Ms. Aruna Sundararajan is a 1982 batch IAS officer. She became the Secretary, Telecom, in 2017 and superannuated in July, 2019. Now, she has been appointed as a Board of Director of the LNT Infotech, which is an IT solutions Company. The DoP&T has given the necessary clearance for her joining the LNT- Infotech.

As per the call of the CHQ, the Dakshina Kannada District Union (Mangalore) has collected donations to the “Contract Workers Relief Fund”. Out of this, food materials were distributed to 50 contract workers at Mangalore on 21-05-2020. Com.Tanveer Pasha, District Secretary, Com.Rajesh, CWC Member and Com.Revthi Rajesh, All India Committee member of BSNL WWCC, together with other district office bearers participated in this programme.

It is a very tough time now, for organising any trade union action. Nation wide lock-down has been imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19. Free movement of the citizens has been severely restricted. Still, the CHQ of BSNLEU taught it appropriate to launch a nationwide protest action against the atrocious increasing of the working hours by certain state governments, injustices being meted out to the contract workers and also on the  non-payment of salary, as well as the curtailment of medical facility issues. It is really heartening to note that, the circle and district level leaders of BSNLEU have risen to the occasion and have organised highly successful lunch demonstrations, with social distancing. In most of the circles the programme has been observed very effectively. BSNLEU has once again proved that it is the fighting organisation. The CHQ congratulates the circle and district level leaders who successfully organised the demonstrations. The CHQ also salutes all the comrades who participated in the demonstrations, despite the prevalence of the lock-down.

Mrs. Minu Biswas, elder sister of Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, passed away at Kolkata, today. She was 75 years old. She fell down inside her house day before yesterday and was admitted in a hospital. However, she passed away in the hospital today. The funeral took place at around 4:00 pm today. We deeply condole the death of Mrs. Minu Biswas and convey our heartfelt condolences to Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and all the members of his family.  

BSNLEU ने यह कर दिखाया- लॉकडाउन पीरियड के दौरान सफलतापूर्वक राष्ट्रव्यापी प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए गए...
किसी भी प्रकार की ट्रेड यूनियन कार्यवाही करने के लिए यह अत्यंत कठिन समय है। कोविड-19 की रोकथाम के लिए देश भर में लॉकडाउन किया गया है। नागरिकों की स्वतंत्रता पूर्वक आवाजाही पर कड़े प्रतिबंध है। इसके बावजूद, BSNLEU के CHQ ने यह सीखा दिया कि कुछ राज्य सरकारों द्वारा दमनपूर्वक कार्य के घंटों में वृद्धि करने, कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स के साथ की जा रही नाइंसाफी और साथ ही वेतन भुगतान में विलंब और मेडिकल सुविधाओं में की गई कटौती के खिलाफ राष्ट्रव्यापी विरोध करने का ये उपयुक्त समय है। यह अत्यंत सुखद है कि BSNLEU के सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट लेवल के लीडर्स ने स्थिति की गंभीरता को महसूस करते हुए, सोशल डिस्टनसिंग का पालन करते हुए, बेहद सफलतापूर्वक  भोजन अवकाश में प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए हैं। अधिकांश सर्कल्स में कार्यक्रम अत्यंत प्रभावी रुप से आयोजित किया गया है। BSNLEU ने एक बार पुनः यह साबित कर दिया है कि वह एक संघर्षशील संगठन है। CHQ, सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट लेवल के उन सभी लीडर्स को बधाई देता है, जिन्होंने सफलतापूर्वक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया। CHQ, लॉकडाउन के प्रभावी होने के बावजूद प्रदर्शन में शिरकत करने वाले सभी कॉमरेड्स को भी सलाम करता है।

There are a lot of expectations among Indians about the launching of the 5G service in India. However, as per media reports, 5 spectrum auctioning will not be held in 2020. It is understood that auctioning of 4G spectrum will be held this year and 5G spectrum auctioning is being deferred to 2021. The reasons behind this delay in the auctioning of 5G spectrum are as follows:-

1. The biggest reason for the delay is said to be the uncertainty, whether Huawei and ZTE will be allowed to deploy 5G networks in India.

2. Telecom Companies feel that the base price of Rs.492 crore per unit of 5G spectrum is very high.

3. There is uncertainty over the quantum 5G spectrum available for telecom companies, since Department of Space and Ministry of Defence are pressing for the allotment of more 5G spectrum to them.

Media  reports also say that, Vodafone Idea and Airtel  want 5G spectrum auctioning to be delayed, since both these companies are in financial trouble.

CHQ has given call to collect donations to the “Contract Workers Relief Fund”, with the purpose of providing relief to the contract workers, during the lock-down period. Many circles have done a good job in collecting donations, as well as in distributing food materials to the contract workers. CHQ requests all the circle secretaries to immediately send a brief report on this to the CHQ. The report should contain:-

1. Amount of donation collected in the circle. 
2. District wise number of contract workers benefitted. 
3. Amount of relief given to each worker. 

This request may be treated as urgent.

BSNLEU conveys best wishes and warm greetings to all, on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr. Let the festival bring peace and prosperity to all.

