The BSNL employees posted in the Kashmir Valley are serving the nation under extremely hostile conditions. In view of this, the Government of India has extended a package of concessions / incentives to the employees working in the Kashmir Valley. These concessions / incentives have been extended by the Government of India from 01.01.2020 to 31.07.2021. BSNLEU, vide it’s letter no. BSNLEU/312 (J&K) dated 16.10.2020, has already requested the BSNL Management to implement the decision of the Government of India, and to make payment to the employees. However, as usual, the BSNL Management has not taken any action so far. Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the Director (HR), BSNL, requesting to take expeditious action on the matter. 

General Secretary has written to the CMD BSNL, intimating the decision of BSNLEU to organise lunch hour demonstrations on 05.02.2021, demanding timely payment of salary. In that letter, the General Secretary has referred to the recent judgement of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has stated that, the right to receive salary is a fundamental right enshrined under the Article 21 of the Constitution and that paucity of funds, cannot be an excuse for non-payment of salaries.

For the whole of the year 2020, the BSNL employees have not got payment of their salary on the due date. Despite the fact that, the salary bill of the Company has been cut down by 50%, due to the retirement of around 80,000 employees under the VRS, the Management does not want to disburse salary on the due date. Besides, despite allotment of 4G spectrum free of cost by the government, extending Sovereign Guarantee for raising Rs.8,500 crore through issuing of bonds, etc., the present BSNL Management has not been able to show any improvement in the financial condition of the Company. In fact, it is an undeniable fact that the BSNL Management has totally failed in utilising the opportunities provided by the government, to revive the Company. BSNLEU has written a plain - speaking letter to the CMD BSNL, with the hope that, a course correction would be done by the Management. 

BSNLEU is relentlessly knocking the doors of the Corporate Management for the immediate holding of the JTO LICE, as well as other Limited Internal Competitive Examinations. The commitment given by the Director (HR), in the Formal meeting held on 28.08.2020, regarding holding the JTO LICE, has been thrown to the winds. BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to immediately hold the JTO LICE and other Limited Internal Competitive Examinations.

The DPE so far has not issued  order for the payment of 5.5% IDA w.e.f. 01.10.2020. One more instalment of 6.1% IDA has also become due w.e.f. 01.01.2021. On 08.01.2021, the DPE has already clarified that the freezing of three instalments of IDA is not applicable to the Non-Executives of the CPSEs. Even then, it has not issued an order for the payment of the two instalments of IDA. Under these circumstances, the Assistant Solicitor General has informed the Hon’ble Kerala High Court today, in connection with the writ petition filed by BSNLEU, that the freezing of three instalments of IDA is not applicable to the Non-Executives of the CPSEs. Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the Secretary, DPE, to immediately issue instruction for the payment of 5.5% IDA w.e.f. 01.10.2020 and 6.1% of IDA w.e.f. 01.01.2021.

On 07.01.2021, BSNLEU wrote to the CMD BSNL, demanding that periodical interactions should be held between the CMD BSNL and the unions and associations, to discuss about the developmental activities of the Company. BSNLEU has also pointed out that, such periodical interactions were taking place during the tenure of the earlier CMD BSNL. In response to this, CMD BSNL has written a letter to BSNLEU on 11.01.2021. Appreciation is there in the CMD BSNL’s letter, regarding the positive contribution of the employees, for the development of the Company. As regards, his interaction with the unions and associations, the CMD BSNL has only made some vague mentioning. Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, not only demanding periodical interactions, but also demanding to fix the date for the first meeting.

Every month, BSNLEU is writing to the CMD BSNL, demanding on time payment of salary to the employees. However, Management continues to default on time payment of salary to the employees. BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL today, demanding immediate allotment of funds to the circles, for payment of December, 2020, salary, to enable the employees to celebrate the festivals of Makar Sankranti/Pongal/Lohri, etc.

BSNLEU has continuously been taking up the case of Scheduled Tribe employees of Maharashtra circle, who were told to get their caste certificates validated. BSNLEU has cited that, this decision of the BSNL Management is violative of the DoP&T instructions on the matter. Still, around 400 retired ST employees have not got their pension settlement and are getting only provisional pension, on the pretext that their caste certificates are not validated. Recently, the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has stated that only the caste certificates of the ST employees appointed after 1995 should be subjected to validation. Based on this, BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL and the Member (Finance), DoT, demanding that, action should be taken based on the direction of the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.