A meeting of the Trade Union International ( Pensioners & Retirees) was held on digital platform on 19-04-2023 at 0830 PM .Com.Dimos Koumpouris, President presided over the meeting. Com.Quim Boix, General Secretary had already circulated his report on the recent developments worldwide and the urgent tasks to be undertaken collectively by the comrades. The 3rd Congress is proposed to be held in Greece in early 2024. Some of the Regional Conferences , including Asia, have to be completed in a time bound manner.All the comrades attended the meeting, presented their views.

From India, Com.K G Jayaraj participated and addressed highlighting the great struggle of the French Workers against the pension reform, the historic Worker – Peasant Rally held in New Delhi on 5th April 2023 and the participation of Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNLCCWF in the rally. He also reported on the ensuing agtational program of NCCPA on the 15 point charter of demands. Com.K G Jayaraj had sent the written response to the General Secretary ‘ s report as required. Com.K.Ragvendran could not attend due to some technical snag.

The 3rd District Conference of Kadapa was held on 16-04-2023. The inaugural session was held jointly with BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF. A Seminar on “Role of the Employees in the progress of BSNL” was addressed by Shri. K Shreedhara Reddy, DGM and Shri. P Srinivasa Rao, AGM. Com.Rama Subha Reddy, District Secretary, AIGTOA greeted the conference. Coms. M Yacob, Circle President, K Rama Devi, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, K S C Bose, Circle Secretary, K Prabhakara Rao and a host of leaders addressed. Coms. Manohar and Srinivasaly, Secretary and President of CITU also greeted the conference. Com.K Sudhakar, District Secreatry presided over the inaugural session.

In the subject session, Com.C Subba Reddy, District President presided. The report and accounts presented by the District Secretary were adopted after discussion. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Coms. C Subba Reddy (President) K Sudhakar (District Secretary) and Com. B Venkata Subbaiah (Treasurer)

The first phase of the NCCPA agitational program is district level Dharna on 21-04-2023 demanding settlement of the 15 point charter of demands. Ramzan is being celebrated on 21st April in many parts of the country. In such places the Dharna may be organised on 24-04-2023.

AIBDPA Comrades are requested to take the initiative to consult all the affiliated Pensioners Associations, particularly, AIPRPA, CGPA, Income Tax, Banks etc and ensure maximum participation in the Dharna. Boards, banners etc be exhibited at prominent places to popularise the 15 point charter of demands

For your ready reference, the charter of demands is given hereunder;

1. Abolish NPS to all Central, State Government and PSU Employees and bring them under CCS (Pension) Rules,2021 and out of PFRDA Act

2 Constitute 8th CPC immediately to all CG Employees and CG Pensioners

3. Release the impounded DA/DR Arrears for 18 months from 1.1.2020 to all CG Employees and Pensioners and arrears of 3 IDA installments to BSNL/MTNL Pensioners

.4. Revise the pension of BSNL/ MTNL absorbed pensioners from 01-01-2017 with 15% fitment, delinking wage revision

5. Allow Updating of Pension to all Bank Pensioners

6 Accept and implement all recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee including additional pension from 65th year of age, FMA enhancement to 3000/- per month etc.,

7. Improve CGHS functioning at all places – Grant higher ward entitlement to all retirees prior to 1.1.2006 also –

8.Open Wellness Centers in all Districts – Merge CGHS – ECHS – RELHS as per 7th CPC recommendation –

9. Implement Medical Insurance Scheme to Pensioners without delay – Do not delay fixing higher rates for treatment and pathological tests and empanel more private hospitals in the CGHS list -Ensure linking of CGHS with ABHA purely optional to beneficiaries.

10. Restore commutation after 12 years instead of 15 years.

11. Grant Option 1 as recommended by 7th CPC and also grant higher pay scales as granted to serving employees by each CPC to pensioners also who were retired from the same post.

12.Grant Notional Increment to all 30th June Retirees from 1.1.2006.13. Modify MACP date of implementation from 1.1.2006 instead of 1.9.2008 to all Civilian Employees by giving individual option to opt beneficial upgradation and refix the Pension accordingly, similar to Defense.Grant MACP by discounting competitiveness-based examinations to all based on Court Judgments by amending the MACP Rules.

13. Grant of MACP to MTS, MailGuard, Postmen and Postal Assistants who were retired without MACP due to non- incorporation of any Bench Mark (very good etc.) in APAR.

