30.05.2023

Pension Revision

A joint meeting of like minded associations with Member (S) at sanchar bhawan on 29/05/23.

As per the fixed programme, we met member (S )29/05/23 & discussed the pension revision issue at a stretch of half an hour. At the outset, com. J S dahiya, Org secy of AIBSNLPWA briefed about the meeting with Hon’ble MOC on 27/05/23 “He informed that on a call from PA to the minister of parliamentary Affairs, com.Ganadhar dhar Rao the VIce president & other office bearers of including him of AIBSNLPWA met sh prahlad joshi, the parliamentry Affairs Minister & Hon’bl MOC sh Ashwani kumar vashnav on 27/05/23 & requested him to grant the fitment formula as per 7th CPC for the revision of pension of MTNL/ BSNL retirees as a permanent solution to avoid our concern of future uncertainty about pension revision by delinking the pension revision from the pay revision of the working employees of MTNL/BSNL.
The Hon’bl MOC heard them patiently & appreciate their concern about the pension revision.He told that he would call upon the secretary (T) to discuss the issue shortly & take an appropriate decision by taking into account all the relevant aspects.

Sh A K Sahu, OSD to member (S) was also present in the meeting. He is likely take over the charge of member (s) on 01/08/23 as the present M(S) is going to retire on 31/07/23.

All the relevant aspects regarding pension revision in the line of 7th CPC were discussed.our demand was quite repititive & monotonus in nature. Ie. We demanded the pension revision as per 7th CPC as there is no cross section of pension revision with pay revision. Moreover all the retiral benefits are being extended to the retirees of MTNL/BSNL at par with central Govt pensioners as per 37A ccs pension rule from the same source ie consolidate fund of India.
M(S) said that he has already escalated the proposal long back with the financial implications & assured that he would make his best efforts for a permanent solution taking a holistic view & expedite the process for preparing the cabinet note including all required formalities once the approval comes to him. He also asked to submit the left out input/ points if any in support of our demand within a week time.he assured that he would place all the points for the discussion in the meeting at the appropriate level.
The points like”we have already been getting more pension, 3rd PRC etc were also raised from DOT side but we countered the same properly in a effective manner.

The following participants attended the meeting:

1-J S dahiya o/secy AIBSNLPWA

2-Zile singh from AIBSNLPWA

3-N N Sharma from AIBSNLPWA

4- Kishan singh president AIRBSNLAEWA

5- Prahlad Rai G S AIRBSNLEWA

7- A K Kaushik Kaushik G S RTOWA Delhi

8- A K kapoor AGS RTOWA Delhi

9- K R Yadav G S TEAM

10 – R K Sharma C/s Delhi circle TEAM

       01.05.2023

MEETING WITH DIRECTOR HR MTNL ON 29/04/23 AT CORP OFFICE CGO.

A meeting was held with Dir HR, MTNL in his chamber at Corp. office, CGO complex lodhi Road.
Sh A K kaushik, GS RTOWA Delhi, Sh satyanarayan, vice president RTOWA, Sh Ram singh, executive member, RTOWA
Sh K R Yadav, GS TEAM, Sh R K Sharma, C/S TEAM, Delhi circle attended the meeting.

The following issues were discussed in the meeting at length.

REGULAR PROMOTIONS: we raised the issue of delay in regular promotions of all executives cadres of MTNL.
We held that no DPC for regular promotion of any executive cadre has been held since VRS 2019. There are the executives in Account & finance, H R, Mktg cadre who have not gotten even their first due regular promotion after a lapse of more than 15 years. While their similarly placed executives in DOT as well as in BSNL have already got their all due regular promotions long before. This has led to a great frustration amongst the executives. We also told him that there will be no financial implications involved in the regular promotions. We requested Dir HR to conduct DPCs for the regular promotions as per the available vacancies at earliest possible.

Dir HR was fully agreed to our concern & assured that he would review the present position of vacancies against sanctioned posts in the respective cadres & take necessary steps in this regard.

ON LINE (EPS 95 Forms) FOR NEW EPF PENSION: We informed Dir HR that the EPF optees are facing a lot of problems in submitting the on line EPF application form partly owing to un awareness of the system & partly owing to the system issues(EPFO portal issues).The problems lie particularly with the C&D group retirees. We are trying to extend them all required help. Having said that a lot of retirees are left to submit their on line EPF form.
We requested Dir HR to take up this issue with EPFO & extend the cut off date so that all the interested eligible retiree as well as working employees can submit their on line EPF application form.

Dir HR told that he had called for a meeting in this regard in Corp office at CGO Complex at 4:00 pm on the same day and would discuss the subject matter to find the viable solution of this matter.

PRO RATA PENSION OPTEES HAVING LESS THAN 10 YEARS SERVICE:: we raised the issue of the pro rata optees whose qualifying service in DOT is less than 10 years due to absorption in MTNL. As a result, they are not getting DOT pension & their MTNl pension is also very meager which is like a drop in the ocean.
We requested Dir HR to reconsider the pro rata pension case & take necessary effective steps for the welfare of such star crossed & hapless MTNL retirees. We inform him that DOT also wrote a letter to MTNL seeking financial implications involved in this case.
Dir HR said that this issue is a very genuine issue & realised that an injustice has been to them. He asked for the copy of that letter. He told that he would discuss the issue at the appropriate level & try to explore all the feasible& viable possibilities for the solution.

