The DPE has already issued letter on 27.10.2021 for increase in IDA from 01.07.2021 and from 01.10.2021. The IDA has increased from 170.5% to 179.3% during this period. Today, the Corporate Office has issued letter for payment of this IDA increase. 

The tenure of the BSNL Staff Welfare Board, as well as the BSNL Sports and Cultural Board, expired in March, 2020 itself. However, these two Boards were not reconstituted by the Corporate Office. BSNLEU has been consistently demanding that, these two Boards should be reconstituted immediately. A number of letters have been written by BSNLEU on this matter. As a result of this, the Corporate Office has decided to reconstitute the Sports and Cultural Board now and has called for the nominations. BSNLEU will ensure that the Welfare Board is also reconstituted at the earliest.

BSNL Corporate Office had issued letter sometime back stating that, all retired employees should submit option for availing Medical Cash allowance facility, irrespective of whether they had already submitted option or not. BSNLEU took up this issue with the Sr.GM(Admn.) and demanded that the retired employees who had already given option for 2020-21 should not be compelled to give option once again. Based on this, Corporate Office has issued letter today, clarifying that fresh option should be given only by those whose bank account number has changed and those who want to change their option.

On 02.08.2021, the DPE issued circular, regarding the details of IDA increased w.e.f 01.10.2020 to 01.04.2021. However, the DPE did not inform how much IDA has increased w.e.f  01.07.2021. Today, the BSNL Corporate Office has issued letter stating that, as per DPE letter, IDA has increased from 159.9% to  170.5% w.e.f 01.07.2021.

The Freezing of IDA imposed by the  Government of India, on the Executives and Non-Unionised Supervisors of the Public Sector Undertakings has  ended. Hence, increased rates of IDA should be paid to the Public Sector employees w.e.f. 01.07.2021. However, the DPE did not notify the quantum of IDA rates that have increased from 01.10.2020. BSNLEU wrote to the Secretary, DPE on 31.07.2021, demanding to immediately notify the increased rates of the IDA. Under these circumstances, yesterday, the DPE has notified the increased rates of IDA. According to this, (5.5%) IDA has increased w.e.f. 01.10.2020. And w.e.f. 01.01.2021, another (6.3%) IDA has increased. However, the IDA has decreased by (-1.2%) w.e.f. 01.04.2021. Further, the DPE has not notified the quantum of IDA that has increased w.e.f. 01.07.2021.

BSNLEU has demanded that, concession should be provided to the serving and retired BSNL employees on FTTH connections. Earlier, such a concession was given on broadband connections. However, for a very long time, no concession is given to serving and retired employees for FTTH connections. BSNLEU first took up this issue and wrote to the Management on 29.09.2020. (BSNLEU letter no.BSNLEU/518(PHONE) dated 29.09.2020). BSNLEU demanded that 50% concession should be given, without any ceiling. BSNLEU continuously pursued this issue with the Management. As a result, Corporate Office issued letter yesterday, providing 40% concession to the serving and retired employees of BSNL on FTTH connection. However, a ceiling of Rs.300/- has been fixed.  BSNLEU will take steps to remove this ceiling also.

The Corporate Office has issued a letter on 24.05.2021, directing the CGMs to take suitable action for releasing the terminal benefits of the deceased employees, within 30 days. Again, Director (HR) has issued a letter yesterday, wherein he has expressed the dissatisfaction in the progress of this issue. Further, the Director (HR) has also told the CGMs that the terminal benefits of all the deceased employees who died prior to 30.04.2021 should be released before 15.06.2021. Timely payment of terminal benefits to the families of the deceased employees is a very important matter. Hence, all the circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers are requested to pay attention to this matter and to ensure that the terminal benefits of the deceased employees are released as per the time limit set by the Director (HR).

The Director (HR) has issued letter for granting medical advance to the employees, for undergoing COVID-19 treatment. The amount of advance for Delhi and Mumbai will be Rs.1 lakh per employee for isolation bed ; Rs.2 lakh per employee for ICU without ventilator and Rs.3 lakh per employee for ICU with ventilator. The ceiling of advance to the employees posted in X, Y & Z categories of cities will be limited to 90%, 80% and 75% respectively, of the above mentioned rates. BSNLEU wrote to the Director (HR) yesterday, demanding the sanctioning of emergency medical advance to the employees for COVID-19 treatment. 

The government has already issued instruction, for the extension of payment of special concessions to the employees of Central Government / PSUs posted in the Kashmir Valley. However, BSNL did not implement this. BSNLEU has repeatedly written letters and took up the issue with the BSNL Management. As a result, the Corporate Office has issued letter today, approving the payment.