Meeting for renewal of BSNL Health Insurance was held yesterday the 29.04.2024, under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjeev Thyagi, PGM (Admin). Smt. Anita Johri, PGM(SR), Shri S.P.Singh PGM(Estt) and Shri Rajeev Sharma, DGM (Admin) were present in the meeting. Com.John Varghese, Acting General Secretary, Com.C.K. Gundanna, AGS and Com.Ashwin Kumar, Org. Secretary (CHQ) represented BSNLEU. It was noted that the renewal quote provided by M/s. Oriental Insurance was considerably high, and as a result, it was unanimously decided to reject the new rates.

BSNLEU demanded detailed information on the total outgo for each category of renewal and the total claims in each category, amount-wise. It was proposed to solicit quotes from other four PSU insurance companies and the top six private insurance companies also.

Furthermore, BSNLEU suggested that BSNL should contribute a certain percentage towards the renewal of premium, considering the significant savings of over 20 crores each year on BSNL MRS for the past two years. Figures Provided by M/s. Oriental Insurance Company are as follows:

Total Premium Paid by BSNL: Rs 12.52 Cr

Policy Run Days: 278

Number of Optees: 4302

Reported Claims: Rs 17.22 Cr

Paid Claims: Rs 10.19 Cr

Repudiated Claims: Rs 0.28 Cr

Claims Pending for Payment: Rs 2.71 Cr

Total Incurred during Run Days: Rs 12.90 Cr

It was noted that the amount for remaining days are approximately Rs.10,30,351/-.

The CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon the circle and district unions to observe this year’s May Day by hoisting the Union flag, participating in rallies and organising seminars and special meetings. We shall pay homage to the May Day martyrs, who laid down their lives in Chicago in 1886, fighting to achieve the demand of 8 hours’ work, 8 hours' recreation and 8 hours' sleep. On one side, the capitalists class is trying to increase the working hours. It is in this background that, Shri Narayana Murthy, co-founder of the Infosys, has told that the Indian youth should work for 70 hours a week. On the other side, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), of which BSNLEU is an affiliate, has raised the demand for 35 hours’ work in a week. Militant struggles of the working class have taken place in the recent months in all the developed capitalist nations like the UK, Germany, France, the US, etc., on the demands of  wage increase and reducing the workload. All these issues need to be highlighted in our slogans, meetings, rallies, etc., to be organised in this year’s May Day. Circle and district unions of BSNLEU are requested to effectively organise this year’s May Day activities and send the reports and photos to the CHQ.

As is known to all the employees, the revised rate of IDA has not been paid w.e.f. 01.04.2024. This is because, the Labour Bureau, which releases the All India Consumer Price Index (Industrial Workers) figures, has not released the same for the month of March, 2024. Hence, the DPE has not announced the revised IDA rates w.e.f. 01.04.2024. Such a delay has never been witnessed before. In view of this, BSNLEU has written a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Labour, today, demanding to immediately intervene in this matter and to take appropriate action.  

The Voluntary Group Health Insurance Scheme for BSNL employees, implemented in tie-up with M/s Oriental Insurance Company, is expiring on 31-05-2024. This insurance scheme has to be renewed w.e.f. 01-06-2024, for which the fresh MoU has to be signed between BSNL Management and the insurance company. The Admin Branch of the Corporate Office has taken the initiative for the renewal of the MoU. In this connection, a meeting is being held in the Corporate Office on 29-04-2024. Recognised unions and associations are invited for this meeting. BSNLEU will participate in this meeting.

In continuation of the Wage Negotiating Committee meeting held on 22-03-2024, BSNLEU has submitted live cases of stagnation that will occur in the new pay scales proposed by the Management Side. Thereafter, BSNLEU has also met Shri S.P.Singh, Sr.GM(Estt.) and discussed about the cases of stagnation. Yesterday, Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com. John Verghese, Acting General Secretary met Shri R.K. Goyal, Chairman of the Wage Negotiating Committee in this connection. They informed the Chairman about the live cases already submitted by BSNLEU and requested for an early meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee. The leaders also insisted to consider revision of HRA, together with the revision of pay scales.