THE CASE OF 206: We have a detailed discussion with Dir HR regarding implementation of Honorable supreme judgement of sept 2022.we have informed him that BSNL has not implemented supreme court judgement of Dec 2017 in its letter & spirit & We have informed & requested him that first of all all the beneficiaries may be promoted as Adhoc DE nationally w.e.f the year 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003 in respect of their juniors who had been promoted as Adhoc DE through the order issued by DOT in the year 2000, 2001,2002 & 2003 & thereafter all the consequential post based promotion as well as financial upgradstion as per executives promotion policy I. e. EPP-2007 of MTNL may be done.
Dir HR after hearing us, has assured to implemement the Ho’nble supreme court judgement of sept 2022 accordingly.
We are going to take up the matter with DOT also.

A k Kaushik GS RTOWA Delhi

KR yadav GS TEAM

1).IDA w. e. f. 01.04.2023 Increased by 1.1% Total IDA will 202.3%
2).SB Order No 05_2023 SB Order No 06_2023 SB Order No 07_2023

29.03.2023

MEETING WITH Dy SECRETARY DOE, M/O FIN. ON 29/03/23, Reg  9.4% IDA

A K Kaushik GS RTOWA Delhi & K R Yadav GS TEAM met Dy Sey DOE, M/O FIN. Other concerned officers were also present in the meeting.it was informed by them that the case file was again sent to the competent authority for approval in the last week but the approving authority has raised a query as to why the IDA neutralisation @ of 78.2% has not been implemented in MTNL for the working Employees as well as for those who retired from MTNL as per The DPE Order dated 02/04/09.
Today also the ins & outs of the case was further discussed at length. They were fully agreed to whatever we explained to them on the issue. consequently they intended to send the file back to DOT for seeking some clarifications /information But on our request they have finally decided to send a letter to DOT by the end of next week for the same & holding a meeting with the concerned DOT officer rather than sending case file back to DOT.

Dear friends, we assure you to be consistent & persistent in our aim & committed to make our all-out efforts until the goal is achieved.

AK Kaushik
GS RTOWA Delhi

     11.01.2021

On 11.01.2021 GS TEAM Sh.K R Yadav alongwith CS Delhi Sh.S P S Yadav, AGS Sh. S D Sharma,CFS Delhi Sh.Ajay Kumar, OS Delhi Sh. R D Ahirwar and ACS Delhi Sh. S S Asija met Director HR at corporate office in his chamber  extended New Year wishes to him & had some discussions & stressed on the following issues.

1) We asked him for the final payment of various heads for VRS optees of 2019.

He replied that DOT had released an amount of Rs 212/- crores to CCA for the payment of remaining part of ex- gratia. Regarding payment of CGLIC and CGHS he told that he would get feedback from both units & ask them to expedite the process of payment accordingly.

2) regarding the vertical promotion of the executives he told that HR cell has already sent the case file of regular promotion to CMD on 2-3 occasions but CMD returned the file with one or the other query. Now proposal for hiring a private agency for cadre restructuring is under approval. The vertical promotions would be possible after the required restructuring is done. He also suggested to take-up this issue with CMD for the early approval of the promotions. He added that financial up gradation in all cadres is being given accordingly as and when due.                                       

Regarding the CPF payment & interest on late payments. He told that necessary steps are being taken for early payment of CPF payment & both the units have been asked to calculate the interest on late payment of GPF & provide the detail to CO.

But we asked him for giving the interest on all late payment, be it leaves encashment, or CPF or gratuity or ex- gratia etc.

On the same day all office bearers met with Director Technical as well & congratulated him for his appointment as CMD TCIL, after the exchanges of good wishes for New year we had discussed on day to day working of MTNL and survival of MTNL. During the discussion he expressed his displeasure over the working culture of mtnl. He told that even in this era of cut throat competition the red tapism is blocking the way of viable working solutions. 

A Number of landline & broad band connections are rapidly getting reduced on account of lackadiascle approach of executives from top to bottom.On the other hand operation of mobile services is just going to BSNL. 

The staff strength is all time low and the contractor engaged for maintenance of lines is not finding viable solution to continue the work. Therefore a new tender has been floated with revised rates.

Overall he was not very much optimistic for the revival of MTNL. He accepted that the VRS couldn’t bring the expected results as the post VRS dysfunctional consequences were not properly assessed by the management.

On 13.01.2021 GS Sh.K R Yadav along with CS Delhi Sh.S P S Yadav, AGS Sh. S D Sharma, CFS Delhi circle Sh.Ajay Kumar met CMD MTNL at his office in BSNL corporate office. exchanges of good wishes we had some discussion as under.                                   

Regarding HR issues (regular promotion) the CMD was positive & assured that he would take care of case of regular promotion of executives as & when it is sent to him.Regarding the merger of MTNL with BSNL.The CMD ruled out any possibility of the merger due to indebtness of MTNL.

Until the problem of debt is resolved nothing can be done. Still there is no progress in monitisation of MTNL’s land and other assets as  the concerned department/ ministries are not giving approval for various reasons as told by him.

 25.09.2020

1. Presently the fault rectification of LL ,FTTH ,BB are completely in the hand of selected vendor, but he is not performing as per terms and conditions of agreement so the faults at High rocketing .We explained the faulty terms and conditions of the agreement particularly the penalty clause of the tender and engaging of personal .ED also admitted there are some flaws and management have already served the show cause notice to the vendors. He told that he is  closely monitoring the situation and if vendors don’t  improve the situation then management will take some concrete decision and problem will be sorted out very soon.

