NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has reported a seven-fold jump in call drops on 2G networks and a 65 per cent fall in the quality of 3G services in the quarter to March 2015.

The industry average of call drops at the end of the quarter was 12.5 per cent, compared with 1.64 per cent in the yearago period on 2G networks, as per data on quality of services published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

According to the data, Aircel’s network witnessed the maximum call drops, followed by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) during the three month period. Norms mandate that in the worst case, the incidence of call drops should not be more than 3 per cent of total calls made on a network. But in the case of Aircel, it was found that the call drops level was in the range of 3.15 per cent to 17.99 per cent, while for BSNL, it was 3.45-18.91 per cent.

Separately, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the parliament that 647 complaints over service quality were registered with Trai until June, with the subscribers of market leader Bharti Airtel making the maximum number of complaints.

In the data released by the regulator on Wednesday, call drops on Aircel’s 2G network was beyond the set benchmark in 16 out of 22 telecom service areas, while the noncompliance on the BSNL network was in five service areas.

High call drop rate was also noticed on the networks of Vodafone India in Delhi and Sistema Shyam Teleservices in Gujarat.

The regulator, however, found improvement in call drop rates on quarterly basis to 12.5 per cent from 13.66 per cent. On the 3G network, the call drop average across network was 15.96 per cent during the three months to March, compared with 9.68 per cent a year ago. The regulator found the problem in the 3G network of Aircel across 11 service areas and of BSNL in four circles.

The problem on 3G network has increased marginally on quarter-onquarter basis.

( courtesy: The Economic Times)

No. 25014/1/2013-AIS-II

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension

(Department of Personnel & Training) North Block, New Delhi

Dated: 17/08/2015

To

All the Chief Secretaries of State Governments/UTs.

Subject: Revision of pension/family pension of pre-2006 pensioners of All India Services.

Sir,

I am directed to refer to the above mention subject and to say that in compliance to the judicial pronouncement, the Department of Pension & Pensioners vide its O.M. No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 30/07/2015 has decided that the pension/family pension of all pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners may be revised in accordance with their Department’s O.M. NO. 38/37/08/-P&PW(A) dated 28/1/2013 w.e.f. 01.01.2006 instead of 24.9.2012. The applicability of the provisions of the aforesaid O.M. dated 30/07/2015 to All India Services pensioners of pre-2006 has been considered by this Department and it is decided that provisions of the aforesaid O.M. of Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare shall be applicable miutatis-mutandis to All India Service pensioners of pre- 2006.

Yours faithfully,

(Rajiv Jain) Under Secretary to the Government of India.

A largely participated special general body meeting was held on 16th August, 2015 by the district branch of Hubli. Inaugurating the meeting Com.G.G.Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary spoke in detail about the pensioners issues, particularly the current position of 78.2% IDA merger.Com. A. D. Kulkarni, District Secretary delivered the welcome speech.

The meeting unanimously elected Com. R. Y. Shalgar as the new Treasurer in place of Com. A.R. Kulkarni who expired on 06-07-2015

Today, 17th August,2015 Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary had a detailed discussion with Shri. Prachish Khanna, Director (Estt), DOT regarding the progress on 78.2% IDA merger. The Director confirmed the receipt of the cabinet note back from the Department of Expenditure but it is more trouble that objections are raised in respect of the 60-40 issue. The file is put up to the Member (Finance) ,DOT for further action.

We strongly protest the insistence of 60-40 issue in considering 78.2% to BSNL pensioners retired before 10-06-2013 despite the clarification issued by Secretary, DOT vide order  dated 05-01-2009  which states as follows;

” In this connection it is hereby clarified that the above said limit of 60% is for normal funding. This does not in any way distract from the fact that the ultimate liability towards pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL employees ( excepting those recruited after 01-10-2000), as per sub rule 21 of Rule 37-A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, lies  with the Government of India. If BSNL, for any reason, is not able to contribute to the extent prescribed in para 1 above, the Government of India will still pay the admissible pensionary benefits including family pension to BSNL employees (excepting those recruited after 01-10-2000)”

Further if at all it is insisted,we are at a loss to understand that when all those in service and retired after 10-06-2013 are availing this benefit how could it be denied to the BSNL pensioners retired before 10-06-2013. It is simple logic that the 60-40 problem  would be more grave during the later period.

Therefore there is no justification in denying the benefit to the BSNL pensioners for one reason or another and it amounts to gross discrimination also.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged today that he is yet to reach a resolution on the One Rank One Pension demand of ex-servicemen, but promised that his government had “accepted OROP in principle.”

An announcement on the implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP was expected to be the centrepiece of the PM’s Independence Day address today. But talks between ex-servicemen and the government got stuck at the last minute on what the PM today called “nitty gritty details”.

“It has been stuck for 20 years… OROP was considered by all governments, but there is no resolution yet. Even I haven’t been able to solve it,” the PM said at the end of nearly 90-minute address to the nation from the Red Fort.

But he promised, “Let me assure all veterans… we are committed and we are in the final stages of deciding.”

Not far from the Red Fort, ex-servicemen sitting on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the designated site for protests in Delhi, watched the PM’s address on a large TV screen and said they were severely disappointed that he had not announced OROP.

‘PM says Team India , Team India. Are we not Team India,’ asked an angry army veteran, referring to the phrase that the Prime Minister generously used in his speech this morning.

Former Army officers and soldiers have demanded the same pension as those of the same rank who are retiring now. Right now, an officer who retired many years ago is paid far less than someone several ranks junior to him.

Talks are said to be stuck on the date of commencement. The veterans have rejected the government proposal to benchmark pensions at 2011 rates. They insist that 2014 rates must apply as that is when the Modi government promised OROP.

Government sources say to do that, it will need to provision for a massive Rs. 20,000 crore, rather than the Rs. 8,000 crore that the scheme is otherwise expected to cost.

Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, com. A.P. Dhaiya, AGS, SNEA(I) and com. Khan, senior leader of SNEA(I) in Corporate Office met CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Shrivastava today, the 14th August, 2015 and strongly argued for implementation of agreed issues of Kerala circle, viz., CGM posting, to withdraw victimisation against leaders of both BSNLEU and SNEA(I) in Kerala and wages issues of Contract Workers. The CMD BSNL informed that Director (CFA), shri N.K. Gupta is being sent to Kerala in next week for settlement of these issues in consultation with Union / Association and the circle administration of Kerala. Meanwhile, Shri R.M. Subbaiah, Sr.GM has been ordered today by the Corporate Office to look after the CGM, Kerala.

(COURTESY: BSNLEU WEBSITE)