The All India Centre meeting of BSNLEU was held online yesterday the 29.07.2022. The circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers of the Southern Circles also participated. In this meeting, it is decided to hold the Central Executive Committee meeting at Mysuru on 25.08.2022. Only circle secretaries and central office bearers will participate in this meeting. This will be followed by the Extended Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU which will be held on 26^th & 27^th August, 2022. All the district secretaries will also participate in the Extended CEC meeting. All the CEC members and district secretaries are requested to kindly note this and book their journey tickets immediately.

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.

बिन कार्यक्षम कर्मचारियों को घर भेजें  : एफआर 56 (जे) के तहत कार्रवाई करें - माननीय प्रधान मंत्री ने कथित तौर पर सीएमडी, बीएसएनएल से कहा है ।

सीएमडी, बीएसएनएल ने कल अपनी वीडियो कॉन्फ्रेंसिंग में श्री नरेंद्र मोदी, माननीय प्रधान मंत्री द्वारा बीएसएनएल के पुनरुद्धार पैकेज के संबंध में की गई कुछ टिप्पणियों का हवाला दिया है।  प्रधान मंत्री ने कथित तौर पर कहा है, "बीएसएनएल को या तो प्रदर्शन करना चाहिए या नष्ट हो जाना चाहिए-perform or perish"।  इसके अलावा, माननीय प्रधान मंत्री ने सीएमडी,  बीएसएनएल से पूछा है कि कितने कर्मचारियों को उनकी बिन कार्यक्षमता के कारण घर भेजा गया है और कितने कर्मचारियों के खिलाफ बीएसएनएल प्रबंधन ने एफआर 56 (जे) के तहत अनुशासनात्मक कार्रवाई की थी ।  हम माननीय प्रधान मंत्री के विचार को साझा करते हैं कि बीएसएनएल को अपनी दक्षता, राजस्व, ग्राहक आधार और एआरपीयू (प्रति उपयोगकर्ता औसत राजस्व) में सुधार करना चाहिए।  हालांकि, हम माननीय प्रधान मंत्री से पूछना चाहते हैं कि बीएसएनएल जिसने 2004-05 में 10,000 करोड़ रुपये का शुद्ध लाभ कमाया था, अब राजस्व संग्रह, ग्राहक आधार, आदि के मामले में अपने प्रदर्शन में सुधार करने में असमर्थ क्यों है  ? बीएसएनएल में एक साधारण कर्मचारी भी यह कहेगा कि ऐसा इसलिए है क्योंकि बीएसएनएल अपनी 4G सेवा शुरू नहीं कर पा रहा है।  यदि बीएसएनएल को अपने बीटीएस को अपग्रेड करने की अनुमति दी गई होती, तो कंपनी कम से कम 2 साल पहले अपनी 4G सेवा शुरू कर देती।  वैकल्पिक रूप से, अगर बीएसएनएल को नोकिया, एरिक्सन और सैमसंग (वैश्विक विक्रेताओं) से अपने 4G उपकरण खरीदने की अनुमति दी गई होती, तो वह इस समय तक अपनी 4G सेवा शुरू कर देता ।  हालाँकि, यह एक निर्विवाद तथ्य है कि, हमारे माननीय प्रधान मंत्री की सरकार द्वारा दोनों अनुमतियों को अस्वीकार कर दिया गया था।  अब, बीएसएनएल को अपने 4G उपकरणों को नवागंतुक टीसीएस से खरीदने के लिए मजबूर किया जा रहा है, जिसमें सिद्ध 4G तकनीक नहीं है।  यह मजबूरी हमारे माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी की सरकार ही बना रही है।  बीएसएनएल के लिए इन सभी समस्याओं को पैदा करने के बाद, क्या हमारे माननीय प्रधान मंत्री की ओर से यह देखना उचित है कि कंपनी केवल कर्मचारियों के कारण प्रदर्शन नहीं कर रही है ?  क्षमा करें प्रधान मंत्री जी हम आपसे असहमति की प्रार्थना करते है । 

The CMD BSNL, in his video conferencing yesterday, has quoted certain observations made by Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister, in connection with BSNL’s Revival Package. The Prime Minister has reportedly told, “BSNL should either perform or perish”. Further, the Hon’ble Prime Minister is reported to have asked the CMD BSNL, how many employees have been sent home for their inefficiency and against how many employees had the BSNL Management taken disciplinary action under FR 56 (J). We share the view of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that, BSNL should improve it’s efficiency, revenue, customer base and ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). However, we would like to ask the Hon’ble Prime Minister, why BSNL, which earned a net profit of Rs.10,000 crore in 2004-05, is unable to improve it’s performance now, in terms of revenue collection, customer base, etc. Even an ordinary employee in BSNL will say that, it is because BSNL is unable to start it’s 4G service. Had BSNL been permitted to upgrade it’s BTSs, the Company would have started it’s 4G service at least 2 years back. Alternatively, had BSNL been allowed to purchase it’s 4G equipments from Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung (global vendors), it would have launched it’s 4G service by this time. However, it is an undeniable fact that, both the permissions were rejected by the government of our Hon’ble Prime Minister. Now, BSNL is being compelled to purchase it’s 4G equipments from the newcomer TCS, which is not having proven 4G technology. This compulsion is also being created by the government of our Hon’ble Prime Minister. After having created all these problems for BSNL, is it appropriate on the part of our Hon’ble Prime Minister to observe that the Company is not performing only because of the employees? Sorry Prime Minister, we beg to differ. 

Democratic rights of the unions and associations in BSNL are being crushed by Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL. Even peaceful agitational programmes, like dharna and hunger strike are not being allowed in BSNL and pay cut is being imposed on those who participate in these programmes. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held on various occasions that, participating in peaceful agitations is the fundamental right of every citizen of this country. In the talks held between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB, in October, 2021, it was assured that, the BSNL Management would review it’s stand. However, no change has come in the attitude of the CMD BSNL. He wants to convert the unions and associations as his slaves. Protesting this attitude of Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, BSNLEU is boycotting the all union / association meeting, called on today, to be addressed by him.

As per the call of the AUAB, Black-badge wearing demonstration was organised at the BSNL Corporate Office, today. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Com.Chandeshwar Singh, GS, NFTE, Com. M.S. Adasul, GS, SNEA, Com. Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNL MS, Com.Mohinder Singh, AGS, FNTO and other leaders participated.