2 we raised the issue of FTTH and emphasised on immediately roll out the plan to positioned the FTTH service and take more steps to setell it .He appreciated our views and said for last mile connectivity for FTTH service ,the revenue share partner and MTNL network will be strengthen.

3. Issue Of Leased line, PRI,P2P ,MPLS and pending fault were also discussed . we explained that even Leased line are increasing in numbers but revenue is shrinking due to dip in bandwidth charges. We requested to make our rates more competitive to remain in market .Ed appreciated our views and said in August we collected good revenues from Leased line and it is our potential Area.

4 .We  asked What is the road map of WS services, presently more than 500 BTS Sites are non functional and ARPU of mobile service is bare minimum. ED explained that this situation has been created by some financial crunch and some sharing of towers with other company like ZTE, Reliance etc. At present most of the cases are in NCLT tribunals.

 He told the situation will improve after rolling out of 4G service by BSNL,/MTNL .

5. We also raised the issues of Financial up-gradation of HR/Mktg executive, he said ,he has given the instructions to training center to start the training .If module is not available ,may be taken from Mumbai and may be prepared immediately.

It was told that Training center explained about  shortage of instructors, ED replied them that ,it can be managed by Guest staff.

ED also appreciated the constructive role of TEAM and asked us that even management have outsourced the work of fault rectification but please motivate your executive to closely watch the fault rectification issues.

***It was also learnt during discussion that,  for CAPEX and OPEX ,the sovereign bond of MTNL may come up to Mid of October  at similar way as in BSNL.

 General Secy. wrote a letter to CMD MTNL for calling option from CPF optee employees and pensioners of MTNL under rule 11(3) of EPS 1995  for higher pension in view of MTNL being ‘un-exempted establishment’ w.e.f. 31.01.2013.

Please  click here for copy of the letter.

 General Secy. wrote a letter to CMD MTNL with regards to retention of departmental quarters for VRS optees of VRS 2019 beyond the prescribed limit of 8 months.

Please click here for copy of the letter.

 General secy. wrote a letter to CMD MTNL with regards to  promotion of Asstt. manager (Marketing) to Deputy Manager through SCF as one time measure. 

Please click here for copy of the letter.

 UFOM wrote a letter to CMD MTNL with regards to pending payments of VRS Optees of vrs-2019.

Please click here for copy of the letter

General secy. wrote a letter to CMD MTNL with regards to regular promotion in all cadres.

Please click here for copy of the letter.

General secy. wrote a letter to CMD MTNL with regards to revival of MTNL.

Please click here for the copy of letter>

 CMD MTNL Office issued a letter for release of salary of May-2020 on 04.06.2020.

Please click here for copy of  letter.

 Corporate office issued a letter for retention of RSTC for VRS Optees.

Please click here for the  copy of letter.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD MTNL for abnormal delay in regular promotion in each executives cadres.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD MTNL for holding of DPC for regular promotion in various executive cadres.

Please click here for copy of the letter.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD MTNL for making all payments to retirees of VRS-2019.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD MTNL for approval of minutes  of DPC for regular promotion to the post of AM (Secretary) Mumbai.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 ED Delhi office issued a list of 42 Telecom executives fro LA promotion from Sr. Manager (DE) to DGM .

Please click here for copy of list.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD for permission for retention of  departmental quarter of retirees under VRS Scheme 2019 till normal superannuation date.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 BSNL targets 1 lakh wireless broadband customers from rural areas……A News From Business Standard.

Please click here for link to news

 MTNL shareholders’ approve Rs 6,500-crore NCD issue, monetisation of land and buildings..State-owned MTNLNSE -1.86 % on Thursday said that it has received shareholders’ approval for raising up to Rs 6,500 crore through issuance of non-convertible debentures as well as for monetisation of land and buildings.

During the extraordinary general meeting of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) which was held on Wednesday, 99.89 votes were cast in favour of the issuance of “guaranteed, unsecured, listed, redeemable non-convertible debentures in the nature of bonds (NCDs), in one or ..more series/tranches, aggregating up to Rs 6,500 crore on private placement basis,” MTNL said in a filing to BSE.

The company further said that majority votes were cast in favour of the monetisation of land and buildings as specified/ identified by its board in line with the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) guidelines and as per revival plan of the company approved by the Union Cabinet recently.
Please click here for link to news.

 My mission to make BSNL one of top companies in India: Prasad…. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said state-owned BSNL is a strategic asset of the country and it was his mission to make it one of the top companies of India.

“….It ((BSNL) is a strategic asset of the country. Standing in Tamil Nadu I need to recall when Chennai was suffering from huge floods… ultimately who came to the rescue…. BSNL. When there was a great earthquake in Nepal and when Indians were stranded there, who gave free service? BSNL,” he said.

The Union Minister for Communication, Electronics & IT, Law & Justice was speaking after inaugurating the cable laying work for submarine optical fibre link from Chennai to Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The total cost of the project is Rs 1,224 crore and it is being executed by BSNL. A News from Economic Times telecom..

Please click here for link to news.

