Private companies are having AK-47. Government wants BSNL to fight with sticks and stones..

The government has announced a Revival Package for BSNL on 27^th July, 2022. Through it’s press statement, BSNLEU has already raised questions about the proposals contained in the Revival Package. One of the important points being raised by BSNLEU is that, the government is creating hurdles in BSNL’s 4G launching. BSNL is not being allowed to procure equipments from global vendors, like Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung, whereas all the private telecom companies are procuring their equipments from these companies. BSNL is being forced to procure 4G equipments from TCS, which is not having proven 4G technology. Still TCS has not been able to complete the PoC for which last date had been fixed as 30.11.2021. It means, TCS is unable to prove that it is having the technology of supplying 4G equipments to BSNL.

As such, what is the intention of the government in denying permission for BSNL to procure equipments from global vendors, but forcing BSNL to procure 4G equipments from a company which is not having proven 4G technology? Further, so far, TCS has not accepted the purchase order placed by BSNL on 31^st March, 2022, for procuring 6,400 4G BTSs. No one can say when TCS will be able to supply 1 lakh 4G BTSs to BSNL. Another big question is, even if TCS supplies 4G equipments to BSNL, what will be the standard and quality of those equipments and whether BSNL can compete with Jio and Airtel with those equipments. Private companies are having AK-47. Government wants BSNL to fight with sticks and stones.

Thus, by rejecting the opportunity to procure 4G equipments from global vendors, clearly the government is planning to push BSNL to the stage of a “sick company” and thereafter to sell it to the corporates, as was done in the case of Air India.

Under these circumstances, the speech delivered by Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, in his video conferencing to the CGMs on 28.07.2022, has to be noted by each and every employee of BSNL. In his speech, the CMD BSNL has reported that the Hon’ble Prime Minister had asked him, how many BSNL employees have been sent home for inefficiency? The CMD BSNL has also reported that, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has told that, now BSNL should “perform or perish”. Under these circumstances, the CGM, Rajasthan, has also issued a letter on 29^th July, 2022, wherein he has stated that, all employees should hereafter work for 10 to 12 hours per day. BSNLEU strongly condemns this statement of the CGM, Rajasthan. The working class had shed blood in long struggles to get 8 hour working day. But, Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL and his Management want to take BSNL employees back to the days of the British Raj. Undoubtedly, the government and the CMD BSNL are trying to make the employees as “scapegoats”. We request all the Non-Executives and Executives to kindly think over this.