Replying to the question raised in the Parliament Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister for Communications has clarified on 12th December, 2019 that as much as pension is to be revised based on the corresponding revised pay scales of the employees, and no pay revision possible due to bad financial condition of BSNL, his ministry has not proposed pension revision as on date.

We are quite aware of the fact that revised pay scales are necessary for pension revision, as 50 percent of the minimum of the corresponding revised pay scale has to be ensured for pension revision. We are also aware that for implementing Option 3, (pension parity) to BSNL absorbed retirees revised pay scales are required. And that is why AIBDPA had initially put forward the demand of mandatory pension revision after pay revision. And only when, wage revision was delayed / denied due to the affordability conditions stipulated by the DPE, we have changed our demand to delinking wage revision, after one year, as liability of pension revision entirely lies with the central government as per Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 amended from time to time. So pension revision is no way connected to the financial condition of BSNL.

Now, technically, the pay scales are already there, 3rd PRC has given the pay scales for the executives and for the non executives after bilateral negotiations had with the recognised unions and the BSNL management, pay scales were approved. But DoT has not given it’s approval citing poor financial condition of BSNL.

Actually, as the former CMD had rightly pointed out that BSNL should be exempted from the affordability conditions as it is implementing National Telecom Policy and other government projects incurring huge losses, provision of which is given in the 3rd PRC itself . But from the reply of the Minister it seems to be uncertain as to when the pay revision will be implemented.

So, AIBDPA demands that the pension revision of BSNL absorbed retires should be implemented from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision but based on pay scales approved by the BSNL management. And we are not for approaching any court at this stage and get the issue freezed. On the contrary, we will go ahead on the path of struggle, and implement the phased programme of agitation decided by Guwahati CEC meeting held on 24-25, November, 2019.