The Corporate Office has issued clarifications, on the outdoor medical claims by retired employees, wherein it is mentioned that, there is no cut off date to switch over from BSNL MRS to CGHS. Further, it is stated that, the option to switch over from “with voucher” to “without voucher” mode,  can be exercised once in a year.  The last date to exercise this option for the current year, is extended up to 30.09.2020, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nation is told that, the “PM CARES” Fund is created for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a lot of controversies are going on about this Fund. It is an alarming fact that, even the CAG has no power to audit the accounts of the PM CARES Fund. Further, no RTI question can be raised about the accounts of PM CARES Fund. It means the PM CARES Fund is completely covered by iron curtains and it’s dealings are highly secret. Why? 

It is an open secret that, the government has forced all the PSUs to donate money to the PM CARES Fund. According to the available information, 55 PSUs have been forced to contribute money to the PM CARES Fund. In this, the donations of 38 PSUs alone come to Rs.2,105 crores. The Central Ministers have used their official power to compel the PSUs to give donations to the PM CARES Fund. In BSNL also, one day pay was deducted from employees’ salaries for this Fund. Following are the details of donations given by some of the PSUs. 

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

The iron curtains of the PM CARES Fund only remind us the following proverb: -

" Power corrupts and 

absolute power corrupts absolutely". 

Leaders of BSNL unions and associations, submitted memorandum to Hon’ble MPs, Smt. M.K. Kanimozhi, Chennai, shri S.R.Vijayakumar, Chennai Central, Dr. P.Venugopal, Thiruvallur and shri T.Rathinavel, Trichy.

On the successful conclusion of the Himachal Pradesh circle conference, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Naresh Sharma, CGM, Himachal Pradesh, yesterday and introduced the new circle office bearers to the CGM. Com. Amarjeet Singh, Circle President, Com. K.C. Panwar, Circle Secretary, Com. A.S. Kaundal, Circle Treasurer, Com. Sukh Dev Sharma, Circle Vice President and Com. B.S. Thakar, Assistant Circle Secretary were introduced to the CGM. The CGM congratulated the newly elected office bearers. Shri Dorje, GM (HR), Himachal Pradesh was present in the meeting. The newly elected office bearers assured their fullest cooperation to the circle administration on the issue of improving services and revenue collection.

From the very beginning, the casual labourers in BSNL are being paid wages based on the lowest of the CDA pay scale. However, their wages are not revised after the implementation of the 7^th CPC pay scales. BSNLEU and BSNL CCWF are continuously taking up this issue with the CMD BSNL and Director (HR). The issue was raised in the 36^th meeting of the National Council also, held on 12.06.2018, for which the Director (HR) responded positively. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri Sourab Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.) today and insisted for the early implementation of the 7^th CPC scale for the casual labourers. The Sr.GM(Estt.) assured to do the needful.

While concluding his speech in the District Conference of Bangalore Telecom District, on 22.09.2018, Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, called upon the delegates to liberally donate for the 9^th All India Conference, to be held at Mysuru from 08^th to 11^th January, 2019. He told the delegates that the total expenditure for the All India Conference, which is estimated to be around Rs.90 lakhs, has to be collected only from the members of BSNLEU. Responding to the call of the General Secretary overwhelmingly, the delegates attending the District Conference, immediately came forward and announced their donations to the AIC. It was a very inspiring scene to note that the delegates were competing with each other, to come to the dias, for announcing their donations. Within no time, an amount of Rs.2,75,000 was announced. It is very important to note that none of the donation announced in the Conference, was less than Rs.5,000/-. This shows the loyalty of the comrades to the organisation. The comrades who donated for the AIC, took photos with the General Secretary and other leaders, which are uploaded herein under.

