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.

The Ministry of Finance has issued letter today the 23.04.2020, for freezing the Dearness Allowance (DA) of the Central Government employees and pensioners, up to 01.07.2021. As per this letter, the Central Government Employees and pensioners will not be paid any DA for a period of 1 ½ years, i.e., from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. When the DA is restored on 01.07.2021, it will be done only prospectively and no arrears will be paid. The Central Government has taken this retrograde measure, in the name of fighting the crisis created by the Corona Virus Disease. BSNLEU strongly denounces this anti-worker measure of the Modi government.

Consequent to the government's announcing certain concessions in the payment of Income Tax, the BSNL Corporate Office issued letter on 20.04.2020, directing the employees to submit their option to continue in the old tax regime or to switch over to the new tax regime. The last date for submitting this option had been fixed as 28.04.2020. Citing the shortage of time, as well as the difficulties created by the lock-down, due to the COVID-19, BSNLEU wrote to the Sr.GM(Taxation),BSNL CO, demanding to extend the last date by one month. Accepting the demand of BSNLEU, the Corporate Office has issued letter, extending the last date up to 31.05.2020. BSNLEU thanks the Sr.GM (Taxation), for accepting the demand.

The BSNL Corporate Office has extended the revalidation of the BSNL MRS medical card for the retirees till 30-06-2020. This has been done in view of the ongoing lockdown.

The BSNL Corporate Office, vide  letter number 1-14/2018-PAT(BSNL) dated 15^th April, 2020, has issued letter to all the CGMs. According to this letter, one day's pay (basic pay + DA) will be deducted from April, 2020 salary of the employees, for the  PM CARES FUND. It is stated in the letter that, the contribution is purely voluntary. Any employee who is unwilling to contribute one day salary to the PM CARES FUND, can inform their unwillingness to the DDO in writing before 25.04.2020, says the letter. A good number of members of BSNLEU have already contributed handsome amount to the “Contract Workers Relief Fund”, to help the contract workers, who are suffering from the COVID-19 lock-down. If any such comrade is unwilling to contribute one day salary to the PM CARES FUND, they can inform the same in writing to the DDO before 25.04.2020.

पीएम केयर्स फण्ड में एक दिन के वेतन का योगदान.
BSNL कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा सभी CGMs को पत्र क्रं 1-14/2018-PAT(BSNL) दिनांक 15 अप्रैल, 2020 प्रेषित किया गया है। इस पत्र के अनुसार पीएम केयर्स फण्ड हेतु कर्मचारियों के अप्रैल, 2020 के वेतन से एक दिन के वेतन (मूल वेतन+DA) की कटौती की जाएगी। उक्त पत्र में उल्लेख किया गया है कि यह योगदान पूर्णतः स्वैच्छिक है। पत्र के अनुसार, जो भी कर्मचारी पीएम केयर्स फण्ड में एक दिन के वेतन का योगदान देने हेतु इच्छुक नही  है, वह  अपनी अनिच्छा बाबद 25.04.2020 के पूर्व DDO को सूचित कर सकता है। बड़ी संख्या में BSNLEU के सदस्यों द्वारा अच्छी खासी राशि का योगदान कोविड-19 लॉक डाउन से आहत कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की सहायता हेतु "कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स रिलीफ फण्ड" में किया जा चुका है। ऐसा कोई भी साथी यदि पीएम केयर्स फण्ड में अपना योगदान देने का इच्छुक नही है, वह  25.04.2020 के पूर्व DDO को लिखित में सूचित कर सकता है।   

The DoT has released an amount of Rs. 4,156 crore to BSNL. This is for making payment of Exgratia amount to those who have retired under VRS-2019. The DoT has directed that, this payment should be completed within 21 days.