Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary met Shri. Saurab Tyagi, PGM(Estt), BSNL Corporate Office on 04-05-2022 and discussed the following issues.

(1) Anomaly in Pension due to point to point fixation during the first pay revision in BSNL.

General Secretary handed over a reminder of the detailed letter dated 28-10-2021 along with the copy of that letter and requested early action for settlement of the long pending issue. The PGM stated that BSNL has only little to do in this regard and DoT has to take a decision. general Secretary told him that the issue has already been taken up DoT also and a reminder also given recently and discussion had with DDG(Estt). He then agreed to look into it.

2. Mishandling of missing case and resultant denial of family pension- case of Shri. A Joga Rao, Regular Mazdoor, Visakhapatanam.

A detailed letter with copy of all necessary documents on the issue was handed over to the PGM. General Secretary explained the issue and stressed that it is a clear case of missing employee and mishandled by BSNL Visakhapatnam authorities. He requested necessary action for reconsideration and grant of family pension to his widow, Smt. A Rajeswari. PGM had a patient hearing and assured to do the needful.

Com. V A N Nambbodiri, Advisor inaugurated the Circle Executive Committee meeting of NTR, Delhi at Union office, Eastern Court on 02-05-2022. Com. R C Malhotra, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com. D P S Shishodia, Circle Secretary welcomed all and presented the report. Com. K G Jayaraj, General Secretary addressed and explained the issues in detail. Com. R S Chauhan, AGS, Com. Suresh Kumar, General Secretary, BSNLMS and Com. R S Sagar, Circle Secretary, ALTTC also addressed.

The 3rd biennial conference of Kutch Bhuj was held at Bhuj on 29-04-2022. Com. M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Organising Secretary inaugurated the conference and explained the issues confronting the pensioners. Shri. R P Marvada, GM, Bhuj was the Chief Guest and greeted the conference. Shri. Rajesh Panchal,IFA also participated and greeted. Coms. R U Anjariya, Circle Treasurer, V D Dhamsaniya, Asst. Circle Treasurer and N N Kaneriya, District Secretary, Jamnagar addressed the conference. Com.M M Vaidya welcomed one and all. The report and accounts presented by Com.J T Sanghvi were adopted after discussion.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. J T Sanghvi (President) Com. M M Vaidya (District Secretary) and Com. Akshay S Pathak (Treasurer).

**Com.V A N Namboodiri Advisor and Com.K G Jayaraj General Secretary visited both offices of Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, at Loknayak Bhawan,Khan Market, New Delhi and at Janpath Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi on 29-04-2022.

The delegation first discussed the issue of pension revision of BSNL absorbed pensioners with the concerned officers. They pointed out that certain officers at DoT have told that the approval of DOP&PW is necessary for processing the issue of Pension Revision. Shri. Charanjit Tanej, Under Secretary stated that a clear and definite proposal has to come from DoT, being the administrative department. They should also evolve/ formulate a formula to avoid anomaly, if any, for the post 2017 pensioners. The delegation replied that anomaly is nothing new and a common phenomenon and could be settled with one or another formula.

Thereafter the delegation met Shri. Naresh Bharadwaj, Deputy Secretary and brought to his notice the detailed letter sent earlier to him on the poor functioning of CPENGRAMS with scant regard to the guidelines issued by the DOP&PW. The delegation pointed out two glaring cases of closure of the grievances based on irrelevant rather absurd replies received from the lowest level of officers of the concerned department. Another case was closed by giving the contact address of the concerned officer. The guidelines issued clearly reiterates that no grievance should be closed until it’s final resolution. He assured to examine and do the needful.

CHQ REQUESTS ALL OUR UNITS TO OBSERVE THE MAY DAY BEFITTINGLY ON 01-05-2022.

Let us remember the great martyrs of Chicago who fought heroically for the basic demands of the workers, 8 hour work, 8 hour entertainment and 8 hour rest, in 1886. It was decided in 1889 2nd International to observe May 1 as International Workers Day. TUI(P&R) also has called for the observance of May Day.

