Delhi witnessed a mammoth Dharna participated by several hundreds of employees from all parts of the country in culmination of the three phased agitational programme by the Joint Forum of Non-Executives Union of BSNL on 07-07-2023. Com.C Singh, General Secretary, NFTE and Chairman, Joint Forum presided over. Com. P Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Convener in his welcome address came down heavily on the Central Government for the step motherly stand towards BSNL by not allowing it to launch 4G while the private companies have started 5G. The other demands of wage revision and implementation of new promotion policy for the non-executives were also explained elaborately and convincingly. Com.Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC and Com.Tapan Sen ,General Secretary, CITU also criticized severely the neo-liberal policies being pursued by the Modi government which are completely anti-worker and and anti-people. Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary in his address extended full support to the struggle. He also explained briefly the present status of pension revision and the ongoing struggle being launched by the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations and sought support and solidarity of the serving unions. Coms. Sureshkumar, General Secretary, BSNLMS and J Vijayakumar, General Secretary, TEPU also addressed. A good number of pensioners from various also participated as per the call of CHQ.

The first program of the three phased agitational programme called by the Joint Forum of BSNL MTNL Pensioners Associations was to observe Black day on 6th July, 2023 by organising protest demonstrations at all levels and the letter campaign to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications. The call has been responded massively all over the country. Initial reports received hint that inclemant weather conditions of heavy downpour and scorching sun proved to be insufficient to deter the spirited and committed pensioners from joining the programme enmass. The protest against the apathy of the DOT buerocracy and the government in settling their legitimate and most genuine demand of pension revision being dragged for the last 6 and half years have naturally reflected in the observance of the Black Day.

The protest action was organised at New Delhi before the office of the PCCA at Eastern Court and participated by more than two hundered fifty pensioners despite torrential rain. Coms. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, D D Mistry, General Secretary, BDPA(I), G L Jogi, General Secretary, SNPWA, R K Mudgal, General Secretary, MREWA, Rajendra Prasad, General Secreatry, MSEPA addressed . Coms . M S Adasul, Gneral Secretary, SNEA, V K Tomar, Secretary General NCOA and Dharmaraj Singh, general Secretary, MTNL Mazdoor Sangh greeted and extended full support for the agitationational programme. Com.D C Sharma, Vice President, SNPWA anchored the program.

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.Pension Revision – let us continue the fight until achieved.

AIBDPA has taken a clear stand on the issue of pension revision from the very beginning. Pension Revision due from 01-01-2017 has to be implemented with 15% fitment as per 3rd PRC, delinking wage revision

We have been taking all-out efforts for the settlement. We have taken up the issue with Secretary DoT, three Ministers of Communications and even Hon’ble Prime Minister directly and through several Members of Parliament including the Speaker and Union Ministers.

Series of struggles were launched by AIBDPA including three Sanchar Bhawan Marches, the latest being held on 24-08-2022. Struggles were also conducted by AUAB, Coordination Committee of BSNLEU AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF and NCCPA. The four phased agitational program of NCCPA culminating in the Parliament March on 21st July,2023 is underway. As a result, government had to retreat from it’s earlier negative stand and in the discussion held with 17 pensioners associations on 17th October,2022, the then Member (Services) emphatically stated that pension revision will be delinked from wage revision. However, his offer of zero percent fitment was stoutly rejected by all the pensioners organisations in single voice. Thereafter the Member (S) assured to reconsider the fitment factor.

Meanwhile we have been able to form the Joint Forum of BSNL-MTNL Pensioners Associations with eight pensioners organisations. JF also took earnest efforts to settle the issue amicably throgh discussions. But the bureaucracy in DoT is culpably delaying the settlement. It took four months to calculate the financial implications for fitment factor of 5,10 and 15 percent. It was reported by the Member (S) on 21st March,2023 that all the consultations in DoT is completed and the final decision on fitment will be taken in the meeting with the Hon’ ble Minister of Communications in the first week of April,2023. But nothing worthwhile has happened so far. On the contrary, fallacious attempts are being made by the DoT to deny the BSNL/ MTNL absorbed pensioners their rightful, irrefutable and genuine fitment of 15 percent

.It is under these compelling circumstances that the meeting of Joint Forum held on 15th June,2023 decided to launch a three phased program of action, viz (1) Black Day on 06-07-2023 – Demonstration at all levels with Mass Letter Campaign to the Minister of Communications. (2) Dharna at District level and. CCA offices on 31-07-2023. (3) Five Days Dharna at Jantar Mantar New Delhi on 21 to 25, August,2023.So, we have to make all these struggles succesful , Parliament March of NCCPA on 21-07-2023 and the JF program of action in the coming days.

We shall not rest until and unless the most burning issue of pension revision is achieved

.Let us march forward with determination and commitment

.Final victory shall be ours.

According to the Consumer Price Index Released by Labour Bureau of India ( at 9.37 PM) IDA Rate on 2007 Pay Scale & Pension is likely to increase by 3.3% from 01-07-2023. Therefore the total IDA will be 202.3%+ 3.3% – 205.6%. Payable only after DPE issues the order.

The DIstrict conference of Bikaner, Rajasthan has been held with good participation on 24-06-2023. A new set of office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. Kamal Singh Mohit (President), Com.Rashid Ahmad (District Secretary) and Com.Kailas Khetri (Treasurer).