10 Central Trade Unions have written to the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), at Geneva, on 25.05.2020, raising a complaint on the violation of Labour Laws in India. As we have already informed the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar and Assam have already increased the working hours beyond 8 hours a day. Further, many states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, etc., have suspended various labour laws. All these steps are being taken, to help the employers, especially the corporates, to enable them to come out of the financial crisis created due to the COVID-19. The workers are being converted into slaves in all the above mentioned states, for the benefit of the employers and corporates. All these are being done at behest of the Narendra Modi led Central Government. Hence, the Central Trade Unions have sought the intervention of the ILO, to ensure that the labour laws, up held by the ILO, are not trampled in India. These Central Trade Unions are as follows:-

INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCT, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.

The ILO (International Labour Organisation) has appealed to the Prime Minister of India to intervene in the violations of Labour Laws in the country. In the letter addressed on 22^nd May, 2020, to the 10 Central Trade Unions of India, the ILO has informed that, the Prime Minister of India has been appealed to send a clear message to the central and state governments, regarding the violation of Labour Laws. In it’s letter, the ILO has requested the Prime Minister, to up hold India’s international commitments. This letter has been written by Mr. Karen Curtis, Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch of the ILO, on behalf of the Director General of the ILO.

His world record for most goals, scored by an individual in the men’s hockey final of the Olympics, still remains unbeaten.

Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. has passed away. The 95 year old iconic hockey player breathed his last on 25^th May, 2020. Under his stewardship, India won gold medal in men’s hockey in three Olympic Games. The greatness of Balbir Singh Sr. could be measured from the fact that, his world record for most goals scored by an individual in men’s hockey final of the Olympics, still remains unbeaten. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to the great Hockey Icon.

[Source: The Hindu dated May 25, 2020]

Human Chain, by maintaining physical distancing, is being organised throughout the country on 30.05.2020, to mark CITU's 50^th Foundation Day. CITU continues to champion the cause of the Indian working masses, by strengthening the working class unity and spearheading militant struggles. While conveying it's revolutionary greetings to CITU on this occasion, the CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon our comrades to actively participate in this Human Chain, by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. 

The BJP led Karnataka government has increased the daily working hours from 8 hours to 10 hours and weekly working hours from 48 hours to 60 hours. The Karnataka government has taken this decision to increase the working hours beyond 8 hours, even while nationwide protests are taking place against this move. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), has welcomed this decision and has stated that, the increase in working hours will improve productivity and revenue. BSNLEU severely condemns this retrograde step of the Karnataka government and demands it's immediate withdrawal.

With the view to mitigate the sufferings of the contract workers during the lock-down period, the CHQ of BSNLEU gave call for raising a “Contract Workers Relief Fund. So far, 20 circle unions have collected Rs.65,62,402/-. These donations have been collected from the employees, retirees, Executives and other well-wishers. Apart from this, the SNEA, Karnataka circle union, has collected Rs.7.5 lakh. Despite the restrictions imposed in movements during this lock-down period, a major part of the donations collected have already been distributed to the contract workers as relief, in the form of food materials. The AIIEA and CITU also have distributed relief in certain parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka circles. The CHQ of BSNLEU salutes all the 20 circle unions, their leaders and the district unions for collecting this huge amount at a very tough time and also for making arrangements to successfully distribute the relief materials. The CHQ also expresses gratitude from the depth of it's heart, to all the employees, retirees, Executives and well wishers, who have generously donated for the Contract Workers Relief Fund. The details of circle wise donations collected are given in the list attached.

Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Karnataka circle, has informed that, so far around 2,000 contract workers of that circle have been benefitted  out of the relief fund collected and distributed by BSNLEU and SNEA.   BSNLEU collected Rs.7,11,488 (including the contribution of the AIBDPA) and SNEA collected Rs.7,33,812. Distribution of food materials to the contract workers has been jointly carried out by both the organisations.

BSNL Employees Credit Co-operative Society Ltd., Bengaluru, has donated Rs.20,000 to the Contract Workers Relief Fund, being collected by BSNLEU. Shri Chandrappa, President, and Shri Doraiswamy, Vice President of the Society handed over the cheque to Com.S.Kumar, District Vice President, BSNLEU, Bengaluru telecom district. CHQ heartily thanks the BSNL Employees Credit Co-operative Society for it’s large heartedness.

BSNLEU and SNEA district unions of Madikeri SSA, Karnataka circle, have collected Contract Workers Relief Fund. Out of this fund, food materials worth Rs.700/- each were distributed to 140 contract workers. These materials were distributed on 26th and 27th of May, 2020. Com.V.J.Antony, District Secretary, BSNLEU and Com. Raghavendra, District Secretary, SNEA, together with the other office bearers, distributed these relief materials.

कर्मचारी लॉकडाउन के चलते अपने कार्यस्थलों से दूर रहे- इस अवधि को "ड्यूटी" मानने की BSNLEU ने मांग की....
BSNLEU ने डायरेक्टर (HR) को उन कर्मचारियों की समस्या बाबद  लिखा है, जो अपने कार्यस्थल से बाहर थे और लॉकडाउन के तहत हवाई, रेल और यातायात के अन्य साधन बंद हो जाने से अपने कार्यस्थल पर पहुंच पाने में असमर्थ थे।  BSNLEU ने मैनेजेमेंट को अनुरोध किया है कि, ऐसे कर्मचारी, जो लॉकडाउन घोषित होने की वजह से अपने कार्यस्थान पर नही पहुंच पाए, को स्वयं का अवकाश आवेदित करने हेतु बाध्य नही किया जाए। BSNLEU ने मांग की है उक्त श्रेणी  के कर्मचारियों की अनुपस्थिति को "ड्यूटी" ही माना जाए।