 After completion of VRS scheme, a leaner BSNL begins process to roll-out 4G..A month after Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) completed its voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), the new calender year will see a younger and trimmer PSU kick-start the process of rolling out 4G services.As many as 78,300 employees opted for the VRS, which is approximately 50 per cent of the company’s total staff cost of Rs 14,500 crore.The retirement package will save about Rs 9,000 crore annually for the debt-ridden company that is yet to pay one month’s salary to its employees.“I don’t see much of a difference. Yes, the VRS is an important step and could address the very immediate challenge of over staffing. But it won’t remove doubts about BSNL’s continuing health. BSNL’s prospects have not improved because of this and the problems have not changed. BSNL’s technology, competitiveness and management issues have to be addressed head-on,” said Mahesh Uppal, an independent telecom expert. A news from Business Standard..

Please click here for link to news.

TEAM WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY                                 NEW YEAR 2020

 GS wrote a letter to CMD on the pending HR issues and requested him for resolving them early because of ensuing VRS,

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 BSNL freezes hiring, looks to integrate MTNL network: Purwar.....BSNL, on the back of recent Cabinet-approved revival strategy is on the path to turn a corner, and with 78,569 employees opting for voluntary retirement, the state-owned telco would save as much as 50% or at least Rs 600 crore monthly on its wage bill from February next year. In an interaction with ETTelecom, BSNL chairman Pravin Kumar Purwar talks on various issues such as tariff hike, market consolidation, and much-awaited commercial 4G launch. Edited excerpts.

How many BSNL employees have applied for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) and what are the chances of your acceptance?
The applications of persons who have applied for VRS can be considered and approved other than a few exceptions. Employees across the board including senior officials have taken it, and it has got wide acceptance. 78,569 individuals have opted for VRS. A news from ET Telecom..

Please click here for link to news..

 VRS phase over, state-run telcos BSNL, MTNL gear up to raise funding: Now that the first step in reviving state-run telcos BSNL and MTNL has drawn to a close, with over half of their combined workforce opting for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), sources say that the companies have turned their attention to another pressing problem: raising cash. 

According to sources, by the end of the VRS window on December 3, 92,700-odd employees had opted for early retirement. This is likely to save the two beleaguered telcos around nearly Rs 9,000 crore per annum in wage costs.

Data on the two companies’ financials show that employee wages drain over 75 per cent of the combined revenues of the two firms. BSNL’s employee costs in FY19, for instance, stood at a whopping Rs 14,492 crore, compared to a revenue of Rs 19,308 crore and a loss of Rs 14,903 crore during the same year.  

Now, the two telcos which are heading for a merger are turning their focus to raising funds, say sources. A News from The Indian Express….

Please click here for link to the news. 

 GS wrote a letter to CMD for loss of interest on GPF/CPF to the employees of MTNL.

Please click here for copy of letter.

About 92,700 BSNL, MTNL employees opt for VRS; firms to save Rs 8,800 cr annually……….Nearly 92,700 employees of BSNL and MTNLNSE 0.00 % have opted for voluntary retirement, which is expected to save about Rs 8,800 crore annually in salary bills for the debt-laden telecom companies.

Top officials of both state-run firms have said that the numbers have exceeded the target set for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), which closed on Tuesday.

In case of BSNL, over 78,300 employees opted for voluntary retirement which is over half of the company’s total manpower.  While as many as 14,378 employees of MTNL, accounting for 76 per cent of the total strength, opted for the VRS.

“Approximately 78,300 employees have opted for the VRS as per data received from all the circles till the closing of the scheme. Besides VRS applicants, around 6,000 employees have retired. This is as per our target. We were expecting reduction of 82,000 headcount,” BSNL Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar told PTI. A News from Economic Times…

Please click here for link to News.

 Govt trying to revive BSNL, MTNL, make them profressional..Efforts are on to revive the public sector BSNL and MTNL and make them professional, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday while noting that the VRS scheme for existing employees is receiving an encouraging response.

Communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said a total of 79,000 employees of BSNL and 14,000 out of 20,000 employees of MTNL have applied for the VRS scheme which the government has come out with to reduce the employee cost in these PSUs which is currently very high as compared to the industry.

“BSNL and MTNL are the strategic assets for the country and in case of earthquake, cyclone or defence 

purposes they come forward proactively to help citizens. Therefore, we have decided to revive them,” he told the Rajya Sabha.

“We want to revive them and make them professional,” he said.

Please click here for link to news.

 GM (HR) issued a letter to one and all wherein she described view of MTNL management on various issues being asked by individuals related to VRS-2019.

Please click here for copy of the letter.

 MTNL Corporate Office issued FAQ related with VRS-2019 and issued a letter with important dates for various activities.

Please click here for FAQs

Please click here for letter of Important dates.

 UFOM wrote a letter to Secy. DOT and CMD MTNL for resolving various points of proposed VRS and served notice for holding demonstration on 22..11.2019 during lunch hour at ED office Delhi and Mumbai.

Please click here for copy of letter.

 GS wrote a letter to CMD for mentioning the last post held by executives in the retirement letter because of delay in DPCs for regular promotion in various cadres.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 BSNL reviews business continuity as VRS scheme likely to cut workforce by half; in talks with DoT….Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) it rolled out recently is likely to cut its staff by almost half.

In the wake of this, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed the state-run telecom operator to ensure measures to maintain business continuity and smooth transition, especially to operate telephone exchanges in rural areas.

Currently, BSNL is mulling several options for the transition period.

A DoT source told PTI that the issue calls for an urgent focus, and the company is conducting meetings to seek a solution to make sure that there the everyday manning of exchanges and other operations do not get impacted, once the VRS plan concludes. A News from Business Times..

