Merger of BSNL and MTNL

As per the reply given in the Parliament, process for merger of BSNL and MTNL has already started. BSNL and MTNL were part of DOT and government service, till they were separated from DOT and made two separate companies. Workers were against the separation, but government implemented it. Now it is almost two decades after the separation and much waters have flown. MTNL is divested to the extent of more than 46%, while BSNL is100% government owned. MTNL is having heavy loans on its head, while BSNL is managing and is on operational profit. The pay scales are also different. These issues have to be got settled, before any merger can take place. All Unions and Associations in BSNL have demanded that the divested shares of the MTNL should be bought back, the heavy loans should be written off, the wages should be equalised and financial help extended by the government. Till that time, merger is not to be implemented.

It is well understood that the government uses merger and bifurcation in order to weaken the PSUs. This has been done in the case of Banks, Airlines and even in telecom itself. The workers are determined to ensure the bright future of BSNL and MTNL and any move to destroy the same will not be allowed.

COM.N.M.SUNDARAM PASSED AWAY.

With profound sorrow, it is intimated that Comrade N.M.Sundaram, former General Secretary of  All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) and  veteran trade union leader, has passed away at 08.20 AM today,26thDecember 2017, at his residence, Chennai.He suffered a massive heart attack.

Com.NMS, as he was fondly called, was the General Secretary of AIIEA for long years. He is the author of many books on trade union etc. He was a powerful speaker and was closely associated with BSNLEU during his tenure as General Secretary, AIIEA.

AIBDPA pays respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to his family , AIIEA and other comrades.

PONDICHERRY DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary inaugurated the 3rd District Conference of Puducherry at BSNLEU Building in Pondicherry on 23-12-2017. Com.S.Jayaraman, District President was in the chair and Com.P.Sakthivel, District Secretary welcomed the gathering. Coms.P.Manickamurthy, Circle President, Muthukumarasamy, Special invitee to Circle Executive Committee, I.M.Mathialagan, District Secretary, Cuddalore, Haridas, District Secretary, SNEA, A.Subramonian, District Secretary, BSNLEU, N.Kolanjiappan, District Vice President and B.Mahalingam, District Secretary, TNTCWU addressed. The report and audited accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

New team of Office Bearers were elected unanimously with Com. P.Sakthivel (President), V.Ramakrishnan (District Secretary) and M.Balasubramonian (Treasurer)

 

 

Allot 700 MHz Spectrum free to BSNL

According to the statement of the Communications Minister Manoj Sinha, about 7400 MHz spectrum are available with the government mainly in the 700 MHz, which no private company has bought through auction. The 700 MHz is suitable for upgradation to 4G etc. and is quite necessary for BSNL.

In this situation, the Government should allot this 700 MHz spectrum to BSNL free or through interest free loan. BSNL is a 100% government owned company and the assets are its own. Hence allotting spectrum free is possible and is a must.

WEST BENGAL- COOCHBEHAR DISTRICT CONFERENCE AND SPECIAL GENERALBODY MEETING AT JALPAIGURI

Coochbehar Conference

The 3rd biennial conference of Coochbehar District was held on 17.11.17 at Recreation Club. After flag hoisting and garlanding martyrs column Com Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference. Com.Ananta Kr Burman presided over the conference. Other speakers in the inaugural session were Com Pulak Biswas Jt Convenor 12th July Committee and Com Smt Krishna Mitra DS BSNLEU. The subject committee session started after lunch. Coms Subash Pathak DS and Tapan Sarkar placed the report and accounts respectively. After discussion by the delegates both were passed.  Coms Subhas Chandra Pathak DS and Pijush Chakraborty CS summed up at their respective levels.

Coms Subhas Chandra Pathak, Tapan Sarkar and Kohinoor Sengupta were elected as President, District Secretary and Treasurer respectively. 

Jalpaiguri District GB

A Generalbody meeting  on ” The present situation and our thoughts and acts”was held on 19.12.17 at Jalpaiguri Telephone Exchange. Com Nilkantha Roy District Secretary delivered the welcome speech. Com Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary was the main speaker and delivered a detailed speech on the issue. Com Manik Mukherjee controlled the proceedings. Some relevant questions raised by the members and replied by CS.

CBI SPECIAL COURT JUDGMENT IS CONTRARY TO THE SUPREME COURT’S FINDINGS.

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Yesterday’s judgement of the CBI special court, acquitting all the accused, is contrary to the findings of a Supreme Court Bench. The Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly, in their order dated 02nd February, 2012, have stated the following with regards to the 2G scam.

“the exercise undertaken by the officers of the department of telecom between September 2007 and March 2008, under the leadership of the then minister of communications and information technology, was wholly arbitrary, capricious and contrary to public interest apart from being violative of the doctrine of equality.”

 “…. the material produced before the court shows that the minister of communications and information technology wanted to favour some companies at the cost of the public exchequer.”

“….the then communications minister was “very much conscious of the fact that the secretary, finance, had objected to the allocation of 2G spectrum at the rate fixed in 2001, but did not consult the finance minister or the office of the finance ministry.” 

“….the manner in which the exercise for grant of LoIs to the applicants was conducted on January 10, 2008, leaves no room for doubt that everything was stage managed to favour those who were able to know in advance the change in the implementation of the first come first served policy.”

(Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

National Telecom Policy 2018 by next year – Communications Minister

The government is looking to finalise the National Telecom Policy 2018 by March next year, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha informed Parliament today.

“The Department of Telecommunications envisages to formulate a new National Telecom Policy in view of rapid technological advancement in the sector. The work on formulation of the National Telecom Policy 2018 has been initiated and is targeted to be finalised by March 2018,” Sinha said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He said that several working groups have been constituted on different themes for this purpose.

DoT officials have earlier said that the draft of the new telecom policy will be placed in public domain for seeking their views.

The DoT has formed 13 working groups to prepare a draft of the National Telecom Policy. (New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI)

COM.M.K.LALAJI , DISTRICT SECRETARY, KOTTAYAM PASSED AWAY.

 

Com.M.K.Lalaji, District Secreatary, Kottayam  has breathed his last at 4 AM on 21-12-2017. He was 62 and was ailing for the last few months fighting against cancer.He was a sincere and dedicated leader and has functioned in many capacities in the Telecom Unions and BSNLEU. After retirement he took up the responsibility of District Secretary, Kottayam.

It is a great loss to AIBDPA and the progressive movement.
AIBDPA  share the grief and convey heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and comrades.

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