Press Release.                                                                                              August 7, 2020

All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association has called upon all its units in the country to hold Standing Dharna at BSNL Offices, Telephone Exchanges, Customer Service Centres etc., on 19-08-2020.

The only one demand put forward is Immediate Payment of Medical Bills and Medical Allowance to the BSNL pensioners. BSNL management has virtually denied medical treatment to the BSNL pensioners by not reimbursing the medical bills and paying medical allowance for the last 18 months. BSNL pensioners, especially, suffering from Cancer, Heart and Kidney ailments, are put into utter distress as they are unable to purchase the medicines from the meager pension.

The Association has tried its level best to settle the issue peacefully through negotiation with the BSNL management several times; we also took up the issue with the Hon’ble Minister for Communications and finally with the Hon’ble Prime Minister twice, but of no avail.

Meanwhile during this COVID-19 pandemic period, BSNL management had no hesitation to curtail the outdoor medical facilities in the name of austerity measures. But at the same time the top officers of BSNL are free to indulge in largesse.

BSNL management always takes the shelter of poor financial condition to deny the medical claims of the BSNL pensioners. But the same BSNL management has paid the medical claims upto September, 2019 of serving employees recently, neglecting the most deserving retirees. This discrimination of the BSNL management has created much anger and discontentment among the BSNL pensioners.

AIBDPA is quite aware of the serious situation prevailing in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading alarmingly.  The Prime Minister often makes statements about the care to be extended to the senior citizens but seldom wants it to be implemented. The Supreme Court in a judgement on 4th August, 2020 also has directed the governments to extend extra care to the senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring timely payment of pension and medical treatment.

But in sharp contrast, the BSNL management and the Central Government are hand in glove to deny the medical benefits of BSNL pensioners. So BSNL pensioners are compelled to take the risk of coming out openly to the street and participate in the Standing Dharna, knowing fully that elders are more vulnerable to the dreaded Corona Virus. However, we will take care to conduct the Dharna, fully adhering the COVID-19 protocol by limiting the participation to 5 to 10 in each centre, keeping social distance and wearing masks.

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary

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AIBDPA/ BSNL-DLC/2020                                                                                             6^th August, 2020

To,

Shri P.K. Purwar,

CMD BSNL,

Bharat Sanchar Bhawan,

Janpath,

New Delhi-110001.

Sir,

Sub: –   Generating Digital Life Certificate of BSNL pensioners covered under SAMPANN at BSNL Customer Care Centres- reg. 

BSNL Pensioners covered under SAMPANN have to submit Digital Life Certificate to the respective CCAs at the stipulated time.

Now, they have to go to the Pension Service Centres or Akshaya Centers for this purpose. But our Pensioners are reported to be facing difficulties, as these centres are not available in their locality.

As you are aware, our BSNL Customer Care Centres are equipped with the Biometric devices and could do this work easily. A nominal fee, as decided by the respective state governments, could be charged for this service. Needless to add, it will be much helpful for the BSNL Pensioners to avail this service from the CCCs of BSNL.

We would therefore request you to kindly cause necessary action by authorising BSNL Customer Care Centres to generate Digital Life Certificate of BSNL Pensioners.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary.

Copy to: – (1) Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpath New Delhi-110001

    (2) Shri S.K. Gupta. Director (Finance), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpath New Delhi-110001

    (3) Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM(Admn.), BSNL C.O., Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpath New Delhi – 110001

<<view letter>>

Another Dsitrict Branch has also been formed in Maharashtra Circle, Kolhapur- Sangli. The meeting of pensioners and VRS retirees of both Kolhapur and Sangli was held on 04-08-2020. Com.G N Koli controlled the proceedings. After seriuos discussion it was decided to form a combined District Branch for the time being.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries;

President : Com.Gundappa N Koli, District Secretary : Com. Balasaheb B Koli and Treasurer : Com.Balasaheb V Bhadule.

CHQ heartily congratulate all the new office bearers. 

