HOWRA HOOGLY BRANCH CONFERENCE OF KOLKATA DISTRICT.

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HOWRAH HOOGLY BRANCH.

The first Branch Conference of Howrah Hoogly has been held on 11-03-2018 at Tarakeswar. Com.Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the current developments regarding pay/pension revision, the struggles by AIBDPA and All Unions and Associations. He stressed the significance of the struggles which made the government to change their attitude and the Minister of Communications discussed the issues with the leaders and gave assurances. A host of leaders from BSNLEU, CMU and AIBDPA including Com.A.K.Nandan,ACS and District Secretary, Kolkata addressed the meeting.

Coms.Ashoke Koley and Rabin Mitra were elected President and Secretary respectively.

 

 

 

PATNA DISTRICT GENERALBODY MEETING HELD.

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A well attended generalbody meeting of Patna District Branch was held on 10-03-2018. Com.N.K.Srivastava, Circle Secretary inaugurated the meeting with an elaborate speech including the latest developments with regard to pay revision and pension revision. 

BSNL Receives Rs 25,000 Crore Worth Projects from Government, Will Kick-Off Second Phase of BharatNet-says the Minister.

The government yesterday allocated various telecom network projects to state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The government has allocated Rs 25,000 crore for completing the assigned tasks. Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha informed this news to Parliament yesterday. These big projects include laying of optical fibre based network dedicated for use by Defence worth Rs 13,334 crore and Rs 6,500 crore for execution of the second phase of BharatNet Project.

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“Optical Fibre Cable based Network for Defence Services (NFS Project) has been given to BSNL on nomination basis at the cost of Rs 13,334 crore. For the execution of the BharatNet project, the government has provided Rs 5,744 crore in Phase-I and has earmarked Rs 6,500 crore in Phase-II for BSNL,” Sinha said, as reported by PTI.

Besides the projects mentioned above, BSNL has been awarded to roll out mobile networks in uncovered villages in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam at an estimated cost of Rs 1,975.38 crore. The government-owned PSU will also be responsible for implementing the transmission-media plan for North Eastern Region at an estimated cost of Rs 295.97 crore. It will also lay the submarine optical fiber cable project at the cost of Rs 1,900 crore for providing connectivity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) and augmenting of satellite bandwidth in ANI and Lakshadweep Islands at an estimated cost of Rs 120.49 crore.

“Work of setting up of 25000 Wi-Fi Hotspots at Rural Telephone Exchanges at the cost of Rs 940 crore has been given to BSNL on nomination basis,” Sinha added.

Furthermore, at the same meeting, Sinha was asked about the revival of state-run firms BSNL and MTNL as both the companies have been incurring losses since FY 2009-10. As per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines, both CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises) has been declared as “Incipient Sick”, Sinha added.

“Consequent upon declaration of BSNL as “Incipient Sick”, action has been initiated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL as per DPE guidelines. Three Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) have been requested to submit their willingness for undertaking a study and preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL,” the telecom minister added.

He further confirmed that an “internal committee of DoT is examining the recommendations of the report prepared by the consultant to decide the path of financial, human resources and corporate restructuring for the revival of MTNL.”

Sinha also recommended the reduction in the retirement age from 60 years to 58 years for employees, voluntary retirement scheme, debt restructuring and synergy in operations of MTNL and BSNL.

“projects only will not help  the revival of BSNL-BSNLEU.

In reply to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, with regards to the revival of BSNL, the Minister of State for Communications has replied that BSNL has been provided with government projects worth Rs.25,000 crores. This news is widely covered by the media also. It gives an impression to the general public that the government is spending Rs.25,000 crores for the revival of BSNL. Whereas, most of these projects give BSNL, the job of laying optic fibre cable, for which BSNL will be getting only a marginal amount as gain. These projects are really not going to help for the revival of BSNL. What the government needs to do for the revival of BSNL is, the immediate allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, as per the proposal already submitted by BSNL to the DoT. It may be noted that, in the meeting held with the All Unions and Associations of BSNL on 24-02-2018, the Hon’ble Mos (C) has assured that BSNL will be allotted with 4G spectrum soon.

BSNL and MTNL declared as “Incipient Sick” – Communications Minister.

