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BSNL KERALA AGITATION CALLED OFF ON SETTLEMENT.

The strike by BSNL CCLU and Non-Cooperation by BSNLEU and SNEA in Kerala  has been withdrawn consequent on settlement. The conciliation talk held today, the 20th August, 2015 by Shri.N.K.Gupta, Director (CFA), BSNL who was specially deputed by BSNL Corporate office with three unions leaders was successful. As per the agreement the Casual Contract workers will be eligible for enhanced wages with effect from 1st August, 2015 based on the minimum wage .A committee consisting union representatives and BSNL management will be constituted to examine the issues of casual contract workers . All the victimisations will be withdrawn and the casual contract workers will be paid their wages for the period of agitation. It was also assured that Shri. M.S.S.Rao, CGMT ,Kerala who only was responsible for the agitation and forced to go on leave will not be posted back to Kerala.

Congratulations to all the workers for their determined and sustained struggle and the leaders for the effective interventions for the settlement.  

INDIA POST GETS LICENCE FOR PAYMENTS BANK.

At last, the Department of Posts has been granted Payments Bank Licence by the Reserve Bank of India. The application was pending for a long time. The RBI took the decision to grant Payments bank licence to 10 other organisations also. Telecom companies Vodafone and Airtel are  in the list.

The Payments Bank can accept deposits up to one lakh, maintain SB and Current Accounts, issue debit cards and also offer internet banking. But they can not give loans or issue credit cards.

It is hoped that the Department of Posts and the people at large will benefit since the DoP has Post offices through out the nook and corner of the country.

CBI REGISTERS CASE AGAINST FORMER TELECOM MINISTER A. RAJA FOR DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETS.

The CBI registered a disproportionate assets case against former Communications Minister A.Raja along with 16 others. Raja is already facing a CBI inquiry in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

It is interesting to note that  many of the former Communication Ministers like Sukh Ram, Dayanidhi Maran had faced corruption cases. Of course, telecom  is one of the most profitable sectors and bribery, corruption, favouritism are all part  in the crony capitalism.

TRIENNIAL ALL INDIA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT TIRUPATI ON 8,9 DECEMBER,2015.

The Reception Committee at Tirupati to hold the triennial All India Conference has informed the CHQ the convenient dates for the conference as 8th and 9th December,2015. General Secretary contacted almost all the CHQ office bearers and Circle Secretaries on 18th August and all have agreed to the proposed dates.

Therefore it is decided to hold the triennial All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association at Tirupati on 8th and 9th December, 2015. The Central Executive Committee Meeting will be held at 1700 hrs on 7th December, 2015 at Tirupati.

The first thing to do is to get the train tickets reserved for the delegates  for both the onward and return journeys. Reception Committee is arranging accommodation for two nights of 8th and 9th December. For the CEC members and those coming from far off places accommodation will be arranged for the 7th night also. Circle/District Secretaries should take the responsibility to intimate Reception Committee about the number of delegates with specific mention of lady delegates,if any, and the arrival/departure details.

SEVEN FOLD JUMP IN CALL DROPS ON 2G NETWORK- SAYS TRAI.

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)

REVISION OF PENSION, FAMILY PENSION OF PRE-2006 PENSIONERS OF ALL INDIA SERVICES.

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.

HUBLI DISTRICT BRANCH HOLDS SPECIAL GENERAL BODY MEETING.

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

BSNL LOSES 2 CRORE SUBSRIBERS IN 2014-15.

State-run BSNL lost about 2 crore subscribers in the last financial year as the telco could not match aggressive marketing by private operators besides persisting issues related to coverage and quality of its services.
According to an official in the Department of Telecom, BSNL lost about 1.78 crore wireless and over 20 lakh wireline subscribers between March 2014 and March 2015.
Stating the reasons responsible for the loss of wireless subscribers, the official said BSNL was not able to match the aggressive marketing of services by private telecom operators.
Also, the official added that due to the PSU’s inability to invest in upgradation of its network during the period 2008-2012, there were issues related to mobile network coverage, capacity and quality of service.
“The reasons for decline in wireline subscriber base include the general decline in demand for fixed lines telephone on account of shift to mobile services,” he said.
At the end of May 2015, the wireless subscriber base of BSNL stood at 7.76 crore with a market share of 7.96 per cent.
The wireline base stood at 1.60 crore with a market share of 61.07 per cent.
The company, however, is taking various steps to increase its subscriber base and revenue through investments in network and improve quality of service.
As a part of its phase 7 project, the company will be investing Rs 4,804.77 crore in network augmentation which will result in addition of 14,421 2G sites and 10,605 3G sites across the country.
Apart from that, BSNL has taken a number of initiatives to attract customers which include unlimited free night calls from landline, free incoming calls on roaming and a host of different special plans.
                                (Courtesy: The Economic Times.)

78.2% IDA MERGER TO BSNL PENSIONERS- CABINET NOTE RETURNED BY DOE.

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.

BANK UNIONS PROTEST POSTING OF PRIVATE CEOs

The Bank Unions have strongly protested against the posting of the CEOs of Public Sector Banks from the private sector. The government has now posted the MDs/CEOs  of Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda by private sector persons.

The Bank Unions say that there are sufficient efficient, qualified  and eligible persons in the PSBs and there is no need of entry from the public sector.

This is fully correct. The BJP government is making these appointments to torpedo the public sector banks.