CHQ vide letter dated 03-06-2020 addressed to both Secretary, DoT and CMD,BSNL had strongly objected to denial of retirement benefits and ex-gratia to the 199 VRS retirees of Maharashtra. In the letter it was pointed out that the VRS retirees are not responsibe for non-confirmation of their caste; on the contrary it was the sole responsibility of the appointing authority to get the caste verified during the initial period of their service. Therfore, there is absolutely no justification in asking these VRS retirees for confirmation of their caste after retirement.

Now, BSNL has issued  clarification and asked to immediately settle the pending issues of VRS retirees. Regarding caste certificate cases, it has been stated that their ex-gratia settlement will be suject to confirmation of caste. That means all other retirement benefits are to be paid immediately. But there is no justification to defer the ex-gratia payment also as no case or disciplinary proceedings are pending against these 199 VRS retirees. 

AIBDPA/ DOT- LC/2020                                                                                               5^th August, 2020

To,

 Shri P.K.  Sinha,

Member (Finance) &

Controller General of Communication Accounts,

Department of Telecommunications

Sanchar Bhawan,

New Delhi – 110 001

Sir,

Sub: –     Attesting Officers authorized for physical verification of Life Certificate to SAMPANN Pensioners- inclusion of BSNL Officers – reg.

We wish to bring to your kind notice the following issue for favourable consideration.

The Officers authorized for verification of physical life certificate, as per Central Treasury Rules, include Magistrates, MPs, MLAs, Gazetted Officers, Reserve Bank Officers. Non-gazetted Officers like Sub Inspector of Police, Inspector of Post Offices and departmental Sub Post Masters are also in the list.

But, surprisingly, no BSNL Officers who were gazetted officers before corporatization are included in the list. There have been instances where in some of these listed Officers refusing to issue the certificate as they are unaware of their authority.

We, being BSNL Pensioners, are having easy access and good relationship with BSNL Officers of the respective place. Therefore, it will be beneficial and helpful to the BSNL Pensioners if the Officers of BSNL, like SDE, DE, AGM are also included in the list of Officers authorized for physical verification of Life Certificate and request you to kindly cause necessary action for the same.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary.

<<view letter>>

AIBDPA Chennai Telephones Circle has distributed Rs.45,000 to the BSNL Contract Workers. The meeting held at Anna Nagar Telephone Exchange Complex on 05-08-2020 was presided over by Com.E Manibalan, Circle Vice President. Com. V Kuppan, Circle Secretary and other available Circle Office Bearers distributed the amount to the contract workers. Coms.T Kasi, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and some of his office bearers, V Rajasekharan, District Secretary, BSNLEU Central Branch, A J Sriganesh, District Secretary, BSNLEU SE Branch were present. Com.K Govindraj, ACS proposed vote of thanks.

The Circle Branch has also donated Rs.15,000 to the Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Releif Fund. 

During his daily press conference on 03-08-2020, Shri.Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala has stated as follows;

“ All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association, Kerala Circle has donated  Rs. 19,16,699 as its second installment to the Chief Minister’s Distress Releif Fund. They had earlir made a contribution of Rs.23,03,229 and thus the total contribution is Rs. 42,19,928.”

Com. N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary, Kerala has furnished the breakup figures of each district.

1. Thiruvananthapuram             Rs.5,06,000
2. Kollam                                   Rs. 3,33,500
3. Pathanamthitta                      Rs.   96,500
4. Alappuzha                             Rs. 3,28,234
5. Kottayam                               Rs. 1,66,850
6. Ernakulam                             Rs. 4,23,477
7. Thrissur                                 Rs. 2,21,812
8. Palakkad                               Rs. 2,17,611
9. Malappuram                          Rs. 1,29,834
10. Kozhikode                             Rs. 6,61,840
11. Kannur                                  Rs.11,34,270

Total                       Rs.42,19,928.

CHQ heartily Congratulate all the comrades of Kerala, especially Com.N.Guruprasad for his relentless efforts, who made it possible

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