A formal meeting between BSNLEU and the Director (HR), was held on 14.01.2020, to discuss the agenda items given by the Union. From BSNLEU, Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS attended. From the Management Side, Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.), Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR), Shri Manish Kumar, GM(Restg.) and Shri Jagdeesh Kumar, CLO, also attended the meeting. Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) responded positively to most of the issues taken up in the meeting. BSNLEU heartily thanks him and other officers who attended meeting. A gist of the discussion is given in the attachment.

1) Com. Jogita Das, Asst. Treasure, NE -1Circle ,Shillong - Rs.1,000/-

2) Com. Lipika Deka, Treasure, SDE (T) Branch , Shillong  - Rs.1,000/-

3) Com. Surya Pyngrup, Br. Secy. (Phones) Branch, Shillong  - Rs.1,000/-

4) Com. Bindeswar Ray, TT, Shillong - Rs.1,000/-

5) Com. Santosh Kr.Singh, ATT, O/o CGMT, Shillong - Rs.1,000/-

The newly laid sub-marine Optic Fibre Cable, between Chennai and Port Blair, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 10^th August, 2020. This cable will provide high speed broadband facility between the Indian main land and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 

The 2,300 km sub-marine Optic Fibre Cable has been laid at a cost of Rs.1,224 crore. It is funded from the USO Fund. Laying of this sub-marine Optic Fibre Cable is entrusted to BSNL, which has executed the project on time.

This sub-marine Optic Fibre Cable will provide 2 x 200 Gigabits bandwidth between Chennai and Port Blair. It will provide 2 x 100 Gigabits bandwidth within the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.      

Presently, satellite bandwidth is being used to connect the Indian main land and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This satellite bandwidth is costly. Moreover, the connectivity was poor and frequent disruptions were also there. 

Based on the request of BSNLEU, Andaman & Nicobar circle union, the CHQ of BSNLEU, first raised in the National Council a few years ago, that a sub-marine Optic Fibre Cable should be laid between the Indian mainland and Port Blair. BSNLEU also took up this demand with the Secretary, Telecom. BSNLEU has been consistently pressing the BSNL Management and the DoT on this matter. Now, the longstanding demand of the people Andaman & Nicobar is fulfilled. BSNLEU feels proud that, it has also played a small role in fulfilling this demand. 

We have been telling that inequality is widening rapidly after the implementation of Neo-Liberal policies. A very big portion of the wealth that is being generated in the country, is being garnered by the big corporates. Statistics say that 1% of the Indian population is having 58% of the Nation’s wealth. Now, one more evidence has come to prove our claim that, the rich is growing richer. According to the Forbes 2017 Billionaires list, 101 Indian Billionaires are having wealth which is equivalent to 13% of India’s GDP. It must also be noted that simultaneously news are coming from many states reporting starvation deaths.

 [Source: Times of India dated 20.11.2017]

The 8^th death anniversary of Com. Moni Bose, our beloved leader and former General Secretary of AITEU Class-III, falls on 19^th May, 2018. The CEC meeting held at Agartala has decided to organise Com. Moni Bose Memorial Lectures at New Delhi on 19.05.2018. Accordingly, CHQ is taking efforts to organise the lectures. There will be one lecture on The Neo-Liberal Policies. Another lecture will be on Communal Harmony. The lectures will be in Hindi. The seat allotment for the various circles is being communicated to the circle secretaries.

BSNLEU is vigorously pressurising the BSNL Management, to form the Joint Committee for Wage Negotiations. The issue is already discussed with the CMD BSNL and Director (HR). Further, this issue was raised in the recently held 36^th meeting of the National Council also. Under these circumstances, the BSNLEU representatives who met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR) today, once again insisted for early constitution of the Joint Committee. Finally, the GM (SR) assured that the Committee would be constituted, latest by next week.

