PENSION REVISION.
AIBDPA has a clear stand on Pension Revision of BSNL Retirees from the very beginning.
Our demand has been that Pension Revision from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision. Pension revision is no way connected to affordability condition or bad finance of BSNL as 100% liability of pension and pensionary benefits lies with the Central government.
The AUAB also raised the same demand and got an assurance from the former Minister of Communications, Shri. Manoj Sinha that Pension Revision will be implemented delinking wage revision. But the present Minister of Communications, Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad , presumably at the behest of certain arrogant beaurocrats , took a negative stand to the effect that pension revision will be implemented only after wage revision. At this stage some of the Pensioners organisations opined about approaching court for settlement of Pension Revision. These organisations were advocating for 7th CPC fitment for Pension Revision and that too from 01-01-2016.
The Central Executive Committee meeting of AIBDPA held at Guwahati in November, 2019 discussed issue in threadbare and decided against seeking legal remedy at this stage. Instead the CEC decided a phased program of agitation culminating in a Parliament March. The CEC also authorized CHQ to explore the possibility of a joint action by contacting other Pensioners organisations. Accordingly, all the important Pensioners organisations were contacted, but only AIRBSNLEA, AIBSNLREA, and BDPA responded and had reservations on joining the agitation. Therefore we had to go it alone. Postcard campaign to Prime Minister, Meeting MPs, Hunger Dharna at all CCA offices were held successfully. All preparations were made for the final phase of Parliament March on 12-03-2020. Unfortunately we were compelled to postpone it due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the situation is not conducive for any major agitation, as India is witnessing a swift spike in Corona infection and it is a reality that we have to live with Covid-19 pandemic for some time long.
Meanwhile some of the Pensioners organisations have filed petition at Principal CAT, New Delhi. But it is learnt that the prayer is different. While AIRBSNLEA, SNPWA and MTNL Pensioners organisations have put forward that Pension Revision should be on IDA with 2.51 fitment. AIBSNLPWA has filed a separate petition in the same PCAT, New Delhi praying for Pension Revision on 7th CPC fitment from 01-01-2016.
CHQ is watching the developments keenly and will take a decision at appropriate time.
K G Jayaraj
General Secretary