The CMD BSNL and Director (HR) were holding discussions with the AUAB for the past two days. They were conveying the proposal given by the DoT with regards to 3rd Pay Revision. Accordingly, Pay Revision will be done immediately with 0% fitment. Thereafter, the Hon’ble Minister will take up with the Cabinet for granting 5% fitment. The AUAB had discussion among the General Secretaries and has unanimously decided that 10% fitment should be our minimum demand. This has been communicated to the DoT through the CMD BSNL. As regards the offer of DoT, BSNLEU’s understanding is that, pay revision will be done only with 0% fitment. We cannot trust the assurance of the Minister that 5% fitment will be taken for the approval of the Cabinet. It is our past experience that the DoT and the Hon’ble Minister have totally violated whatever assurance they had given. Hence, BSNLEU requests our circle and district unions to do the necessary gearing up to make the strike successful. Any further development will be updated immediately..

AUAB और CMD BSNL के बीच 04.07.2019 को मीटिंग सम्पन्न...

कल AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने श्री पी के पुरवार, CMD BSNL से मुलाकात कर विस्तार से चर्चाएं की। BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS के महासचिव व AIGETOA, ATM and BSNL OA के प्रतिनिधि शामिल हुए।

AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने BSNL के राजस्व में वृद्धि के उद्देश्य से "BSNL आपके द्वार" अभियान के तीव्रता के साथ क्रियान्वयन करने के 03.07.2019 को AUAB की मीटिंग में लिए गए निर्णय से CMD BSNL को अवगत कराया। CMD BSNL ने इसकी प्रशंसा की और बताया कि BSNL कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा भी इस कार्यक्रम की सफलता के लिए आवश्यक कदम उठाए जाएंगे। साथ ही उन्होंने सलाह दी कि बकाया राशि की वसूली हेतु भी प्रयास किए जाएं। CMD BSNL ने बताया कि अकेले EB ब्रांच में ही रु 3000 करोड़ की वसूली योग्य बकाया राशि (आउटस्टैंडिंग अमाउंट) है। उन्होंने स्क्रैप मटेरियल के निपटान का भी आग्रह किया, जिससे कि कुछ राशि प्राप्त हो सके। 

प्रतिनिधियों ने CMD BSNL के संज्ञान में लाया कि BSNL के FTTH कनेक्शन की जबरदस्त मांग है और इसके जरिए कंपनी आकर्षक राजस्व प्राप्त कर सकती है। साथ ही, उन्होंने बताया कि आवश्यक उपकरण और स्टोर्स व मटेरियल उपलब्ध नही है, फलस्वरूप BSNL मांग अनुसार FTTH कनेक्शन उपलब्ध नही करवा पा रहा है। CMD BSNL ने कहा कि इस संबंध में आवश्यक कार्यवाही की जाएगी।

AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने DoT द्वारा ALTTC की जमीन पर कब्जा करने की कार्यवाही पर कड़ा प्रतिरोध दर्ज कराते हुए कहा कि वें इसके विरोध में आन्दोलन करने के लिए बाध्य होंगे। CMD BSNL ने कहा कि इस संबंध में DoT को यथोचित तरीके से सूचित किया जाएगा।

AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने CMD BSNL को बताया कि इलेक्ट्रिसिटी बिल्स का भुगतान न होने की वजह से बड़ी संख्या में BTS बंद होते जा रहे हैं और विगत 6 माह से कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स को भी वेजेस का भुगतान नही हुआ है। उन्होंने ध्यान दिलाया कि सेवाओं में तीव्र गति से गिरावट आ रही है, इस दिशा में शीघ्र ही कुछ किया जाना जरूरी है। CMD BSNL ने बताया कि कोई भी बैंक लोन देने के लिए तैयार नही है, किन्तु वें बैंक लोन हेतु पुरजोर प्रयास कर रहे हैं, जिससे कि स्थिति में सुधार हो सके।

BSNL से BBNL का मेंटेनेंस कार्य छीन लिए जाने के मुद्दे पर CMD BSNL ने बताया कि BSNL को मेंटेनेंस कार्य के एवज में प्राप्त राशि बेहद कम है और BBNL इसमें वृद्धि करने को तैयार नही है। अतः इस कार्य को जारी रखने में BSNL की भी रुचि नही है, क्योंकि यह कार्य फायदेमंद नही है। साथ ही, CMD BSNL ने बताया कि BSNL ने अलाभप्रद स्थिति में चल रहे 17000 एक्सचेंजेस के संचालन के लिए सरकार से मुआवजे की मांग की है।

