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.

BSNLEU has been continuously insisting upon the BSNL Management to reconstitute the Standing Committee of the National Council, and also to convene it’s meeting at the earliest, so that the implementation of the decisions taken in the National Council meeting could be reviewed. Earlier, the SR Branch tentatively agreed to conduct this meeting on 18.01.2018. However, in view of the GM (HR)s’ Conference to be held at BSNL Corporate Office on 22.01.2018, the SR Branch sought for a change of date. In yesterday’s discussion with the representatives of BSNLEU and the GM (SR), it was decided to hold the meeting on 24.01.2018.

A meeting is held at the Sanchar Bhawan today the 24.02.2018, between Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and the All Unions and Associations of BSNL. Together with the Minister, Secretary, DoT, Special Secretary, DoT, Joint Secretary (Admn.), DoT, OSD to the Hon’ble Minister, DDG (Estt.), DoT, CMD BSNL and Director (HR) BSNL were present. From the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE, Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. K. Jayaprakash, GS, FNTO, Com. N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Com. Ravi Shil Verma, GS, AIGETOA, Com. Mallikarjuna, President, BSNL MS and Com. S.D. Sharma, GS, BSNL ATM, participated in the discussions. The representatives of the AUAB heartily thanked the Hon’ble Minister for taking out time to meet them. Detailed discussions took place on the memorandum submitted to the Hon’ble Minister, the details of which are as follows:-

Com. Balbir Singh, President, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Ms. Samita Luthra, GM (Rectt.), today and discussed the following issues:-

1. Review of JE LICE results.

In continuation of the discussion held with Director (HR) today on the subject, the representatives of BSNLEU met Ms. Samita Luthra, GM (Rectt.) and discussed the issue of review of results of the JE LICE. They referred to the assurance given in the National Council, by the Chairperson of the NC, and requested to take a positive decision expeditiouly. The GM (Rectt.) responded positively and assured that the issue would be discussed with the Director (HR) and needful action would be taken expeditiously.

2. Conducting of JTO LICE.

BSNLEU has already demanded the Management to hold the JTO LICE for the vacancies of the years 2016 – 17 and 2017 – 18. The issue was once again discussed with the GM (Rectt.) in today’s meeting. She replied that the initiative in this regard has to be taken by the Establishment Branch, for which she has already sent letter. She assured that the issue would be further persued. BSNLEU will pursue this issue further, and ensure early conducting of the JTO LICE.

The Rajasthan circle AUAB organised a huge meeting at Jaipur on 27th November, 2018, for the preparation of the Indefinite Strike from 3rd December,2018. More than 500 employees from Rajasthan attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by com Dikshit, President of AUAB and circle secretary of NFTE-BSNL. Com. Ashok Pareek, Convenor of AUAB, Rajasthan delivered welcome address. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, Com.A.Rajmouli, Financial Secretary, NFTE-BSNL, Com.Prahllad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com.Suresh Kumar, BSNLMS, Com.R.R.Sharma, Circle President, SNEA, Rajasthan, Com.Ajit Kumar, Advisor, AIGTEOA, Com.Ashok Gupta, CS,BTEU BSNL Com.Rashid Khan, AGS, TEPU and Com.H.P.Singh, Dy.GS, BSNLOA addressed the meeting. All leaders touched upon the points related to the decisions of All Unions and Associations on Indefinite Strike from 3rd December and appealed to employees to participate in the indefinite strike with determination.

The emergent Circle Working Committee meeting of Maharashtra Circle was held at circle office Mumbai on 6th Feb. Com. Appasaheb Ghagre, Circle President, presided over. Com Nagesh Nalawade, Circle Secretary & VP, BSNLEU, welcomed everyone and explained about the purpose of the meeting. Apart from the district secretaires and circle office bearers a large number of active comrades attended the meeting. All the district secretaires participated in the discussion and placed their views regarding the 3 day strike and that the charter of demands. Com.Nagesh Nalawade, CS, elaborately addressed the meeting and explained about the developments that have taken place at New Delhi, after the deferment of the indefinite strike. He also explained about the charter of demands and requested the comrades to effectively organise the 5 days street corner meeting, as well as the 3 day strike. The extended circle executive committee meeting enthusiastically decided to make the fullest mobilisation for the strike.