We have recently reported that BSNL has rolled out a tender for the procurement of 50,000 4G sites. However, the ET Telecom dated 23.04.2020, has reported that, this tender has hit road-blocks. According to the report, “the Telecom Equipment Promotional Council (TEPC)”, a lobby group that represents home grown telecom equipment companies, has complained to the Ministry of Commerce that the tendering procedure has violated the Public Procurement Policy of 2017, by ignoring the Government of India’s “Make in India” policy. According to the report, the Ministry of Commerce has written to the DoT, calling for a report and also warning of disciplinary action against the erring officers.

BSNLEU has issued the following press statement today, against the freezing of the DA of the Central Government employees and pensioners, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2020. BSNLEU has stated categorically in the press statement that, when the government can make available lakhs of crores of rupees to pamper the big corporates of the country, there is absolutely no justification to freeze the DA of the Central Government employees and pensioners. BSNLEU has demanded the government to immediately withdraw it’s decision to freeze the DA.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he believed that it was not necessary to impose hardships on government employees and armed forces by freezing Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief hike till July 2021. “I sincerely believe it is not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and also on the armed forces people,” news agency ANI quoted former PM Dr Manmohan Singh as saying on the Centre’s decision to freeze Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief hike till July 2021.

[ Courtesy : Financial Express online dt. 25-04-2020]

1) Com. Javahar Kadam, Retd. JE, BGTD - Rs.2,000/-

2) Com. Veeranna Thakkalkar, Retd. OS, Kalburgi - Rs.1,000/-

3) Com. Md. Nasir Ahmed, Kalburgi - Rs.500/- 

4) Com. L. G. Jahgirdhar, Kalburgi - Rs.500/-

1) In Arani of Vellore SSA, BSNLEU & AIBDPA distributed food materials including rice and oil to the 12 contract workers in Arani.  Each bag contains groceries worth Rs.1,200/-.  These bags were handed over to the workers by com. B.Marimuthu COS BSNLEU, Com N.Anandhan DOS BSNLEU, Com A.Pandurangan  and Com P.Pargugan of AIBDPA and others.

2) In Cuddalore, 80 contract  workers, irrespective of their unions, were given by rice and groceries  worth around Rs.55,000/- in the function held at our Union Office on 23.04.2020.  Com K.T.Sambantham DS BSNLEU, Com.I.M.Mathialagan DS AIBDPA, Com.Balakrishnan AIBDPA, Com Vijay Anand DS TNTCWU  and other leaders participateed.

3) In Virudhachalam of Cuddalore SSA,  relief materials worth Rs.1,100 each were distributed to the contract workers  by Com R.Viswanathan DOS BSNLEU, Com S.Kumarasamy AIBDPA Com K.Prema and Com T.Radha.

4) On 25.04.2020, In Udumalpet branch of Coimbatore SSA, BSNLEU AND AIBDPA  collected Rs.32,000/- and distribuited Rs.1,150/ each to the 28 contract workers of that area. Com. N.Sakthivel COS BSNLEU, Com. Mayilsamy and other office bearers participated in that event.

The lockdown has set off a banking revolution. Irrespective of which bank you have an account with — in a city or a village without a branch—you can call the local post office and ask it to deliver cash. In as little as 10-15 minutes, the postman or postwoman will reach your home. For this, you need not have an account with the post office.

Between March 24 and April 23, post offices across India delivered Rs 412 crore in over 21 lakh such transactions, mostly in rural and unbanked areas, through a network of 1.36 lakh post offices which have been equipped with 1.86 lakh handheld AePS devices.

[Courtesy : Times of India.com dt. 25-04-2020]

As per the call of the CHQ, West Bengal circle union has collected Rs.11.60 lakh from 1264 comrades. This is a commendable job and CHQ salutes the West Bengal comrades. Now, distribution of food materials to the contract workers is being carried out in that circle. A brief report of the relief distribution work is as follows :-

20th April, 2020 : Food materials were distributed among 25 contract workers jointly by BSNLEU, BSNLCMU and AIBDPA, at Rampurhat, Bolpur and Sinthia under Suri District. In Ktwa Branch union under Burdwan district of BSNLEU and AIBDPA distributed food materials among the contract workers.

