IT WAS ALL ENTHUSIASM, VIGOUR AND GLAD AT THE RAMA TULASI KALYANA MANDAPAM, TIRUPATI ON 2ND FEBRUARY, 2016. THE HALL NAMED AFTER COM.S.K.VYAS, THE LEGENDARY LEADER , WAS JAM PACKED AS THE VOLUNTEERS WERE BUSY IN ARRANGING ADDITIONAL CHAIRS IN ALL THE CORNERS ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE THE UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF DELEGATES. THE OCCASION WAS THE INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE 2ND TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF ALL INDIA BSNL DOT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION.

The conference was inaugurated by Com.T.K.Rangarajan MP with an elaborate but spirited speech. He thoroughly exposed the anti-poor and anti-worker policies of the NDA government and exhorted for a united struggle of workers and pensioners against the onslaught of the government. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU in his electrifying address explained the efforts made by BSNLEU and Forum for settlement of the pensioners’ issues including 78.2% IDA merger and restoration of medical allowance to the retirees. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Technical Member, TUI (P&R) shared his experiences in the foundation congress held at Barcelona where the attack on pensioners were narrated by delegates from different countries with the only exemption of Cuba. Shri.M.S.A Nutan, General Manager, BSNL, Tirupati, Com.Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNL CCWF, Com.K.Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA, Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron, AIBDPA, Com.M.N.Reddy, General Secretary, All Pensioners & Retirees Association and Com.J.Sampath Rao, Asst General Secretary and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed the inaugural session. Com.Y.Srinisasalu Reddy MLC and Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the gathering and Com.Y.S.Raju, General Secretary, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks..

Earlier to start with the AIC,  flag hoisting ceremony was organised at 0930. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, President hoisted the National Flag and the Union Flag was hoisted by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor. There after all the leaders and delegates offered floral tributes to the martyrs.

THE DA FOR THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS ARE LIKELY TO BE INCREASED FROM 119% TO 125 % AS ON 01-01-2016 AS PER THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX RELEASED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

An effective press conference was held on 31-01-2016 in connection with the 2nd triennial All India Conference of AIBDPA. It was held at the Press Club, Tirupati participated by a large number of media persons both print and visual. Represeting AIBDPA and the Reception Committee, Coms.P.V.Chandrasekharan,Patron, AIBDPA, K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, Com.Y.S.Raju, General Secretary, Recption Committee, M.Raja Reddy, Joint General Secretary, Reception Committee  briefed the media. General Secretary in his address pointed out the importance of the All India Conference being held at Tiupati on 2-3 February, 2016 and the major issues that may be discussed and appropriate decision taken in the conference. He specifically mentioned the necessity to scrap the PFRDA act, retrograde 7th Pay Commission recommendations, Pay revision and the resultant pension revision in BSNL from 01-01-2017, 50% IDA merger, restoration of quarterly medical allowance to BSNL pensioners and most importanly extension of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners.

The Central EXecutive Committee meeting will be held at Youth Hostel, Tirupati at 4PM on 1st February, 2016. The Conference will kickstart at 10AM on 02-02-2016 with the open session which will be inaugurated by Com.T.K.Rangarajan MP, Vice President, CITU. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee,President, AIBDPA will preside over the conference. Ms.Annie Moras, Member (Finance9, DoT, Shri.Anupam Shrivastava, CMD,BSNL, Ms.Sujata Ray, Director (HR) BSNL are the Chief Guests and Shri.P.V.Muralidhar, CGMT,BSNL, Andhra Pradesh and Shr.M.S.A.Nutan, GMTD,BSNL,Tirupati will address as special guests.

The speakers include Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA, Com.P.Abhimayu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, TUI (PR), Com.Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNL CCWF, Com.K.Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA, Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron and Com.J.Sampath Rao, AGS & Circle Secretary, BSNLEU. Shri. Y.Srinivasalu Reddy MLC,Chairman Reception Committee,will welcome and Y.S.Raju, General Secretary  propose vote of thanks . 

The central government on 29th January, 2016 made a major reshuffle of 10 top level IAS officers .Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer J.S. Deepak has been appointed as the telecom secretary and replaced Rakesh Garg who will now head the minority affairs department.

Garg, who is two years senior to 1982-batch Deepak, was one of the first few officers to be appointed by the NDA government soon after Modi took charge.

Deepak, who earlier was the IT secretary, will still be reporting to Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who holds the charge of both the IT and the telecom departments. He shall hand over the reins of the IT department to Aruna Sharma, who is also a 1980 batch officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

(source : The Hindustan Times)

Shri. Anupam Shrivastava, CMD , BSNL has reportedly told media persons at Bangalore on 28-01-2016 that, BSNL employees would not get wage revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017, unless the Company makes profit. This may be the view of the Management. BSNLEU does not agree with this view. Even the CMD has admitted earlier that, BSNL has missed the ‘voice call bus’, because BSNL was not able to procure equipments for many years. The Hon’ble Minister for Communications, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, has told the Parliament that, the previous government did not allow BSNL to expand it’s network for 10 years. Thus, BSNL has become loss making, not because of the employees, but because of the government and the ministers. On the other hand, the employees are taking all out efforts for the revival of the Company. The launching of “Customer Delight Year” and the “Service With A Smile” programme are evidences for this. Hence, it will not be fare on the part of the Management to penalise the employees for the crimes committed by the previous government and ministers. BSNL Executives and Non-Executives should get wage revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017. Management should understand that 100% strike will take place, in case the next wage revision is denied.

