The value of Indian Rupee has fallen down into unprecedented depths. Consequent to this, the prices of petrol and diesel are galloping to new heights. As a result of this, the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing. The Times of India, in a cartoon published yesterday, states that the Central Government, is raising the issue of 'Urban Naxalisim', only to divert the attention of the people from these burning problems.

DoT द्वारा BSNL को एक और झटका - बैंक से लोन लेने पर पाबंदी

BSNL को एक और झटका देते हुए BSNL द्वारा बैंक से लोन लेने के लिए एक नया अवरोध उत्पन्न कर दिया गया है। DoT द्वारा थोपी गई एक नई शर्त के अनुसार BSNL केवल "कैपिटल वर्क्स" के अलावा किसी अन्य कार्य हेतु लोन नही ले सकता है। जिओ की प्रीडेटरी प्राइसिंग की वजह से BSNL के राजस्व संग्रहण में भारी गिरावट आई है और मैनेजमेंट को कर्मचारियों को सैलरी देने के लिए भी काफी मशक्कत करना पड़ रही है। विभिन्न भुगतानों के लिए कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा फण्ड अलॉट नही किया जा रहा है। इस वजह से अगस्त 2018 के पश्चात मेडिकल का भुगतान नही हो सका है। ऐसी परिस्थिति में DoT द्वारा BSNL को पंगु बनाने के उद्देश्य से ही नई पाबंदी लादी गई है। रिलायंस जियो की वजह से निजी कंपनियों की हालत ज्यादा खराब है। किन्तु उनके द्वारा बैंक से लोन लेकर स्थिति को मैनेज किया जा रहा है। एयरटेल का बैंक लोन रु 1,13,000 करोड़ है और आईडिया वोडाफोन का रु 1,20,000 करोड़। इनके द्वारा बैंक से लोन के रूप में लिया गया सारा पैसा जनता का है। जब निजी कंपनियां खुले आम अपनी आवश्यकता पूर्ति के लिए जनता का पैसा बैंक लोन के रूप में ले सकती है तो फिर BSNL बैंक से लोन क्यों नही ले सकता ? निजी कंपनियों के अथाह कर्ज की तुलना में BSNL का कर्ज कुछ हजार करोड़ रुपए ही है, लगभग नही के बराबर। BSNL पर बैंक लोन लेने पर लगाई गई पाबंदी एक नया आघात है, BSNL को पूरी तरह से खत्म करने के लिए। इन सारे अवरोधों को तोड़ने का सिर्फ एक ही उपाय है, अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल। इन सभी मुद्दों पर कर्मचारियों को शिक्षित कीजिए और एक दीर्घ अवधि की हड़ताल के लिए उन्हें संगठित कीजिए।

After yesterday’s meeting with the Additional Secretary, Telecom, the representatives of AUAB held discussion with the CMD BSNL. The Director (HR) was also present. The CMD BSNL is giving a presentation to the DoT, on the revival plan of BSNL. In this backdrop, the representatives of the AUAB told the CMD BSNL that the 5% fitment for 3^rd Pay Revision, offered by the AS(T) is not agreeable. They insisted upon the CMD BSNL that the employees should be given 3^rd Pay Revision with 15% fitment.

The BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee, which a sub-committee of BSNLEU, is meeting at New Delhi tomorrow. The venue of the meeting is K.G. Bose Bhawan, West Patel Nagar, New Delhi. CHQ has made all arrangements for the meeting.

BSNL Corporate Office has reportedly written a serious letter to the DoT, raising alarm about it’s financial crisis. In it’s latter dated 17th June, 2019, the Corporate Office is reported to have told the DoT, that it will not be able to pay the salary to the employees for the month of June. Further, the Corporate Office has also reportedly told the DoT that, continuing the operations of BSNL will be impossible, unless financial assistance is extended by the DoT.

UP(East) circle union organised a huge lunch hour election campaign meeting inside the PGM office compound today. A large number of comrades attended the meeting. Com. DN. Tripati, Circle President, presided over. Com. K.R.Yadav, Acting Circle Secretary, Com.Nityanand Mishra, ACS and Com. Maya Verma, BSNLWWCC, were on the dias. Soon after the meeting started, there was the heavy downpour of rain which disrupted the meeting. Hence, the venue of the meeting was shifted to the varenda of the CGM office. However, after some time the rain stopped completely and the meeting was reorganised in the original place. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke elaborately on the issues related to BSNL’s financial condition, government's anti-BSNL and pro-private policies, the need strengthening the united struggles to safeguard BSNL. The General Secretary also spoke on the issues taken up and settled during the past 3 years. The big gathering listened to the speech with rapt attention.

As per the decision of the Ghaziabad Central Executive Committee meeting, all the circle unions have to hold their Executive Committee meetings during the period from 01.11.2019 to 15.11.2019. According to this decision, Kolkata Telephones circle union has held it’s Extended Executive Committee meeting on 02.11.2019. Com.Sisir Roy, Circle Secretary and Organising Secretary (CHQ), made a reporting regarding the decisions of the Ghaziabad CEC meeting. After thorough discussion, the meeting has taken many important decisions, including the one to effectively organise the One Day General Strike on 08^th January, 2019.

Com. Om Prakash Singh, Circle Secretary of Telecom Factory, Kolkata and Org. Secretary (CHQ) BSNLEU, retired from service on superannuation, on 31st December, 2017, after completing 37 years of service. A well arranged felicitation function was organised by Telecom Factory Kolkata Circle, to honour Com. Om Prakash Singh. Com. Sekhar Bhattacharjee,  President of TF Kolkata, presided.  Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President(CHQ), Com. Saibal Sengupta, AGS, Com. Sekhar Bhattacharjee - President of TF Kolkata Circle and many comrades addressed.  Shri A.K.Kundu, CGM, TF, Kolkata, Shri R.K.Upadhayaya, GM and other senior officers also addressed the function and greeted Com. Om Prakash Singh.

