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EDITORIAL OF TELE PENSIONER, APRIL-JUNE 2019.

Editorial.

BUDGET REFLECTS PRO-CORPORATE AND ANTI-PEOPLE POLICY OF NDA GOVERNMENT.

Concessions for the Rich and Burden for the Common people.

Narendra Modi government has again been voted to power with an increased  majority,BJP alone secured 303 seats and 353 with the alliance parties. BJP made it possible by stitching alliance in almost all states even sacrificing sitting seats. What about the opposition parties?  Congress, being the main opposition party, miserably failed to bring the opposition parties together and showed lack of leadership capability. BJP, in its election campaign cleverly avoided the burning issues of the people like record unemployment, farmer suicides,labour law reforms to the disadvantage of workers, attack on PSUs etc. On the contrary they succeeded in arousing fake nationalism in the wake of terrorist attacks at Fulwama in Kashmir and the counter attack . They also utilized religious and caste sentiments wherever possible. Most of the  print and visual media were made to propagate BJP campaign with muscle power and money. Election commission and EVMs are also reported to have played a crucial role in BJP victory. Still BJP could not secure a single seat from the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Congress could just improve its tally of 44 to 52, still short of 3 seats to get the position of Leader of Opposition. Left parties also suffered severe setback securing just 5 seats, 4 from Tamil Nadu and 1 from Kerala. DMK in Tamil Nadu took the initiative to forge unity of all democratic and left parties which proved to be formidable. 

Now, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister has presented her maiden budget in the Parliament on 5th July, 2019. The budget proposals clearly indicate how aggressively Modi government would implement the neo-liberal policies in its second term also. Concessions are given lavishly to the corporate to the extent of Rs.8.9 lakh crore, corporate tax limit for 25% is changed from Rs.200 cr to Rs.400 crore. Acting upon the proposals of Niti Ayog, the budget envisages to garner Rs.1,05,000 crore from the sale of PSU shares. Air India sell off is back on the agenda, 100% FDI is allowed in intermediatory firms of insurance sector, aggressive privatization of Railway, Petrol,diesel levies hiked by Rs.2 per litre which would cause price hike of essential commodities too, Allotment for Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Scheme cut by Rs.1000 crore.  Agricultural sector is neglected; Nothing new for the farmers in distress other than proposed in the interim budget. The proposal to commercialise the social security schemes is a matter of concern.

There is no change in the income tax slabs and the income limit for no tax is retained to Rs.5 lakh , as proposed in the interim budget. The government seems to be  firm in reforming the  labour laws, by proposing in the budget to limit the labour laws to just 4 codes.  It is very clear that the budget proposals are a real challenge to workers, farmers and the common people. So, there is no other way other than to fight against the possible onslaught of the government.

COM.NARENDRA NATH MAJUMDER PASSED AWAY.

Com.D Basu, AGS and Secretary CORTO has reported that Com.Narendra Nath Majumder, Organising Secretary of CORTO has passed away on 05-07-2019. He was a good organiser and successfully organised many struggles of P&T employees including the glorious 19th September, 1968 strike. After retirement he played an active role in organising the pensioners and waging many struggles for the cause of pensioners.

AIBDPA express deep sorrow on the sad demise of Com.Narendra Nath Majumder and convey heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and comrades.

Meeting between the AUAB and the CMD BSNL held on 04.07.2019..

The AUAB met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, on 04-07-2019, and had a very detailed discussion. General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS and representatives of AIGETOA, ATM and BSNL OA participated.

 

The representatives of AUAB conveyed to the CMD BSNL, the decision of the AUAB meeting held on 03.07.2019, to intensify the “BSNL At Your Door Steps” programme, to step up the revenue collections of BSNL. The CMD BSNL appreciated it and informed that the BSNL Corporate Office also would take steps to make this programme successful. Further, he advised that efforts should be taken to collect the outstanding dues. The outstanding amount in the EB Branch alone comes to Rs.3,000 crore, said the CMD BSNL. Further he also requested to ensure that scrap materials are disposed off, to collect money.

 

The representatives brought to the notice of the CMD BSNL that there is a great demand for BSNL’s FTTH connections, through which the Company can collect handsome revenue. However, they pointed out that needful equipments, stores and materials are not available, as result of which BSNL is not able to provide FTTH connections on demand. The CMD BSNL replied that needful action would be taken in this regard.

 

The representatives of the AUAB recorded their strong protest for the taking over of the ALTTC by the DoT and told that they would be compelled to launch struggles against this. The CMD BSNL told that this would be duly communicated to the DoT in the appropriate manner.

 

The representatives also told the CMD BSNL that a large number of BTSs are being shut down due to non-payment of electricity bills and also wages were not paid to the contract workers for the past 6 months. They pointed out that the quality of service is deteriorating rapidly and something needs to be done to stop it. The CMD BSNL replied that no bank is coming forward to give loan and still he is trying hard to get bank loan to improve the situation.