Please click here for link to news.

 Over 60,000 BSNL, MTNL employees have opted for VRS so far: Telecom Secretary.. More than 57,000 employees of BSNL have opted for VRS in the last few days and the figures when combined with that of state-owned MTNL exceed 60,000, Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash said on Friday.

The numbers of VRS optees have been steadily rising since the plan was announced earlier this week. On Friday alone, the numbers for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) climbed from 40,000 in the late afternoon to over 57,000 by evening.

“Overall, for BSNL and MTNL combined over 60,000 employees have opted for VRS so far. For BSNL alone, the number has crossed 57,000 employees,” Prakash told reporters here. A News from Economic Times..

Please click here for link to news.

 TEAM has served notice to CMD MTNL /Secretary DOT for demonstration During Lunch Hour at Corporate Office CGO Complex ND on 08.11.2019 against many long pending issues and delay / non disbursement of salary to the employees of MTNL.

Please click here for copy of notice page 1 and Page 2.

 MTNL Corporate Office issued notification and term & Conditions for Proposed VRS for MTNL’s employees.

Please click here for the copy of orders.

 As a meeting has been called by CMD  on 04.11.2019 at Corporate office for conveying  the View point of management on proposed VRS , Therefore the CEC Meeting scheduled for 04.11.2019 is  being rescheduled for 05.11.2019 (Tuesday) at same time and on the same venue.

ALL Office bearers are requested to make it convenient to attend the CEC meeting on 05.11.2019

DOT released the minutes of the meeting of union cabinet wherein the decision on revival of BSNl/MTNL was taken.

Please click here for copy of letter 

It is for information to all divisional secretaries /Area  secretaries/ CEC Members/ Circle Office bearers/ CHQ Office bearers present in Delhi  that a CEC Meeting of TEAM Delhi will be held on 04.11.2019 (Monday) at 14.30 hrs in room no.756 of Kidwai Bhawan ND to discuss the following points:

1. Revival plan proposed by Union Govt.of India and prospects of VRS.
2. Organisational Matters.
3. Any other point with the permission of chair.
4.     It is therefore requested that all office bearers (as detailed above ) must participate in the CEC Meeting and discuss the matters with their respective valuable suggestions. 

The state-controlled telecom service provider employs close to 1.59 lakh individuals including 1.05 lakh those who have already attained 50 years of age.
“Ex-gratia payment of about Rs. 14,800 crore for about 80,000 employees will be borne by the government,” according to the details of the recently-approved revival package seen by ETT.A news  from Economic Times…

Please click here for link to  news.

There is a hitch in the government’s plan to allot additional 4G spectrum or airwaves to BSNL and MTNL. There simply isn’t that much spectrum available to be allotted to these companies unless there is policy support for an unconventional decision.

The government release on Wednesday noted it would provide an “administrative allotment of spectrum for 4G services to BSNL and MTNL so as to enable these PSUs to provide broadband and other data services”. A News from Business Standard..

Please click here for link to news.

ED Delhi office issued order for financial up-gradation from E6 to E7 for 156 Telecom Executives.

Please click here for the copy of list.

May the joy and light of this beautiful holiday brighten your life, today and always.
!!!Happy Diwali !!!

Narendra Modi’s Cabinet approves merger, VRS, 4G spectrum to revive BSNL, MTNL..The Cabinet on Wednesday has approved the revival package for the two ailing telcos— Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which includes Rs 15,000 crore infusion via sovereign bonds, a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and allocation of fourth-generation (4G) airwaves, besides the merger of the two loss-making state-run operators.
The Rs 15,000 crore worth of sovereign bonds which will be serviced by the two telcos would be given, according to the minister.
“Neither BSNL and MTNL are being closed, nor being disinvested nor hived off by the third party, but the government wants to make them professional,” Prasad said.
The Narendra Modi-headed Cabinet has also agreed to a Rs 38,000 crore-asset monetisation scheme over a period of four years while 4G spectrum would be allocated administratively at 2016 prices, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a briefing Wednesday. A news from Economic Times.

Please click here for link to news.

 Hon’ble Communication Minister Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that BSNL/MTNL neither will be closed nor disinvested. These PSUs shall be run by professionals to be competitive with the other private companies  He further announced some decisions taken by Union Cabinet yesterday I.e. on 23.11.2019:1 Asset Monetization of worth Rs.38000 Crores of BSNL/MTNL in 4 year period

2.Attractive VRS package for BSNL/MTNL Employees.

3.Govt permission for sovereign bond for Rs 15,000 Cr meeting CAPEX and OPEX will be a big relief in the absence of SPV.

4.Permission for land monetization for Rs 38,000 Cr.

5.Proposed merger of BSNL and MTNL

6.Allocation of 4G spectrum at 2016 prices ( with Govt. owning GST expenditure)

7.Group of Ministers will be formed for monitoring and decision implementation of this revival package.

 Yesterday on 22.10,2019 GS along with ,circle secy,com. SPS Yadav & Mr Vijay Rawat ACS met with Sh. Ravish kumar Executive Director ND TV at Greater kailash, Archna shopping complex, Delhi & briefed him with regards to the prevailing issues of MTNL  at length. He listened to us very patiently & assured to cover all the issues of MTNL’s Employees by NDTV . We  handed over him a brief note of all  problems of MTNL and requested him to give a proper coverage to these issues so that issues of employees of MTNL may be highlighted and sorted by Government.

