BOTH THE HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH SUSTAINED STRUGGLES AND ENSURING FULL SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE BSNL EMPLOYEES, BOTH EXECUTIVE AND NON-EXECUTIVE, UNDER THE BANNER OF FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ ASSOCIATIONS.

78.2% IDA PAY FIXATION WAS ACHIEVED FOR BSNL EMPLOYEES BY  TWO STRIKE NOTICES BY FORUM AND HARD BARGAIN WITH THE MANAGEMENT DESPITE BSNL WAS IN HUGE LOSS FOR THREE YEARS. THE PENSIONERS WHO RETIRED AFTER JUNE 2013 ALSO GOT THE BENEFIT IN THEIR PENSION.

IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS FORUM AND BSNLEU  DEMANDED FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATIONS TO THE PENSIONERS RETIRED BEFORE JUNE 2013.

FORUM CONDUCTED A PHASED PROGRAMME OF AGITATION CULMINATED IN THE TWO DAYS SUCCESSFUL STRIKE ON 21,22 APRIL, 2015.

JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE OF NON EXECUTIVE UNIONS ALSO CONDUCTED A PHASED PROGRAMME OF AGITATION AND A ONE DAY STRIKE ON 27^TH NOVEMBER, 2014.

FORUM AGAIN STAGED A BLACK BADGE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION DEMANDING IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT OF 78.2% ON 22-12-2015.

AIBDPA ORGANISED THE FOLLOWING AGITATIONS

1.MASS DHARNA AT SSA LEVEL ON 29-08-2013

2.PROTEST DAY AT CIRCLE/DISTRICT LEVEL WITH FAX MESSAGE CAMPAIGN TO THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT AND SECRETARY, DOT ON 25-10-2013

3. CCA/CIRCLE OFFICE MARCH ON 28-11-2013

4. SANCHAR BHAWAN MARCH ON 20-11-2014 WITH MASSIVE PARTICIPATION AND HANDING OVER MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY DOT

5. POST CARD CAMPAIGN TO PRIME MINISTER IN MAY, 2015

6. TWO DAYS RELAY HUNGER FAST AT CCA/CGM OFFICE ON 21,22 JULY, 2015

7. MASS DHARNA AT SSA LEVEL ON 10-03-2016.

 MEMORANDUM TO THE VII CPC AND DISCUSSION WITH PARTICIPATION OF ADVISOR OF AIBDPA  COM.V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI ON ISSUES OF BSNL PENSIONERS INCLUDING THE ABOVE  TWO POINTS ALSO THE ISSUE OF PENSION REVISION OF BSNL RETIREES.

THROUGH THESE STRUGGLES WE COULD MOBILIZE AND RALLY ROUND A VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS PENSIONERS FROM OTHER SECTORS ALSO ON THIS GENUINE DEMAND.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CORRECT PATH AND WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE THE SAME PATH OF AGITATION IN THE FUTURE ALSO.

BEING HEAD QUARTERED AT NEW DELHI WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE CONCERNED OFFICERS IN DOT, BSNL, DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE, PENSION DEPARTMENT AND DPE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WHENEVER REQUIRED.

WE ALSO MET SHRI. RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD, HON’BLE COMMUNICATIONS  & IT MINISTER AT VERY CRUCIAL JUNCTURES, ON 13-05-2015 AND  09-03-2016.

INTERVENTIONS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS WERE SOUGHT AND SOME OF THEM WROTE LETTERS TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER FOR EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE CASE. COM.M.B.RAJESH AND COM. SHANKAR PRASAD DUTTA,BOTH LOK SABHA MEMBERS MET THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER AND DISCUSSED THE ISSUE.

AIBDPA WROTE A DETAILED LETTER TO HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER, SEEKING HIS INTERVENTION FOR EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE ISSUE.

