VIEW BSNLEU LETTER> Denial of Justice to the BSNL pensioners

Com. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU  has written a letter to the Prime Minister on 23-07-2018, urging immediate pension revision of BSNL pensioners without waiting for pay revision in BSNL. He has highlighted the following points in the letter;

1. 7^th Pay Commission has not covered the pension revision issue of BSNL pensioners, as they are drawing pension on IDA scale as per Rule 37A of CCS Pension Rules, 1972
2. Pension revision on 2^nd PRC fitment to BSNL pensioners was much delayed.  
3. The central government pensioners have got their pension revised from 01-01-2016 based on 7^th Pay Commission recommendations as per order dated 04-08-2016 ie just after 8 months whereas for BSNL pensioners it is still not given even after 19 months.
4. Pension revision of BSNL pensioners should not be linked with wage revision in BSNL and the mindset of DoT has to be changed in this regard.

It is pertinent to mention that the pension revision from 01-01-2007 was implemented based on the same fitment of 30% recommended by the 2^nd PRC for the employees, though pension revision was not covered by the 2^nd PRC. Thus a precedence was created for the pension revision of BSNL pensioners.

AIBDPA has already demanded the pension revision from 01-01-2017 on 15% fitment, recommended by the 3^rd PRC and approved by the government, without linking to the pay revision in BSNL, as the liability of pension revision lies completely on central government consequent on annulment of 60:40 condition..  The doubts raised by the DDG (Estt) in the form of anomaly to the subsequently retiring pensioners also have been clarified appropriately during the meeting with Member (Service) and DDG (Estt) on 31-05-2018 and reiterated vide CHQ letter dated 13-06-2018 addressed to Member (Service) and DDG (Estt).

The Circle Conference of Gujarat was held befittingly at Shakti Bhawan, Ambaji, Palanpur District on 20-21, July, 2018. Com.T.V.Ghelani, Circle President controlled the proceedings. Com.N.N.Patel, Secretary, Reception Committee welcomed one and all. Inaugurating the conference, Com. D.Basu, Assistant General Secretary spoke in length and gave good account of the recent developments with regard to pension revision, wage revision, restoration of medical allowance and the importance of the struggles. Shri.S.Y.Jog, Joint CCA, Shri. G.K.Prajapati, AGM, Palanpur, Coms.J.G.Naik, Circle Patron, S.J.Thakar, Convenor, CCWF, M.S.Korat, District President and A.Y.Ghori, District Secretary, Palanpur also addressed the conference.

In the subject session Com. M.B.Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and R.U.Anjariya, Trasurer presented the report and accounts and were adopted after discussion.

Office bearers with Coms.N.N.Patel (President), M.B.Chaniyara ( Circle Secretary) and R.U.Anjariya (Treasurer) were elected unanimously.

The conference was conclded with vote of thanks by Com.N.J.Desai, Chairman, Reception Committee.

Pappanamcode Area Conference, under Thiruvanathapuram District was held on 22-07-2018 with good participation of pensioners. Com.P.V.Chandrasekharn, Patron inaugurated the conference with an inspiring speech. Com. M.C.S.Pillai, Area President controlled the proceedings. BSNLEU leaders Coms.C.Santhoshkumar, Circle Secretary, S Pratapkumar, AGS, R.S.Binny, District Secretary greeted the conference. Coms. Vikraman Nair, District Secretary, R.Muraleedharan Nair, Circle Organising Secretary, G.Raveendran Nair, Circle Vice President also addessed.

Coms. M.C.S. Pillai and V.P.Nair were elected President and Secretary, respectively. 

Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circel Secretary inaugurated the Conference of Tirupur Area Branch, under Coimbatore District on 21-07-2018. Com.Soundarapandyan, Area President was in chair. Com.Premkumar welcomed. Com. Venkataraman , District Secretary inaugurated the conference. Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary delivered the special address. Coms.L.Umapathy, K.Pankajavally and P.B.Radhakrishnan addressed.

Com.B.Soundarapandian and .Com  A.Muthusamy were elected President and Secretary, respectively. 

