MUMBAI.

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The second phase of Agitational Programme of Joint Forum for resolution of our burning issue of pension revision is the CCA Office March on 05-09-2024. We have to make all out efforts by jointly mobilizing maximum pensioners to make the program a stupendous success.

During the March and Dharna, two copies of the notice dated 23-08-2024 sent by the Joint Forum may be submitted to the CCA with covering letter signed by the Circle Secretaries with a request to forward the same to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT.

Please ensure that the program is held under the banner of Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations.

Specimen copy of the covering letter.

Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations,…….. Circle.

5th September, 2024.

To

The Controller General of Communication Accounts,
…………. (Place )

Sir / Madam,

As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations, New Delhi, we are holding a March to the CCA Office and sit in Dharna on today, the 5th September, 2024 demanding immediate settlement of our most burning issue of pension revision due from 01-01-2017.

As part of this program, we are submitting two copies of memorandum which may kindly be forwarded to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Secretary, DoT.

With regards,
Yours Sincerely.

`.*BUT SURELY ONE STEP FORWARD.

GOVERNMENT COMPELLED TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN THE NPS DUE TO MOUNTING PRESSURE EXERTED BY EMPLOYEES OF CENTRAL, STATE AND PSUs, CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND ALSO BY PENSIONERS THROUGH RELENTLESS STRUGGLES AND ALSO DUE TO THE POLITICAL SETBACK OF BJP IN THE LAST PARLIAMENT ELECTION IN WHICH BJP COULD NOT GET MAJORITY

The decision of the Union Cabinet to introduce a Unified Pension Scheme from 01-04-2025 was communicated to the JCM Staff Side leaders in the meeting held on 24-08-2024, participated by the hon’ble Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the designated Cabinet Secretary.

The salient features of the UPS are;

1. It is contributory and 10% pay + DA will be recovered from the salary. The government contribution is slightly increased to 18.5% from the 14% in NPS

.2. Guaranteed pension of 50% of the average of the 12 months emoluments for those completed 25 years service. Pro-rata pension to those with less than 25 to 10 years service. In the OPS full pension for a minimum 10 years service which is calculated 50% of last pay drawn or average of last 10 months which ever is beneficial to the employee.

3. Family Pension will be 60% of the pensio

4. Dearness Relief will be there as per the consumer price index for industrial workers

5. Apart from Gratuity additional benefit of 1/10 th of the salary for every completed six months of service Remember that 10% of the salary is recovered.

6. There will be option for the existing NPS pensioners to switch over to UPS.

No additional pension at 80,85,90,95 and 100.No mention about second level pension.Nothing is mentioned about those retired before 01-04-2025.No mention about the periodical pension revision.

So in a nutshell it is just some progress from the NPS. We have to wait for the detailed order to know more about the new scheme.NO DOUBT, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE UNTIL THE OPS IS FULLY BROUGHT BACK.

The biennial District Conference of Jodhpur, Rajasthan has been held with good participation of pensioners on 22-08-2024.Com.Iqubal Khan, District President presided. Com. M K Nagpal, Circle Secretary inaugurated and explained the current status of the important issues of pension revision, medical issues etc. Com.Hari Narain , CHQ organising Secretary appealed to make the struggles being launched by Joint Forum successful. Coms. Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary and P K Jain, CHQ Organising Secretary of BSNLEU also addressed. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.Iqubal Khan (President) Com. Devraj Singh Naruk (District Secretary) and Com. Abdul Karim (Treasurer).

Com.Sanjib Banerjee, Circle Secretary, Kolkata Telephones and AGS inaugurated the Kolkata West District Conference held at Satyapala Telephone Exchange, Howrah on 22-08-2024 with an inspiring and detailed speech on the issues and the struggle . Coms.Supriya Mitra, Circle President, Sisir Roy, Secretary, BSNLCC and a host of leaders addressed. Office bearers were elected with Com.Nandallal Pathak (President) Com.DulalSaha (District Secretary) and Com.Ashok Ghosh (Treasurer).

 J

The meeting of the Joint Forum held virtually on 20-08-2024 has decided to hold the 2nd phase of the Joint Forum agitational program, March to CCA Offices on 05-09-2024. 

The CCA Office March originally scheduled to be held on 27-08-2024 was postponed by the Joint Forum meeting held on 15-08-2024.

General Secretary,SNPWA has intimated in the meeting that they are desirous to continue to be part of the Joint Forum and has to wait for positive decision in this regard in their All India Conference on 23-24 September, 2024. So SNPWA may skip the CCA Office March on 05-09-2024.

Circle Secretaries are requested to organise the March to CCA Office and Dharna on 05-09-2024 with good participation of pensioners in consultation with the constituent organizations of the Joint Forum

JOINT FORUM OF BSNL MTNL PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS, New Delhi.

15th August, 2024.

A meeting of the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations was held virtually at 4 PM on 15-08-2024.The following comrades participated.

1. AIBDPA – V A N Namboodiri (Advisor ) M R Das (President ) K G Jayaraj ( General Secretary )

2. BDPA(I) Thomas John K( President ) D D Mistry ( General Secretary )

3. SNPWA G L Jogi ( General Secretary )

4. AICGPA HQ PUNE : H F Chaudhari ( General Secretary ) K Raja ( AGS)

5. MREWA : Balvant Singh (President )R K Mudgal ( General Secretary )

Other three organisations from MTNL had expressed difficulty to attend the meeting and agreed to the decisions of the meeting.

Com. V A N Namboodiri presided over the meeting. Com. K G Jayaraj, Convenor reported the decisions of the last meeting held on 08-07-2024 in which five organizations could not participate mainly due to the communication gap. He requested the cooperation of all the constituent organizations to make the CCA office March and Delhi Chalo programs successful.

Com. G. L Jogi, GS, SNPWA expressed reservation due to the ongoing court proceedings as his association is one of the petitioner organizations. Com. H. F. Chaudhari, General Secretary then presented the draft notice / memorandum (already circulated on 04-08-2024) addressed to the MOC and Secretary, DoT on the upcoming agitational programs and requested Com. G. L. Jogi to suggest the modifications so that it could be finalised and ensure the participation of all the constituents. All the other participating comrades supported the suggestion of Com. H. F. Chaudhari. Com. G. L. Jogi then responded positively and agreed to make such modifications in consultation with his important functionaries within two days.

Therefore it was decided to hold another virtual meeting on 20-08-2024 at 4PM.

It was also decided to defer the March to CCA office on 27-08-2024 to facilitate reasonable time for the agitations after serving the notice.

With vote of thanks by the Convenor, the meeting was concluded at 5.30PM.