THE DISCUSSION FORUM LEADERS HAD WITH THE SECRETARY, DOT ON 01-05-2015 AFTER THE TWO DAYS STRIKE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE WHEREIN THE FORUM LEADERS SPECIFICALLY DEMANDED FOR PREPARATION OF CABINET NOTE BOTH ON  78.2% AND 60-40 CONDITION. EXTRACTS OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING IS GIVEN BELOW: COM.V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI ADVISOR OF AIBDPA WHO WAS ALSO THE CONVENER OF THE FORUM EFFECTIVELY LED THE DISCUSSION. 

“2.2. Revision of Pension of BSNL Retirees and orders for 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for pre-2007 and post 2007 retirees up to June 2013:

The Forum leaders expressed strong resentment at the undue delay in issue of orders on 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for the BSNL retires up to June 2013. Those who retired after June 2013 have already received the same. The pensioners are put to much loss in their pension. Already it had been delayed for years and early orders are required. They also demanded that Pension Revision should be made whenever there is a wage/pay revision for employees. They also demanded that the condition of 60%-40%  on payment of pension is unjustified and should be done away with.

The Secretary DOT agreed to take up the matter of Pension revision with the government. He assured that the Cabinet Note of 78.2% is being prepared and will be finalised soon. With regard to removal of 60%:40% condition on pension payment, the earlier DOT orders mentioned by the Forum will be  examined.”

ACTUALLY THE CABINET NOTE ON WAIVING THE 60.40 CONDITION WAS INCORPORATED AFTER THIS DICUSSION AND ASSURANCE BY SECRETARY DOT.

AT THE FAG END, THE TRANSFER OF SHRI.RAKESH GARG, SECRETARY, DOT CREATED SOME MORE DELAY. HOWEVER WE COULD MEET THE NEW SECRETARY,DOT, SHRI.J.S.DEEPAK THREE TIMES ON  02-03-2016, 31-03-2016 AND 12-04-2016.HE RESPONDED POSITIVELY AND THINGS STARTED MOVING.

WE HAVE MAINTAINED CONSTANT VIGIL OF EACH DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE ACTED ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SITUATION.

SLANDEROUS AND MISCHIEVIOUS PROPOGANDA.

WE HAVE NOTICED THAT ONE OF BSNL PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS HAS CLAIMED THAT IT WAS DONE ON THEIR BEHALF AND NOBODY ELSE. IT HAS ALSO SHAMELESSLY CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED IT WITH THE HELP OF SOME MINISTER!

SOME MAY THINK THAT HE IS THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS; BUT,NO, HE IS THE MINISTER FOR FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS.!

PEOPLE WHO HAVE STILL LEFT SOME BRAIN ON THEIR HEAD SHOULD THINK WHAT COULD BE DONE BY A MINISTER FROM OTHER MINISTRIES IN THIS CASE.

THE QUESTION REMAINS: IF THEY CAN SO INFLUENCE THE FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS MINISTER, WHY DID NOT HE ARRANGE A MEETING WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER. IF THAT WAS DONE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME SENSE. ALAS! THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO IT.

THIS ASSOCIATION IS FULLY DEPENDENT ON THIS MINISTER.

THEY SAY THAT THEY MET THE SECRETARY, DOT ON RECOMMENDATION OF THIS MINISTER.

AGAIN THEY MET SHRI. NRIPENDRA MISRA WITH THE HELP OF THE SAME MINISTER.

SO, THEY THEMSELVES SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET A DOT SECRETARY WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.

IN MARCH, 2016 THERE APPEARED A BANNER HEADING IN THEIR WEBSITE;

“ OUR LEADERS IN DELHI ‘ AS IF THEY WILL NOT RETURN WITHOUT SETTLING 78.2%.

BUT AFTER TWO DAYS, THEY WROTE ; OUR LEADERS COULD NOT MEET THE MINISTER FOR FERTILIZERS & CHEMICALS AS HE IS BUSY WITH THE MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER.

THEREAFTER NOTHING ABOUT THE LEADERS IN DELHI.

ONE CAN JUST ASSESS THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS ASSOCIATION FROM THE ABOVE.