In Memary Tele. Exchange under Burdwan district food materials were distributed among contract workers jointly by BSNLEU, BSNLCMU and AIBDPA.

23-04-2020: Relief in the shape of food materials were distributed at Balurghat among the contract workers under the leadership of BSNLEU and BSNLCMU.

23-04-2020: Food materials were distributed jointly by BSNLEU and BSNLCMU to the security guards and contract workers at Fulia Tele exchanges under Ranaghat Branch of Krishnagar District. Similarly, on the same day, food materials were distributed to contract workers at Badkulla , Pairadanga and Birnagar under Ranaghat branch of Krishnagar district.

24th April, 2020: BSNLEU and BSNLCMU jointly distributed food materials among the 20 contract workers at Raiganj. Similarly, in Alipurduar, BSNLEU and BSNLCMU jointly distributed food materials among the 14 contract workers of that branch.

In Tamluk food materials were distributed among the contract workers. In Haldia, financial help was made to the contract workers. Both Tamluk and Haldia come under Kharagpur district.

Food materials were distributed among the contract workers and security guards at Jagatballavpur, Amta, Namkhana, Bangaon, Tarakeswar, Chanditala and Kalachara under Kolkata district. 

In implementation of the call of the CHQ, the Sangli District Union of BSNLEU (Maharashtra), provided relief  to 12 Contract workers on 19-04-2020 , in the form of food materials.  Com. Narayan Bodas, District Secretary, supplied the materials to the workers. CHQ appreciates the Sangli District Union. 

There is no move to bring down the retirement age of central government employees, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Sunday, refuting reports in a section of media that there was a proposal to retire the employees early. Central government staff retire at the age of 60. Strongly refuting the reports that the government has moved a proposal for reducing the retirement age of government employees to 50 years, the minister said, “There is no such move to reduce the retirement age nor (there) has been such a proposal discussed or contemplated at any level in the government,” according to an official communique.

[ Courtesy : Financial Express dt. 26-04-2020]

At a time when the government has launched an attack on the Central government employees and pensioners, by 'snatching away' their DA increase for one and half years, another interesting development has taken place. Some 50 young IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officers have gave a suggestion to the government, about ways and means for mobilising money, to fight the Corona Virus crisis. In their suggestion, the young officers have given the following 3 suggestions :-

(1) To raise the Income Tax from 30% to 40%, in respect of those with income above Rs.1 crore.

(2) Levy wealth tax on those with over Rs.5 crore annual income. 

(3) Levy “ a COVID Relief Cess" of 4%, on those with taxable income of more than Rs.10 lakh. 

What is wrong in giving such suggestions? The Finance Ministry has directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman, P.C.Mody, to seek explanation from these officers for writing such ‘ill-conceived views’ in public, without having any authority to do so. The Finance Ministry has observed that it was not part of their duty to prepare such a report. The government cannot even tolerate the idea of increasing the tax of "well-to-do" persons. 

[Source: News18.com, dated 26.04. 2020]

On 25.04.2020, a website updating has been made on the website of Telecom Officers Association (BSNL), wherein it is stated as follows:- 

“Most of so called Communist Associations are collecting funds for helping contract workers and now all funds collected so far has contributed it to Kerala Government Relief Funds.” 

In BSNL, only BSNLEU is collecting relief fund for the contract workers. The fund collected is being fully utilised for providing emergency relief to the contract workers, in the form of food materials. All the details are being updated on the website in a transparent manner. Under these circumstances, it is extremely surprising to note that, the TOA BSNL has accused that the funds collected for contract workers, is being given to the Kerala government. No person / organisation, having common sense, will make such an accusation. We request the TOA BSNL to have some minimum decency and refrain from making such 'wild allegations' on it's website. We will be compelled to reply in the appropriate manner, if such wild allegations are continued to be made.

