The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh guidelines on 29^th July, 2020, to be implemented w.e.f. 01^st August, 2020. The letter contains guidelines regarding activities which are permitted, as well as not permitted, inside the Containment Zone and outside the Containment Zone.

The BSNL Corporate Office has issued fresh instructions to be followed w.e.f. 01^st August, 2020, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic situation. This letter stipulates that, all Circle Offices shall work with full attendance w.e.f. 01.08.2020. The employees residing in Containment Zones will be permitted to work from home.

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, has issued a letter yesterday the 08^th July, 2020, extending Sovereign Guarantee to BSNL and MTNL, for issuing long term bonds. The Sovereign Guarantee is for Rs.15,000 crore, out of which BSNL’s share is Rs.8,500 crore. In this letter, the following is stated in para no. iii :-

“Guarantee given by Government of India shall be non-transferrable and would cease to exist in case the ownership of the entity is transferred from Government of India….”

From the above clause included in the letter for Sovereign Guarantee, it becomes very clear that the Government of India is open to the option of transferring the ownership of BSNL and MTNL. In other words, this clause of the letter indicates that, the Government of India is having the option of privatising BSNL and MTNL.

वित्त मंत्रालय ने पत्र जारी किया, अब सरकार लंबी अवधि के बांड जारी करने के लिए BSNL और MTNL को सर्वोच्च (सोवेरिन) गारंटी प्रदान करेगा ।

वित्त मंत्रालय के आर्थिक मामलों के विभाग ने लंबी अवधि के बांड जारी करने के लिए BSNL और MTNL को सर्वोच्च (सॉवरिन) गारंटी प्रदान करते हुए कल 08 जुलाई, 2020 को एक पत्र जारी किया है।  सर्वोच्च (सॉवरेन) गारंटी 15,000 करोड़ रुपये की है, जिसमें से BSNL का शेयर 8,500 करोड़ रुपये है।  इस पत्र में, निम्नलिखित में पैरा नं।  iii: -

 "भारत सरकार द्वारा दी गई गारंटी गैर-हस्तांतरणीय होगी और  इन इकाई का स्वामित्व भारत सरकार से  हस्तांतरित होने की स्थिति में मौजूद रहेगा।" 

 सर्वोच्च (सॉवरेन) गारंटी के लिए पत्र में शामिल उपरोक्त खंड से, यह बहुत स्पष्ट हो जाता है कि भारत सरकार BSNL और MTNL के स्वामित्व (मालकाना अधिकार) को स्थानांतरित (ट्रांसफर) करने के विकल्प के लिए खुला रहेगा।  दूसरे शब्दों में, पत्र का यह खंड दर्शित करता है कि, भारत सरकार के पास BSNL और MTNL के निजीकरण करने का विकल्प खुला होगा।

On 22.12.2015, the BSNL Corporate Office issued a letter for the fixation of pay of the officiating JTOs and  deputing them to the JTO Phase-I training. In that letter, it was mentioned that, the pay of the officiating JTOs would be fixed under FR22(1)(a)(i). It was further mentioned in that letter that, the officiating JTOs would be reverted to their parent cadre of TTA, before being deputed for JTO Phase-I training. Now, based on the judgement given by the principal CAT on 05.02.2020, the BSNL Corporate Office has issued a letter today the 09.07.2020, nullifying the reversion of the officiating JTOs to their parent cadre of TTA.

The DoT has issued instruction yesterday that, the Director (Establishment), nominated in each telecom circle by the DoT, will act as the cadre-controlling officer of the unabsorbed Group ’C’ & ‘D’ employees working in BSNL. It is stated in the letter that, matters related to issuing of retirement / struck-off order, granting NoC for going abroad and permission for acquiring immovable and movable property, in respect of the unabsorbed Group ’C’ & ‘D’ employees, will be dealt and decided by this Director (Establishment).