When we observe the May Day this time, the working class worldwide in general and Indian working class in particular, are facing greater challenges. Labour laws which were in force to protect the rights of the workers have been replaced to 4 labour codes to suit the interests of the employers. Permanent jobs are becoming the story of the past; exploitation of human labour in the name of contract works have become the order of the day. So it is high time to fight against all these injustices; pensioners and retirees are part and parcel of the working class and let us join the workers in large numbers to observe the May Day.

.*AIBDPA has been pursuing continuously with the BSNL authorities on the burning issue of non-payment of medical benefits to BSNL Pensioners. Struggles are also being organised as the issue has become very sensitive and serious. Medical allowance is pending to be paid since 2018, medical bills both for indoor and outdoor are also pending from 01-04-2019. In certain circles, the one-time membership paid to CGHS is also being delayed.

It was in this situation that the AIBDPA delegation comprisinoms. V A N Namboodiri Advisor, K G Jayaraj General Secretary and R S Chouhan, AGS met Shri. P K Purwar CMD BSNL on 28-04-2022. The delegation brought to his notice, the pathetic condition of many of the BSNL retirees due to non-payment of medical benefits for years together. The recent allotment of some fund has not been uniform and has invited numerous complaints. The CMD stated that Rs.60 crore was allotted recently for payment of medical benefits for a specific period based on the requirements sought by the Circles.

The CMD reiterated the stand of the management that maximum BSNL retirees have to switch over to CGHS in view of the financial position of BSNL. Further fund could be allotted according to the availability of the fund. The complaints regarding removal of the names of those switched over to CGHS from the ERP resulting in non-payment of medical allowance/ bills for the period prior to switching over to CGHS was raised by the delegation and CMD assured to examine it.

The delegation pointed out the drawbacks of the CGHS which prevent many BSNL retirees to switch over to CGHS and wanted the CMD to take up the issue with the government for improvement of CGHS facilities.The huge amount required for the one-time membership for CGHS is also a main reason for a good number of BSNL Pensioners unable to switch over and if BSNL pays it directly to CGHS, more Pensioners would switch over to CGHS.The CMD responded positively and asked the delegation to give him a letter containing the main difficulties in respect of CGHS which will be endorsed and sent to the government. Regarding direct payment of one-time membership to CGHS, CMD stated that they are ready to pay but there is no mechanism for the same. However, such amount is being reimbursed without delay.

Com. V A N Namboodiri, Advisor and Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary have met Shri. K Rajaraman, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications on 27-04-2022 on pension revision. We presented the issue. The Secretary was busy with some important issue and preparing something in his personal computer. So he authorised the Additional Secretary to have a detailed discussion and report back to him. Accordingly, we met Shri. V L Kantha Rao, Additional Secretary and made a detailed presentation on the justification of pension revision with 15% fitment recommended by the 3rd PRC from 01-01-2017, delinking wage revision. The queries raised by the Additional Secretary were adequately clarified by the delegation and thereafter he agreed to give the reply in due course. The delegation also brought to his notice a very genuine issue of denial of family pension to the wife of the missing Regular Mazdoor, Shri. Jog Rao by the BSNL, Visakhapatanam administration by mishandling the issue. Another issue of denial of family pension to the widow of the late DoT employee, Shri. Laxman Sitaram Neware of BSNL Nagpur also was brought to the notice of the Additional Secretary. The most pitiable condition of the family and the sad demise of the eligible family pensioner, Smt. Urmila Laxman Neware were narrated to him. He responded positively and assured necessary action on both the cases.

The delegation, then met Shri. Dileep Pandhye, Member (Finanace) and discussed the issue of Pension Revision. He stated that the issue is being examined and whatever is required from his side , he was always ready to extend. The Member (Finance) having additional charge of Controller General of Communication Accounts, the delegation brought to his notice the delay in payment of provisional pension to VRS retirees of Maharashtra by the CCA, Mumbai. Member (Finance) asked the delegation why it is being delayed and the delegation clarified that there is a blame game between the CGM office Maharashtra and CCA, Maharashtra. The delegation also urged the Member (Finance) to give necessary instruction to grant regular pension and issue PPOs to the VRS retirees as per rules. The Member (Finance) assured necessary action. The delegation also met Shri. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member (services) and discussed the issue of pension revision. He stated that DOP&PW has raised some objection of anomaly in the case of pension revision without wage revision and the delegation replied that anomaly is nothing new but could be settled with suitable formula.