The 10 Central Trade Unions – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UCTU – organised country wide protest actions on 3^rd July 2020 opposing the anti-worker, anti-people policies and decisions of the central government. BMS kept away due to political reasons, but its workers are also completely unhappy against the attack on the workers.

Utilising the Covid situation, the central and state governments under BJP has increased the working hours from 8 to 10 or 12, PSUs are being privatised, ban on recruitment  and wage freeze are being imposed. Labour laws are mutilated to the disadvantage of the workers. The latest to be privatised are the Railways by introducing private trains. EPF and ESI rules are being weakened taking away the social security of the workers. The demand of the CTUs for financial assistance to the workers who are without work and income has not been conceded.

BSNLEU and other Unions and Federations in central and PSUs have also participated in the protest action.

AIBDPA had given full support and solidarity to the programme. The struggle will certainly continue against the anti-worker policies.

Telepensioner (e-journal)

AIBDPA/MIN-VRS & BSNL/2020                                                                                      July 1, 2020

To,

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad,

Hon’ble Minister of Communication& IT and Law,

Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road,

New Delhi -110 001.

Respected Sir,

Sub: –     Breach of assurance in the payment of ex-gratia to BSNL VRS Retirees and Revival of BSNL- reg.

We are constrained to bring to your kind notice the following issues of utmost importance for your kind consideration and favourable action.

1. VRS was declared for BSNL employees as part of the Revival Package of BSNL in October, 2019. There was an unprecedented response from the BSNL employees to the VRS, mainly due to the comparatively attractive ex-gratia. Accordingly, as many as 78,569 employees availed the VRS. It was assured by the government that the ex-gratia will be paid in two equal instalments, 1^st in March and 2nd in June, 2020.

2. Many of the employees availed the VRS in the hope that they could utilise the ex-gratia amount for the marriage of their daughter, to purchase a house etc. But all these hopes stand shattered due to the breach of assurance in the payment of ex-gratia. Contrary to the assurance, the first instalment paid in March,2020 was only 31.3% instead of 50%. This Association, through a letter dated 08-06-2020 had brought this issue to the notice of Secretary, DoT and demanded the balance of 68.7% ex-gratia should be paid in June,2020. But to our dismay, only 22.5% is paid in June,2020, putting uncertainty in the payment of the balance 46.2% ex-gratia. This has naturally caused widespread disappointment and mental agony to the VRS retirees. Therefore, we request your kind intervention to cause necessary action for immediate payment of 46.2% ex-gratia to the BSNL VRS retirees.

3. Sir, we are equally concerned about the future of BSNL. Many people appreciated your personal efforts in bringing out a comprehensive Revival Package for BSNL and believed in early revival of BSNL. The main components of the Revival Package were; (1) Immediate grant of 4G spectrum to BSNL (2) Sovereign Bond of Rs.15,000 crore (3) Monetisation of BSNL assets and (4) VRS to the employees.

4. But the fact remains that the government and the top officers of DoT and BSNL were enthusiastic in implementing only the VRS to their full satisfaction. And the Revival of BSNL is put into the cold storage. The late initiative of BSNL for the 4G service has been stalled by the PMO on flimsy grounds, presumably at the behest of Reliance Jio. The intention of the government is exposed with awarding the work of installation of 51 towers in Ladakh to Reliance Jio, neglecting BSNL. The other components of the Revival Package also remain as nonstarter. The apprehension of a section of the people that the Revival Package is only a ploy to retrench the employees in the name of VRS is proved to be correct.

5. When the Revival Package was declared, BSNL was supported by oxygen cylinder and now, after 8 months, BSNL is on ventilator. Salary of employees are in arrears for two months, contract workers are not being paid their wages for the last two years, unable to provide the most attractive FTTH to the customers due to paucity of funds to procure necessary accessories etc.