 

As regards, the taking away of maintenance works of BBNL, from BSNL, the CMD BSNL replied that the rate that BSNL is getting for this maintenance works is very less and that the BBNL is not willing to raise it. Hence, BSNL is also not interested to continue with the same, since it is not a gainful job. Further the CMD BSNL told that BSNL has claimed compensation from the government to run 17,000 loss making exchanges.

(BSNLEU Website)

BSNL IS THE ONLY TELECOM COMPANY TO CHALLENGE RELIANCE JIO.

BSNL provides 8 crore mobile connections in 3 years.

View File

In a question raised in the Lok Sabha on 26th June, 2019, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister  for Communications & IT, has replied that BSNL has provided 8,02,58,007 mobile connections in the financial year 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and upto 31st May, 2019. The question and answer are given above

BSNL has given 15 lakh new mobile connections in June, 2019.

Despite the severe financial crunch being faced by BSNL, and despite not having 4G technology, BSNL continues to increase it’s mobile connections month after month. In June, 2019, BSNL has added 15,21,319 mobile connections. 

(BSNLEU Website)

Banks see whopping 73% spike in frauds at Rs 71,543 cr in FY19

PTI Mumbai | Updated on July 04, 2019  Published on July 04, 2019

Banks, on an average, report fraud loss of Rs 35,000 crore every year.   –  AP

Banks have reported a massive 73 per cent increase in incidents of fraud worth Rs 71,543 crore in FY19, a senior Reserve Bank official said on Thursday.

Till March 2019, the top five, 10 and 100 cases of frauds cumulatively reported constituted 24 per cent, 34 per cent and 70 per cent of all frauds, respectively, a Chief General Manager with the RBI Jayant Dash said. In FY18, the banks had reported frauds worth Rs 41,167 crore, he added. “Total value involved in these frauds reported by the RBI-regulated entities during FY19 amounted to Rs 71,543 crore as against Rs 41,167 crore during the previous year, which is a 73 per cent jump year-on-year,” Dash told a CII event here.

He said the distribution of reported frauds by banks follow a high pareto principle also known as 80/20 principle, which means 80 percent of the consequences come from 20 percent of the causes. The large value frauds worth Rs 50 crore and above, constituted about 1 per cent of the fraudulent cases but amounted to three-fourths of the fraud losses, Dash said.

Banks, on an average, report fraud loss of Rs 35,000 crore every year. “This does not take into account loss to investors and other financial and operational creditors, apart from the intangible losses to the system,” he said. The amount involved in frauds reported since FY15 stood at Rs 1,74,798 crore, constituting a whopping 211 per cent of actual occurrence of frauds during the same period at Rs 82,959 crore, he said.

Noting that corporate fraud is rarely a one-step operation, he said, “the most expensive frauds are committed by management teams who have the ability to override control systems and collude to cover their tracks.” Addressing the same event, Sebi Executive Director Anand Baiwar said there is a close link between corporate frauds and corporate governance. “Effects of good corporate governance can be seen in terms of improved operating results and enhanced market capitalisation,” Baiwar said.

(Business Line)

Decisions of the AUAB meeting held yesterday the 03.07.2019.

A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday. Com.K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, presided over. General Secretaries / representatives of BSNLEU, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS and ATM attended the meeting. The meeting expressed it’s severe protest over the taking over of the ALTTC and other properties of BSNL, by the DoT. The meeting also discussed about the developments related to the monetisation of BSNL’s vacant lands, towers and fibre. After in-depth discussions, the following decisions are taken unanimously:-

 

  1. To meet the new CMD BSNL and to discuss about revival of BSNL and certain other issues.
  2. To call upon the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL, to intensify the implementation of the “BSNL At Your Door Steps” movement, with the view to increase BSNL’s revenue collections.
  3. To write letter to the DoT, opposing the taking away of BBNL’s maintenance works from BSNL.
  4. To write reminders to the Hon’ble MoC & IT and to the Secretary, Telecom, for granting meeting to the AUAB.

(BSNLEU Website)

THE ATTACK ON COMMON PEOPLE HAS STARTED-INTEREST RATE OF SMALL SAVINGS REDUCED.

Small Savings interest rate for second quarter of 2019-20

Interest Rates for Small Saving Schemes for second quarter of financial year 2019-20 is declared by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of finance on 28th June 2019

F.No.01/04/2016-NS
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Economic Affairs
(Budget Division)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 28.06.2019

Subject: Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even number dated 16th February, 2016, vide which the various decisions taken by the Government regarding interest fixation for small savings schemes were communicated to all concerned.

On the basis of the decision of the Government, interest rates for small savings schemes are to be notified on quarterly basis. Accordingly, the rates of interest on various small savings schemes for the second quarter of financial year 2019-20 starting 1st July, 2019, and ending on 30th September, 2019, on the basis of the interest compounding / payment built-in in the schemes, shall be as under:

Small Savings interest rate for second quarter of 2019-20

This has the approval of Finance Minister.

(Akhilesh Kumar Mishra)
Director