As per the call of the CHQ, BSNLEU, Karnataka circle union, has taken serious steps to collect donations from our members, pensioners and well wishers. So far, around Rs.6 lakh has been collected. Com.H.V.Sudharshan and Com.Irfan Pasha, Organising Secretary (CHQ) have taken much initiative to mobilise the funds. The circle union has now started distributing relief to the contract workers, in the form of food materials. Today, food materials were distributed to 42 contract workers at Vijayanagar telephone exchange in Bengaluru. Com.H.V.Sudharshan, circle secretary, Com.C.K.Gundanna, circle president, Com.Irfan Pasha, Organising Secretary (CHQ) and many other comrades participated in the programme.

An RTI question, replied by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), reveals that a staggering Rs.68,607 crore bank loan, due from 50 top wilful defaulters, including the absconding Mehul Chokshi and Vijay Mallya, has been silently written off by the government.  Absconder Mehul Choksi tops the list with Rs.5,492 crore. Second in the list comes Sandip Jhunjhunwala and Sanjay Jhunjhunwala with Rs.4,314 crore. Third comes, Diamond dealer Jatin Mehtha with Rs.4,000 crore. Vijay Mallya, who has fled to London also figures in this list with Rs.1,943 crore. The Naredra Modi government has written off the loans of all these “poor” millionaires and has decided to take away the DA of the “rich” Central Government employees and pensioners. Really great.

1) Shri Dilip Siram, GMTD, Tripura - Rs.5,000/-

2) Com. Sajal Datta, AGM, Tripura, Agartala - Rs.4,000/-

3) Com.Bikash Sarkar, DGM, Tripura, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

4)Com. Alpana Baidya, BSNLEU Member, Agartala, Tripura - Rs.1,000/-

5) Com. Sushankar Sarkar, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

6) Com. Putul Rani Sarkar, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

7) Com. Gopal Das, C/S AIBDPA, NE1 Circle, Shillong - Rs.1,000/-

8) Com. Smriti Das Majumder, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

9) Com. Satyajit Roy, Assistant Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

10) Com. Kishan Bhowmik, BSNLEU Member - Rs.650/-

11) Com. Biplab Debnath, Assistant Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

12) Com. Pratima Debbarma, Asstt. Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

13) Com. Babita Debbarma, Org. Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

14) Com. Jayanti Debnath, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.500/-

15) Com. Jaya Bhattacharjee,  Branch Secretary ETR, Agartala - Rs.500/-

16) Com.Sajal Bhowmik, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

17) Com. Sajal Das, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

18) Com.Nirmal Bhowmik, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

19) Com. Mintu Chandra Bhowmik, DS, AIBDPA, Agartala - Rs.500/-

Com.S.Chellappa, Assistant General Secretary of BSNLEU is retiring on superannuation today. CHQ conveys best wishes and warm greetings to him. Initially, Com.S.Chellappa, worked as the District Secretary of the AITEU Class-III of Coonoor District in Tamil Nadu circle. Later on he became the Circle Secretary of the AITEU Class-III(N). He has worked as the Circle Secretary of BSNLEU of Tamil Nadu circle for long years. Currently, he is the Assistant General Secretary of BSNLEU, as well as the circle president of Tamil Nadu circle. Com.S. Chellappa, is a versatile orator and a skilful organiser. He has also immensely contributed in organising the contract workers. CHQ wishes Com. S. Chellappa a long healthy and active retired life.

Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary of BSNLEU, is retiring on superannuation today. The CHQ conveys best wishes and warm greetings to him. Initially, Com. Swapan functioned as the Circle Secretary of the AITEU Class III, of the undivided North East circle. After bifurcation of the North East circle into NE-1 and NE-2, he became the Circle Secretary of the NE-1 circle.  He rose to the All India level, as the Assistant General Secretary of BSNLEU. Then, he went on to become the Deputy General Secretary of the Union and is currently holding that post. Com.Swapan has deep knowledge on cadre issues, as well as on the related rulings. The CHQ wishes Com. Swapan a long, healthy and active retired life.

(1) Com. Nirmala M Walvekar, Retd. OS, Hubballi - Rs.5,001/- 

(2) Com. Nalini Shivashankar, Retd. SSS. CGMT. KTK - Rs.5,000/-

(3) Com. L. D. Durgad, ACS, AIBDPA,  Ranebennur - Rs.2,000/-

(4) Com. S.R. Kuriyavar, DP, Belgavi - Rs.2,000/-

(5) Com. Chennabasappa Kanur, Retd.SSS, Kalburgi -  Rs.500/-

It was on this day, two years ago, Com.Sisir Battacharjee, fondly called as Sisir da, passed away. The sacrifices and contributions of Com.Sisir da, together with leaders like Com.K.G. Bose, Com.Moni Bose, etc., have laid a strong foundation for the present day Postal and Telecommunications trade union movement. Similarly, many rights and benefits being enjoyed today, by the postal and telecommunications employees, are the fruits of the struggles, inspired and led by comrades like Com.Sisir da. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Com.Sisir da and vows to march forward in the path shown by him.