IT is really a good news for BSNL that, telecom tariffs have started rising. It is known to all that BSNL's earnings nose-dived from Rs. 32,000 crore per year to Rs. 18,000 crore per year, only due to the brutal tariff war triggered by Reliance Jio. But, this trend has started changing now. Jio has already raised it's tariffs. It is charging 6 paise per minute for calls going to other networks. Jio has also increased it's minimum pre-paid plan tariff to Rs. 98 per month. Under these circumstances, Vodafone Idea and Airtel are also raising their tariffs. As per media report, both the companies are expected to raise their tariffs between 5% to 10%. Consequent to this, BSNL can also increase it's tariffs, which will help to improve it's financial position.

[ Source: Times of India dt. 19-11-2019 ]

A well attended meeting of BSNL employees was addressed by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, at Port Blair, on 13-02-2020. The meeting was presided over by Com.M.Rajendiran, vice- president. Earlier, Com.S.P.Kalairajan, circle secretary welcomed everyone. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, spoke at length about the present scenario of BSNL, revival of the Company, Government's anti - Public Sector policies, etc. The meeting was also addressed by Com Brijesh Pande CS AIBSNLEA, Com. Rathna, ACS, BSNLEU and Com Ravichandran Secretary Contact Workers Union.

In a televised speech made to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has announced that lock-down is being extended up to 3rd May, 2020. The Prime Minister stated that the extension of the lock-down has become necessary to effectively curb the spread of the Corona Virus Disease. The Home Ministry, vide it’s letter number 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 15th April, 2020 has issued the necessary order for the extension of the lock-down.

Distribution of relief to contract workers, in the form of food materials, is being carried out in Kolkata circle, as per the call of the CHQ. The details of the distribution made, are as follows:-

BDN Area District: - The BDN Area District Union organised distribution of relief materials to the contract workers at Dum Dum Telephone Exchange on 19.06.2020. Relief materials were provided to 80 contract workers. Food materials worth Rs.22,580/- are distributed to them. Com.Sukanti Mukharjee, VP, Com.Jayanta Ghosh, ACS, Com.Jayanta Mukherjee, Org. Secy., Com.Dulal Patra, AIBDPA, Com.Subhas Paul, CTTMU, and many other leaders participated in the programme.

Entally Telephone Exchange: - Distribution of food materials to 79 contract workers, was made at Entally telephone exchange on 19.06.2020. Totally, Rs.41,651/- worth of materials were distributed to the workers. Com.Sisir Kumar Roy, CS, Com.Swapan Bharati, VP, Com.Jayanta Ghosh, ACS, Com.Manisha Biswas, AIBDPA, Com.Debraj Bannerjee, AIGETOA, Com.Dilip Poddar, CTTMU, and many other leaders participated in the programme.

Tata Telephone Exchange, Alipore: - Distribution of food materials to contract workers was done at Tata telephone exchange on 15.06.2020. Com.Swapan Bharati, VP, Com.Sankar Kesar Nepal, DS, Com.Gopal Bose, AIBDPA, and many other leaders participated in the programme. 50 contract workers received the food materials in this programme. 

BSNL की दुर्दशापूर्ण स्थिति को लेकर एक कर्मचारी का सवाल और उसका CHQ द्वारा दिया गया जवाब.

एक कर्मचारी द्वारा BSNL की दुर्दशापूर्ण स्थिति को लेकर अपनी पीड़ा व्यक्त करते हुए CHQ को ई-मेल प्रेषित किया गया है। उक्त कॉमरेड द्वारा उठाया गया सवाल और उसका CHQ द्वारा दिया गया जवाब निम्नानुसार प्रस्तुत है। CHQ द्वारा दिया गया जवाब BSNL के प्रत्येक कर्मचारी के लिए एक संदेश है।
 
सवाल:

