VRS window closed – 78,569 employees opted for VRS.

As per the VRS scheme implemented by the Management, the window for giving option was opened on 04.11.2019. The window was closed yesterday the 03.12.2019. It is learnt that, totally 78,569 employees have opted for VRS. As per the VRS-2019, the total number of employees eligible for going on VRS is 1,04,471. Thus, 75.2% of the employees who are eligible to go on VRS, have opted for it. It is also learnt that 5,237 employees, after submitting their option for VRS, have withdrawn the same.

(BSNLEU Website)

GUIDELINES FOR VRS OPTEES.

Shri. Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Finance has stated in the Parliament that the Non Performance Asset (NPA) or Bad Loan of Indian Banks has risen to Rs.10.21.464 crore as on 31-03-2018. It was Rs.3,12,706 crore on March 31,2015. The Minister also revealed that an amount of Rs.80,893 crore loans has been written off in the first half year period of the current financial year. State Bank of India has wrote off the highest amount of loans, Rs.27,535.31 crore during the six months period ending 30th September, 2019. Other top banks in this regard are, Bank of Baroda- Rs. 5,439 crore and closely followed by Axis Bank – Rs. 5,426 crore.

Another report says that the banks have disbursed loans to the extent of Rs.4.91 lakh crore during the two months period of October and November, 2019. As usual the largest beneficiary of these loans continues to be the corporate sector, a total of Rs.2, 20,151 crore. So the story of non payment of loans and write off would continue unabated…..!

(source: The Hindu dated 04-12-2019)

BSNL management had assured salary payment of October, 2019 on 28th November. But it did not care to keep up the promise pleading financial crisis. AUAB gave a call for Protest Demonstration through out the country on 04-12-2019 against the negative stand of BSNL management. How ever the mangement released the fund for salary payment of October late on 03-12-2019 after the window for VRS was closed. Thus the nefarious game plan of the BSNL management is thoroughly exposed as they wanted to extend the panicky situation until closure of the VRS window ,purposely, to exert pressure on the employees to opt for VRS. This is nothing but a nefarious game plan of the BSNL mangement, starting from the threatening speech of CMD,BSNL immediately after the announcement of BSNL revival package.

The AUAB stood firm on its Protest action on 04-12-2019 and powerful demonstrations were held at BSNL Corporate office and other offices all over the country. AIBDPA members also joined the program as per the call of CHQ.

AUAB calls on to organise lunch hour demonstrations on 04.12.2019 demanding immediate disbursement of October & November,2019, salary.

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The AUAB has called on the BSNL Executives and Non-Executives to organise massive lunch hour demonstrations on 04.12.2019, demanding immediate disbursement of October & November,2019, salary. The requisite notification has been issued to the Secretary, Telecom and the CMD BSNL today, by the AUAB. The AUAB has also demanded that there should not be any discrimination in the matter of disbursement of salary between the BSNL employees and the ITS officers on deputation. Further, the AUAB has warned the BSNL Management and the DoT that intensified agitations would be launched if salary payment for the month of October & November, 2019, is not paid immediately.

(BSNLEU Website)

The Central Executive Committee Meeting of AIBDPA held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019 has decided a phased program of agitation culminating in  Parliament March during the budget session to exert pressure on the Government to settle the burning issue of Pension Revision of BSNL absorbed retirees. It was also decided to seek the cooperation of all the important pensioners organizations to have a united struggle.

Accordingly, the following letter has been sent to AIBSNLPWA, AIRBSNLEWA, AIBSNLREA, BDPA AND SNEPWA.;

ALL INDIA BSNL DOT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION

(Registered No.68836/2010)

CHQ, 2151/1, Dada Ghosh Bhawan, New Patel Nagar,

New Delhi-110008.  email: mail.aibdpa@gmail.com

AIBDPA/ AGN-JAC/2019                                                                                       29^TH November, 2019

Dear Comrade,

Greetings from AIBDPA.

I am writing this as per the decision of Central Executive Committee Meeting of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019.

Our CEC has unanimously decided against seeking legal remedy for Pension Revision of BSNL retirees at present, as we feel that it should be the last option. Further, it is our considered opinion that the government has at no point rejected the demand and we should wait for the post VRS scenario.

Meanwhile, the CEC has decided to wage the following phased programme of agitation to exert pressure on the government, for which we are seeking the cooperation of all the important pensioners organizations to make it a joint struggle. The proposals are subject to modifications, to consider the opinions of all the oraganisations.

