The Gujarat circle administration has issued a circular to the SSA heads, wherein it’s stated that payment of insurance premium should be done by the employees themselves, to avoid default and the resultant complications. In today’s meeting with the CMD BSNL, the GS and President raised this issue and pointed out that, the letter issued by CGM, Gujarat is inappropriate. The CMD BSNL assured to look into the matter and to do the needful.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Himachal Pradesh was held at RTTC, Sundernagar on 8^th November, 2019. Com. Amarjit Singh, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com. B.S Thakur, ACS, conducted the proceedings of the house. Com. K.C Panwar, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and addressed the meeting. Com. Balbir Singh, Vice President (CHQ), explained in detail about the decisions of the Ghaziabad CEC meeting, the anti-Public Sector policies of the present government, the revival package for BSNL and the effects of VRS in long term. The queries raised by the participants were also replied. Com.Balbir Singh, emphasised the need to massively joining the General Strike being held on January 08^th 2020. Com. K.C.Panwar, CS, thanked all the comrades for their valuable suggestions. The meeting decided to implement the Central Executive Committee meeting decisions very effectively in Himachal Pradesh.

8 hours working day is the fundamental right of the working class. It has been won by shedding blood and making sacrifices. However, utilising the restrictions imposed during the lock-down, many state governments took away this right, with the blessings of the Narendra Modi government and increased working hours from 8 hrs. to 12 hrs. a day. 10 Central Trade Unions organised nationwide protests on 22nd May, against this atrocious decision. They also launched a strong complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO in turn, told the Naredra Modi government in no uncertain terms that, the ILO decision on working hours should not be violated. The pressure created by the Central Trade Unions has started yielding results now. Yesterday, the Karnataka government has withdrawn it’s notification to increase the working hours.

In view of the prevailing situation, BSNLEU has already sought a formal online meeting with the Director (HR), to discuss certain issues urgently. In this connection, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri A.M. Gupta, Sr.GM(SR), today, and requested to take initiative for holding the online formal meeting early. The Sr.GM(SR) replied that the Membership Verification of the Executives is taking place on 18^th August, 2020, and the results are expected to be declared within 2, 3 days. He also stated the counting of the votes is likely to be delayed due to the announcement of lock-down in certain circles. Hence, the Sr.GM(SR) suggested that the meeting could be organised around 24^th or 25^th August, 2020. The General Secretary urged upon the Sr.GM(SR) to immediately initiate the steps, for the holding of the meeting.

The All unions and Associations of Maharashtra circle organised a very massive and impressive strike preparatory meeting at Pune today. A large number of Non-Executives and Executives participated in the meeting. It was very encouraging to note that almost 50% of them were women employees. The meeting was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, com.Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE BSNL, com. Suresh Kumar, General Secretary, BSNL MS, com. Sridhar Babu, Joint Secretary, AIGETOA, and many other leaders addressed the meeting. The leaders appealed to the employees to ensure 100% participation in the forthcoming 2 day strike, to be held on 12^th and 13^th December,2017. They also called on the employees to get ready for an indefinite strike, if the demands are not settled in the 2 day strike. Com.Nagesh Kumar Nalawade,CS, BSNLEU, com.John Verghese, AGS, BSNLEU, com.Ranjan Dani, CS, NFTE BSNL and com.K.S.Kulkarni, AGS, NFTE BSNL were also present on the dias.

The March to Sanchar Bhawan held at New Delhi today was addressed and greeted by the Central Trade Union leaders at the Eastern Court, from where the March started. Com. Tapan Sen, MP and General Secretary, CITU, Com. Vidyasagar Giri, Secretary, AITUC and Com. Zile Singh, Delhi State President of INTUC addressed the comrades and ensured the support and solidarity of the Central Trade Unions to the fighting BSNL employees.

127 people have been killed in the thunderstorms that lashed Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other North Indian states, on Wednesday night. Hundreds of people are injured and thousands have lost their homes.  Such strong winds and rain are unusual. BSNLEU pays homage to the innocent people, who have lost their lives. The concerned state governments should provide immediate relief to the affected people.

An impressive convention for the preparation of the indefinite strike was organised at Shimla on 26-11-2018, by the AUAB, Himachal Pradesh. It was held in the CTO Sabhagar Shimla.  More than 170 comrades, including a good number of women employees, participated. Com.Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman, AUAB and Com.K.C.Panwar, Convenor, AUAB, Himachal Pradesh, jointly presided over the Convention. Com. Balbir Singh, President BSNLEU, Mohinder Singh, Vinay Raina, Vice Presidents, NFTE, Com.R.D.Share, Circle Vice President, SNEA, Com. Chander Negi, CS, AIGETOA, Com.K.C. Panwar, CS, BSNLEU and Com. Nand Lal Sharma, CS, NFTE, addressed the Convention. AUAB, leaders, elaborately explained the strike issues, including Wage revision of BSNL Employees, from 01-01-2017, 4-G spectrum for BSNL, Pension revision for retired BSNL, employees, from 01-01-2017, Pension contribution on actual basic pay and superannuation benefits of the directly recruited employees. The successful Shimla convention has foretold the success of the indefinite strike.