Red salutes to the martyrs - Revolutionary May Day greetings to all the comrades. 

Red salutes to the martyrs who laid down their lives at Chicago and elsewhere in the world, fighting against the exploitation of the working class. Revolutionary May Day greetings to all the comrades. On this day, let us resolve to march ahead to create a new world, which will be free of exploitation of man by man. 

It seems the conspiracies to kill BSNL never end. In the past, BSNL’s equipment procurements have been stalled many times, which had greatly affected it's network expansion. A similar attempt is being made now also.

An industry body called TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council) is the latest villain. As a result of it's complaint, the tender floated by BSNL on 23rd March, 2020, for procuring 50,000 4G mobile sites, has it roadblocks. The TEPC has objected that BSNL's tender conditions have made it impossible for the domestic vendors to participate in the tender. One such condition is that, the previous experience of having set up 20 million subscriber mobile network. The TEPC has also objected that procuring equipments from MNCs will pose a danger to “National Security”. Further, the TEPC has argued that, BSNL should give opportunity to the domestic producers, since public money is involved in the Company's revival. All these objections raised by the TEPC are untenable due to the following reasons. 

1. BSNL is procuring 4G equipments utilising it’s own money and not using public money. 
2. Even now, Airtel has entered into a one billion dollar contract with Nokia, for procuring 4G equipments. No objection was raised by TEPC on that contract. Why BSNL alone should be targeted? 
3. Why BSNL should be compelled to use low quality 4G equipments of local vendors, when private companies like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea are using world class equipments supplied by multinational vendors like Nokia, ZTE, Ericsson, etc.?
4. 100% equipments of the private telecom companies have been supplied by MNCs. If there is no threat for national security in that, then why the threat of national security is being raised in BSNL’s case alone?

For the past so many years, the AUAB is spearheading struggles and movements to safeguard and strengthen BSNL. The AUAB has also played a crucial role in getting 4G spectrum to BSNL for free. In the present case also, wherein vested interests are hatching conspiracy to scuttle BSNL’s procurement of 4G equipments, the AUAB will make the needful intervention. The Convenor, AUAB, is already in contact with other constituents of the AUAB to finalise appropriate action.

BSNLEU has already raised the demand with the BSNL Management that, the BSNL retirees should be allowed to retain their quarters upto 6 months from their date of retirement, at the normal rate of Licence Fee. BSNLEU has raised this demand, in view of the lock-down that has been imposed in the country, which has made it impossible for any one to get houses on rental basis.  Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Shri A.M. Gupta, CGM(BW) and requested him to consider taking expeditious action to settle the demand. The CGM(BW) replied that, the demand is being looked into and that a decision would be taken soon.

The US government has totally failed to contain the spread of Corona Virus. More than 11 lakh people are infected with Corona Virus Disease in the US and 65,000 people have already died. The US is the worst affected country by the Corona Virus Disease. Even many poor countries are managing this disease in a better way. Hence, to save his skin, the US President, Donald Trump, is trying to divert the attention of the US people, by telling that China is responsible for the Corona Virus crisis. The World Health Organisation Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had already categorically stated that, the Corona Virus has originated from animals. However, even recently, Trump has told that, China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology is the origin of the Corona Virus. In reply to this, the Head of Emergencies at World Health Organsation (WHO), Dr. Michael Ryan, has categorically stated that, the Novel Corona Virus is “natural in origin.” Responding to Donald Trump yesterday, Dr. Michael Ryan stated that, the WHO team had listened “again and again” to many scientists, who had looked at the gene sequences of the virus, “and we are assured that this virus is natural in origin”.

[Source: PTI, Washington, updated at 10:14 IST on May 2, 2020, published by Indiatoday.in]

Com. P. Abhimanyu,  GS, telephonically talked to Shri S. K. Gupta,  Director (Finance), BSNL today,  and enquired about the status of the payment of salary for the month of April, 2020. The Director (Finance) replied that BSNL's revenue collections in the month of April are greatly affected due to the Lockdown and hence the Management is trying for bank loans to pay the salary.  The General Secretary urged upon the Director (Finance) to take necessary steps, to ensure early payment of the salary and  avoid sufferings of employees.

