14^th April, 2023 (Friday) will be a closed holiday on account of the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Order to this effect is issued today by the DoP&T.  

The Admn. Branch of the Corporate Office hurriedly conducted a meeting on 05.04.2023, to discuss renewal of the Group Health Insurance. The intimation for this meeting was given only on 03.04.2023. Both BSNLEU and NFTE requested the Management to conduct the meeting after a few days, since both the General Secretaries were not in Delhi. However, the meeting was conducted ignoring the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives.  Hence, both BSNLEU and NFTE made a complaint to the CMD BSNL stating that, the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives are being neglected by the GM (Admn.), by way of conducting hurried meetings, without giving sufficient notice. Today the DGM(Admn.) contacted the General Secretary, BSNLEU, and suggested to once again hold the meeting for the renewal of the Group Health Insurance Scheme on 12.04.2023. Following this, notification is issued for holding the meeting at 15:00 hrs on 12-04-2023. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, will represent BSNLEU in this meeting. 

The BSNL Management has drastically cut down the strength of various cadres in the name of Restructuring. As a result of this, acute shortage is being experienced at the field level. BSNLEU has already raised the issue with the Director (HR), demanding immediate review of the norms fixed for sanctioning of posts for various cadres. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Ms. Anita Johri, PGM(Restg.) on 06.04.2023 and insisted for a discussion on this issue. The PGM(Restg.) agreed that a discussion on this issue would be held soon. 

The CHQ of BSNLEU has already demanded that, the penal interest deducted from the gratuity payment of 17 VRS retirees of Sultanpur SSA in UP (East) circle, on the plea that they had not taken insurance coverage for their HBA loan, should be refunded. The CHQ of BSNLEU had argued that, there is no point in deducting penal interest after completion of repayment of the entire HBA amount. Based on this, the Corporate Office had called for certain details from the UP (East) CGM Office. The reply belatedly sent by the CGM Office, UP (East) circle, was handed over by Com.Abhimanyu,GS, to the PGM(Estt.) on 06.04.2023. The GS, BSNLEU has demanded immediate settlement of the issue.

The Corporate office issued transfer order to Shri Punchok Dorjey, GMTD, Ludhiana, in December, 2022. However, he has not been relieved so far. Utilising his extended stay in Ludhiana, Shri Punchok Dorjey is wreaking vengeance against members of BSNLEU and those employees who are not in his good book. BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL on 21.01.2023, demanding his immediate relieving. Today, once again BSNLEU has written letter to the CMD BSNL demanding to immediately relieve Shri Punchok Dorjey from Ludhiana. 

The All India Centre has decided that, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU will be held at Bhopal on 6th and 7th May, 2023. Notification for this will be issued shortly. All Circle Secretaries and Central Office bearers are requested to kindly book their journey tickets immediately.

BSNLEU की सीईसी बैठक 6 और 7 मई, 2023 को भोपाल में आयोजित की जाएगी।

ऑल इंडिया सेंटर ने निर्णय लिया है कि BSNLEU की सीईसी बैठक 6 और 7 मई, 2023 को भोपाल में आयोजित की जाएगी । इसके लिए अधिसूचना शीघ्र ही जारी की जाएगी। सभी सर्किल सचिवों और केंद्रीय पदाधिकारियों से अनुरोध है कि वे अपनी यात्रा टिकट तुरंत बुक करें।

For the past many years, BSNLEU has been celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti. In line with this, the All India Centre of BSNLEU calls on the Circle and District unions to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti this year also.  To organise the programme in a befitting manner, the All India Centre gives the following suggestions.

1) On the day of Ambedkar Jayanti, ie., on 14-04-2023, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s photo should be garlanded in all our union offices.

2) Programmes may be organised on 14-04-2023, for providing financial assistance / bags, notebooks and other school materials to SC/ST students.

3) Since 14th April is a holiday, seminars and special meetings may be organised on 13-04-2023 itself.  Prominent trade union leaders / Dalit scholars may be invited to deliver speech on the following topics.

a) Dr B.R.Ambedkar‘s contribution to Indian democracy.

b) Need for reservations and how it is being abolished through privatisation.

c) The need to fight against privatisation and other Neo Liberal Policies.

d) Need for strengthening communal harmony.

