The more than three lakhs of BSNL pensioners are unhappy and restive since their most important issues are being delayed by the BSNL Management and Central Government. Neither medical reimbursement nor medical allowance has been paid for the last one and half years.  This is nothing but cruelty to deny medical treatment to the pensioners. 15% Pension revision due from 01-01-2017 is not settled, though three and half years are over.

VRS Pensioners are not fully paid their due Ex-Gratia amount, despite earlier assurance.

This injustice is being done against the sincere and committed workers who have provided yeomen service to the people of this great country during their service of 35 to 40 years under all extreme difficult and different situations. They were part of the great Posts and Telegraphs Department earlier, before they were forcibly absorbed in BSNL. Had they continued in government service, just like the ITS officers, who tactically avoided their own absorption, there would have been no difficulty in the pension revision and payment of medical bills / allowance etc.

The BSNL Management and Centre are doing great injustice to the pensioners. They should immediately rethink in the matter and ensure that the medical allowance and reimbursement are paid as also the Pension revision is ordered.

In the same way, the claims of the VRS retirees like Ex-Gratia should be paid without any further delay. As per the VRS package, the retirees expected that it would be paid fully by the start of the new financial year.

AIBDPA, the biggest Pension Association in BSNL, has taken up all these issues with the government and is making all out efforts to get the same settled. Already hundreds of email / Speed Post have been sent to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, Secretary DOT and CMD BSNL but no decision so  far.

BSNL Pensioners including VRS pensioners are restive and angry. They cannot wait indefinitely. Government should act and act immediately. The inaction on the part of the government is a violation of the 1982 Supreme Court Judgment in the D.S.Nakara and others vs Union of India case.

Do not compel the aged pensioners to be in the streets. Settle the issues immediately.

The 10 Central Trade Unions – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UCTU – organised country wide protest actions on 3^rd July 2020 opposing the anti-worker, anti-people policies and decisions of the central government. BMS kept away due to political reasons, but its workers are also completely unhappy against the attack on the workers.

Utilising the Covid situation, the central and state governments under BJP has increased the working hours from 8 to 10 or 12, PSUs are being privatised, ban on recruitment  and wage freeze are being imposed. Labour laws are mutilated to the disadvantage of the workers. The latest to be privatised are the Railways by introducing private trains. EPF and ESI rules are being weakened taking away the social security of the workers. The demand of the CTUs for financial assistance to the workers who are without work and income has not been conceded.

BSNLEU and other Unions and Federations in central and PSUs have also participated in the protest action.

AIBDPA had given full support and solidarity to the programme. The struggle will certainly continue against the anti-worker policies.

Telepensioner (e-journal)

AIBDPA/MIN-VRS & BSNL/2020                                                                                      July 1, 2020

To,

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad,

Hon’ble Minister of Communication& IT and Law,

Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road,

New Delhi -110 001.

Respected Sir,

Sub: –     Breach of assurance in the payment of ex-gratia to BSNL VRS Retirees and Revival of BSNL- reg.

We are constrained to bring to your kind notice the following issues of utmost importance for your kind consideration and favourable action.

1. VRS was declared for BSNL employees as part of the Revival Package of BSNL in October, 2019. There was an unprecedented response from the BSNL employees to the VRS, mainly due to the comparatively attractive ex-gratia. Accordingly, as many as 78,569 employees availed the VRS. It was assured by the government that the ex-gratia will be paid in two equal instalments, 1^st in March and 2nd in June, 2020.

2. Many of the employees availed the VRS in the hope that they could utilise the ex-gratia amount for the marriage of their daughter, to purchase a house etc. But all these hopes stand shattered due to the breach of assurance in the payment of ex-gratia. Contrary to the assurance, the first instalment paid in March,2020 was only 31.3% instead of 50%. This Association, through a letter dated 08-06-2020 had brought this issue to the notice of Secretary, DoT and demanded the balance of 68.7% ex-gratia should be paid in June,2020. But to our dismay, only 22.5% is paid in June,2020, putting uncertainty in the payment of the balance 46.2% ex-gratia. This has naturally caused widespread disappointment and mental agony to the VRS retirees. Therefore, we request your kind intervention to cause necessary action for immediate payment of 46.2% ex-gratia to the BSNL VRS retirees.