6. Most importantly, BSNL Retirees are not being paid their medical bills, medical allowance since 2018. One time payment made to CGHS is also not being reimbursed. The abnormal delay in payment of medical bills and allowance is causing much difficulty and disarray to the Pensioners. This burning issue was brought to the notice of CMD, BSNL several times and also Hon’ble Prime Minister and your good self. We once again request you to do something to mitigate the sufferings of the poor Pensioners considering the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

7. We also make a fervent request to your good self to kindly do the needful for the Revival of BSNL in the best interest of the people and the country and to keep up the credibility and sincerity of the government.

Awaiting an early positive response and

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary

Copy to: (1) Shri Anshu Prakash, Secretary, (Telecom), Department of Telecom., Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi- 110 001

  (2) Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi -110 001

<<view letter>>

According to Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau, IDA will be decreased by 0.8% from 01-07-2020 and the total IDA wil be 160.7%- 0.8%= 159.9%.

The order will be issued by DPE within a few days.

NEWLY ELECTED OFFICE BEARERS WITH CIRCLE SECRETARY.

The second  biennial District Conference of Tumkur has been held successully keeping up the Corona-19 protocol at Sai Sagar Hotel on 29-06-2020. Com.Veeranna Gowda controlled the proceedings. Com. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference and gave a good accounts of the current developments, including pension revision, nonpayment of medical bills and allowance and issues of the VRS retirees. Smt. Malini Chandrasekhar, PGM, Tumkur was the Chief Guest and greeted the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Coms. K. Nageswaraiah (President) , Vazeerjan (District Secretary) and S.Narasimhamurthy (Treaurer). 

VRS retirees ,retired under BSNL VRS-2019,  who have attained the age of 60 should give application for commutation of pension. 

Application is to be submitted to the BA from where they retired in the prescribed form 1(a).

In case, pensioners submit their application after one year of attaining the age of 60, they should have to give the application in Form.2 along with medical certificate from a medical officer of grade as prescribed under Rule 22 of CCS Commutation Rules,1981.

The Head of BA shall verify the application of commutation and sign in the space provided in the form and forward the application to the concerned CCA.

It has been brought to our notice that a vast majority of the eligible VRS retirees who have attained the age of 60, have not submitted the application. So Circle/ District Secretaries may please take necessary action to bring it to the notice of VRS retirees and ensure that the applications are submitted  early.

BSNL  Corporate office had extended the date for revalidation of medical card to 30-06-2020 vide office order dated 04-05-2020. There were many complaints from the circles that the date should be extended upto 30-09-2020, as in the case of option for outdoor medical facilities. So, CHQ took up the issue and wrote a letter to CMD, BSNL on 23-06-2020 urging for further extension upto 30-09-2020 ,considering the alarming situation prevailing in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, 29th June, 2020, Corporate Office has issued the order in this regard fully accepting our demand and we thank the BSNL management for the same. 

<<view order>>

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AIBDPA/DOT-FP-MH/2020                                                                                      27^th June, 2020

To,

Shri Anshu Prakash

Secretary,

Department of Telecommunications,

Sanchar Bhawan, 20,

Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001

Sir,

Sub: –     Denial of Family Pension from the eligible date, violating GOI Rules- case of Ms. Shanta Krishnappa Kumbhar, widow of late Shri. Krishnappa Balappa Kumbhar, Telecom Mechanic under GMT, BSNL, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, now residing at Plot No.12, S No292, Lingayat Nagar, Near Loyt Bus Stop, Devraj Urs Colony, Basavan Kudachi, Dist.Belagavi-591124, Karnataka – reg.

Ref:        (1) PPO No.CCA/MH-MB/ PEN/ KBK/F 3268 Dated 19-09-2019.

            (2) Government of India- Department of P& PW OM No.1(17) P &PW/86-E dated 18-02-1993.

1. We wish to bring to your kind notice a very genuine case wherein gross injustice was meted out to the widow of a Telecom Mechanic by denying Family Pension arrears for 12 years in violation of the GOI Rules.