On 06.11.2018, the DoT has written a letter to the CMD BSNL, wherein virtually the important demands of BSNL employees, viz., 3^rd Pay Revision, allotment of 4G spectrum and payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay, have been rejected. The AUAB leaders took this to the notice of the Director (HR) in the meeting held on 13.11.2018, and expressed their severe protest. Consequent to this, the issue was taken to the notice of the Secretary, Telecom, by the Director (HR). It is reported that, on the next day, the Secretary, Telecom, summoned the concerned officer under whose signature this letter was issued, and questioned him how such a letter was issued without the knowledge of the Secretary, Telecom. So far as we are concerned, these are all drama, and we are not prepared to believe these stories. It is the same Secretary, Telecom, who kept sitting on the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) for eight long months, without taking any action to implement those assurances. Hence, hereafter we are not prepared to believe stories. We want only action. Only indefinite strike of the entire 1.85 lakh BSNL employees is going to make the people sitting in the Sanchar Bhawan to take meaningful action. Hence, do not believe stories and make fullest preparation to make the indefinite strike successful.

The AUAB has given call for a three day strike, which will start from 18-02-2019. Very serious preparations have to be made for this strike. Hence, CHQ directs that all Circle Executive Committee meetings and District Executive Committee meetings of BSNLEU should be conducted immediately, for the effectively planning and successfully organising the strike. Since not much time is available, the Circle and District Executive Committee meetings may be conducted as emergency meetings. Reports of the meetings may be sent to the CHQ.

In the last meeting of the National Council, BSNLEU demanded that the JE LICE should not be conducted as ‘on-line’ exam and should be conducted as an ‘off-line’ exam. BSNLEU pointed out the poor results of the JE LICE, conducted as an ‘on-line’ exam. The Director (HR), who is the Chairperson of the National Council, accepted the demand of BSNLEU that the JE LICE should be conducted as an ‘off-line’ exam. However, the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office was delaying this issue unnecessarily. BSNLEU had taken this to the notice of the Director (HR) several times. As a result of this, BSNLEU was called for discussion yesterday by Ms. Samita Luthra, GM (Rectt.). Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, participated. BSNLEU expressed it’s unhappiness that this issue was being dragged on by the Recruitment Branch. Ultimately, the GM (Rectt.) agreed to conduct the JE LICE as an ‘off-line’ exam.

CHQ is extremely sorry to inform that the wife of Com.M.S.Kadian, circle secretary, BSNLEU, Haryana, had passed away today, after prolonged illness. She has been suffering from cancer, for the past many years. She breathed her last today at the RR Hospital, New Delhi. CHQ conveys it's heartfelt condolences to Com.M.S.Kadian and other members of his family.

An inspiring election campaign meeting was organised at Varanasi today, addressed by the General Secretary. The meeting was presided over by Com.Anil Sharma, District President. Com.Chandrama Yadav, District Secretary, welcomed. Com.K.R. Yadav, Circle Secretary in charge, Com.Nithyanand Mishra, ACS, addressed the meeting. In his address, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, explained in detail about the so called financial crisis which has engulfed BSNL, the steps being taken by government, in the name of BSNL’s revival. He firmly demanded that BSNL should be extended with soft loan for the revival of the Company. He also explained about the achievements of BSNLEU, in last three years. A large number of employees, including members of other unions and executives listened to the speeches.

During General Secretary, Com.P.Abhimanyu’s visit to Hyderabad on 25.10.2019, a Press Conference was addressed by him, wherein the General Secretary has explained about the various aspects of the revival package, approved by the Cabinet, such as allotment of 4G spectrum, implementation of VRS, monetisation of assets, etc.

Satya Nadella is the Indian, who migrated to the United States and has become the CEO of Microsoft. Satya Nadella, refers to India as a multicultural society, where he grew up. He has stated that, India is a great place to grow up where he celebrated Eid, Christmas and Diwali. As some one who grew up in India, he feels sad about what is happening here (the implementation of CAA). At the same time, he has expressed his gratitude to the American immigration policy, which has enabled him to become the Chief of the Microsoft, which is a multinational giant. Even after achieving a great position in the US, Satya Nadella feels concerned about the CAA. Really great.

[Source: News18.com, dated 14.01.2020]

BSNLEU wishes a very Happy Mahavir Jayanti to all the comrades.

