The Union Minister of State for Finance, Shri Anurag Thakur, informed the Lok Sabha on 08.03.2021 that, scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) have written off loans of Rs.2,36,265 crore, Rs.2,34,170 crore and Rs.1,15,038 crore during FY2018-19, FY2019-20 and the first three-quarters of FY2020-21 respectively. Thus, the total bad loans written off in less than 3 years comes to Rs.5,85,473 crores. A major chunk of these loans were taken by the corporates and not returned. The government does not take firm action against the defaulting corporates. This results in the looting of public money, by big corporates.

The Circle Council meeting of J&K circle is held at Jammu on 23.03.2021. The CGM of J&K circle presided over the meeting. The acting circle secretary of BSNLEU, Com.Gulam Qadir Dandroo and other representatives of BSNLEU, including senior leader, Com.Manjeet Singh Reen, participated in the meeting. CHQ congratulates the J&K circle union for taking initiative for this ‘in-person’ meeting. 

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Karnataka circle, was held at Bengaluru on 22^nd & 23^rd March, 2021. An important event in this meeting, was the release of the book titled “My Life and Struggles”,written by Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, former General Secretary, BSNLEU. The book was released by Com.Amanullah Khan, former President of the LIC Employees Union (AIIEA). Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, addressed this meeting. He was felicitated by the Karnataka circle union. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, for the release of his autobiography.

BSNLEU, Karnataka circle, successfully conducted it’s Executive Committee meeting ‘in-person’, on 22^nd & 23^rd March, 2021, at Bengaluru. Com.C.K. Gundanna, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Circle Executive Committee members, numbering 32, attended this meeting from all over Karnataka circle. Com.M.C. Balakrishna and Irfan Pasha, CHQ office bearers, were present. The meeting was addressed by Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, former General Secretary, BSNLEU and Com.Amanullah Khan, former President of AIIEA. Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, released a wall clock, as the memento marking the 20 years of existence of BSNLEU. Karnataka circle union is distributing this wall clock to all the members of BSNLEU in Karnataka circle. Decisions of the CEC meeting of BSNLEU held at Chennai recently, was reported in the meeting. All the Circle Executive Committee members participated in the deliberations and resolved to fully implement the decisions of the CEC meeting. The meeting also seriously discussed the worsening quality of BSNL’s services in Karnataka circle and has passed resolutions. 

(1)   IDA payment as per Court order.

As regards, IDA payment to the Non-Executives, as per the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, discussion was held by the General Secretary with the CMD BSNL, yesterday. In continuation of that, the General Secretary discussed the matter with Director (HR) today. As per the commitment given by the CMD BSNL yesterday, the Director (HR) stated today that, letter is being written to the DoT, seeking the DoT’s view on the matter. The General Secretary told the Director (HR) that the Union would be compelled to file a contempt petition in the court, if the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court is not implemented, within a reasonable time.

(2)   Providing password to the Non-Executives in the E-Office set up.

The General Secretary handed over his letter to the Director (HR) on this matter. He bitterly complaint that, the Non-Executives are being sidelined in the E-Office set up. However, the Director (HR) assured that the Non-Executives would not be ignored and also told that, 10% of the Non-Executives are already provided with password and e-mail ID. After discussion, the Director (HR) assured that, up to 25% of the Non-Executives would be provided with password and e-mail ID.

(3)   Issuing Presidential Orders to the DoT recruited Non-Executives, who are appointed on or after 01.10.2000.

The Hon’ble Kerala High Court and the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court have already given direction that the Non-Executives who are recruited by the DoT, but were appointed on or after 01.10.2000, should be issued with Presidential Orders. However, against these judgments, the BSNL Management has gone on appeal in the Supreme Court. The case is lingering on for a long time in the Supreme Court. In today’s meeting, the General Secretary insisted that, the BSNL Management should take the initiative for quick disposal of the case in Supreme Court. The Director (HR) assured that necessary action would be taken in this regard.

(4)   Wage Revision.

The General Secretary demanded that meeting of the Wage Negotiation Committee should resume at the earliest. He pointed out that a large number of employees are in stagnation and that Wage Revision alone is the solution. However, the Director (HR) remained non-committal.

(5)   Holding of the LICEs.

Once again, the attention of the Director (HR) was drawn to the inordinate delay in holding the LICEs. The CMD BSNL has already assured that, the process of restructuring would be completed by April, 2021. The General Secretary insisted upon the Director (HR) that, the process for holding the LICEs should be initiated now itself, so that the LICEs can be conducted immediately after restructuring process is completed. The Director(HR) and the GM(Rectt.) agreed to this. 

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL today and discussed the following issues.

(1)   Implementation of the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, on payment of IDA to the Non-Executives.

The General Secretary handed over the letter, addressed to the CMD BSNL, demanding implementation of the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court. He explained that the DPE has already clarified that, it has nothing to do with the payment of IDA to the Non-Executives of BSNL. Hence, the General Secretary demanded the CMD BSNL to immediately take action for the payment of the 2 instalments of IDA, that have become due from 01.10.2020 and 01.01.2021. The CMD BSNL responded positively. He told that, necessary action would be taken in this regard.

(2)    Wage Revision.

In continuation of the discussion held with the CMD BSNL last month, the General Secretary insisted upon the CMD BSNL to resume the Wage Negotiations with the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives. He pointed out that a vast majority of the Non-Executives are suffering from stagnation and that, Wage Revision is the only way to solve this problem. The CMD BSNL merely told that the matter would be looked into. 

(3)    Payment of salary on the due date.

The CMD BSNL informed the General Secretary that funds for the payment of February, 2021, salary have already been sent. The CMD BSNL also told that, he had gone through the letter of BSNLEU, given on this issue yesterday. The General Secretary demanded that, the schedule for payment of the salary on the last day of every month should be maintained.  He told that, making payment of salary on the due date once, would permanently solve this problem. The CMD BSNL told that he try to implement it. 

(4)    Payment of wages of the Contract Workers.

The General Secretary demanded that, the Management should immediately release funds for the payment of wage arrears of the contract workers, which remains pending for the past so many months. The CMD BSNL replied that, he had just released funds for the payment of two months' wages. The General Secretary demanded that, the CMD BSNL should hold a full-fledged discussion with BSNLEU, regarding the outsourcing of works and the utilisation of the contract workers. The CMD BSNL accepted this and assured that this meeting would be conducted soon.

The CHQ has come to know belatedly that, Smt. Kusum Devi, mother of Com.Pankaj Atri, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, BSNL Corporate Office, has passed away. She was around 65 years old and had been unwell for some time. The CHQ conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to Com.Pankaj Atri and to the members of his family.

The 20^th Foundation Day of BSNLEU is celebrated enthusiastically throughout the country. Flags are hoisted and special meetings are conducted in most of the places. Speakers on the occasion highlighted the achievements of BSNLEU and also the crucial role played by the Union in defending the interests of BSNL and that of the employees. CHQ heartily thanks all the circle and district unions which have enthusiastically celebrated BSNLEU’s Foundation Day.