CHQ will shortly send a note on the contributions of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar.

इस वर्ष की अम्बेडकर जयंती को उचित तरीके से मनाएं - ऑल इंडिया सेंटर सर्किल और जिला यूनियनों से आह्वान करता है ।

पिछले कई वर्षों से BSNLEU अंबेडकर जयंती मना रहा है। इसी के अनुरूप, BSNLEU का ऑल इंडिया सेंटर इस वर्ष भी अंबेडकर जयंती मनाने के लिए सर्किल और जिला यूनियनों का आह्वान करता है ।  कार्यक्रम को उपयुक्त तरीके से आयोजित करने के लिए ऑल इंडिया सेंटर निम्नलिखित सुझाव दे रहा है।

1.  अम्बेडकर जयंती के दिन अर्थात 14-04-2023 को हमारे सभी यूनियन कार्यालयों में डॉ. बी.आर. अम्बेडकर के फोटो पर माल्यार्पण किया जाए ।

2.  14-04-2023 के दिन अनुसूचित जाति / अनुसूचित जनजाति के छात्रों को वित्तीय सहायता / बैग, नोटबुक और अन्य स्कूल सामग्री प्रदान करने के लिए कार्यक्रम आयोजित किए जा सकते है ।

3. 14 अप्रैल को छुट्टी है, इसलिए 13-04-2023 को ही सेमिनार और विशेष बैठकें आयोजित की जा सकती हैं।  प्रमुख ट्रेड यूनियन नेताओं/दलित विद्वानों को निम्नलिखित विषयों पर भाषण देने के लिए आमंत्रित किया जा सकता है ।

a) भारतीय लोकतंत्र में डॉ. बी.आर. अम्बेडकर का योगदान ।

b) आरक्षण की आवश्यकता और निजीकरण के माध्यम से इसे कैसे समाप्त किया जा रहा है ।

c) निजीकरण और अन्य नवउदारवादी नीतियों के खिलाफ संघर्ष की आवश्यकता ।

d) साम्प्रदायिक सद्भाव को मजबूत करने की आवश्यकता ।

सीएचक्यू जल्द ही डॉ. बी.आर. अंबेडकर के योगदान पर एक नोट भेजेगा।

Shri S.P.Singh, GM(Admin) is functioning in an arbitrary manner. He refuses to consult the Recognised Trade Unions even on issues affecting the Non-Executives. The arbitrary and unilateral implementation of the Sports Compendium is a case in point. Similarly, the Group Health Insurance Scheme is due for renewal from 01.05.2023. This is well known to Shri S.P.Singh, GM(Admin). In this connection, a meeting was held in the Corporate Office on 05-04-2023. However, notice for this meeting was sent to the Recognised Trade Unions only on 03-04-2023.  This is nothing but neglecting the Recognised Trade Unions of the Non-Executives. The indifferent attitude of Shri S.P.Singh, GM(Admin) will affect industrial peace in the company. BSNLEU and NFTE BSNL have written a letter to the CMD BSNL today, requesting him to issue necessary instructions to Shri S.P.Singh, GM(Admin).

The historic Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally, scheduled to be held at New Delhi today, was converted into a massive meeting at Ramleela Maidan. This is because, permission was not granted for the rally.  Workers, kisans, agricultural workers, as well as the employees of BSNL, LIC, Banks, Central government and State governments participated massively in this meeting. 

Com.K.Hemalata, President, CITU, Com.Ashok Dhawale, President, All India Kisan Sabha and Com.Vijayaraghavan, President, All India Agricultural Workers Union, presided over the meeting. The meeting was addressed by Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, Com.Vijoo Krishnan, General Secretary, AIKS, Com.B. Venkat, General Secretary, AIAWU and many other leaders addressed the meeting. 

Com.P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, addressed the meeting and explained how the Modi government is facilitating the big corporates to loot the wealth of the nation. Further, the GS, BSNLEU explained how the government is trying to convert BSNL into a sick company and there by paving the way for handing it over to the corporates, as Air India was handed over to the TATA’s. The GS, BSNLEU also told that, the working class is being divided in the name of God and religion. This is being done to stop the working class getting united and fight against the wrong economic policies of the government. 