2. A brief history of the case is narrated hereunder;

Shri Krishnappa Balappa Kumbhar, Telecom Mechanic of BSNL, Kolhapur SSA, Maharashtra went missing on 05-10-2002. A complaint was filled with the Police and FIR issued on 16-10-2002. The efforts of the Police to trace the missing official yielded no results. All these developments were duly intimated to the concerned officer of BSNL Kolhapur then and there. Shri K.B. Kumbhar was the only earning member of the family consisting of his wife and two small children. Meanwhile BSNL Kolhapur administration, instead of helping the poor family in distress, resorted to punitive measures. A charge sheet under Rule 14 of CCS(CCA) Rules, 1965 was issued against the missing official (virtually dead) for absconding, inquiry conducted exparte and awarded the punishment of dismissal…!  It is worth mentioning here that no consent of DOT, as required, was sought before resorting such a drastic action.

3. No benefits entitled as per GOI Rules were given to the family and request for Family Pension also turned down by the BSNL Kolhapur administration, putting the family into untold miseries and distress. The hapless widow, with the help of certain well wishers, preferred representations against the cruelty to the Grievance Portals of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, but of no avail.

4. It was under these circumstances that the issue was brought to the notice of this Association. We promptly took up the case with BSNL Corporate Office vide our letter dated 21-06-2017. Another letter was sent to Shri. Jithendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Personnel, Pension and Pensioners Welfare vide our letter No. AIBDPA/MIN-PPW/2017 dated 27-06-2017. BSNL Corporate office initiated action immediately by asking CGMT, Maharashtra to send a report on wrong actions of Sholhapur SSA. But there was no positive response from the Maharashtra Circle, presumably due to the negative stand of Kolhapur administration. Thereafter, Ms. Sujata T Ray, the then Director (HR), BSNL wrote two DO letters to CGMT, Maharashtra urging for immediate relief to the victimised family. Shri. Jithendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister also forwarded our letter to Department of Telecommunications for necessary action. CCA Mumbai also initiated some action on direction of DoT, asking the Kolhapur administration as to why the family pension case is not being processed.

5. Thus, BSNL Kolhapur administration was compelled to cancel the dismissal Order, inflicted illegally on the missing official and started processing family pension case, but with a vengeance to the hapless family. As part of this, documents already submitted were asked to furnish repeatedly. They also asked for the court order dated 11-03-2014 declaring the missing official virtually dead. When this order was given, they asked to furnish death certificate from the local body. The poor widow approached the local body but was told that no death certificate is issued for missing persons. This was intimated to the BSNL Kolhapur administration through a letter and also reminding that as per existing rules, death certificate is not required in missing cases to process the family pension. But the BSNL Kolhapur administration took a very adamant stand and threatened that they will not forward the pension papers without death certificate. Unaware of the conspiracy and wickedness of the Kolhapur administration, the poor widow with much difficulty, managed to get the death certificate from the local body with date of death, 11-03-2014, the same date the court issued the order. Actually, this not a genuine certificate and therefore untenable. BSNL Kolhapur administration processed the family pension case based on this fake death certificate which was not at all warranted in the instant case, as per rules.

6. So, the order for family pension from 11-03-2014 was issued by CCA, Mumbai on 19-09-2019 without proper scrutiny of the relevant Rules in this regard referred (2) above which states as follows;

” The family can apply to the Head of. Office of the government servant for Grant of family pension and Gratuity after one year from the date of the First Information Report was lodged with the police. Family pension at normal/ enhanced rates, as may be applicable in individual cases, will be payable to the family of the missing employee retrospectively from the date of filing FIR with the police.”

7. Sir, you may kindly imagine the plight of the poor family during the long 17 years due to the cruelty meted out by the BSNL Kolhapur administration, for reasons best known to them. Finally, they have inflicted last assault by denying the family the entitled arrears of family pension for a long 12 years.

8. In view of the foregoing, we request your good self to kindly cause necessary action for extending justice to the poor family, by granting Family Pension from the eligible date of 16-02-2002, the date of filing of FIR, as per rules refereed (2) above.

Expecting an early positive action and

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary

Encl: Copy of the relevant pages of the PPO.

Copy to:   (1) Shri P.K. Sinha, Member (Finance), DoT, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001

  (2) Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Director (Estt-2 Pension), DoT, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001.

  (3) Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM (Estt), BSNL C.O., Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001.

<<view letter>>