(1)  Shimogga SSA comrades - Rs.22,500/-

(2) Com. Sushma Kulkarni, BGTD - Rs.3,000/- 

(3) Com. L. D. Diddagowdar, VP, AIBDPA, KTK - Rs.2,000/-

(4)  Com. Shivegowda, rtd OS, BGTD - Rs.2,000/-

(5) Com. Padmalatha, Retd. SSS, CGMT - Rs.1,000/-

(6) Com. Pillappa, fort xge, BGTD - Rs.1,000/-

(7)  Com.Badavraj Hanumashetty, rtd, Kalburgi - Rs.1,000/-

(8)  Com. Basarimarad, OS, Belgavi - Rs.1,000/-

(9)  Com. Birendra, BS, yediyur, BGTD - Rs.1,000/-

(1) Com.  B.Suresh, JE(VRS) HTD-  Rs.2,000/-

(2) Com.B.Surender Rao, OS Rtd, Mahaboobnagar-  Rs.2,000/-

(3) Com. K.Narotham Reddy, SSS(O) retired, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(4) Com. K.Narasimha Rao, Union office secretary -  Rs.1,000/-

(5) Com.Seshaiah, DS, AIBDPA, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(6) Com. A.Sri Laxmi, OS(TG) retired HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(7) Com. Ramachandradu, CS, AIBDPA TS - Rs.1,000/-

(8) Com. N.S.N. Murthy, SDE retired HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(9) Com. D.Sikhamani, Sr.TM retired, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(10) Com. D.Shankar, Vice President CHQ, AIBDPA -  Rs.1,000/-

(11) Com..P.M.Appalachari, TT VRS, Khammam -  Rs.1,000/-

(12) Com. C.Chandrasekhar, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(13) Com. V.Manya, AGM retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(14) Com. S.Prabhakar Rao, SDE retd.HTD - Rs.500/-

(15) Com. B.Venkatsham, Sr.TM retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(16) Com. D.Padmavathi, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(17) Com. A.S.Laxmi Devi, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(18) Com.SK.Vazeeruddin, SDE, HTD - Rs.500/-

(19) Com. M.Sunder TT Rtd, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

(20) Com. C.Krishnaiah, TT retired, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

(21) Com.P.Padamavathamma, TT Rtd, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

Com.P.R. Das, former Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Odisha circle, has donated Rs.2,000/- to the Contract Workers Relief Fund. CHQ appreciates Com.P.R.Das and heartily thanks him.

In implementation of the call of the CHQ of BSNLEU, Com.Naresh Pal, DS, BSNLEU, Meerut, and CS, BSNL CCWF, UP(West) circle, took the initiative to collect donations from employees, pensioners and will-wishers, to provide relief to the contract workers. An amount of Rs. 26,600/- was collected.  In view of the lock-down, the amount collected, was distributed to the contract workers, at the rate of Rs.500/- per worker. CHQ heartily congratulates the District Union of Meerut for the initiative taken to provide relief to the contract workers.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), over phone yesterday and insisted settlement of the following issues:-

(1)  Payment of April, salary without further delay.

The General Secretary insisted upon the Director (HR) to take the needful action to ensure the payment of salary for the month of April without much delay.
 

(2) Payment of  compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the employees who succumb due to the COVID-19. 

The General Secretary urged upon the Director (HR to take prompt action for implementation of the scheme, under which Rs.10 lakh compensation would be paid in case any employee dies due to Covid-19. The General Secretary told him that the DoT has put in place such a scheme, which has already been implemented by the Department of Posts. The General Secretary  informed the Director (HR) that copies of the orders issued by the DoT and the Department of Posts are already e-mailed to him, together with the request letter of BSNLEU.

(3)   Retention of quarters up to 6 months on normal licence fee.

The General Secretary requested the Director (HR) to take the needful action on the letter written by BSNLEU, for the retention of quarters by BSNL retirees up to 6 months, on the payment of normal licence fee. This demand is being raised in view of the lock-down imposed by the government. 

 The Director (HR) gave a patient hearing and assured to look into the issues and to take needful actions.

BSNL has sold  only 2,29,839 post paid and prepaid SIMs in April, 2020. This is against the target of 14,16,300 SIMs, fixed by the Management, for the month of April. Thus, BSNL has achieved only 16% of it’s target. This is due to the lockdown imposed by the government, to contain the spread of the Corona Virus infection. As regards the month of May, 2020, Management has fixed a target of 14,00,300.

Karnataka circle has done a good job in collecting contributions to the Contract Workers Relief Fund. Utilising this fund, various district unions in the circle are providing relief to the contract workers in the form of food materials.

Bellary: - As per the call of the CHQ, BSNLEU, Bellary district UNION, collected Rs.33,000/- as Contract Workers Relief Fund. From this, 30 contract workers were provided with 25 kgs. of rice bags.  The comrades of Bellary, under the leadership of com.M.D. Fazal, District Secretary, provided the relief materials. 

Dharward: - 230 bags of food materials were distributed to the  contract workers in places like Hubballi, Dharward, Gadag and Ranebennur. Com.N.D. Patil, District Secretary, Com.Harish Doddamani, District President and other district office-bearers participated in these activities.