Please click here for the copy of letter handed over.

 BSNL CMD: Staff wages ahead of Diwali, revival likely in a month….. A News from Economic Times Telecom

Please click here for link to news.

BSNL to roll out 4G services by March 2020: PK Purwar….A News from Economic Times Telecom.

Please click here for link to news.

 GS wrote a letter to Dir. HR with regards to improper implementation of cadre restructuring and promotion policy of stenographers in MTNL Mumbai.

Please click here for copy of  letter.

A week ahead of the country’s biggest festival, Diwali, workers at various state-owned companies are protesting unpaid salaries, pending wage revisions, and the possibility of job loss.

The financial condition of many of these units is itself worrisome.

For instance, national carrier Air India and telecom players Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) are bleeding. On the other hand, state-owned lenders are burdened by non-performing assets (NPAs), which prompted the Narendra Modi government to announce a series of mergers, after which the banks have become overstaffed. A News from Quartz India..

Please click here for link to news.

 ED Delhi Office issued a list of 26 Executives of finance for financial up-gradation from E6 to E7.

Please click here for the copy of list. 

BSNL is in strategic interest of nation, we are looking into issues: Ravi Shankar Prasad……Existence of BSNL is in strategic interest of the nation and the government is looking to resolve issues plaguing it, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.
The law and telecom minister acknowledged that there are problems in the telecom sector, which are being looked upon by the government.
“BSNL is in strategic interest of the nation. Whenever there is flood, cyclones, BSNL is the first one to offer services for free. 75 per cent of their revenues goes into salary of employees while others manage it in 5-10 per cent. There are legacy issues which we are looking in to,” Prasad said at India Economic Conclave. A News from Economic Times….

.Please click here for link to news

Good News! BSNL-MTNL managements promise to pay salary before Diwali…….

There is a good news for BSNL and MTNL employees who have been facing delays in payment of salary. The management of these two stressed PSUs in the telecom sector has promised to pay the salary before Diwali. On Monday, Financial Express Online was first to report about the planned agitation by BSNL and MTNL employee unions against the non-payment of salaries. While MTNL employees have threatened a take out a candle march to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday evening, ten odd unions of BSNL employees have given notice for observing one-day long hunger strike on Friday. Over 1.5 lakh BSNL employees and more than 20,000 MTNL employees have been facing severe hardships for several months due to delay and non-payment of salary.

While the salary of 1.58 lakh BSNL employees for the last month has not been paid so far, the situation in the case of 22,000 MTNL employees was even worse as their salary for August and September has not been paid. However, following the story by FE Online, the management of both BSNL and MTNL have promised to pay the salary to their employees before Diwali.A News from Financial Express.

Please click here for link to news.

TEAM wishes you and your family a cheerful and prosperous Dussehra

 Telecom vendors ask Prasad to make BSNL pay Rs 3,000 cr dues..Telecom vendors’ association TEMA has sought Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s intervention in getting Rs 3,000 crore dues from BSNL, even despite the state-run firm has been reminded by suppliers and manufacturers several times.

In a letter to the Minister, the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) said: “There is issue of release of funds from USOF to BSNL for the works already done by BSNL vendors. DoT has not infused any equity in BSNL since last many years, ..A News from ET..

 GS served a notice of lunch hour demonstration (Protest Action Program ) to be held on 10.10.2019 & 16.10.2019 at Sanchar Bhawan ND & Corporate Office MTNL CGO Complex ND respectively  and at ED Office Mumbai. The programs are the part of protest action program against delay disbursement of salary of MTNL employees and other pending issues.

Please click here for copy of the letter.

GS writes Reminder to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India with regards to nonpayment of salary of 2 months to the employees of MTNL even after thousands  crore of MTNL are due on DOT.  He requested him for his kind intervention for resolving the issues.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

GS along with Sh. Rajib Kumar AGS met with CMD on 30.09.2019  to discuss various issues. Discussion was focused on the following issues.

1) Burning issue related to the autocratic behavior of Director Technical and passing instructions for undue harassment   of the executives of WS wing.

As soon as we conveyed our anger and worries on the subject and solicited his intervention, CMD expressed his helplessness to intervene in the matter. He categorically told that Director Technical is not listening him on various issues. The way he is acting has been condemned by himself and expressed his displeasure . Furthermore he assured us to look into matter shortly.

2) Regular promotion to the executives  of various cadres: We explained in detail with regard to vacancies position and eligible executives in waiting of their regular promotion. We told that as a fact these all eligible executives are already officiating on the respective promotion posts and moreover they are getting the pay scales of the post of desired promotion. Simply by the way of official formality of conducting DPC these officials may get their due promotion.

CMD initially didn’t agree to our view point but after our discussion he told that let HR section place a proposal on the subject and then he will decide the thing taking in consideration rules position of MTNL.

3) late payment of salary every month.

We conveyed the hardship being faced by employees and executives in the festival season. We asked him with regards to various payments due on DOT.

He expressed in detail with regards to payment of Rs.430/- crores. He told that already a 7-8 members committee has been formed & one meeting have been done  in DOT on 30th sept.2019. As the position of MTNL, all relevant documents have been produced in support of our claim but DOT has to find out their part and then to finalize this claim .once this committee places it’s report then this proposal will be placed for approval of DOT and subsequently of Finance ministry. Hopefully this all processes will be completed by 20th oct.2019.

