BSNLEU expresses shock and grief over the death of hundreds of innocent people in a stampede that has taken place last Tuesday, in Phulrai village near Hathras, in Uttar Pradesh. The stampede has taken place in a huge gathering, where people had come to listen the spiritual address of a self-styled Godman, Narayan Sarkar Hari, also called as Bhole Baba. Arrangements had been made only for 80,000 people for the prayer meeting, whereas, around 2,50,000 people had attended. The official report says that, 121 people are killed. However, witnesses say around 300 people were killed, as per the report of The Hindu dated 04-07-2024. Most of the people killed are women and children who belong to very poor families. The stampede had taken place when the people tried to gather the soil from the footprints of the God man, Bhole Baba. It is believed that, the soil collected from his footprints will cure ailments, when applied to the body of sick people. Police have filed an FIR against the organisers of the meeting, but not against Bhole Baba. Nowadays, police impose unwanted conditions for trade union programmes like dharna and rally. However, the police and the state administration had allowed such a massive gathering, without proper arrangements to avert untoward incidents. BSNLEU expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who are killed in the stampede.

जियो और एयरटेल द्वारा टैरिफ में की गई भारी बढ़ोतरी अनुचित है- बीएसएनएल की 4G और 5G सेवाओं को तत्काल शुरू करने के लिए कदम उठाएं - BSNLEU ने माननीय संचार मंत्री को पत्र लिखा।

जियो और एयरटेल ने अपने टैरिफ बढ़ा दिए हैं। जियो ने अपने टैरिफ 12% से बढ़ाकर 25% कर दिए हैं। एयरटेल ने अपने टैरिफ 11% से बढ़ाकर 21% कर दिए हैं। मीडिया ने बताया है कि इस टैरिफ बढ़ोतरी से इन कंपनियों को 20,000 करोड़ रुपये का अतिरिक्त लाभ होगा। 2023-24 में, जियो ने 20,607 करोड़ रुपये का शुद्ध लाभ कमाया है और एयरटेल ने 7,467 करोड़ रुपये का शुद्ध लाभ कमाया है। इस प्रकार जियो और एयरटेल द्वारा टैरिफ में की गई भारी बढ़ोतरी अनुचित है। निम्न आय वर्ग के लोग, विशेष रूप से कामकाजी जनता, इस टैरिफ वृद्धि से बुरी तरह प्रभावित होगी इस स्थिति ने जियो और एयरटेल को अपने टैरिफ में भारी वृद्धि करने के लिए प्रेरित किया है। इसलिए, BSNLEU ने माननीय संचार मंत्री श्री ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया को पत्र लिखकर बीएसएनएल की 4G और 5G सेवाओं को तत्काल शुरू करने के लिए तत्काल कदम उठाने का अनुरोध किया है। 

Jio and Airtel have hiked their tariffs. Jio has hiked its tariffs from 12% to 25%. Airtel has hiked its tariffs from 11% to 21%. Media has reported that this tariff hike will generate an additional profit of Rs.20,000 crore for these companies.  In 2023-24, Jio has earned Rs.20,607 crore net profit and Airtel has earned Rs.7,467 crore net profit. As such, steep tariff hikes by Jio and Airtel are unwarranted. The people in the lower income group, especially the working masses, will be hit hard by this tariff increase. Unfortunately, BSNL is unable to compete with Jio and Airtel, since it is not having 4G and 5G services. This situation has emboldened Jio and Airtel to raise their tariffs steeply. Hence, BSNLEU has written letter to Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon’ble Minister of Communications, requesting to take urgent steps for the immediate launching of BSNL‘s 4G and 5G services.