14. Restore Travel Concession to Senior Citizens in Indian Railways that were removed during corona.

15. Enact Rules of Recognition for Pensioners Associations like CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 to recognize all India and State CGPA organizations of Pensioners Associations.

It is also decided to organise a signature campaign among the pensioners which is to be submitted to the Prime Minister during the Parliament March on 21-07-2023. The matter of the Memorandum will be circulated to all of you once it is received from NCCPA. So let us make the program Dharna a grand success and photos/ reports be sent to CHQ

It was a long pending demand of AIBDPA that family pensioners also should be extended the facility of staff quarters on rent. There have been many instances wherein the family of the pensioner being evicted from the quarters putting the family to distress. These were rightly pointed out to the concerned authorities. And now, the Corporate Office has issued the orders .

General Secretary and Com.M I Jakati Circle Secretary, Maharashtra met Shri.Y N Singh, GM( Taxation & BFCI) , BSNL Corporate Office on 06-04-2023 and discussed the issue of delay in the payment of medical benefits to various Circles like Maharashtra, Telangana etc. The GM immediately called the concerned officer to his cabin in our presence and asked the position. The officer stated that whatever bills are cleared and entered by the circles have been cleared and paid fully and nothing is pending.

MEETING WITH GM( ADM).

General Secretary and Com M I Jakati Circle Secretary, Maharashtra also met Shri. S P Singh GM ( Adm) BSNL Corporate Office on 06-04-2023 and discussed the following issues

1. Yearly Option for without voucher, medical allowance.

General Secretary handed over the CHQ letter regarding some confusion/ misinterpretation in some Circles/ SSA/ BAs on yearly Option for those who want to continue with without voucher medical allowance. General Secretary brought to his notice that the order of Corporate Office dated 08-06-2020 is being misinterpreted in certain circles and yearly option insisted. GM stated that the order is very clear and those retirees already given option for 2020-21 need not give fresh option every year. However considering our request,GM agreed to issue necessary clarification

.2. Yearly revalidation of BSNL MRS Card.

The representatives pointed out the difficulties being experienced by the retirees for revalidation of BSNL MRS card every year and requested to limit the revalidation only when there are change in the case of dependents/ Pensioner etc. It is also a fact that no space is provided in the Card to make the entry of renewal every year and in many SSA/ BAs it is not being done.

GM replied that BSNL MRS Card has to be renewed as per rules and can’t be dispensed with. They don’t bother if it is not done in some SSA/ BAs

.3. Opportunity to the Family Pensioners to change the Option as a one time measure.

The representatives requested the BSNL management to consider the issue sympathetically . There are ample justification for giving the Family Pensioners one opportunity to change the medical option. The main factor is that BSNL employees were not having without voucher medical allowance since 2011 and were having no option at all other than with voucher medical benefits. GM stated that he can’t agree to any proposal that may incur additional expenditure to BSNL in the present financial situation of BSNL.

CHQ had sought an appointment with the CMD BSNL on 6th April,2023 to discuss the serious issue of Non-Payment of regular pension and retirement benefits to ST VRS retirees of Maharashtra despite clear cut orders from all the relevant authorities. The appointment was sought so as to facilitate our Maharashtra Circle delegation led by Com.M I Jakati Circle Secretary, who are at New Delhi for a short visit, also to participate in the discussion.But CMD, due to some urgent meeting, advised us to meet the Director (HR). Director (HR) also happened to be in a meeting. Finally, the delegation met Shri. Saurabh Tyagi PGM (Estt) and had a detailed discussion.

General Secretary and Circle Secretary brought to the notice of the PGM, the continuing cruelty and harrassment of BSNL, Maharashtra Circle administration against the ST VRS retirees denying their due benefits despite clear cut orders and pointwise clarification issued by the Corporate Office. The representatives also pointed out certain specific cases wherin conversion of regular pension again to provisional pension and denial of leave encashment to Shri.Borkar Ramesh Bhau, Kalyan.

PGM listened to the delegation patiently and assured necessary action and asked the delegation to provide him the complete list of the affected pensioners with present status of each case. Com. M I . Jakati, Circle Secretary readily agreed to provide the list through the General Secretary after returning to Maharashtra. It was also decided to take up the issue of illegal actions of conversion of regular pension to provisional pension by CCA, Maharashtra with the Controller General of Communication Accounts.