A report in the press on the above matter is reproduced below:

“The Government has entrusted state-run BSNL with various telecom network projects around Rs 25,000 crore in works, Parliament was informed today.

The big projects include laying of optical fibre based network dedicated for use by Defence worth Rs 13, 334 crore and Rs 6,500 crore for execution of second phase of BharatNet Project, as per details shared by Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha in Rajya Sabha today.

“Optical Fibre Cable based Network for Defence Services (NFS Project) has been given to BSNL on nomination basis at the cost of Rs 13,334 crore. For execution of BharatNet project, government has provided Rs 5,744 crore in Phase-I and has earmarked Rs 6,500 crore in Phase-II for BSNL,” Sinha said.

The state-run firm has been awarded rolling out mobile networks in uncovered villages in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam at an estimated project cost of Rs 1,975.38 crore, implementation of transmission-media plan for North Eastern Region at an estimated cost of Rs 295.97 crore, laying of submarine optical fiber cable project at the cost of Rs 1,900 crore for providing connectivity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) and augmenting of satellite bandwidth in ANI and Lakshadweep Islands at an estimated cost of Rs 120.49 crore.

“Work of setting up of 25000 Wi-Fi Hotspots at Rural Telephone Exchanges at the cost of Rs 940 crore has been given to BSNL on nomination basis,” Sinha said.

He was replying to question over revival of state-run telecom firm BSNL and MTNL
Both public sector telecom firms have been incurring losses continuously since Financial Year 2009-10 and as per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines, both CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises) have been declared as “Incipient Sick”, Sinha said.

“Consequent upon declaration of BSNL as “Incipient Sick”, action has been initiated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL as per DPE guidelines. Three Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) have been requested to submit their willingness for undertaking a study and preparation of a revival/restructuring plan for BSNL,” the minister said.

An internal committee of DoT is examining the recommendations of the report prepared by the consultant to decide the path of financial, human resources and corporate restructuring for revival of MTNL.

The MTNL consultant has recommended reduction in retirement age from 60 to 58 years for employees, voluntary retirement scheme , debt restructuring and synergy in operations of MTNL and BSNL.

Besides this, the recommendation for MTNL should focus on customers and defend current revenue besides generating additional revenue through network capex investment, asset monetisation – ease, Sale of real estate, buildings, lease or sale of mobile tower, fiber, copper and active equipments, Sinha said.

BSNL Corporate Office letter regarding implementation of the Supreme Court order on recovery of excess payments

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The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has directed that excess payments, wrongly made in the past, should not be recovered from the salaries of Non-Executive employees. BSNLEU has taken up this issue in the National Council, and has also written a number of letters to the Corporate Management, demanding implementation of the Supreme Court judgement. Now, the Corporate Office, in it’s letter addressed to the CGMs, has clarified that circles are authorised to take decision on excess payment due to wrong fixation of pay in case of Non-Executives which are done prior to 06.02.2014. In view of this circle unions are requested to take up such cases with their respective CGMs immediately.

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 (courtesy: BSNLEU website)

WFTU Statement on the International Women´s day, March 8th 2018

06 Mar 2018
 

Athens, Greece – 6 March 2018

 

WFTU Statement on the International Women´s day, March 8th 2018

Since its foundation, on 3 of October 1945 until today, the WFTU has always stood on the side of women and female workers all around the globe. The big trade union family of the WFTU, since the very start of its long journey full of struggles and sacrifices, has included in its founding principles the fight for the equality between men and women as an integral part of the antiimperialist and anti-capitalist fight.

This way and on this occasion of the International Women’s Day, 161 years after the 8 March women’s uprising in New York, the WFTU keeps honoring this very symbolic date in memory of all female militants who fought for a world of social and gender equality, a world with no exploitation, imperialist wars and poverty. This year, the WFTU chose to pay tribute to every woman in struggle in every corner of the world, by celebrating its World Working Women Congress in Panama City, Panama, on 8,9 and 10 March. This Congress proves that the demands which were once written on the first banners and communications of the WFTU for women equality, for equal pay for equal work, for pregnancy and childbirth leave, for respect for the women personality are still a necessity of our times.