Around 2,500 BSNL employees participated in today’s programme from all circles. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily thanks the circle unions for taking efforts to mobilise the employees in the rally. The CHQ also thanks all the comrades who took the pains to travel long distances for participating in today’s meeting.

दिल्ली मजदूरों, किसानों और कृषि श्रमिकों की भारी लामबंदी का गवाह बना ।

आज नई दिल्ली में होने वाली ऐतिहासिक मजदूर किसान संघर्ष रैली को रामलीला मैदान में एक विशाल सभा में बदल दिया गया ।  ऐसा इसलिए किया गया क्योंकि रैली के लिए अनुमति नहीं दी गई थी।  इस बैठक में मजदूरों, किसानों, कृषि श्रमिकों के साथ-साथ बीएसएनएल, एलआईसी, बैंकों, केंद्र सरकार और राज्य सरकारों के कर्मचारियों ने बढ़-चढ़कर हिस्सा लिया।

साथी के. हेमलता, अध्यक्ष, सीटू, साथी अशोक धवले, अध्यक्ष, अखिल भारतीय किसान सभा और साथी विजयराघवन, अध्यक्ष, अखिल भारतीय कृषि श्रमिक संघ ने बैठक की अध्यक्षता की।  बैठक को साथी तपन सेन, महासचिव, सीटू, साथी विजू कृष्णन, महासचिव, एआईकेएस, साथी बी. वेंकट, महासचिव, एआईएडब्ल्यूयू और कई अन्य नेताओं ने बैठक को संबोधित किया।

साथी पी. अभिमन्यु, महासचिव, BSNLEU ने बैठक को संबोधित किया और बताया कि कैसे मोदी सरकार देश के धन को लूटने के लिए बड़े कॉर्पोरेट्स को सुविधा प्रदान कर रही है।  इसके अलावा, महासचिव, BSNLEU ने बताया कि कैसे सरकार बीएसएनएल को एक बीमार कंपनी में बदलने की कोशिश कर रही है और इसे कॉरपोरेट्स को सौंपने का मार्ग प्रशस्त कर रही है, जैसे एयर इंडिया को टाटा को सौंप दिया गया था। महासचिव, BSNLEU ने यह भी बताया कि मजदूर वर्ग को ईश्वर और धर्म के नाम पर बांटा जा रहा है।  ऐसा मजदूर वर्ग को एकजुट होने से रोकने और सरकार की गलत आर्थिक नीतियों के खिलाफ लड़ने से  रोकने के लिए किया जा रहा है ।

आज के कार्यक्रम में सभी सर्किलों से बीएसएनएल के लगभग 2,500 कर्मचारियों ने भाग लिया । BSNLEU का सीएचक्यू रैली में कर्मचारियों को जुटाने के प्रयासों के लिए सर्किल यूनियनों को दिल से धन्यवाद देता है । सीएचक्यू उन सभी साथियों को भी धन्यवाद देता है, जिन्होंने आज की बैठक में भाग लेने के लिए लंबी दूरी की यात्रा करने का कष्ट उठाया ।

The CHQ of BSNLEU conveys it’s best wishes and warm greetings to all the comrades, on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.      

As regards the Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally being held at New Delhi on 05.04.2023, the participants are requested to reach Ramleela Maidan by 10:00 am. All the circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers are requested to pass over this information to the comrades participating in the Rally. 

मजदूर किसान संघर्ष रैली में भाग लेनेवाले साथी कृपया ध्यान दें ।

दिनांक 05.04.2023 को नई दिल्ली में आयोजित होने वाली मजदूर किसान संघर्ष रैली के संबंध में भाग ले रहे साथियों से अनुरोध है कि वे *रामलीला मैदान* में सुबह *10:00 बजे* तक पहुँच जाएँ ।  सभी सर्किल सचिवों एवं सीएचक्यू के पदाधिकारियों से अनुरोध है कि रैली में भाग लेने वाले साथियों तक यह सूचना पहुंचाएं। 

As regards, the Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally being organised at New Delhi on 05-04-2023, the CHQ has made staying accommodation for the comrades coming from far away circles. This accommodation is arranged for 4^th & 5^th only. The place allotted to each circle has been intimated to the circle secretary and CHQ office bearers of the concerned circle. They are requested to pass over this information to the comrades coming from their respective circles.

