KEY NOTE ADDRESS

BY GENERAL SECRETARY, TEAM IN THE OPEN SESSION ON 11/04/2008

Hon’ble Chief guest of this session S/Shri. Kuldeep Singh Director (Tech) and holding charge of CMD MTNL, guests of honours Shri. S.P. Pachauri Director (HR) MTNL. Smt. Anita Soni Director (Fin) MTNL, MTNL, Shri. A.K. Arora E.D MTNL Delhi and other senior officers, Shri. N. Chandrasekaran President TEAM, Shri.M.K. Bagchi founder General Secretary TEAM,  Shri. Prahlad Rai GS AIBSNL EA, Shri.K.Satyanarayana President AIBSNL EA, Shri.G.L.Jogi G.S. SNEA, Shri. Upadhyay GS MTNL Mazdoor Sangh, Press personnel and other invitees and all our member officers present here :

I on behalf of TEAM and Executive Committee members welcome you all once again to this open session. We are all delighted to have the distinguished guests among us on this important occasion. We are all aware that our guests and other invitees have spared their valuable time to attend this meeting. We are sincerely thankful to them for their such gestures.

Yesterday we had thorough deliberations in our Representative Council Meeting regarding issues relating to growth of MTNL and service matters. I would like  to share, in brief, the view points that emerged out of the deliberations.  

1. Revenues and profits of MTNL :-  

It is a paradox that the growth of telecom industry is at rapid pace but the growth of MTNL is almost stagnant. While the top line and bottom line of other private operators are soaring why there is downslide in MTNL? Some of the useful suggestions that emerged in the deliberations are as under:- 

1.1 Expansion of customer base:-

1.1.1                      A large number of new buildings that have come up in the recent years are to be covered with land line network to prevent the prospective customers going to the competitors fold.

1.1.2                    In broadband there is always a wide gap between the capacity and demand. The capacity is to be augmented on war footing to meet the demands.

1.1.3                    Quality handsets at attractive price with low entry cost will help to improve the customer base in CDMA.

1.1.4                    Enhancing the quality and coverage of GSM and CDMA net work will certainly lead to mass expansion of the customer base in wireless.

1.2 Are we ready to offer new technology services ?:-

The private operators are set to launch 3G services within six months of allotment of spectrum. The 3G services will enable faster downloads in wireless. So there is a threat to our landline broadband. MTNL needs to be ahead of its competitors in offering the new technology services. 

1.3 Tapping of all revenue streams :-

In GSM there is a vast scope for generation of more revenues. GPRS roaming, EDGE data cord, mobile connect USB modem, Mobile data VPN, fixed terminal GSM PCO, GSM CCB PCO, GSM calling cards for STD and ISD, home calling cards for use while roaming out of India etc., are some of the untapped revenue streams. These revenue streams are to be tapped early to increase the revenue.

1.4              Effective employment of all the assets :-

Land, Buildings, A&P, cables, and experienced work force are our assets. All these assets are to be gainfully employed to fetch additional revenue. There are vacant lands and large vacant spaces in buildings. These spaces are to be commercially exploited to get hundreds of crores additional revenues every year. Formation of a special task force will speed up to achieve this objective. Commercial hoarding in Sanchar Ghats/other buildings, commercial advertisements in the telephone bills will also fetch additional revenue.

2. Convergent billing:-

Heavy investment has been made in convergent billing. As this project is getting delayed, doubts arise whether this investment will yield the expected benefits. Close monitoring and strict adherence to time schedule are required for successful completion of this project.

3.. Merger of MTNL and BSNL :-

A company with pan India presence has advantages to fight the competition. The synergies in operations, improved customer services to big corporate houses spread over the country, cost reduction in operations etc., are some of the benefits of merger. The merger will prevent cartelization and benefit the customers. It is pertinent to mention that Railways have given orders to provide one lakh GSM connections to its employees spread throughout India to a private operator. It seems Railways have no confidence in the effective co-ordination between BSNL and MTNL. We request MTNL Management to pass resolution in the Board and to take up the issue of merger with the Government.

4. Pension Issue:-

Our demand of pension payment by Government is pending for last eight years. We request MTNL to pursue the issue vigorously with the DOT.

5. Merger of 50% of DA with pay:-

The DPE has issued the orders for merger of 50% of DA with pay. It is learnt that BSNL has already recommended to DOT for merger. There is no liquidity crunch in MTNL. Recently IT refund of about 1395 crores have been received. Therefore we request for DA merger immediately.

6. Recognition of TEAM :-

TEAM has been formed by merging various recognized Associations of DoT. However MTNL is not extending the facilities to TEAM. We request that all the facilities that were given by the DOT should be extended to TEAM.

7. Promotion Policy :-

7.1 Relaxation of training condition for drawal of next increment is required.

7.2 Recruitment rules are to be framed for all the cadres for conduct of DPCs for post based promotions.

7.3 Regularization of adhoc promotions in E-5 grade.

7.4 Grant of pay scales for looking after arrangement in E-6.

7.5 The time bound policy is not meeting the aspirations of the executives. Weightage for past services and reduction in the span are to be considered.

8. Restructuring of Hindi officer cadres in pending for a long time. An early solution is requested.

9. Other HR issues:-

Sir resolutions have been passed in regarding other HR issues and submitted separately. I request the Management to consider these issues favourably.

10. Conclusion :-

We are extremely thankful to all the Directors for gracing this occasion and for giving patient hearing. The morale of the officers of MTNL Mumbai and Delhi will be further strengthened when they hear your valuable address.

With this thanking you all once again, I conclude

                                                                                                Sd/-

11/04/2008                                                                              (A.K. KAUSHIK)

                                                                                                General Secretary