Dear Comrades, 

This is an appeal to all the employees of BSNL, to massively participate in and support AUAB's Twitter Campaign, for the immediate launching of BSNL's 4G service and also for BSNL's Revival. 

As per the Revival plan approved by the Union Cabinet, BSNL's 4G service should have been launched by this time. But, unfortunately, due to various reasons best known to BSNL Management and the DoT, BSNL's 4G Launching is getting terribly delayed. The  sufferers due to this delay, are the citizens of India, especially the people in the rural areas, where still the internet services have not reached. 

Furthermore, the delay is adversely affecting the revenue generation of the BSNL. As the employees of the BSNL, this is our bread and butter issue. Hence, we  appeal to you all to massively participate in the Twitter Campaign on 10.08.2020, between 11:00 hrs and 13:00 hrs and to make it a big success.

Kindly tweet with the hashtag

#BSNL4GNow

An All India tour programme, to be addressed by the General Secretaries / leaders of All Unions and Associations has already been finalised, for organising the forthcoming two day strike to be held on 12^th & 13^th December, 2017. This tour programme is already updated on CHQ website. All the circle secretaries are requested to take this decision seriously, and organise the tour programme strictly as per the schedule.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Chattishgarh circle, met shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Minister of State for Communications, at Raipur today, and submitted the Memorandam, demanding Wage Revision and opposing formation of Subsidiary Tower Company. The Hon'ble Minister assured to look into. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Chhattisgarh circle, for taking the initiative to meet the Hon'ble Minister.

BSNLEU is extremely pained to hear that Com.Md.Amin, former General Secretary of CITU, passed away yesterday (12.02.2018). He was 89 years old. He had been a minister in the West Bengal Left Front government and had also been member of the Rajya Sabha twice. Com.Md. Amin had been a great friend of BSNLEU, and had addressed many of it's CEC meetings and also All India Conferences. BSNLEU pays it's respectful homage to the departed leader, and offers heartfelt condolences to the members of his family. 

BSNLEU has already urged upon the CMD BSNL to hold the Welfare Board meeting. However, so far, no notification has been issued for the meeting. The BSNLEU representatives who met Shri S.K. Sinha, GM (Admn.) today, once again insisted to issue notification for the meeting. The GM (Admn.) assured to do the needful at the earliest.

ड्रामेबाजी पर विश्वास मत कीजिए

06.11.2018 को DoT ने CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा और स्पष्ट रूप से हमारी प्रमुख मांगों जैसे 3rd पे रिवीजन, BSNL को 4G स्पेक्ट्रम का आवंटन और वास्तविक मूल वेतन पर पेंशन कॉन्ट्रिब्यूशन को रिजेक्ट कर दिया। AUAB के लीडर्स ने 13.11.2018 की मीटिंग में यह बात डायरेक्टर (एच आर) के संज्ञान में लाई और पुरजोर तरीके से अपना विरोध व्यक्त किया। परिणामस्वरूप यह मुद्दा डायरेक्टर (एच आर) द्वारा सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम के समक्ष प्रस्तुत किया गया। यह ज्ञात हुआ है कि अगले दिन सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम ने उस अधिकारी को,जिसके हस्ताक्षर से पत्र जारी हुआ था, को तलब किया और उनसे पूछा गया कि बगैर सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम को बताए उन्होंने यह पत्र कैसे जारी कर दिया।

जहां तक हमारा सवाल है, ये सब ड्रामेबाजी है और हम इस तरह की कहानियों पर विश्वास नही कर सकते। ये वही सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम है जो माननीय संचार मंत्री द्वारा दिए गए आश्वासनों पर बगैर कार्यवाही किए आश्वासनों को 8 माह तक दबाए बैठी रही। हम, अब और, इस तरह की कहानी पर विश्वास करने के लिए तैयार नही है। हम अब सीधे सीधे कार्यवाही चाहते हैं। केवल सभी 1.85 लाख कर्मियों की अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल ही संचार भवन में बैठे लोगों को सार्थक कार्यवाही के लिए बाध्य कर सकती है। अतः किस्से कहानियों पर विश्वास न करें और अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल की सफलता के लिए पूर्ण रूप से तैयारी शुरू करें।