It was on 21st October 2009 that All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association was formed in a massive convention held at Garhwal Bhawan Auditorium in New Delhi. Large number of BSNL and DOT pensioners from all parts of the country participated.

The Convention was presided over by Com.J.N.Mishra, then President of BSNL Employees Union and the Pensioners Convention Flag was hoisted by Com. Ananta Kumar Bhattacharjee, one of the senior most leaders of the P and T Trade Union movement. All the delegates paid homage to the Martyrs.

Com. M.K.Pandhe, then President of CITU and one of the tallest leaders of the trade union movement in the country and the Vice-President of WFTU inaugurated the Convention. He congratulated the organisers for holding the convention and the decision to form a Pensioners organisation for the DOT and BSNL Pensioners. Com.S.K.Vyas, the undisputed leader of the Central government employees and the Pensioners, addressed and spoke about the major issues of the pensioners. A back ground paper on the issues of the pensioners was presented by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, then GS BSNLEU,  for discussion of the delegates and decisions.

After discussion by a large number of delegates, it was unanimously decided to form All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association to defend the interests of the BSNL DOT Pensioners and advance their cause. The Constitution presented by Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, veteran leader, was unanimously adopted by the house. A comprehensive charter demands was also adopted, some of them later included in the common memorandum submitted to the 7th Pay Commission by the NCCPA. 

Office-bearers with Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri (Advisor), P.V.Chanrasekharan (Patron, A.K.Bhattacharjee (President)  and K.G.Jayaraj ( General Secretary) were unanimously elected. A mighty movement for the DOT BSNL pensioners was born on that day, October 21, 2009.

During the last 8 years, the organisation has grown tremendously becoming the biggest Pensioners organisation in the Central government Pensioners movement as one of the senior leaders in the NCCPA (National Co-Ordination Committee of Pensioners Association) congratulated. It took up the issues of the pensioners with the central government, Ministers, DOT and BSNL and achieved some of the important demands. It fought along with BSNLEU and the Associations and Unions of BSNL in the interest of the BSNL and also its employees and pensioners. Massive Parliament / Sanchar Bhawan March was organised in Delhi. AIBDPA was represented through V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, in the discussion with the VII Central Pay Commission, who focussed the pension and pension revision issues of the BSNL pensioners and gave a special Memorandum as required by the Commission.

Whether it is the Pension Revision w.e.f. 01-01-2007, 78.2% IDA fixation or restoration of medical allowance – on all issues facing the DOT and BSNL pensioners, AIBDPA was in the forefront. Now the main question before the BSNL pensioners is the pension revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017, on which it has demanded the government to grant 15% fitment as recommended for the executives by the III PRC, with full logic and precedence. The government is paying the pension and the affordability clause put by the III PRC is not applicable to the BSNL pensioners. The demand put by some pensioners associations on CDA pension revision will result in much loss, complication and anomalies and is against the existing practice on IDA scale which has largely benefitted the pensioners. The co-ordination of the workers and the pensioners is most important. Remember, “To day’s workers are tomorrow’s pensioners and to day’s pensioners were yesterday’s workers”. This bond should be strengthened.

AIBDPA has called upon the pensioners to celebrate the Foundation Day Anniversary on 21st October 2017 in a befitting manner by organising meetings, demonstrations, rallies etc. and preparing for the future struggles on the demands of the pensioners. This Foundation Day Celebration is being organised, when the entire CG pensioners movement in the country are preparing for massive struggles on the fully justified demands of the pensioners, including pension revision of BSNL retirees with 15% fitment. The massive Dharna in New Delhi on 25th October 2017 as per the call of NCCPA will be historic and AIBDPA will make all efforts for maximum participation.

On this 8th Foundation Anniversary of AIBDPA, Warm Greetings and Congratulations to all members and our well wishers!