Likewise one more payment of Rs 380/- crores is to be settled with DOT.if this amount is received timely then the salary for the month of August 2019 will be disbursed before Dussera festival and settlement of Rs 431/-crores will lead to disbursement of salary for Sept 2019 accordingly.

4) Delay payment of GPF and CGEIS amount.

CMD explained that within this week so55 crores wme Rs. 50-ill be released for the purpose and RS.5-6 crores for CGEIS.

5) Revival of MTNL..We asked him about latest news on revival of MTNL.

CMD explained that it is understood from latest development that m/o finance Is favoring permanent closer of company rather than revive it.

 BSNL trade unions set to go on lunch-hour protest on October 1…..BSNL’s unions and associations have called for a “lunch-hour demonstration” on October 1 to protest against salary delay and non-payment of wages to contract workers.

The protest is also against the total ban on capital expenditure, along with other issues related to the revival of BSNL, union officials told BusinessLine.

The unions that are expected to take part in the protest include BSNL Employees’ Union, Sanchar Nigam Executives’ Association (SNEA), All-India BSNL Executives’ Association (AIBSNLEA), and All-India BSNL Officers’ Association, among others. A News from Business Line..

Please click here link to news. 

 Finance Ministry rejects DoT’s Rs 74,000 cr revival package for BSNL-MTNL: FE report While the earlier reports had suggested that the government had agreed to a Rs 74,000 crore package to revive the two public sector telecom companies, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), it now transpires the Ministry of Finance is not convinced with the revival plan submitted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and has turned it down. A news from The News Minute..

Please click here for link to news.

 Office of ED Delhi has issued a letter to call APAR for 30 Executives (technical) for LA promotion to the post of DGM.

Please click here for the copy of letter.

 Corporate office issued a letter to Delhi and Mumbai unit for calling of APAR of eligible executives of electrical for the regular promotion to the post of Sr. Manager.

Please click here  for the copy of letter.

 Decision on revival package for cash-strapped BSNL pushed back..A meeting convened by PK Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, on the revival of Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) on Thursday ended without any conclusion, mainly on the question of whether the revival is possible or not.

It is learnt that the group of secretaries has been asked to study that matter in four-five days. According to a source, “If the meeting of secretaries decides for revival, then method of funding like creating a special purpose vehicle will be discussed and decided. The meeting was held to find a solution to the financial woes of the beleaguered PSU, which is awaiting the central government’s fund infusion to stay afloat amid cut throat competition in the telecom sector. A news from Business Standard…

Please click here for link to news.

 DoT moots Rs 500 bn revival deal for BSNL, MTNL: Source…..The Department of Telecommunications has proposed a 500-bln-rupee package to revive state-owned telecom companies Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), a senior finance ministry official said. In a Cabinet note, the department has sought Rs 500 billion over a 10-year period for a voluntary retirement scheme, 4G spectrum, and working capital, the official said. “It’s up to the Cabinet to decide when to take up the proposal,” the official told Cogencis. A News from freepressjournal….

Please click here for link to news.

Ailing PSU pays August salary 18 days late

 On 18.09.2019 GS along with Sh. Rajib Kumar AGS and Sh. Ranjan Kumar  met with Sh.Sandeep keskar looking after charge of GM HR at corporate office. The discussion was held on the following points:

1) Vertical promotion to financially upgraded executives – we took up this case with GM HR referring the CMD’s view on this issue discussed in the last meeting held with CMD & requested him to extend the vertical promotion to the financially upgraded executives as there is no financial implications involved in such promotion. Moreover these executives are already getting the scale of respective posts.he was positive on our proposal and told that the case must be thoroughly examined & put up on its merit for getting approval of competent authority.

2) Relieving of executives for desired deputations. We asked him to relieve the executives for the different departments as case may be. if they are willing to go on deputations. This will bring about some relief to wage expenditure of the company. 

He expressed his view that company may suffer a disorder in managing the post VRS offhand situation by relieving the young executives. However we didn’t agree to his views point .

Further he  told that he would take it positively in consultation with higher-ups when  such cases come to him.

3) DPC for regular promotion in each cadres. We raised the issue of pending DPC in each cadre including the case of AO regular DPC which is pending since long.

He assured that efforts are being made to expedite the whole process so that the DPCs may be conducted at earliest.

Meeting with Director Finance..

1) Issue of pending APAR’s: The Issue of pending APAR’S was taken up with Dir fin; he assured of clearing all the pending APAR at earliest.

2)the case file of MTNL claim of Rs 434 /- crores against MTNL bonds pending with DOT.

He informed that DOT has constituted a committee of 4 officers to examine the MTNL claim which will be approved as per per the committee report/ recommendation. The MTNl management is also constantly in touch with DOT to expedite the case..

 BHEL, BSNL propose pay cuts over unmet targets, cash crunch: Report

A group of state-run companies have proposed salary cuts over unmet targets and as austerity measures, Business Standard reports.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has informed employees about its plan to impose a penalty for non-achievement of targets, the report said.

The Department of Telecommunications has asked the company to clarify the reason for the warnings sent to the staff. 

South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), Coal India’s largest subsidiary, too, had proposed a 25 percent cut in senior employees’ salaries following unmet financial and production targets, the report said. The move was rejected by the SECL board. A News from Money Control..

Please click here for link to news.. 

BSNL executives spend their own money to keep telco afloat: Official.The workforce of state-controlled Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been spending its own money to make the telecom carrier’s operations seamless, and in the challenging situation, the telco should not continue to whip employees, a senior official told the top management.

