is in Chennai. The Director (HR) categorically told that, the Establishment Branch letter is applicable only to the VRS optees. He also clarified that this direction became unavoidable, since the VRS optees have to be relieved on 31-01-2020.

The Barrackpur district union of Kolkata Telephones circle distributed food materials to 35 contract workers at Telephone Exchange, Kalyani. Together with food materials, a sweet packet and Rs.100/- cash were also distributed. Com.Ramsunder Basu, ACS, Com.Arup Sarkar, CS, CTTMU, Com.Tapan Biswas, District Treasurer, Com.Ajoy Chakraborty, AIBDPA and Com.Indrani Chakraborty, SNEA, participated in the programme.

BJP के सांसद श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े द्वारा सभी BSNL कर्मियों को देशद्रोही (traitors) निरूपित किए जाने पर, BSNLEU द्वारा कड़ी भर्त्सना....
कर्नाटक से BJP के सांसद श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े ने BSNL कर्मियों के खिलाफ जहर उगला है। उन्होंने कहा है कि सभी BSNL कर्मी देशद्रोही (traitors) हैं।  कर्नाटक राज्य के उत्तरा कन्नडा में आयोजित एक कार्यक्रम में उन्होंने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री ने BSNL को धनराशि और तकनीकी (funds and technology) उपलब्ध करवाई है, किन्तु कर्मचारी काम ही नही करना चाहते हैं। श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े ने कहा कि “BSNL सम्पूर्ण देश पर एक बदनुमा दाग बन चुका है और हम उसे खत्म कर देंगे।" सभी 88,000 BSNL कर्मियों को नौकरी से बाहर कर दिया जाएगा और  सरकार BSNL का निजीकरण कर देगी, श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े ने कहा। 

जब जब देश में तूफान, बाढ़ आदि नैसर्गिक आपदाएं आई है, BSNL हमेशा लोगों की सहायता के लिए तत्पर रहा है, जबकि निजी कंपनियां ऐसी आपदा के समय अपनी सेवाएं बंद कर देती है। BSNL कर्मियों ने सेवाओं में सुधार और ग्राहक संतुष्टि के लिए "कस्टमर डिलाइट ईयर ", "सर्विस विथ अ स्माइल ", "BSNL एट योर डोर स्टेप ", जैसे कई कार्यक्रम चलाए हैं।  श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े, एमपी BSNL कर्मियों के समर्पण और निष्ठा भाव से किंचित भी भिज्ञ नही हैं। BSNLEU, श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े के बौखलाहट भरे बयान की भर्त्सना करती है। 

The All Unions and Associations of Bihar circle conducted an inspiring meeting yesterday, to mobilise the employees for the human chain and two day strike. A large number of comrades attended the meeting. Com.B.P.Singh, CS, BSNLEU, presided over the meeting. Com.Animesh Mitra,VP(CHQ), BSNLEU, com.Chandeswar Singh,GS, NFTE, com.K.Sebastin,GS,SNEA, com.Prasun Mukopadyay, Org.Secretary, AIBSNLEA, com.Washi Ahmed, Dy.GS,AIGETOA, and com.Ajay Singh, President, BSNL MS, addressed. CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates the Unions and Associations of Bihar circle, for conducting this successful meeting.

In the last National Council meeting, the Director (HR) directed the Management Side to implement the provisions of EPF Act on the matter. However, thereafter a dispute arose between the Establishment and the CA Branches, as to which Branch should handle the case. BSNLEU has already made a complaint to the GM (SR), regarding the non-implementation of the National Council decision. In today’s meeting with BSNLEU’s representatives, the GM (SR) stated that the CA Branch has been directed by the Director (HR) to implement the decision of the National Council.

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 the occasion of May Day, BSNLEU salutes the May Day martyrs. BSNLEU dips it's banner and pays it's respectful homage to all the comrades who had laid down their lives, in the struggle against exploitation.  Capitalist and imperialist forces are intensifying their exploitation of the working masses. "Fixed Term Employment", by the Narendra Modi government, is the latest of such offensives against the Indian working class. While conveying it's revolutionary May Day greetings to all the comrades, BSNLEU reaffirms that it will continue to remain in the forefront of all struggles against exploitation.

India is considered to be the most dangerous country in the world for women, according to a survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. This report was published on 19^th June, 2018. The survey says, India is more dangerous for women then Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria. The Foundation got the views of 548 global experts on women’s issues. Among them, 43 experts belong to India. They were asked questions on health care, access to economic resources and discrimination, customary practices, sexual violence, non-sexual violence and human trafficking. India is considered to be worst overall, and specifically worst for sexual violence, human trafficking and in relation to cultural, religious and tribal traditions. It is very important to note that in the survey conducted by the same Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2011, India was ranked 4^th and was ahead of Pakistan. However, this time Pakistan is in 6^th place and is considered to be safer for women, then India. In a country where human beings are being mercilessly killed, in the name of giving protection to cows, and when the government is remaining as a silent spectator, how can we expect safety for women?

 [Source: Times of India dated 26.06.2018]