Coms.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor and K G Jayaraj, General Secretary met Shri P K Sinha, Member (Finance) and Shri.Amitab Sinha, DDG (Accounts), Department of Telecommunications on 16th December,2019 and had a detailed discussion on processing of pension papers and timely disbursement of pension to all the VRS retirees, numbering 78,569. The delegation pointed out that our CCA offices are not equipped with the infrastructure and staff to deal with such a huge workload which unusual and unprecedented . We are aware that some of the CCAs are utilizing the services of a few retired officials as consultants. However the facts remains that determining the pension in each case requires scrutiny of relevant records and time consuming. It is absolutely impossible to complete the process within the stipulated time. 

Therefore the delegation demanded that Provisional Pension be granted to those VRS retirees whose pension could not be determined at the stipulated time frame. Member (Finance) was very positive in his approach and agreed to consider the proposal favourably. He further stated that verification of service books is the main job in this regard and about 33,000 service books have already been verified in the respective CCAs and only Tamil Nadu and Telangana Circles are lagging behind. A high level committee of officers are constituted at DoT and the progress of work is being monitored regularly. The delegation appreciated the initiative and effective measures being undertaken.

The delegation also asked about the payments of ex-gratia to the VRS retirees and the Member (Finance) was hopeful of disbursement of the the ex-gratia in two installments, first in February and the second in June,2020.

<<view letter>>

It was on 17th December,1982,the constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice Y V  Chandrachud delivered the historic judgment in the case filed by Shri.D.S.Nakera. The judgment being called as the Magna Carta of the pensioners declared in unequivocal terms that pension is not a bounty but a right of the pensioners and pensioners cannot be discriminated on the basis of date of retirement.

It is also a fact that the pensioners in the country started organising themselves after this important judgment and fought against many injustices and won many a battles. But the government continues the attacks on the genuine rights of the pensioners and the PFRDA Act is the  real challenge to the entire pension community.

As far as BSNL and DoT pensioners are concerned many of the just demands, including pension revision, are still to be settled due to the negative stand of the government. So let us affirm to continue our fight against all injustices being meted out to the pensioners and the onslaught against the people.

Let us also remember the great man, D S Nakera for his heroic and relentless fight and observe the National Pensioners Day in a befitting manner.

AIBDPA had given notice to CMD, BSNL, as per the decision of Guwahati CEC, for holding Mass Dharna at SSA level on 17-12 – 2019 against nonpayment payment of Medical bills with voucher, quarterly medical allowance without voucher and onetime payment made for CGHS membership.

Coms. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor and K. G Jayaraj, General Secretary have met Shri. P. K. Purwar, CMD, BSNL on 16th December, 2019 and had a serious discussion on the issue. The representatives brought to his notice, the sufferings of the ailing and aged pensioners due to nonpayment of medical benefits for the last one year and more and demanded early allotment of fund to mitigate the miseries.

The CMD had a patient hearing and stated that the issue is very much in his mind and definitely consider at the earliest appropriate time.,when the financial position improves. He assured that the reimbursement of onetime payment for CGHS membership will be made within January, 2020.

The representatives also met Shri. S. K Gupta, Director (Finance) on the same issue and asked the possibility of allotment of fund in the near future. He hoped that after February, 2020,when the wage bill come down by about 50 per cent, fund could be allotted.

SO LET THE DHARNA BE ORGANISED ON 17TH DECEMBER WITH MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION.

<<View memorandum>>

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.

<<View notification>>

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.