Replying to the question raised in the Parliament Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister for Communications has clarified on 12th December, 2019 that as much as pension is to be revised based on the corresponding revised pay scales of the employees, and no pay revision possible due to bad financial condition of BSNL, his ministry has not proposed pension revision as on date.

We are quite aware of the fact that revised pay scales are necessary for pension revision, as 50 percent of the minimum of the corresponding revised pay scale has to be ensured for pension revision. We are also aware that for implementing Option 3, (pension parity) to BSNL absorbed retirees revised pay scales are required. And that is why AIBDPA had initially put forward the demand of mandatory pension revision after pay revision. And only when, wage revision was delayed / denied due to the affordability conditions stipulated by the DPE, we have changed our demand to delinking wage revision, after one year, as liability of pension revision entirely lies with the central government as per Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 amended from time to time. So pension revision is no way connected to the financial condition of BSNL.

Now, technically, the pay scales are already there, 3rd PRC has given the pay scales for the executives and for the non executives after bilateral negotiations had with the recognised unions and the BSNL management, pay scales were approved. But DoT has not given it’s approval citing poor financial condition of BSNL.

Actually, as the former CMD had rightly pointed out that BSNL should be exempted from the affordability conditions as it is implementing National Telecom Policy and other government projects incurring huge losses, provision of which is given in the 3rd PRC itself . But from the reply of the Minister it seems to be uncertain as to when the pay revision will be implemented.

So, AIBDPA demands that the pension revision of BSNL absorbed retires should be implemented from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision but based on pay scales approved by the BSNL management. And we are not for approaching any court at this stage and get the issue freezed. On the contrary, we will go ahead on the path of struggle, and implement the phased programme of agitation decided by Guwahati CEC meeting held on 24-25, November, 2019.

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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.