The 7th circle conference of BSNLEU, Karnataka circle, started enthusiastically at Davenegere today. The Reception Committee has made excellent arrangements for this conference. The Conference kick-started with the Flag-hoisting ceremony. National Flag was hoisted by Com.M.C.Balakrishna, circle president. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, hoisted the Union Flag. Floral tributes were paid at the martyrs’ column. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, delivered the inaugural address of the Conference. He spoke elaborately on BSNL’s Revival Package, VRS 2019, Ghaziabad CEC meeting decisions and the General Strike being organised on 08-01-2020. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri,former GS, BSNLEU and Com.Meenakshi Sundaram, GS,CITU,Karnataka, addressed the Conference and explained in detail about the VRS, as well as about the economic policies of the government. Com.Jagadhaale, CS,SNEA, Com.Mahalingaiah,CS,FNTO, Com.Pattaiah, AGS,FNTO, Com.Com.S.Anand,ACS, NFTE and Com.Mahantesh, General Secretary, BSNL Contract Workers Union, participated in the Inaugural Session and they were honoured by the Reception Committee. A book on the struggles of Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, titled “Vajra Kaaya “was released in the Conference by Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS. The Subjects Committee of the Conference started after the lunch break.

The AUAB meeting held on 06.02.2020 discussed about the maintenance of services, manpower deployment, etc., after implementation of the VRS. It was decided to discuss this issue in detail in the next AUAB meeting, to be held after two weeks, after collecting inputs from the field units. Hence, the circle and district secretaries are requested to send their inputs to the CHQ, about the maintenance of the services, manpower management (including transfers ordered, if any), and other relevant details to the CHQ immediately, so as to take up the same in the next meeting of the AUAB.

Due to the Corona Virus Disease the world has already lost 1,00,000 human lives. In addition to this, the Corona Virus Disease has put the world in a very big economic crisis since the entire industrial, commercial and agricultural activities have come to a standstill. The economic crisis created by Corona Virus is deeper than the world economic crisis witnessed in 2008-09, says IMF Chief, Kristalina Georgieva. She has stated that the world has entered a recession and that, the world emerging countries need an aid of $2.5 trillion. She has also stated that due to the Corona Virus Disease $83 billion has vanished from the stock markets in the recent weeks.

It is shocking to know that 20 Indian soldiers are killed in the fighting with Chinese troops in the India China Border at Ladakh. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to all these martyrs. They have sacrificed their lives in defending the nation. BSNLEU also conveys it's deep condolences to the families of all these martyrs. Informed sources report that, 43 Chinese soldiers are also killed in the fight. The Government of India should immediately take diplomatic steps to ensure that the tension does not escalate.

The Tamil Nadu circle union of BSNLEU took the unique initiative of organising a convention of the Directly Recruited JEs. It was held at Pondicherry on 07-01-2018. 100 DR JEs had given their commitment for attending the Convention. However, the lightning indefinite strike started by the State Bus Transport workers threw a very big problem. Virtually, the bus transport came to a standstill. Private bus operators were charging exorbitant rates from the passengers. It was under these circumstances that the Convention took place. Despite the odds, 49 DR JEs  attended the Convention. Com.S.Chellappa, AGS & Circle President, presided over and addressed. Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, circle secretary, and Com.A.Subramanian, district secretary, welcomed every one.  Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, addressed the Convention. He explained  about the efforts taken by BSNLEU, to overcome the road blocks created by the Minister and the DoT, in the recruitment of 2,700 DR JEs. He also explained in detail, how BSNLEU settled many serious problems of the DR JEs( erstwhile DR TTAs) in the past, like reducing  the qualifying service, from 10 years to 5 years, for appearing in the JTO exam, changing the designation from TTA to JE, ensuring opportunity to appear in the MT Exam, etc. Following the GS's speech, discussion by the DR JEs took place. Twelve DR JEs participated beautifully in the discussion, and put forth very valid views. Many of them expressed serious concerns, about the problems being faced, in improving the quality of service. General Secretary assured that the issues would be taken at the appropriate level, including the Board of Directors and the CMD BSNL. The Convention came to an end with the vote of thanks. CHQ heartily congratulates the Tamil Nadu circle union, for it's superb initiative.

