CITU Central Committee’s encouraging post on BSNL employees’ and pensioners’ dharna at New Delhi today 7-8-2026

Rain Can’t Wash Away Our Resolve – BSNL Workers Stand Firm!

Thunder rolled. Rain lashed down. And still, workers under the banner of the BSNL Co-ordination Committee- BSNLEU, AIBDPA, and BSNL CCWF- held their ground on dharna, refusing to let the skies do what the government has failed to do for nine years: break their resolve.

Comrade Sudip Dutta, National President of CITU, stood in solidarity with these fighting employees on behalf of the organisation- a reminder that this is not BSNL’s fight alone- it is the fight of the entire working class!

For close to a decade, BSNL workers have been denied what is rightfully theirs. Wage revision due since 2017- buried under an “affordability clause” that punishes workers for losses caused by the government’s own decisions: the years of denied 4G spectrum, the restrictions on equipment procurement, the capital support that came too late and too little. Pension revision, also due since 2017, remains unsettled even as courts have vindicated workers on connected issues. TSMs and casual workers- some with 20 to 25 years of service-are still paid on outdated 6th Pay Commission rates, denied minimum wages, denied PF and ESI, denied dignity.

And now, “restructuring.” VRS after VRS has already halved BSNL’s workforce since 2019. A new pilot project threatens to hollow out services further- not to save BSNL, but to prepare the ground for its eventual disinvestment.

Let’s be clear: BSNL did not lose to the market. BSNL was made to lose- by policy, by design, by a state that poured lakhs of crores into managing decline while calling it revival. The affordability clause is not a law of nature. It is a choice. And choices can be reversed- if workers force the issue.

Today, in the rain, BSNL workers showed exactly the kind of resolve this fight demands. No storm-natural or political- will wash away their demand for justice.

We say it plainly: Protect BSNL. Settle wages. Settle pensions. End the retrenchment of contract workers. Stop the restructuring that serves privatisation, not the public.

Parliament March and Massive Dharna on 7th August 2026

Kept the Spirit Alive Even Amidst Heavy Rainfall Organized by Coordination Committee – AIBDPA, BSNLEU & BSNLCCWF

GREAT WARRIORS OF MAHARASHTRA – CELEBRATE THE VICTORY

VICTORY OF JUSTICE ACHIEVED BY RELENTLESS STRUGGLES – AGITATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS. WHEN TAKING OVER CHARGE OF GENERAL SECRETARY OF AIBDPA, FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY COM. K G JAYARAJ HANDED OVER A FILE CONTAINING VOLUMES ORDERS AND LETTERS WRITTEN by AIBDPA. IT WAS OF THE CASE OF ST-VRS, MAHARATRA. WE CONTINUED THE FIGHT. FINALLY, GENUINE CASES OF OUR COMRADES ARE SETTLED AND HENSE, TODAY IS VICTORY DAY. OUR CIRCLE SECRETARY COM.M I JAKATI DESERVES THE CREDIT AND ALSO HIS ENTIRE TEAM OF MAHARASHTRA.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE COMRADES WHO SUFFERED A LOT BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED JUSTICE AND STOOD FIRMLY WITH AN UNWAVERING MIND WITH OUR MIGHTY ORGANISATION – AIBDPA.

R MURALEEDHARAN NAIR, GENERAL SECRETARY

IT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR 180 ST VRS RETIREES

This is a great victory achieved through relentless efforts and sustained struggles. The determination and leadership of our vibrant Circle Secretary, Com. M. I. Jakati, deserve special mention. We congratulate all 180 comrades and their families for standing firm with AIBDPA. CHQ is gratified that our vision and perspective on the issue have finally borne fruit. 

Hearty congratulations and sincere thanks to all Maharashtra comrades for this significant victory.

K. G. Jayaraj, Patron, AIBDPA

Six Years of Struggle Has Finally Borne Fruit. Today, the Smiles of Justice Have Lit Up the Faces of 180 Families! The way has finally been cleared for the release of Retirement Benefits to 180 ST VRS-2019 retired employees of Maharashtra.

Request for amendment to the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Eighth Central Pay Commission and inclusion of pension revision and pensioners’ issues and Inclusion of Autonomous Bodies and Universities

NCCPA writes to Hon’ble Prime Minister (Ltr No: NCCPA/CPC/PM/2026 Dtd 01st August 2026)

Everyone ready for a struggle crescendo (AIBDPA Circular No.5 Dtd 30th July 2026)

AIBDPA Yavatmal, Maharashtra – District Conference

The Second Biennial District Conference of the Yavatmal District Branch of the All India BSNL & DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) was held successfully on 23^rd July 2026. The conference was presided over by Com. Pradeep Dahake. The conference was inaugurated and addressed by Com. M. I. Jakati, Circle Secretary. The Chief Guest was Com. Panchamji Gaikwad, Assistant General Secretary, AIBDPA, CHQ.

President: Com. Babarao Padalwar, District Secretary: Com. Satish Meshram, Treasurer: Com. Pradeep Dahake were elected as office bearers.

CHQ CONGRATULATES THE NEW TEAM OF OFFICE BEARERS

R. Muraleedharan Nair, General Secretary

WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND INAUGURATION OF TWITTER (X) CAMPAIGN

As part of TWITTER (X) campaign of COC (AIBDPA, BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF), a workshop on social media was conducted at P& T House, Thiruvananthapuram on 27th July 2026.

Com. R.Muraleedharan Nair, General Secretary, AIBDPA inaugurated the workshop. Sri. K G Suraj, President, Purogamana Kala Sahithya  sangam & Sri. Anilgopal explained the importance and influence of social media. The presentation with the help of Laptops, projector etc. created much enthusiasm among the participants. All the participants installed “X” and our demands were tweeted successfully.

R.Muraleedharan Nair, General Secretary

29th July 2026 is the death anniversary of Shri. D S NAKARA, who is respectfully called the father of pensioners, in India.

D S NAKARA

Today, the 29th July 2026 is the death anniversary of Shri. D S NAKARA, who is respectfully called the father of pensioners, in India.

D.S.NAKARA – He held a high position in the accounts department of the defence sector. The central government introduced a liberalised pension scheme for employees in 1979. But was issued stating that this would be applicable only to those who retired after 1979 and not to those who retired before that…

D.S. NAKARA – who retired from service in 1972 was also affected by this. This was against the constitution and everyone was entitled to the liberalised pension and Shri. NAKARA filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court gave historic judgment on 17-12-1982 stating that retired employees should not be separated on the basis of their date of retirement. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Y B Chandrachud gave this historically important judgment. Retired employees should be treated like a homogeneous group. Pension is not a bounty and not to be given at the sweet will of the employer.

While implementing the Pay Commission recommendations for government employees, the revision must be implemented for the past pensioners  also. From that day till today, the Central Government and the State Governments are following this order.

But today Central Government employees and State Government employees who joined the service after 01-01-2004 new pension system was introduced (NPS). Today, if we, those who retired before December 2003, are still receiving the old pension, thanks to Shri. D S NAKARE.

The Central Government and the State Governments should abolish the new pension scheme for their employees and take necessary steps to implement the old pension scheme. Instead, the intention of Central Government is very clear, by arming with the draconian Validation clause, they further want to curtail the existing pension, challenging the Supreme Court judgment. Today, on the death anniversary of Shri D S. Nakara who is called the father of pensioners.

29-7-2026 let us pay homage to him.

On this death anniversary, the Central Government and the State Governments should take necessary steps to restore the old pension scheme.

R.Muraleedharan Nair, General Secretary