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2G AUCTION-CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO GET Rs. 64,840 CRORE.

The cabinet on 5th January, 2015 has approved the largest ever telecom spectrum auction to be held in February, 2015. The central government is expected to generate revenue worth Rs. 64,840 crore towards the sale of 380.75 megahertz of second generation (2G) spectrum. These stretches in three bands-; the premium 800 MHz ,900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Spectrum in 2100 MHz may also be auctioned simultaneously if Defence Ministry vacates it.

The Cabinet has also approved the reserve prices of these bands of spectrum as follows-:

Rs.3,646 crore pan India per MHz in 800 MHz.

Rs. 3,980 crore for 900 MHz band pan India excluding Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and J&K.

Rs. 2191 crore pan India excluding Maharashtra and West Bengal in 1800 MHz.

How ever the reserve price for the 2100 MHz has not been announced. But it is expected to garner Rs.16,000 crore in the auction.

Now the question is as what the government is going to do with the proceeds of a whooping Rs.80,840 crore. Whether the government will utilize the amount for development of the telecom sector in the country or give a portion to the crisis ridden BSNL to bail it out? The answer is a big ‘No’ as the government has already made it clear that the amount would be utilized for its fiscal deficit.! 

 

 

78.2% IDA MERGER- BSNLEU LEADERS’ MEETING WITH MEMBER (FINANCE), DOT.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union have met Ms. Annie Moreas, Member (Finanace ) DoT on 6th January, 2015 and discussed among other issues, the delay in extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to those retired before 10-06-2013. The Member (Finance) has stated that the draft cabinet note in this regard is being finalized.

3 DAYS FORUM DHARNA STARTS WITH HUGE PARTICIPATION OF WORKERS.

Thousands of workers, both executive and non executive, participated on the first day, ie 6th Januarry, 2015, of the 3 days Dharna called upon by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations through out the country. AIBDPA members also participated in solidarity of the agitation for protecting BSNL and to ensure better service to the customers at affordable rates. In New Delhi, the Mass Dharna was organized before the BSNL Corporate office with massive participation. The Dharna was addressed by Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri (Convenor, Forum ), Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. K. Sebastin, General Secretary, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, General Secretary, AIBSNLEA, Com. Islam Ahmad, President, NFTE, Com. K. Jayaprakash, General Secretary, FNTO, Com.K. Thomar, AGS, BSNLMS.

Com. K.G. jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the well attended Dharna at Alappuzha. Com. Thomas Sebastian presided and Com.S. Prathap Kumar, AGS,BSNLEU delivered the key note address. Coms. Sreevas (AIBSNLEA), Najumuddin (SNEA), Mohanan (NFTE) Com. N. Mohanan Nair (FNTO), R. Balachandran Nair, P.R. Shajimon (BSNLEU) also spoke.

PARTICIPATE IN THE 3 DAYS DHARNA BY FORUM ON 6-8, JANUARY, 2015.

The second phase of the agitation called by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations is being held at all levels, 3 days Dharna on 6-8, January, 2015 demanding revival of BSNL. As already intimated, AIBDPA units should join the dharna enmasse and make it an historic success. It is also our duty to see that  the signature campaign among the people is carried out successfully.  

T UI TO HOLD XII WORLD CONGRESS IN NEPAL ON FEBRUARY 13-14, 2015

 

The Trade Union International (TUI) of Public And Allied Employees, the World Federation of Trade Unions -WFTU- and the militant trade union organizations CONEP and NEGEO of Nepal call all WFTU affiliated and friendly unions of the public services sector to take part in the XII World Congress of Trade Unions of Public Service Employees and Allied, that will be held on February 13 – 14 2015.

Public service workers of the world face critical difficulties and challenges. The anti labor policies implemented by capitalist governments, the policies of cuts in state expenditure, the privatization of public services and key sectors of the economy are invariably conducted at the expense of the workers and the people. The privatizations in various countries have resulted in deterioration of public services, rising of the costs associated with them, as well as to the loss of sovereign control of fundamental strategic sectors for the countries’ social and economic development. They have also marked the deterioration and loss of workers’ and union rights of public service employees, in the general context of the anti-labor offensive against the working class in general.

The XII World Congress of Trade Unions of Workers in Public Services and Allied will be aiming to analyze the situation the public sector workers all over the world are facing and define actions towards the organization and their unified action.

Registration to the following emails: info@wftucentral.org ; info@negeo.org.np ;

TRAI RECOMMENDS LOWER BASE PRICE FOR 3G SPECTRUM AUCTION.

T.elecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended a reduced base price  of Rs. 2720 crore per Mhz for pan India 3G spectrum. This is 19 per cent lower than the previous auction in 2010 determined price  of Rs.3350 crore. Incidentally, the 2010 reserve price for 3G spectrum had formed the basis of CAG estimating notional loss figure of 1.76 lakh crore in 2G spectrum allocation case of 2008.

Trai has also recommended that DoT should put additional 15 Mhz for auction which had to be obtaind in exchange of spectrum that was with the Defence services where as DoT is expecting to get 5 Mhz of 3G spectrum (2100 Mhz band) from the Defence ministry. (source: The Hindu)