1) Com. L.M. Tiwari, DE Phones, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

2) Com. Baskar Das, JTO, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

3) Com. M.C. Upadhyay, Retd. OS, Branch President, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

4) Com. Deepak Singh Bhandari, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

5) Com. P.D. Joshi, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

6) Com. Wahid Husain, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

7) Com. Madhavi Devi, ATT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

8) Com. Gurudas, TT, Nainital – Rs.500/-

The Central Government has frozen the DA of it's employees and pensioners, for a period of one and half years, i.e., from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021.

The Kerala government has decided to defer 6 days’ pay of it's employees for 5 months, i.e., from April to August, 2020.

Whether, the actions of the Central government and the Kerala government are one and the same? Let us see.

1. As per the decision of the Central Government, the DA, payable to the employees and pensioners is frozen for a period of 1 ½ years, i.e., from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. It means, this money is taken away once for all and will not be paid back to the employees and pensioners. It is nothing but grabbing money from the pockets of the employees and pensioners.

Whereas, the Kerala government has only deferred the payment. In it’s letter, dated 23.04.2020, the Kerala government has categorically mentioned that, this money will be repaid to the employees on a later date.

Thus, the actions taken by the Central Government and the Kerala Government, are not the same.

2. Pensioners survive only from the meagre pension that they are getting. However, Central Government did not show any mercy to the pensioners. Their pension is also reduced for one and half years. This is a very big injustice.

At the same time, the Kerala government did not touch the pensioners and thereby avoided causing any hardship to them.

3. Very importantly, before taking this decision, the Kerala government has consulted the trade unions. The NGO Union of Kerala, which is having 80% of the employees as it’s members, has given it's consent for the deferment of the pay. It is relevant to mention here that, in 2018 also, when Kerala was affected by the unprecedented floods, 80% of the Kerala State Government employees have donated one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. 

However, the Central Government did not bother at all, to consult the trade unions, before freezing the DA. It has arbitrarily frozen the DA for one and half years.

4. Further, as per the order of the Kerala government, the salary of the employees, who receive salary below Rs.20,000/- will not be deferred. But, the Central Government did not make any such distinction.

5. There is a big difference between the central government and the government of a small state, like Kerala. The central government is having unlimited resources, at it’s disposal. But, it spends lakhs of crores of rupees for giving concessions to the big corporates.  For example, from 2014 onwards, the Central Government has written off Rs. 5.5 lakh crore bank loans as bad debt. These loans are mostly taken by the big corporates. Further, in October, 2019, the Central Government has reduced the Corporate Tax, as a result of which, the big corporates were benefitted to the extent of Rs.1.45 lakh crore. At the same time, for fighting the Corona Virus Disease, it grabs money from the pockets of the employees and pensioners and hit them in their stomachs.

Kerala is a small state, with very limited resources. It is the first state, which was hit by the Corona Virus Disease. Still, it allotted Rs. 20,000 crore to tackle the disease. Especially, it took care of the poor people and provided all helps to them. The manner in which the   Corona Disease is kept under control in Kerala and how the government has taken care of the poor people affected due to the lockdown, are being appreciated by the whole world. 

Thus, action of the central government and the action of the Kerala state government are incomparable.

We have already updated yesterday that, some IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officers have given suggestions to the government, regarding mobilisation of funds to manage the crisis created by the COVID-19. The suggestions, titled FORCE (Fiscal Options and Response to COVID-19), has been given to the government.  We have also reported that the Finance Ministry had expressed it's anger towards the IRS officers, for making such suggestions. Now, it is reported that, the Finance Ministry has charge sheeted 3 IRS officers and has also instituted an enquiry against 50 other IRS officers, for violation of the Conduct Rules. BSNLEU strongly condemns this high handed and authoritarian move of the government. The suggestions given by the IRS officers have only suggested that more taxes should be imposed on the wealthy and rich people. There is nothing wrong in this suggestion and it has been made in the interest of the nation and the people. Hence, the government should immediately withdraw the charge sheet issued to 3 IRS officers and also drop the enquiry instituted against 50 IRS officers.

1) At Madurai, relief materials worth Rs.700/- were distributed to each of the 50 contract workers.  Com. C.Selvyn Sathyaraj, DS, BSNLEU, Com Manuel Paul Raj, DS, AIBDPA, Com. Sonaimuthu, DS, TNTCWU, and other office bearers distributed the materials to the contract workers.