The Empowered Committee will function as a Screening Committee to screen the recommendations of the Commission after taking into account the views of the concerned stakeholders, viz, the Ministries/Departments, Staff Associations and the JCM, so as to firm up the final conclusions for approval of the Cabinet

No.1-4/2015-E.III(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, dated the 27th January, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Constitution of Empowered Committee of Secretaries for processing the Report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission

It has been decided with the approval of the Cabinet to set up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries to process the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

The Committee will have the following members :

2. The Committee may co-opt any other Secretary, whenever found necessary.

3. The Empowered Committee will function as a Screening Committee to screen the recommendations of the Commission after taking into account the views of the concerned stakeholders, viz, the Ministries/Departments, Staff Associations and the JCM, so as to firm up the final conclusions for approval of the Cabinet.

4. The Implementation Cell created in the Department of Expenditure shall function as Secretariat for the Empowered Committee of Secretaries.

5. The final recommendations of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries will be submitted for approval of the Cabinet.

No.22011/3/2013-Estt (D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 25-01-2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Promotion of Govt.Servants exonerated after retirement – Procedure and Guidelines to be followed – Regarding.[READ DOPT INSTRUCTIONS DATED 23-11-2015 ]

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No.22011/4/91-Estt(A) dated 14th September, 1992 regarding procedure and guidelines to be followed by DPC in respect of Government servants against whom disciplinary/court proceedings are pending or whose conduct is under investigation. In case the Government servant is covered under any of the three conditions as mentioned in Para 2 of OM dated 14.09.1992, the recommendations of the DPC are to be kept in ‘sealed cover’ and subsequent action regarding opening of sealed cover will depend on the outcome of the disciplinary/criminal proceedings.

2. If on conclusion of the disciplinary/ criminal proceedings, the Government servant is exonerated, the procedure prescribed in para 3 of the OM dated 14-9-1992 is to be followed. This provides as under:-

“On the conclusion of the disciplinary case/criminal prosecution which results in dropping of allegations against the Govt. servant, the sealed cover or covers shall be opened. In case the Government servant is completely exonerated the due date of his promotion will be determined with reference to the position assigned to him in the findings kept in the sealed cover/covers and with reference to the date of promotion of his next junior on the basis of such position. The Government servant may be promoted, if necessary, by reverting the junior most officiating person. He may be promoted notionally with reference to the date of promotion of his junior. However, whether the officer concerned will be entitled to any arrears of pay for the period of notional promotion preceding the date of actual promotion, and if so to what extent, will be decided by the appointing authority by taking into consideration all the facts and circumstances of the disciplinary proceedings/criminal prosecution. Where the authority denies arrears of salary or part of it, it will record its reasons for doing so. It is not possible to anticipate and enumerate exhaustively all the circumstances under which such denials of arrears of salary or part of it may become necessary. However, there may be cases where the proceedings, whether disciplinary or criminal, are, for example delayed at the instance of the employee or the clearance in the disciplinary proceedings or acquittal in the criminal proceedings is with benefit of doubt or on account of non-availability of evidence due to the acts attributable to the employee etc. These are only some of the circumstances where such denial can be justified.”

3. The applicability of above provisions in so far as it relates to cases where the Government Servant, who has retired by the time he is exonerated of all the charges has been considered in respect of the following cases:

i. Where the promotion order pertaining to the relevant DPC has been issued and the officers empanelled have assumed charge prior to the date of superannuation of the retired Government Servant; and

ii. The retired Government Servant would have been is service and assumed charge of the post had the disciplinary proceeding not been initiated against him/her.

4. It has been decided in consultation with the Department of Expenditure, Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare and the Department of Legal Affairs that notional promotion and payment of arrears of pay, if any, for the period of notional promotion till the date of retirement, to such a retired Government Servant if found fit on opening of the sealed cover is to be decided by the Appointing authority in terms of para 3 of OM No.22011/4/91-Estt.(A) dated 14.9.1992.

5. A retired Government employee who is considered for notional promotion from the date of promotion of his next junior after opeing of the sealed cover would also be entitled to fixation of pension on the basis of such notional pay on his notional promotion.

6. The provisions contained in this Office Memorandum shall become operational from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum. Past cases settled in accordance with the earlier provisions shall not be reopened.

Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, Advisor has met Ms. Annie Moreas, Member (Finance), on 28th January, 2016 at Sanchar Bhawan and discussed the issue of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners. She stated that the Cabinet note in this regard is being finalised considering the comments by the Department of Law. After the approval by the Secretary, DoT and hon’ble Minister of Communications it will be submitted to the cabinet for final approval.

The Durgapur District Conference  was held in an enthusiastic atmosphere at Telecom Recreation Club hall, Durgapur on 24-01-2016. A presidium of Coms.O.K.Banerjee, J.K.Gupta and Ashoke Chowdhury controlled the proceedings. Com.Pijush Chakraborty, Assistant Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with an elaborate speech covering recent developments international, national and West Bengal, attack on pensioners, retrograde 7th pay commission recommendations, present position of 78.2% IDA merger and the ensuing AIC at Tirupati. Com. D. Basu, Assistant General Secretary also addressed the conference. The biennial report and audited accounts were presented by Coms.Dhananjay Ganguly, District Secretary and Dasarath Sarkar, Treasurer respectively and adopted after discussion.

Office bearers were elected with following important functionaries.

Com.O.K.Banerjee (President) Com.Dhananjay Ganguly (District Secretary) and Com.Dasarath Sarkar (Tresurer)

The Central Government is intending to go in for another round of spectrum auctioning. The TRAI has recommended to the government to auction 2000 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz band. This auctioning is expected to fetch Rs.5.4 lakh crore revenue to the government. It may be remembered that the government got Rs.1.1 lakh crore in 2015, through spectrum auctioning.