BSNL plans to roll out 4G services across India by the end of this year, with an investment of about Rs.25,000 crore. Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL has told the PTI that BSNL is awaiting spectrum allocation from the government in 2100 MHz band to launch 4G VOLTE service. By the end of this year, BSNL will roll out 4G services across country where it operates. BSNL has awarded telecom network contract to Nokia Networks in 10 circles and to ZTE for the rest of 10 circles where it operates. The CMD BSNL further stated that the value of spectrum that the government will allocate is around Rs.12,000 crore, in which the government, as per proposal, will bear the cost of Rs.9,000 crore. Total cost of spectrum will come around Rs.19,000 crore. Balance will be paid by BSNL in 10 annual instalment, he has stated.

[Source: PTI]

The two-day CEC, meeting of BSNLEU, Rajasthan, started at Sawai Madhopur today with National flag Hoisting by Com. Balbir Singh, President, BSNLEU and Union flag hoisting by Com. Kamal Singh, Gohil, Circle President. In the forenoon session a Seminar on, "Present Challenges, Before BSNL, and its solutions" was conducted. At the outset Com.Gansham, Meena, District Secretary, Sawai Madhopur, welcomed the participants. Com. Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary, initiated the debate on the subject matter. Com. Balbir Singh, President elaborately explained the anti BSNL, policies of successive Governments which are responsible for the present problems of BSNL. He said that defeating these policies is the only solution to improve the present position of the BSNL. The Principal, General Manager Telecom, Shri S.S Aggarwal, GM(HR)  Shri B.L Meena, Rajasthan Circle and GMTD, Sawai Madhopur, represented the Rajasthan Circle Management in the Seminar.  Com.Vijay Singh, Organising Secretary (CHQ), Com.Kamal Singh Gohil, Circle President, BSNLEU, also addressed the Seminar. Com. P.K.Jain, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Jaipur, conducted the programme.  Com. V.P. Sharma, former Circle President, BSNLEU, Rajasthan, gave vote of thanks. 

Speaking at NDTV's youth conclave, yoga guru Ramdev said rising prices of the petrol and diesel can cost the Modi government dearly. Some of his views expressed in the Youth Conclave are reproduced hereunder:-

• Rising prices of things can cost the Modi government very dearly. He will have to act.

• If the government lets me, and gives some relief in tax, I can give petrol diesel to India at Rs 35-40 per litre. Fuel needs to brought under GST and not the 28 per cent rate.

• People who are making the cow a religious animal are wrong. Cow has no religion.

• Frustration is a huge problem for the youth. They think they have no opportunities. That's not true. I did not have any godfathers and yet I set this huge enterprise (Patanjali) I don't run after money. Money runs after me.

• People   criticise   PM Modi - it is their fundamental right. But he has done good work. Launched the Clean India mission, not allowed any major scam. Yes, some political questions are being raised about the Rafale deal.

(Courtesy: NDTV)

A very impressive, Convention of AUAB, UP(W) was organised at Meerut, on 30-11-2018. More than 400 employees attended the Convention. Com. Upender Singh Teotia, Convenor, AUAB, & CS, BSNLEU, welcomed all. Com.Som Pal Saini, Chairman, AUAB & CS, NFTE, presided over the convention. Com, Balbir Singh, President, BSNLEU, Com.A.Raj Mouli, Treasurer, NFTE, Sukhvir Singh, Org. Secretary, BSNLEU, Davesh Sharma, Organising Secretary, AIBSNLEA, Sanjay Choudhry, CS, AIGETOA, Ansar Ali, Cirle President, BSNLEU, Inder Singh, CS, BMS, BSNL, and Com.Janardhan Yadav, CS, BSNL OA, addressed the Convention. The leaders explained in detail the demands of indefinite strike, including wage revision for BSNL employees, pension revision for retired employees, 4G spectrum for BSNL, pension contribution on actual basic pay as per Govt. orders and left out issues of 2nd PRC. The leaders called upon the workers to fully participate in the strike and to organise street corner meetings. On gauging the pulse of employees it is observed that a glorious strike will take place in UP(W).

Com.P.V.Chandrasekaran, one of the veteran leaders of our movement is bereaved. His wife, Mrs.Padmam Sekhar, has passed away last night. She had been unwell for sometime. BSNLEU deeply condoles the death of Mrs.Padmam Sekhar. BSNLEU also conveys it's heartfelt condolences to Com.P.V.Chandrasekaran and all the members of his family.