DID THEY GO ON ANY STRUGGLE? THEY ONLY CRITICISED WHEN THE FORUM WENT ON STRUGGLE. THEY CRITICISED WHEN BENLEU WENT ON STRUGGLE. THEY CRITICISED WHEN AIBDPA WENT ON ACTION PROGRAMMES INCLUDING SANCHAR BHAWAN MARCH AND OTHER STRUGGLES. THEY EVEN CRITICISED OUR MEETING WITH THE MINISTER COMMUNICATIONS AS  IF THE MINISTER COMMUNICATIONS CAN NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND ONLY THE MINISTER OF FERTILISER AND CHEMICALS CAN SOLVE IT.

THE ENTIRE EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR HEROIC STRUGGLES ARE NOTHING ACCORDING TO THESE ‘GREAT LEADERS’! ACCORDING TO THEM EVERYTHING IS SETTLED BY SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANOTHER MINISTER.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FOOLS’ PARADISE!

OF COURSE VICTORY HAS GOT MANY FATHERS!  

P

Pensioners of Central Government and BSNL staged country wide Dharna on 11-07-2016 as called upon by National Co.Ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations. The demands are ensure pension parity, enhance minimum pension and family pension and increase the fitment formula recommended by the 7 th Pay Commission.

In Kollam, Dharna in front of the Head Post Office was addressed by Coms.V.Sasidharan, N.Sasidharan Nair, Muraleedharan Nair, C. Muraleedharan Pillai and T.P.Radhakrishna Kumar.

A well participated area convention was held at Kottarakara on 05-07-2016. Com. M. D. Rajan, District President controlled the proceedings. Com.K.Mohanan Pillai, District Vice President and the main organiser of the convention welcomed the gathering. Com. P. Aiysha Potty, MLA inaugurated the convention. Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, CHQ Treasurer and Circle President delivered the keynote address explaining the issues of the pensioners in detail. Coms. P. Sasidharan Nair, District Secretary and Com. C. Muraleedharan Pillai, District Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed. Com. K. Muraleedharan, Area Secretary proposed vote of thanks 

The 2nd branch conference of Rampurhat was held at Railwaymens’ Union office on 03-07-2016 under the president ship of Com.Debdas Chakraborty. Com.Pankaj Saha, ACS inaugurated the conference. Coms. Bholanath DE, Leader of Railway Pensioners Association, Madan Ghosh, District Secretary, Suri, Ajit Bose, Br Secretary,Bolpur, Riska Kiska, Br. Secretary, Sainthia, Jaganath Roy, Br Secretary, BSNLEU, Rampurhat and Dilip Mahji, Br Secretary, CMU addressed.

After adopting the report and accounts office berarers were elected with Com.Debdas Charaborty (President) and Com.Satyaban Bhandari (Secretary)

All the comrades assembled at Chennai on 06-07-2016, most of them even without any communication from the leadership were in a jubilant mood and wanted to celebrate the big achievement of 78.2% IDA merger and waiving of 60:40 condition for pensionary benefits. So sweets were distributed, crackers fired, exhibited posters and slogans shouted. Com.K.Govindraj ,AGS delivered an inspiring speech focusing the importance of the great achievement and the continuous struggles waged by AIBDPA and the support of BSNLEU and Forum for the settlement of this vital issue.  Coms. G. S. Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, M. Kanniappan, Circle President, BSNLEU and B.Subramonian, also addressed.

A spar is going on between the Congress and BJP about the alleged scam of Rs.46,000 crore in telecom. The issue relates to the under-reporting of revenue by six private telecom companies during the period between 2006  and 2010. It is the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) unearthed the scam

The CAG in its report tabled in Parliamant in March, 2016 said the six privete telecom companies, Reliance Communications, Tata Telecom, Vodafone, Airtel and Aircel under-reported their adjusted gross revenue by 46,045.75 crore leading to a loss os Rs.12,488.93 crore to the exchequer.

Now, the DoT is reported to be in the process of issuing demand notice of over Rs.12,500 crore  to the six private telecom companies.         (source: The Hindu)

However we have to wait and see as to whether the private telecos would pay it or not? And also the government action on it.