The Circle Working Committee meeting of Kerala Circle held on 07.02.2019 at Trivandrum.   Circle President Com P.Manoharan presided and Circle Secretary Com C.Santhoshkumar welcomed all and presented the report. AGS Com. M.Vijayakumar and All India Organising Secretary Com.P.R.Parameswaran addressed. The meeting took decisions to launch elaborate mobilisations for the 3 day strike to be held from 18.02.2019. Apart from that, the meeting decided to organise young workers convention at the circle level and district levels. The meeting has also decided to organise a circle level women’s convention.

CHQ informs with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that, Com. Deepak Autade, from Pune, aged 59, passed away on 08-04-2019, at Haridwar, after participating in the March to Sanchar Bhawan. Com. Deepak Autade was a committed comrade of BSNLEU. He was a Telecom Technician and had been the Branch Secretary of the Model Colony Branch of BSNLEU, in Pune district, for long 17 years. After participating in the historic March to Sanchar Bhawan on 05-04-2019, Com. Deepak Autade and another comrade went to Haridwar. On 08-04-2019, Com.Deepak Autade suffered a massive heart attack, and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared as "brought dead". Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, immediately contacted Com.K.S.Soun, CS, Uttarakhand as well as Com.S.C.Kala, DS, Haridwar, and requested them to extend all helps. Com.N.K.Nalawade, CS, Maharashtra & Vice-President coordinated with them. The body of Com.Deepak Autade was brought to Delhi by road and was taken by air to Pune. The funeral of the departed comrade took place today. CHQ dips it's banner and salutes Com.Deepak Autade and conveys it's deep condolences to his family members and the comrades of BSNLEU, Pune district.

Com.N.T. Sajwani, former Secretary General, as well as one of the tallest leaders of NFTE, passed away at Bhopal today. Prior to becoming the General Secretary of NFTE, Com.N.T. Sajwani had served as the Circle Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, for long years. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Com.N.T. Sajwani, and conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to all his family members.

Whether BSNL can be allotted with 4G spectrum, without auctioning or not, has been referred to the Solicitor General for legal opinion, by the government. In 2012, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has given judgement in the infamous "2G scam case" that, spectrum should be allotted only through auctioning. This judgement has been creating legal hurdles and was delaying the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL. In this backdrop, it is reliably learnt now that, the Solicitor General has cleared the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL without auctioning.

The Tamil Nadu Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU was held at Mettupalayam, yesterday the 10.11.2019. Com.S. Chellappa, Circle President, presided over. Com.C. Rajendran, District Secretary, Coimbatore, welcomed everyone. Com.S. Subramanian, acting Circle Secretary, presented the report on activities and the circle secretary presented the financial report. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, inaugurated the conference and reported on the decisions of the Ghaziabad CEC meeting. He also dwelt at length on BSNL’s Revival Package, VRS, one day General Strike on 08th January, 2020 and other current issues. After deliberations by the District Secretaries and Circle Office bearers, the meeting decided to effectively implement the decisions of the Ghaziabad CEC meeting.

Protesting the delay in the payment of salaries for the month of December, 2019 and January, 2020, and demanding early payment, the Kerala, West Bengal and Kolkata circles have organised demonstrations. Enquiries reveal that there is less chance for payment of salary in this week. The AUAB is meeting on 06.02.2020 to discuss this issue.

BSNLEU, TNTCWU and AIBDPA of Theni District, consisting of Theni, cumbum, Uttamapalayam and Chinnamanur exchanges, supplied food grains and provisions worth Rs.1,000/- to each of the 50 contract workers, working in this belt. The contribution for this supply of food materials, was collected from the Non-Executives, Executives and retirees. CHQ heartily congratulates the BSNLEU, TNTCWU and AIBDPA of Theni District for this praiseworthy initiative.

A few months back, the Hon'ble Supreme Court ordered that, Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices should pay Rs.1.3 lakh crore to the government as AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) dues. According to the Hon'ble Supreme Court, these telecom companies have paid lesser amount as license fee and hence should pay the arrears. However, the DoT misused this order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and demanded Rs.4 lakh crore from the PSUs also. The DoT had thus demanded Rs.1.72 lakh crore from GAIL India, Rs.48,489 crore from Oil India, Rs.22,062 crore from Power Grid Corporation, Rs.15,019 crore from Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilisers & Chemicals, and Rs.5,481 crore from the DMRC. 

This action of the DoT has angered the Hon'ble Supreme Court. In the hearing held on 11.06.2020, Justice Arun Mishra remarked that the government’s order to recover AGR dues from PSUs is a misuse of the Hon'ble Supreme Court order. The Hon'ble Supreme Court told that the action of the DoT is outright misuse of the Hon'ble Supreme Court verdict and directed to immediately withdraw the demand. 

[Source: ET Telecom, dated 12.06.2020]

The birth centenary celebration of the revolutionary leader Com. K G Bose observed in Kerala at Trivandrum today (14-8-2020). The programme was inaugurated by Com.I B Satheesh MLA. In connection with the programme union distributed TVs to the financially backward students, to enable them to participate in online classes.