1. Signature campaign in the memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention for Pension Revision of BSNL retirees – December,2019.
2. Meeting the Parliament Members , irrespective of their political affiliation to muster maximum support,  by District wise delegation.—January, 2020
3. Mass Hunger Strike at CCA offices-  February, 2020.
4. Parliament March during the Budget Session of Parliament-  March,2020.

It would be better to have a joint meeting of the organizations to give the final shape of the agitation with dates of each programme, preferably in the 3^rd week of December,2019. In case, if it is not possible to attend the meeting, your opinion may please be communicated through email.

Awaiting your early positive response and

Thanking you,

Yours fraternally,

K G Jayaraj (Mob.9447455633)

General Secretary.

It is really heartbreaking that we lost a committed and sincere leader, Com.K.Ramachandran, Area Secretary, Karunagappally in a road accident on 26-11-2019.  CHQ conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family , comrades and friends.

Com.Anupam Patra, District President presided in the Special General Body meeting of Cuttack District on 27-11-2019. Addressing the meeting Coms.A.Dhupal, CHQ Vice President and A C Mohanty, Circle Secretary gave a detailed report on the Central Executive Committee meeting held at Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019. The serious discussions and decisions on the important issues of pension revision and nonpayment of medical bills/allowance were narrated. They also appealed to approach all the VRS optees and enroll them as our members. Com.Sreedhar Mallick, District Secretary welcomed the large number of pensioners and the VRS optees who enthusiastically participated in the meeting.

The Central Executive Committee Meeting held at the BSNL Multi Purpose Hall, Guwahati on 24-25, November, 2019 has been significat that it took serious decisions on issues and oraganisation.

The CEC started with flag hoistings at 10AM on 24th November, 2019, National Flag by Com.P C Das, Chairman, Reception Committee, NCCPA flag by Com.S Rehman, Vice President, NCCPA and AIBDPA Flag by Com.Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee, President. Thereafter floral tributes were paid to the martyrs.

Open session started at 1030 AM and was presided over by Com.Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee, President. All the leaders and guests were honoured by the Reception Committee i typical Assam style. Com.P C Das welcomed the gathering highlighting the importance of Guwahati.

Com.Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Head of the Department of Political Science, Gauhati University inaugurated the conference with a educative and enthusiastic speech. He came down heavily on Modi government, acting like a subsidiary of American imperialism and resorting to fascist measures. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary in his address remembered that 24th November is the foundation day of the great organisation, NFPTE in 1954 and recalled the glorious strikes waged. He also spoke on the issues of Pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills/allowance, BSNL revival and VRS. Coms.Satanjib Das, Ex Convenor, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Assam,S.Rahman, Vice President, NCCPA, Shri.M K Gogoi, CGMT, Com.Sankar Kr Das,, General Secretary, Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations, Assam also addressed. Com.S N Sarma, General Secretary, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.

The subject session started at 3.30PM was inaugurated by Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor covering the current issues of pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills and VRS in the name of BSNL Revival. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary presented the report on activities and Com.R A Nair submitted the unaudited account for 2018-19. Initiating the discussion, Com.K G Jayaraj narratted the present position on the important issues of pension revision and nonpayment of medical bills and allowances. He also readout a letter received from Com.P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU conveying the decision of their CEC meeting to seek legal remedy, in coordination with AIBDPA for pension revision of BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017 and asked the CEC members to give their opinion on it. All the  20 circle secretaries and 12 CHQ office bearers  attended the CEC participated in the discussion. It emerged unanmously that we should wait for the post VRS scenario, considering the pros and cons of approaching the court. Meanwhile we should continue our agitatio on a phased manner.

On pension revision, it was felt that we should explore the possibility of a joint agitation with other pensioners organisations, and subject to modifications if required, the following phased programme was decided.

1. Exhaustive campaign among the pensioners and signature campaign in the memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister- December, 2019
2. . Meeting the Members of Parliament, irrespective of party affiliation, by District/Circle Secretaries and to seek their help in the settlement.- January, 2020.
3. Mass Hunger Strike before the CCA offices – First week of February,2020
4. . Parliament March during the Budget Session,2020.

On Non-Payment of Medical Bills and Quarterly Medical Allowance , the CEC decided to launch a Mass Dharna at SSA levels on 17-12-2019, and the importance of National Pensioners Day also to be highlighted.

The resolutions on important issues presented by Com.Saibal Sengupta, Organising Secretary on behalf of Resolution Committee were adopted.

The proposal of General Secretary to assign charges to the CHQ office bearers for circle branches was approved by the CEC.

The performance of the Reception Committee with Coms.P K Das (Chairman) M R Das (Working Chairman) and S N Sarma (General Secretary) came in for the allout praise of all the participants and the Cultural Programpresented in the night of 24th November, worth mentioning.