महोदय,

रिवाइवल प्लान को लेकर BSNL मैनेजमेंट/सरकार इतनी निश्चिंत क्यों है ? VRS के अलावा अन्य मामलों में कोई प्रगति नही है। BSNL में क्या चल रहा है  इसको लेकर हर कोई संशय (confused) में है, ऐसा प्रतीत हो रहा है कि सरकार अभी भी उसी मूड (BSNL को बंद करने) में है। आपके सवाल का मैनेजमेंट द्वारा क्या जवाब दिया गया है, वेतन हेतु फंड्स, यूनियन द्वारा  आंदोलन का कॉल दिए जाने पर ही क्यों जारी किए जाते हैं ? कृपया स्पष्ट कीजिए सर।

जवाब:

हमें, एक बात बेहद साफ तौर पर समझनी होगी। सरकार का वास्तविक उद्देश्य BSNL का रिवाइवल करना नही है, वरन, इसे एयर इंडिया की तरह एक बीमार कंपनी में परिवर्तित कर, अंततोगत्वा मुकेश अम्बानी को सौंपना है। मोदी सरकार का यह छुपा हुआ (hidden) एजेंडा है। हमें इसके खिलाफ लड़ना होगा। हमें BSNL के पक्ष में और BSNL को खत्म करने के सरकार के छुपे हुए एजेंडे के खिलाफ जन समर्थन हासिल करना होगा। BSNLEU की सेंट्रल एग्जीक्यूटिव कमिटी की मीटिंग सितंबर में होने जा रही है, जिसमें, इस संबंध में रणनीति बनाई जाएगी। लेकिन कॉमरेड, एक बात न भूलिएगा। आप जैसे हर एक कर्मचारी को यह संकल्प लेना होगा कि हम BSNL को एक बीमार कंपनी में परिवर्तित नही होने देंगे और सरकार के, BSNL को रिलायंस जियो को सौंपने के छिपे एजेंडे का पुरजोर तरीके से मुकाबला करेंगे।  

आदर सहित,

भवदीय,

पी अभिमन्यु, जीएस

Due to the consistent efforts taken by BSNLEU, the Standing Committee of the National Council is getting reconstituted and the first meeting of the reconstituted Standing Committee is taking place on 24.01.2018. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Balbir Singh, President and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS are the Staff Side members of BSNLEU in the Standing Committee.

Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today and discussed the following issues.

A) Hearty thanks to BSNL Board of Directors for their positive role in Wage Revision issue.

The representatives heartily thanked the CMD BSNL and other Members of the BSNL Board, for playing a very positive role in the Wage Revision issue, as a result of which the All Unions and Associations of BSNL was able to successfully clinch the issue with the Hon'ble Minister, in the meeting held on 24-02-2018.

B) Strong opposition to curtailment of Medical facilities of serving and retired employees.

The representatives handed over the letter of the Union, opposing curtailment of medical facilities of the serving and retired employees. They told the CMD BSNL that, the employees are agitated over the decision of the Management to reduce the ceiling from 25 days to 12 days ( ceiling for outdoor treatment), as well as the decision to withdraw the facility of "payment without voucher" for retired employees, in cities covered by CGHS scheme. The representatives briefly pointed out how substantial savings could be made, by reducing wasteful expenditure, and demanded to convene an all union/association meeting, to take concrete decisions on reducing wasteful expenditure. The CMD BSNL assured to look into the issue.

C) Opposition to taking over of BSNL's office space by TERM CELL.

The representatives requested the CMD BSNL to stop the handing over of BSNL's office space to TERM CELL at Jammu, so that the CGM office, Jammu, could be shifted to that place, from the rented place in which it is functioning presently. The CMD BSNL assured to do the needful.