3. Sir, we are equally concerned about the future of BSNL. Many people appreciated your personal efforts in bringing out a comprehensive Revival Package for BSNL and believed in early revival of BSNL. The main components of the Revival Package were; (1) Immediate grant of 4G spectrum to BSNL (2) Sovereign Bond of Rs.15,000 crore (3) Monetisation of BSNL assets and (4) VRS to the employees.

4. But the fact remains that the government and the top officers of DoT and BSNL were enthusiastic in implementing only the VRS to their full satisfaction. And the Revival of BSNL is put into the cold storage. The late initiative of BSNL for the 4G service has been stalled by the PMO on flimsy grounds, presumably at the behest of Reliance Jio. The intention of the government is exposed with awarding the work of installation of 51 towers in Ladakh to Reliance Jio, neglecting BSNL. The other components of the Revival Package also remain as nonstarter. The apprehension of a section of the people that the Revival Package is only a ploy to retrench the employees in the name of VRS is proved to be correct.

5. When the Revival Package was declared, BSNL was supported by oxygen cylinder and now, after 8 months, BSNL is on ventilator. Salary of employees are in arrears for two months, contract workers are not being paid their wages for the last two years, unable to provide the most attractive FTTH to the customers due to paucity of funds to procure necessary accessories etc.

6. Most importantly, BSNL Retirees are not being paid their medical bills, medical allowance since 2018. One time payment made to CGHS is also not being reimbursed. The abnormal delay in payment of medical bills and allowance is causing much difficulty and disarray to the Pensioners. This burning issue was brought to the notice of CMD, BSNL several times and also Hon’ble Prime Minister and your good self. We once again request you to do something to mitigate the sufferings of the poor Pensioners considering the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

7. We also make a fervent request to your good self to kindly do the needful for the Revival of BSNL in the best interest of the people and the country and to keep up the credibility and sincerity of the government.

Awaiting an early positive response and

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary

Copy to: (1) Shri Anshu Prakash, Secretary, (Telecom), Department of Telecom., Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi- 110 001

  (2) Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi -110 001

<<view letter>>

According to Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau, IDA will be decreased by 0.8% from 01-07-2020 and the total IDA wil be 160.7%- 0.8%= 159.9%.

The order will be issued by DPE within a few days.

NEWLY ELECTED OFFICE BEARERS WITH CIRCLE SECRETARY.

The second  biennial District Conference of Tumkur has been held successully keeping up the Corona-19 protocol at Sai Sagar Hotel on 29-06-2020. Com.Veeranna Gowda controlled the proceedings. Com. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference and gave a good accounts of the current developments, including pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills and allowance and issues of the VRS retirees. Smt. Malini Chandrasekhar, PGM, Tumkur was the Chief Guest and greeted the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Coms. K. Nageswaraiah (President) , Vazeerjan (District Secretary) and S.Narasimhamurthy (Treaurer). 

VRS retirees ,retired under BSNL VRS-2019,  who have attained the age of 60 should give application for commutation of pension. 

Application is to be submitted to the BA from where they retired in the prescribed form 1(a).

In case, pensioners submit their application after one year of attaining the age of 60, they should have to give the application in Form.2 along with medical certificate from a medical officer of grade as prescribed under Rule 22 of CCS Commutation Rules,1981.

The Head of BA shall verify the application of commutation and sign in the space provided in the form and forward the application to the concerned CCA.

It has been brought to our notice that a vast majority of the eligible VRS retirees who have attained the age of 60, have not submitted the application. So Circle/ District Secretaries may please take necessary action to bring it to the notice of VRS retirees and ensure that the applications are submitted  early.

BSNL  Corporate office had extended the date for revalidation of medical card to 30-06-2020 vide office order dated 04-05-2020. There were many complaints from the circles that the date should be extended upto 30-09-2020, as in the case of option for outdoor medical facilities. So, CHQ took up the issue and wrote a letter to CMD, BSNL on 23-06-2020 urging for further extension upto 30-09-2020 ,considering the alarming situation prevailing in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, 29th June, 2020, Corporate Office has issued the order in this regard fully accepting our demand and we thank the BSNL management for the same. 

<<view order>>

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