As per the decision taken in the Ghaziabad CEC meeting, which has already been communicated vide CHQ circular no.04 dated 08.04.2019, "Save BSNL - Save Nation" campaign is to be conducted from today onwards, and upto 30-04-2019. Accordingly, street corner meetings should be organised throughout the country. The support of the people should be mobilised for the demands, which have already been raised for the revival of BSNL. Non-allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, pro-Reliance Jio policies of the government, our opposition to VRS, etc., should be highlighted prominently in the street corner meetings. Circle and district unions are requested to implement the programme effectively and send report to the CHQ.

BSNL और MTNL में VRS लागू करने और रिटायरमेंट की उम्र 60 से 58 करने का सरकार का प्रस्ताव...
टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया अखबार ने रिपोर्ट प्रकाशित की है कि DoT द्वारा BSNL और MTNL में VRS लागू करने और रिटायरमेंट की उम्र 60 से 58 करने हेतु एक कैबिनेट नोट प्रस्तुत किया जा रहा है। यह दोनों ही कदम कर्मचारियों की संख्या कम करने के उद्देश्य से उठाए जा रहे हैं, जिससे कि वेतन पर होने वाले खर्च में कटौती की जा सके। इसके साथ ही, BSNL और MTNL को 4G स्पेक्ट्रम भी आवंटित किया जाएगा। रिपोर्ट यह भी कहती है कि सरकार का ध्यान BSNL और MTNL की लैंड्स, ऑप्टिकल फाइबर और टॉवर्स के मुद्रीकरण पर भी है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार सरकार BSNL और MTNL को बंद नही करना चाहती है, क्योंकि इस पर सरकार को 1.2 लाख खर्च करना पड़ेगा।

An election campaign meeting of BSNLEU for 8^th Membership Verification was held on 6^th September, 2019 at Saharanpur, UP (West). The meeting was presided over by Com.Yashpal Singh, District President. Com.Ansar Ali, Circle President as well as district secretary initiated the discussions. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, discussed the issue of payment of salary to the employees, acute financial crisis of BSNL and conspiracy of the government to retrench employees by VRS/CRS, by reduction of retirement age etc. Com.Upendar Singh Teotia, CS and Com.J.B.Tyagi, circle vice-president also addressed the meeting on achievements of BSNLEU during last 3 years and wage revision etc. Workers responded very positively to the discussions of the union representatives.

The two days Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, West Bengal Circle, was held on 11th & 12th November, 2019. Com.Banani Chatterjee, circle president,presided over. Com. Animesh Mitra, All India President & Circle Secretary, initiated the proceedings. He reported on the decisions taken in the Ghaziabad CEC meeting and the present situation prevailing, regarding the VRS. He also spoke on the organisational tasks before the Union, especially the strike of the Casual/Contract workers of West Bengal Circle which will be held on 19.11.2019, the All India General Strike to be held on 8th January, 2019, the ensuing long March from Chittaranjan to Kolkata and another from Malda to Siliguri, starting from 30th November. Thereafter Deliberations by the the District Secretaries took place, based on which many important decisions are taken.

The Non-Executives and Executives of BSNL responded well the call of the AUAB and held impressive demonstrations throughout the country today, demanding immediate payment of two months’ salary, wage arrears of the contract workers, immediate rolling out of 4G service, etc. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the employees for successfully organising the united demonstrations and also calls upon the employees to get prepared for participating in the one day hunger strike programme on 24^th February, 2020.

1) Com. J Kameswar Rao, DS, Berhampur Rs.5,501/-

2) Com. Sk Sahabudin, Ex-District Secretary,  Cuttack--Rs.1,100/-

3) Com. Bijaya Kumar Mishra, Ex-Branch Secy, Rayagada Branch – Rs.1,000/-

Corona Virus Disease is spreading fast in India. In the last 24 hours alone, 2,000 people have died in the country. The number of people affected has already reached 3.5 lakh. Now, India is the 4^th most affected country in the world, next only to the US, Brazil and Russia. 

However, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, keeps on praising himself. He says, the whole world is appreciating India, for the steps taken to control the Corona Virus Disease. But, what is the truth?