2) At Pollachi, a total amount of Rs.22,000/- were distributed to 29 contract workers of Pollachi area. Com.P.Thangamani, ADS, BSNLEU, Com B.Nisar Ahmed, COS, AIBDPA and many other office bearers participated in that event. 

3) At Sattur, Virudhunagar SSA, relief materials worth Rs.1,000/- each were distributed to the contract workers. Com.A.Samuthrakani DS & COS, BSNLEU, Com Muthusamy, DS, TNTCWU and other comrades were present on that occasion.

4) At Tirunelveli SSA more than 200 comrades were supplied with relief materials by BSNLEU & AIBDPA. 

CHQ heartily congratulates all the comrades for taking the initiative for collecting the funds and also for organising the distribution of food materials. 

As per the call given by the CHQ of BSNLEU to collect  donations for  "Contract Workers  Relief  Fund", the district union of BSNLEU, Tripura, N.E-I circle and BSNLCCWF have jointly collected donations and distributed food materials to the contract workers of Tripura. The distribution was made at Doorsanchar Bhawan, Agartala, on 28th April 2020. Shri Dilip Siram, GMTD, Tripura and other senior executives also contributed and distributed food materials to the contract workers. Leaders of BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF, SNEA and AIBSNLEA participated in the programme. More than 100 workers were provided with the food materials. CHQ heartily congratulates all the unions and associations for extending their helping hands to the contract workers.

(1) Com. A.Srilatha, AOS, Adilabad - Rs.2,000/-

(2) Com. E.Ramadevi, AOS, Adilabad - Rs.2,000/-

(3) Com. B.Anitha, AOS, Adilabad - Rs.2,000/-

(4) Com. Hanumantha Rao, OS Retired, HTD - Rs.2,000/-

(5) Com. P.L.N.Das, JE, Hyderabad - Rs.2,000/-

(6) Com. T.Sujatha, TT, Adilabad - Rs.2,000/-

(7) Com. T.Ramulu, TT, Nizamabad  - Rs.1,000/-

(8) Com. P.Srilatha, JE, Hyderabad - Rs.1,000/-

(9) Com.Zahoor Khan, TT, Adilabad - Rs.1,000/-

(10) Com. Atawar Rahaman, TT, Sangareddy - Rs.1,000/-

(11) Com. S.Lingareddy, TT, Khammam - Rs.1,000/-

(12) Com. W.Siva Ramaiah, SA Retired, Circle Office - Rs.1,000/-

(13) Com. Ch.Srinivasa Rao, JE, Khammam - Rs.1,000/-

(14) Com. K.Rajendra Prasad, OS Retired, Khammam - Rs.1,000/-

(15) Com. K.Gopal Rao, JE, Hyderabad - Rs.1,000/-

(16) Com. P.Satyanarayana, JE, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(17) Com. G.Srinivasa Rao, TT, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(18) Com. M.Jhansi Rani, ATT, Hyderabad - Rs.500/-

(19) Com. Vijaya Pal, AOS, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(20) Com. T.Premalatha, JAO, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(21) Com. D.Narasimhulu, JE, Nalgonda - Rs.516/-

(22) Com. Venkatalaxmi, OS, Circle office - Rs.500/- 

(23) Com. M.Ramakrishna, TT, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(24) Com. V.Bhujangarao, TT, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(25) Com. J.Subba Rao, TT, Khammam - Rs.500/-

(1) श्री देवकी नन्दन सरोलिया, सहा. जिला सचिव,  जयपुर - Rs.1,000/- 

 (2) श्री लाल चन्द मीणा, परिमंडल संगठन सचिव - Rs.1,000/-

 (3) श्री मनमोहन सैनी, सहा. परिमंडल सचिव - Rs.1,000/-

 (4) श्री पीताम्बर लाल सैनी, जिला सचिव, अलवर - Rs.1,000/- 

 (5) श्री सी. एम. बैरवा, जिलाध्यक्ष, अलवर - Rs.1,000/-