In a letter dated September 7, 2019, to the BSNL Board, a Principal General Manager (PGM) of Tamil Nadu circle, expressing displeasure over the staff deployed for SIM sales said that the initiative was flawed and would affect operational parameters and further push the company into the red, and management creating panic among employees was unwarranted. A News from Economic Times Telecom

Please click here for link to news..

BHEL, BSNL, Coal India warn of pay cuts after unmet targets, cash crunch..Facing a severe cash crunch and failure to meet targets, several public sector units (PSUs) have started putting in austerity measures and pressuring employees to tide over the situation. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has moved to impose a penalty recoverable from staff salary in proportion to non-achievement of targets. A news from Business Standard….

Please click here for link to news.

 ED Delhi issued  transfer orders of GMs 

Please click here for copy of letter. 

Corporate office issued a letter to GM (Admin) Delhi and Mumbai for calling of APAR of all    eligible executives for regular promotion from SDE ( Manager) to DE (Sr. Manager).

Please click here for copy of the letter.

DoT asks BSNL, MTNL to recall staff working in its offices without sanction: The Telecom Department has made it clear to MTNL and BSNL managements that it will no longer accept any claims raised by them for their staff working in DoT offices on an ‘informal’ or ‘loan’ basis, without proper sanction or approval. Saddled with past claims and HR-related bills from the two cash-strapped firms, DoT has now shot-off letters to the two ailing corporations asking them to withdraw such employees.

DoT has also written to its own field units and offices asking them to ensure that no such staff is retained unless strictly in compliance with the rules, that is, on deputation basis against sanctioned and vacant posts.

The move assumes significance as both Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) have approached Department of Telecom (DoT) seeking payments and reimbursements for cases where their staff worked in the Department on ‘loan’ basis. A News from ET Telecom..

Please click here for link to news.

 Centre Likely To Infuse Capital In BSNL, MTNL: Report…After PSU banks, the government is likely to infuse capital in two chronically ill telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, and the Union Cabinet is likely to take a decision on 4G spectrum allocation to them by the third week of the current month after DoT (Department of Telecommunications) places the note before it for consideration.

The cabinet could take up the 4G spectrum proposals for these telcos as the legal opinion from the Solicitor General has come giving a green signal to the administrative allocation. This key legal issue was needed to be cleared before the cabinet could take the proposal, said sources. BSNL and MTNL being PSUs don’t participate in spectrum auction. But they pay the highest bidder price for the spectrum they are seeking to obtain.

“The decision (from Cabinet) could come this month. Cabinet may take decisions on 4G spectrum of BSNL/MTNL will be taken by the 3rd week of September. Thereafter it may take about 3 to 6 months time to complete the formalities and both PSUs may get the spectrum worth,” sources said. In a highly competitive data oriented market, not having 4G services on wireless networks are further aggravating the weak market share of the two the PSUs .

The funds infusion in both BSNL and MTNL, according to sources will be through bonds as has been the case of PSU bank recapitalisation. A News from NDTV Profit….

Please click here for link to news.

MTNL raises Rs 800 crore claims from telecom dept: 

MTNL – where a massive cash crunch has stalled salary payments for two months now – has approached the government with about Rs 800 crore worth of claims, including rent-related dues and reimbursement for a bond issue dating back several years, according to multiple sources.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is examining the claims that have been made by the state-owned corporation, sources said.

The matter assumes significance as the company is reeling under a massive cash shortage and has been unable to pay staff wages for July and August. MTNL, last week, admitted that salary payment for two months is pending and that sincere effort is being made to release at least a portion of the dues at the earliest.

DoT sources said that MTNL has approached the Telecom Department with outstanding dues, including over Rs 400 crore reimbursements pertaining to bonds that MTNL claims it had raised on behalf of the government many years ago.A News from Business Times….

Please click here  for link to news.

 GS wrote a letter to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India , wherein he described about “hand to Mouth Condition of MTNL’ employees “. He further described about various funds to be received by MTNL from DOT under various Heads But DOT is not paying them and requested him for his kind intervention to get these problems resolved.

Please click here for the copy of the letter.

 Notice

It is for information to all Divisional Secy./Area Secy./Circle Office bearers/ CEC & CWC Members and all CHQ office bearers present in Delhi ; that A CEC meeting of TEAM Delhi is being scheduled on 11.09.2019 (Wednesday) at 14.00 hrs sharp in room no. 756 of Kidwai Bhawan New Delhi.

1)Main agenda of discussion is Delay Payment of Salary every month.

2)Various pending issues like implementation of 3rd PRC and full neutralization of IDA as per 2nd PRC.

3) Regular Promotion in each cadre.

Therefore  it is requested to all (as detailed above ) to make it convenient to attend the meeting positively.  

BSNL, MTNL likely to get 4G spectrum worth Rs 20,000 crore:

It seems that decks have been cleared for the administrative allotment of 4G spectrum worth `20,000 crore to BSNL/MTNL as solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta is understood to have given a go-ahead to a department of telecommunications (DoT) proposal regarding the same.

Sources say the DoT had sought legal opinion from SG after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) refused to offer its views regarding the matter, terming it an administrative issue. The legal view was necessary in the backdrop of the 2012 Supreme Court order which mandated that spectrum has to be auctioned for commercial purposes. A news from Financial Express.

Please click here for link to news.