The first Corona Virus Disease was reported in India on 30^th January, 2020, in Kerala. Immediately, the Kerala government swung into action. It allotted Rs.20,000 crore to fight the disease. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has appreciated the steps taken by the Kerala government to fight the Corona Virus Disease.

 Whereas, till February 24^th, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was busy in organising a massive reception to US President, Donald Trump. At a time when the Corona Virus Disease has started spreading fast, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi remained busy in mobilising lakhs of people at Ahmedabad, to say “Namaste Trump”. This is how Narendra Modi government is fighting the Corona Virus Disease. 

No pre-planning was done for the Migrant Workers, before the announcement of the Lockdown. So, after Lockdown, around 10 crore Migrant Workers were left without job, food or shelter. They were left to face starvation. So, they walked 1000s of miles to go to their native places. Many met tragic death on the way. Thus, the Narendra Modi government did a very big injustice to the Migrant Workers. 

The Rs.20 lakh crore package, announced by the Modi government to fight Corona Virus Disease is a farce. It is only a repackaging of various schemes already announced in the budget. What the Modi government has spent to fight Corona Virus Disease is very little.  

Utilising the restrictions of the Lockdown, the Naredra Modi government has launched severe attacks on the working class. The hard-won right of "8 hour working day" has been taken away. Working hours has been increased from 8 hrs a day to 12 hours a day, to benefit the corporates. Labour Laws are being "put in suspension" by state governments, at the behest of the Narendra Modi government. The DA of the 48 lakh Central Government employees and 68 lakh pensioners, has been frozen for one and a half years. 

Prime Minister Naredra Modi wants to build an "Atmanirbhar Bharat". But, he is selling all Indian Public Sector Undertakings to foreign multinational companies, by allowing 100% FDI in Indian Railways, Air India, Defence Production Factories, Coal, Banking & Insurance companies, etc. Soon, foreign companies will take over all the above core industries. This is how Narendra Modi wants to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

वेतन भुगतान निर्धारित तिथि पर नही- BSNLEU की चेतावनी, कर्मचारी गंभीर तरीके से आंदोलन के लिए बाध्य होंगे- जुलाई के वेतन की त्वरित भुगतान की मांग..

आज, 19 अगस्त हो चुकी है, किन्तु कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा सर्कल्स को माह जुलाई, 2020 के वेतन भुगतान के लिए अभी तक फंड्स आवंटित नही किए गए हैं। मैनेजमेंट की यह आदत बन चुकी है कि आंदोलन का कॉल देने पर ही वेतन का भुगतान किया जाए। उन्हें कर्मचारियों की परेशानियों की लेश मात्र भी चिंता नही है, विशेष रूप से निम्न वर्ग के कर्मचारियों की।     BSNLEU ने आज CMD BSNL को चेतावनी देते हुए पत्र लिखा है कि यदि मैनेजमेंट की इस मानसिकता में परिवर्तन नही होता है तो कर्मचारी गंभीर तरीके से आंदोलन कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत करने के लिए बाध्य होंगे।BSNLEU ने जुलाई के वेतन की त्वरित भुगतान की मांग भी की है। 

Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, has said that the decision to tax Vodafone Group retrospectively, taken by the UPA 2 government, was not correct. He has also stated that the present government will not follow that policy. Jaitley said this, while talking to a packed house at the Economic Times Global Business Summit 2018, on 24-02-2018. It may be recollected that the UPA government raised a tax demand of Rs.11,000 crore on Vodafone, in connection with it’s acquisition of Hutchison Telecom. The UPA government took the stand that the Hutchison-Vodafone deal was liable for tax deduction at source (TDS) under the Income Tax (IT) Act. But, Vodafone had not deducted the tax at source, and hence, the government directed Vodafone to pay the tax. Together with interest and penalties, this amount has increased to Rs.20,000 crore. The Supreme Court subsequently quashed the demand on January 20, 2012. However, the government amended its IT Act retrospectively, putting the liability back on Vodafone Group. Tax cheating is being done by the corporates in a big way. Vodafone and Hutchison jointly cheated Indian government to the tune of Rs.11,000 crores. Now, Arun Jaitley has openly stated that the decision of the UPA government to collect the amount from Vodafone is not correct. When the Modi government is taking action to collect every single paisa tax from the common man, they want to be very ‘kind and sympathetic’ to the tax - cheating corporates.