मजदूर किसान संघर्ष रैली में भाग लेने वाले साथियों के लिए आवास व्यवस्था ।

दिनांक 05-04-2023 को नई दिल्ली में आयोजित मजदूर किसान संघर्ष रैली के संबंध में सीएचक्यू ने सुदूर सर्किलों से आने वाले साथियों के ठहरने की व्यवस्था की है । यह आवास व्यवस्था केवल 4 और 5 अप्रैल के लिए की गई है ।  प्रत्येक सर्किल को आवंटित स्थान की सूचना संबंधित सर्किल के सर्किल सचिव व सीएचक्यू पदाधिकारियों को दे दी गई है ।  उनसे अनुरोध है कि वे इस जानकारी को अपने संबंधित सर्किल  से आने वाले साथियों तक पहुंचाएं।

The results of the Special JTO LICE, conducted on 18.12.2022, are declared on 31.03.2023. 

BSNLEU conveys it’s hearty congrats to all the successful candidates. At the same time, BSNLEU wishes to share certain facts related to this exam. 

Holding of the JTO LICE was unduly delayed by the BSNL Management. BSNLEU continuously pressurised the Management to hold the JTO LICE. Ultimately, the notification for holding the JTO LICE for the vacancy year 2021 was issued on 21.04.2022. 

However, there was a big shock to all the candidates, because, there were vacancies only in 17 circles. There was no vacancy even in many big circles. This was because, thousands of JTO posts were already abolished by the Management, in the name of Restructuring. 

Nobody can deny the fact that, it was only BSNLEU, which bitterly fought against the Restructuring proposals of the Management.

General Secretary, BSNLEU, met CMD BSNL and demanded that, the JTO LICE for VY 2021 should be conducted by diverting the Direct Recruitment quota posts also.

But, the CMD BSNL decided to conduct a Special JTO LICE, by diverting half of the Direct Recruitment quota posts.

The JTO LICE for the VY 2021 was held on 07-08-2022 and the results were declared on 30.08.2022.

Thereafter, the Special JTO LICE was conducted on 18-12-2022, by diverting 445 posts from the Direct Recruitment quota. 

But the results could not be declared, since PWD candidates demanded 4% reservation and obtained a stay from the Principal CAT.

Management took the stand that, 4% reservation for PWD candidates is not applicable for the vacancy year 2021.

General Secretary, BSNLEU, repeatedly discussed this issue with the Management. As a result, Management filed a petition in the Principal CAT, assuring to keep 4% posts reserved for the PWD candidates and sought the Court’s permission to declare the results.

On 01-03-2023, the Court vacated the stay and directed the Management to declare the results, after keeping 4% posts reserved for the PWD candidates.

Even thereafter, there was delay in declaring the results because, complications arose in reserving 4% posts in each circle. Management was very much worried that, implementation of the Principal CAT order should not result in fresh court cases.

BSNLEU continuously took up the issue with the Management, to ensure that, the results are declared without much delay.

Ultimately, results were declared on 31-03-2023. 

426 candidates have become successful in this Special JTO LICE. Out of this, 302 are OC candidates, 87 are SC candidates and 37 are ST candidates. BSNLEU rightly feels proud that, it has helped this much of DR JEs to become Executives.

Despite the constructive role played by BSNLEU on this whole issue, at every stage, some selfish elements have raised doubts, thrown insults and abuses on the Union. BSNLEU just ignores those miscreants and pledges to march forward to serve the employees, including the DR JEs, in the best possible manner. 

BSNLEU once again congratulates all the successful candidates.

As per the Consumer Price Index numbers released by the Labour Bureau, IDA is expected to increase by 1.1% w.e.f. 01.04.2023. The existing IDA is 201.2%. With 1.1% increase, the total IDA payable w.e.f. 01.04.2023 will be 202.3%. 

(With inputs from Com.Mihir Dasgupta, former AGS, BSNLEU)