At the same time, the WFTU and its affiliated trade unions have been the first ones to appoint female cadres to important positions within the life and activity of Trade Unions, with a substantial and not a decorative role.  The WFTU was the first to call upon women and men for joint class-oriented struggles against capitalist exploitation and the aggression of monopolies and of cartels.

We are proud of our history and we continue this legacy. The slogan of the World Working Women Congress is clear: “we fight for the equality of rights at work, in society and in life”, especially in a time when capitalist forces attack the women’s rights and try to turn again workers into modern slaves of the 21st century. That’s why the WFTU underlines that the only way out are the joint struggles for a new society, for the emancipation of women from the capitalist slavery!

Also today, under the conditions of an acute capitalist crisis, we call upon every working woman to join the ranks of the WFTU, to stand up against  capitalist barbarity on the side of the class-oriented trade union movement. Furthermore, we reaffirm our solidarity with every woman persecuted for her militant activity; We struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian youngster Ahed Tamimi, for our women colleagues who suffer the anti-union terrorist action of the fascist groups in Colombia, for the women rural workers in India, for every militant who dares to stand up and fight against imperialism in every corner of the world.

This way, we call on all the WFTU national affiliates and friends to honor this special date and we salute every working woman who keeps fighting for her life and contemporary rights.

Long live the International Women’s Day!

The Secretariat

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY CELEBRATION BY VELLORE DISTRICT BRANCH ON 08-03-2018

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Our Vellore District Branch in Tamil Nadu is unique in many respects, particularly for organising special programmes and welfare activities to the poor and physically disabled. The District Branch under the able leadership of Com.Jothisudanthiranathan, District Secretary supported by his team of comrades, this time has celebrated the International Womens Day on 08-03-2018 in a grand manner. Com.V.Elumalai, District President controlled the proceedings. Com.Jothisudanthiranathan welcomed the gathering of 200 comrades, including more than 50 women comrades.

Com.G.Praveena, eminent social activist inaugurated with an elaborate and effective speech. Com.C.Jnanasekharan, Assistant Circle  Secretary, Com.K.Krishnamoorthy, Circle Organising Secretary and Com.C.Thangavelu, District Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed the meeting.

CHQ heartily congratulates Vellore comrades.

 

BSNL HAS 66,857 TOWERS; 585 ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS.

BSNL Now Operating With a Tally of 216 Towers in Goa, Expected to Launch 4G Services Soon

 

One of the leading telecommunications service provider owned by the government, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) today announced that it had expanded mobile network coverage in Goa. As of January 2018, BSNL is providing services via 216 towers in Goa, up from the previous number. This news was revealed in the Lok Sabha earlier today. Union minister of communications, Manoj Sinha, answered to a question tabled by BJP leader and south Goa member of Parliament, Narendra Sawaikar. A statement from Lok Sabha, later on, read that the telco has a total of 66,857 BSNL towers as of January 2018.

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Out of the total number of towers, 585 towers are non-functional due to various issues. “Of the total 66,857 BSNL towers, as on date, 585 towers are non-functional due to non-availability of equipment, land issues and non-availability of power supply from the state electricity board,” the statement in the Lok Sabha read.

The statement also read that BSNL will make all these unfunctional towers functional during next financial year based on the “assessment of techno-commercial viability.”

However, the telco did not state how many towers are nonfunctional out of 216 towers in Goa. And BSNL is not yet offering 4G services in Goa, meaning customers will receive only 3G network at most, and in most areas, customers are plagued with 2G network.

However, BSNL has recently partnered with Nokia to roll out 4G services in 10 circles very soon, and Goa is one among them. Along with Nokia, BSNL has confirmed to relay 4G network in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana circles.

Also, the Lok Sabha statement read that BSNL has finalised phase 8.4 global system for mobile communication (GSM), which will see the replacement of old equipment with new ones, but the operational cost is said to be a lot higher. “Similarly, the 3G capacity will be increased, and 4G services will also be introduced,” read the statement.

“BSNL is also hiring towers from other infrastructure providers to ensure better services to its customers. As of January 2018, BSNL uses 17,562 such hired towers across the country,” the statement read.

At the moment, there’s no update from BSNL on when it’s planning to roll out 4G services, but with private telecom services planning for the 5G rollout, it’s high time for BSNL to introduce high-speed 4G services.

(courtesy:Economic Times)