After completing the J&K circle executive committee meeting and seminar at Srinagar, Com. P.Abhimanyu,GS, Com. Basheer Ahmed Khan,CS and Com.G.K.Dandroo, Organising Secretary (CHQ) left for Leh, by road. After crossing high mountains amidst heavy rains, the comrades reached Kargil at 20:00 hrs yesterday. Despite heavy delay, Com.Tashik Tundup, Branch Secretary, BSNLEU, Kargil, was waiting with the active comrades. The General Secretary addressed them, explaining about important issues, including Wage Revision, Subsidiary Tower Company and the need to bring an early turn around of BSNL. The GS also enquired about the condition of the contract workers in Kargil.

Workers and peasants, who came from the nooks and corners of the country, participated in lakhs in the Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally, held at New Delhi yesterday the 05.09.2018. The rally culminated in to a massive meeting in the Parliament Street. Leaders of Trade Unions, Kisan Sabha and Agricultural workers, addressed the meeting. Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, addressed the meeting and exposed the governments pro-private and anti-BSNL policies.

In the talks held between the AUAB and the Additional Secretary, Telecom, it was informed that the Digital Commission (erstwhile Telecom Commission) meeting is being held on 05^th February, 2019. In this meeting, the revival / restructuring of BSNL and MTNL will be discussed. The allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL will be discussed in this meeting. If approved in this meeting, the issue of allotment of 4G spectrum will go for the approval of the Cabinet. It is pertinent to inform that representative of Niti Aayog, Secretary (Finance), will attend this meeting.

The details of accommodations arranged for the comrades who are coming to participate in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, has been informed to the circle secretaries and central office bearers. They may kindly be contacted for these details. The March to Sanchar Bhawan will start sharp at 11:30 from the Eastern Court.

The ALTTC is the premier training centre of BSNL. It consists of many buildings with vast stretches of vacant lands. The DoT has already started the job of capturing BSNL’s lands and buildings. This is already done in many circles. This is violation of the Cabinet decision taken is 2000, which says all the properties would be transferred to BSNL. Now, the DoT has issued letter yesterday, conveying it’s decision to take over the ALTTC. This cannot be permitted. BSNLEU strongly opposes the DoT’s move. Together with the AUAB, BSNLEU will take appropriate action to stop the capturing of the ALTTC, by the DoT.

Com.R.K. Mishra, Circle Secretary, UP(East) circle, has been hospitalised for removal of his gallbladder. He has suffering from this problem for the past couple of months. However, he was carrying out the election campaign works. Since the problem became acute, he was admitted in the hospital yesterday and the surgery has been performed. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, who is in Lucknow today, visited Com.R.K. Mishra in the hospital and enquired about his health. His condition is fine and is expected to be discharged soon. 

The ALTTC has issued an office memorandum on 01.06.2020, regarding the JTO Phase-l training. CHQ is getting a lot of queries, expressing grievances and apprehensions about the contents of the letter. Hence Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, had a detailed telephonic discussion today, with Shri M.K. Seth, CGM, ALTTC, Ghaziabad. The important clarifications given by the CGM, ALTTC, to the queries raised by the General Secretary, are as follows:-

1. At present there are totally 154 candidates, waiting for the JTO Phase-I training. Out of this, 38 officials who have already gone to the ALTTC, for their pre-basic training, are held up there and could not go back to their respective stations, due to the lock-down. They are remaining idle at AITTC, Ghaziabad, for a very long time and are mentally stressed. Hence, with the view to mitigate their suffering, the ALTTC, Administration has decided to start the JTO Phase-l training for them.

2. In the ALTTC letter mentioned above, it is also stated that, the JTO Phase-l training of the remaining candidates (116 candidates) will start w.e.f. 06.07.2020.

3. The CGM pointed out that, it is also mentioned in the ALTTC letter that, the completion certificate of JTO Phase-l training will be issued to all the candidates on the same date. It means the completion certificate of the JTO Phase-I training will be issued to the 38 candidates, whose training starts on 08.06.2020, only when the remaining 116 candidates also complete their JTO Phase-I training. As such, no discrepancy will arise in the seniority list, clarified the CGM. 

4. To a query raised by the General Secretary, the CGM replied that, the JTO Phase-I training of the remaining 116 candidates can be postponed beyond 06-07-2020, if the Corona Virus problem does not subside.

5. To a suggestion given by the General Secretary, for conducting JTO Phase-I training to all the 154 candidates by online, the CGM replied that, conducting the JTO Phase-1 training online, will pave the way for a lot of complaints and court cases.  Hence he ruled out the possibility of conducting online JTO Phase-1 training.

The AUAB of Tripura district submitted the memorandum to Ms. Jharna Das Baidhya, MP, on 08.08.2020. The AUAB delegation sought the intervention of Ms. Jharna Das Bhaidya, MP, for the early launching of BSNL’s 4G service as well as the implementation of it’s revival.

BSNLEU has already written to the Director (HR), demanding to grant relaxation to the candidates of the DR JE, for which results were declared recently, and very few candidates have qualified. BSNLEU has demanded relaxation, as was given in the DR TTA exam conducted in 2008. Com.Animesh Mitra, Vice-President (CHQ) met Ms. Smitha Luthra,GM(Rectt.) yesterday and discussed this issue. He has demanded that action should be taken, to grant relaxation, as was done in the DR TTA exam conducted in 2008. The GM(Rectt.) replied that the demand of the Union would be looked into.