As per the data released by the TRAI, BSNL is far ahead of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, as far as the customer growth rate is concerned. In 2017, Airtel has added 24.26 million new mobile customers, and it's growth rate is 9.13%. Vodafone has added 7.84 million new customers and it's growth rate is 3.83%. Idea cellular has added 5.98 million new customers and it's growth rate is 3.14%. Whereas, BSNL has added 11.13 million new customers and it's growth rate is 11.50%. Reliance Jio has added 87.93 million new customers and it's growth rate is a stunning 121.86%. It is a matter of pride for all of us that BSNL's growth rate is far ahead of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea cellular. When all the private telecom companies are wilting under the pressure of Jio, it is only BSNL, which is putting up stiff challenge to it. Let us put in our entire energy to bring BSNL out of loss and make it India's number one telecom company. CHQ requests all our functionaries to give maximum publicity to this news among the public, through our ongoing Street Corner Meetings.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) today and discussed certain issues related to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana circles. In the last National Council itself, it was demanded that the soft tenure given to those who were sent to Vijayawada, should not be a one time affair, but should be perpetual. It was agreed in the National Council meeting itself. In today’s meeting it was demanded that the period of the soft tenure should be reduced from 3 years to 2 years. Further, it was also demanded that the officials retiring shortly, should be sent back to Hyderabad, otherwise it will create difficulties in the payment of their pension.

FNTO which is already rejected and sidelined by the BSNL employees, is frantically trying to come back to the lime-light by spreading lies and slanders. Especially, when the BSNL employees are very anxious about their wage revision, FNTO is trying to exploit this anxiety of the employees, by telling cock and bull stories.

1. In it’s website updating, FNTO has stated that, Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, BSNLEU, had told that BSNL employees were not eligible for wage revision. This is a total lie. In the meeting held with CMD BSNL, on 09.08.2017, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, had only explained about the DPE order issued on 03.08.2017, (just one week before that meeting) regarding wage revision of the Non-Executives of the PSUs. According to that DPE letter dated 03.08.2017, BSNL employees are not eligible for wage revision. However, FNTO, which is expert in lying, has twisted what Com.P.Abhimanyu actually told. All those who are interested in knowing the fact, can visit BSNLEU’s website updating dated 09.08.2017, which is still there.

2. It is true that some of the DR TTAs, appointed on or after 01.01.2007, suffered wage loss. But it is not due to any problem in the pay scale, but due to some other factor. Prior to the 2^nd wage revision, the BSNL employees got 50% DA merger. This DA merger is eligible only to those employees who were eligible for wage revision, i.e., those who were appointed prior to 01.01.2007. However, by mistake, the BSNL Management gave this 50% DA merger benefit even to those employees who were not eligible for wage revision, since they were appointed on or after 01.01.2007.

When the wage revision was implemented, these TTAs suffered wage loss, since the benefit of 50% DA merger was taken away. However, BSNLEU and NFTE continuously fought on this issue, inside and outside the National Council. As a result of this, the DR TTAs, appointed on or after 01.01.2007, and who suffered wage loss, got one extra increment, with arrears of more than Rs.1 lakh also.

FNTO which sheds crocodile tears today, did not do anything to settle this problem. It is highly ridiculous that without even knowing all these facts, the great brains of FNTO are trying to tell some cock and bull stories to the employees, for creating confusion.

3. BSNLEU, the Sole Recognised Union at the time of 2^nd wage revision, settled the wage revision by conducting a two day glorious strike. Once again we wish to reiterate that FNTO became a betrayer of this strike and stabbed on the back of the striking employees, by writing a betrayal letter to the Management.

Executives got 2^nd Pay Revision, w.e.f. 01.01.2007, as per the recommendations of the 2^nd PRC. Their order for pay revision was issued prior to the wage revision of the Non-Executives. It is an undeniable fact that Executives were given only 68.8% IDA merger. They did not get 78.2% IDA merger. Citing this, Management offered only 68.8% IDA merger for the Non-Executives. But BSNLEU did not accept that.

Only because of the struggles conducted by BSNLEU, the Management was compelled to include a clause in the wage revision agreement of the Non-Executives that, 78.2% IDA merger would be given to the Non-Executives, as and when it is given to the Executives. It is because of this clause ensured by BSNLEU, in the wage revision agreement, the door for the settlement of 78.2% IDA merger was kept open. Only because of this, subsequently, all the Unions and Associations gave indefinite strike notice, as a result of which 78.2% IDA merger was settled.

BSNLEU wishes to once again state that, after the 2^nd wage revision, BSNL Non-Executives got more pay then the Bank employees. This is not because of the mercy of Minister A. Raja, or the Management. It was achieved because of the glorious struggle of BSNL employees, in which FNTO was a black leg. History will never forget the betrayal of FNTO.