Validity of the BSNL MRS Card of  the retired employees has earlier been extended up to 30.06.2020. The retired employees came under pressure to fill up the form and apply for revalidation of the BSNL MRS Cards before 30.06.2020. Hence, BSNLEU wrote to the GM (Admn.), BSNL Corporate Office, demanding to extend the validity of the BSNL MRS Card up to 30.09.2020. This demand was raised in view of the hardships that  the retired employees would have to undergo, for filling up the forms for the extension of the validity, at a time when the Corona Virus infection is spreading fast. The BSNL Corporate Office has accepted the demand of BSNLEU and the validity of the BSNL MRS Card has been extended up to 30.09.2020, in respect of the retired employees. 

The issue of non-remittance of LIC premium amount, deducted from the salaries of employees, is being repeatedly taken up with the CMD BSNL, by BSNLEU. A number of times, BSNLEU has discussed this with the CMD BSNL. A few days back also, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, citing that the LIC is demanding interest and GST thereon, for the belated premium payment. Yesterday, the Corporate Office has written to all the CGMs, calling for inputs. All know that, LIC premium was not remitted, only because the Corporate Office did not allot fund. But, now, the Corporate Office is questioning the CGMs, why LIC premium is not remitted? BSNLEU wants prompt action by the Management to settle this issue. Eye wash type of action will not help the employees. 

In the ongoing COVID-19 scenario, it will be difficult for the patients to consult the doctors and get new prescriptions for their treatments. Considering this difficulty, the Corporate Office has issued letter, wherein it is stated that, outdoor treatment claims, which are not older than 6 months would be permitted.

As per the decision already taken by the BSNL Corporate Office, on the issue of changing union membership, the BSNL Corporate Office has issued letter yesterday the, 3^rd June, 2020. According to this letter, the option to change union membership (deduction of subscription) will be allowed from 16.06.2020 to 15.07.2020. All circle and district secretaries are requested to kindly make note of this and to take the needful action. It is also informed that the next process to change union membership, by way of submitting option, will take place only next year, i.e., between 16^th June, to 15^th July, 2021.

The DoT, vide it’s letter dated 29-05-2020, has appointed Shri V.Ramesh as the Director(Enterprise) of BSNL. Shri V. Ramesh will hold this post till his retirement on 31.07.2024. The Director(Enterprise) is a very important post in BSNL, so far as revenue generation is concerned. BSNLEU heartily congratulates Shri V. Ramesh and wishes him all success in his new assignment.

Recently Government of India took decision to freeze the Dearness Relief to the Central Government pensioners, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. Immediately, the DoT vide it’s letter number 1/Misc/Pen/Issue/BSNL/DDG(Accounts)/2019-Part.1/1407-1439 dated 28.04.2020, issued instruction stating that the BSNL employees retiring in April, 2020,  should be retirement benefits  at the old rate of Dearness Relief, i.e., at 157.3%. Vehemently opposing this arbitrary action of the DoT, BSNLEU wrote to the Secretary, Telecom, on 28.04.2020. In that letter, BSNLEU has stated that the DoT has no authority to deny whatever Dearness Relief already approved to the BSNL pensioners, by the DPE. It may be noted that the DPE, on 03.04.2020 itself has already approved Dearness Relief to BSNL pensioners @160.7%, w.e.f. 01.04.2020. Now, the DoT has gone back from it’s decision of denying Dearness Relief @160.7% to the BSNL employees who retired in April, 2020. It has issued letter yesterday the 26.05.2020, withdrawing it’s letter dated 28.04.2020. In this letter, the DoT has also stated that all pension related benefits be released @160.7% Dearness Relief.

On 27^th March, 2020, the DoP&T has issued a letter stating that, the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) should be exempted, while drawing up the roster of staff who are required to attend essential services. However, this instruction was not implemented in BSNL, since the DoP&T letter was not endorsed by the BSNL Corporate Office. Hence, BSNLEU wrote to the Corporate Office on 02.04.2020, demanding the BSNL Corporate Office to endorse the DoP&T letter. Accepting BSNLEU’s demand, the Corporate Office has issued letter, endorsing the DoP&T letter. Circle Secretaries are requested to kindly ensure the implementation of the DoP&T instruction.

Shri B. L. Varshney, who has been working as the interim Director (EB) has been promoted and posted as the Advisor, AP, LSA. In view of this, the DoT has issued letter, according to which, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) has been given the additional charge of the Director (EB) also.