A special convention of Coimbatore was held on 20-07-2018 with large participation of pensioners, particularly lady comrades. Com.L.Umapathy, Vice President presided over the meeting. Com.P.B.Radhakrishnan welcomed the gathering. Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with a detailed speech on current developments regarding pension revision, pay revision, medical issues etc. Coms.N.Kuppusamy, Asst. Circle Secretary, V.Venkataraman, District Secretary and  K.Pankajavalli, Circle Vice President addressed the convention. The proposal of the District Executive Committee to host the next Circle Conference at Coimbatore was enthusiastically approved by the convention.

The wage negotiation of the BSNL non-executives started on 20-07-2018 in a cordial atmosphere. All the official side and union side members participated. The union representatives assured their full co-operation to ensure finalisation of the wage agreement  at the shortest time. The management side explained the provisions in guidelines of the DPE, communicated vide letter dated 24-11-2017. The staff side members sought clarification in this regard and the management assured to do the needful. The next meeting is decided to be held on 09-08-2018.

BSNLEU and NFTE leaders met thereafter and decided to have closer co-ordination and to submit a joint memorandum. Really a welcome development.

It is to be remembered here that the relentless and continuous struggle by AUAB including strikes and the powerful March to Sanchar Bhawan have made the impossible, possible.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Kolkata Telephones was held on 19-07-2018. Com.Supriya Mitra, Circle President presided over the meeting and delivered the presidential address.. Com. Sanjib Banerjee, Circle Secretary welcomed and explained the arrangements already done for the ensuing AIC and the tasks to be undertaken in the coming days. He also briefed the current position in respect of the pension revision and wage revision. Com.Swastikadas Gupta, CHQ Organising Secretary addressing the CEC , stressed the importance of the AIC and appealed to take up the responsibility in true spirit. Active discussion took place and almost all the Executive Committee members participated. 

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The Corporate Office has issued letter today, constituting the Joint Committee to negotiate wage settlement of the Non-Executives. Chairman of this Joint Committee is Shri H.C. Pant, CGM (Legal) of the BSNL Corporate Office. There are 5 members from the Management Side, including the Chairman. From the Staff Side, 8 members are there. In this, 5 are from BSNLEU and 3 are from NFTE. As we have already informed through the website yesterday, the first meeting of this Joint Committee is taking place at 11:00 hrs. tomorrow.

(BSNLEU Website)

Restoration of pension in respect of Defence Service Personnel who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Bodies-delinking of qualifying service of 33 years for revised pension with effect from 01.01.2006

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSIONS)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 602

Dated: 10.07.2018

Subject :- Restoration of pension in respect of Defence Service Personnel who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Bodies-delinking of qualifying service of 33 years for revised pension with effect from 01.01.2006.

Reference:- This office Circular No. 568 dated 13.10.2016 and Circular No. 592 dated 05.12.2017.

A Copy of Govt. of India, Ministry of Defence, Deptt of ESW letter No. 1(04)/2007/D(Pen/Pol) dated 20.06.2018 on the above subject, which is self explanatory, is forwarded herewith for your information, guidance and necessary action.

2. In terms of GoI, MoD letter No. 1(2)/2016-D(Pen/Pol) dated 30.09.2016, revised consolidated pension and family pension of pre-2006 Armed Forces pensioners w.e.f. 1.1.2006 shall not be lower than 50 % and 30% respectively of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired/ discharged/ invalided out/ died including Military Service Pay and “X” Group pay, if any, without pro rata reduction of pension even if they had rendered qualifying service of less than 33 years at the time of retirement.

3. Now it has been decided by the Government that while determining the revised pension of above said category of absorbe pensioners/family pensioners with effect from 1.1.2006, the pension/ family pension shall also be revised in accordance with the provisions contained in the GoI, MoD letter No. 1(2)/2016-D(Pen/Pol) dated 30.09.2016 referred above.

4. The pension in terms of this order will be revised by the respective Pension Sanctioning Authorities Suo-moto by issuing Corrigendum PPOs in all affected cases. No application in this regard shall be called for either from the pensioners or from the PDAs concerned. Further, PDAs would also brought into notice of PSAs, such left out cases, if any, for revision of pension.

5. All other terms and conditions shall remain unchanged.

6. This circular has been uploaded on PCDA (P) website www.pcdapension.nic.in.

S/d,
(Sushil Kumar Singh)
Jt. CDA(P)