कुल वेतन पर 20% आयकर काटने का कॉर्पोरेट कार्यालय का निर्देश – सर्किल सचिव/सीएचक्यू पदाधिकारी कृपया ध्यान दें। 

दिनांक 21-06-2024 को सीएचक्यू सभी सर्किल सचिवों एवं सीएचक्यू पदाधिकारियों के संज्ञान में लाया है कि कॉर्पोरेट कार्यालय ने उन कर्मचारियों के संबंध में, जिन्होंने अपना पैन कार्ड आधार से लिंक नहीं कराया है, कुल वेतन का 20% आयकर काटने (मानक कटौती एवं अन्य छूट को छोड़कर) के लिए पत्र जारी किया है। यदि कॉर्पोरेट कार्यालय का यह पत्र लागू होता है तो जिन कर्मचारियों ने अपना पैन कार्ड आधार से लिंक नहीं कराया है, उनके वेतन से लाखों रुपए कट जाएंगे। यह कर्मचारियों के लिए बहुत बड़ा नुकसान होगा। इस मामले पर BSNLEU के सीएचक्यू ने निदेशक (वित्त) को पहले ही पत्र लिख दिया है। सीएचक्यू ने आज प्रिंसिपल जनरल मैनेजर (कॉर्पोरेट अकाउंट्स) के साथ इस मामले पर चर्चा भी की है। इस संबंध में, सीएचक्यू ने सर्किल सचिवों और सीएचक्यू पदाधिकारियों को आपातकालीन आधार पर कार्रवाई करने के लिए सूचित किया है। सीएचक्यू हमारे साथियों से अनुरोध करता है कि वे उन सभी कर्मचारियों के नाम तुरंत सूचीबद्ध करें जिन्होंने अपने पैन कार्ड को अपने आधार से लिंक नहीं किया है। उन कर्मचारियों को उनके पैन कार्ड को उनके आधार से लिंक करने में मदद करने के लिए उचित सहायता दी जानी चाहिए। यह कार्य एक सप्ताह के भीतर पूरा किया जाना चाहिए। 

On 21-06-2024, the CHQ has brought to the notice of all circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers that, the Corporate Office had issued letter, for the deduction of Income Tax at 20% of the total salary (ignoring the standard deduction and other rebates), in respect of the employees who have not linked their PAN card with their Aadhaar. If this Corporate Office letter is implemented, then, lakhs of rupees will be deducted from the salary of the employees who have not linked their PAN card with their Aadhaar. This will be a very big loss to the employees. The CHQ of BSNLEU has already written letter to the Director(Finance) on this matter. The CHQ has also discussed this matter with the PGM(Corporate Accounts) today. In this connection, the CHQ informs the Circle Secretaries and the CHQ office bearers to take action on emergency basis.  The CHQ requests our comrades to immediately list out the names of all the employees who have not linked their PAN card with their Aadhaar. Proper assistance should be given to those employees, to help them for linking their PAN card with their Aadhaar. This work should be completed within one week.

It is unfortunate that the BSNL Management is not serious about holding the National Council meeting, the highest forum for negotiating staff issues between the Staff Side and the Management. The last National Council meeting was held on 07.08.2023. Com. Animesh Mitra, President, Com. John Verghese, Acting General Secretary, and Com. C.K. Gundanna, AGS, met with Ms. Anita Johri, CGM (SR), BSNL CO, and requested that the National Council meeting be held at the earliest. They pointed out that 10 months have passed without a notification for the next meeting. They urged the Management to notify the date without further delay so the Staff Side can submit the agenda. The CGM (SR) responded that she would discuss the matter with the Director (HR) and inform the Staff Side accordingly.

It is the decision of the National Council meeting that, one more Special JTO LICE would be conducted for the Draftsman cadre. However, despite repeatedly being taken up / reminded by BSNLEU, this exam is not conducted. BSNLEU is continuously writing letters also on this issue. On 28-06-2024, representatives of BSNLEU once again discussed this issue with the PGM(Estt.). He told that vacancy position has been informed by the PGM(BW) and the same would be forwarded to the Recruitment Branch for taking further steps to hold the Special JTO LICE for Draftsman cadre.