DON’T BE PANIC

Whatsapp is full of panic messages from our
comrades. Everyday there is some news item in
the media about BSNL and MTNL.

Some are baseless. Some are half-truth.

On 24-6-2019 it was reported that DOT met PMO
to discuss revival of BSNL/MTNL. Today it is
reported that Secretary, Telecom alone met
the Cabinet Secretary…..

It is a deliberate attempt to impress upon the
employees of BSNL that the company is in a deep
crisis, that company cannot pay salary, that
BSNL can be revived only if employees accept
some harsh steps.

It is a psychological game to compel the
employees accept any condition.

Let us not add the confusion. Let the staff
Unions decide their course of action. Let
something concrete and official come out.

Nobody expected this fatal fall
of corporatization so early.

….PSR…

On 22-06-2019, leaders of AIBSNLPWA met Shri Pralhad Joshiji, Honourable Minister for Parliamentary Affairs at his hometown of Hubli in North Karnataka and felicitated him on assuming charge of the important ministry, as successor of his close colleague, late Shri Ananthkumarji. Our leaders sought the help of Shri Joshiji in settling our main demand of Pension Revision. The Honourable minister positively responded and assured his help in the matter.

Shri Joshi keenly listening to our GS.

From L to R:

Comrades Shreedhar Pawar (DS Hubli), Radhakrishna (AGS, CHQ), S L Pujar (OS Hubli),

Gandigawada (VP Hubli), Shivananda (VP KTK Circle), Shri Joshiji, P Gangadhara Rao (GS),

Tarikeri (Active member of Hubli) and R Changappa (CS, KTK Circle).

BSNL has written a letter to DoT stating that the financial condition is very bad and it may not be possible to pay salary to the staff for June 2019 on time. Salary was delayed in February. Then PM intervened due to elections and asked not to delay the payment till May. Month of May is over, elections are over.So, the problem reappears in June…

..

DoT has issued a letter conveying the proposal to take back ALTTC complex at Ghaziabad. In fact, the DoT should take back entire BSNL with its staff to Govt. Service as the experiment has totally failed.

The next membership verification for non Executives Unions in BSNL is to be held on 16, September 2019. BSNL Management has issued instructions that unions cannot form alliances. All Unions should fight individually. But, in politics there can be NDA, UPA etc. Leader of a party with one or two MPs also can become cabinet minister. Then why this different rule for trade unions? In one way, it is good. Small unions with 2% or 3% membership cannot enjoy the fruits of recognition through back door.

....

Our Case in CAT Ernakulam for Pension @ 50% of Last Pay Drawn, was not taken up for hearing on 21-6-2019 though it was listed. The Court heard some cases but our number did not come.

The delay is quite disgusting.

Business Standard has published the following news item:

The relief package for debt-laden Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) might be delayed as the department of telecom (DoT) considers lowering the retirement age of the employees of the government-owned telecom major to 58 years, instead of offering a one-time voluntary retirement scheme (VRS).

The outgo for proposed VRS package would be Rs 6,365 crore. The Ministry of Finance had raised concerns over this.

Once the DoT finalises what it wants to do, the proposal would go straight to the Union Cabinet — instead of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) — to avoid delays.

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The office of Finance Minister has provided an opportunity to any citizen to submit suggestions on new Budget proposals. It is a different matter if your suggestion will be considered or accepted. But there is an opportunity for you. Visit the website www.mygov.in and submit your suggestion online. It should be brief. Nobody has time and patience to read lengthy Notes.

Today, I have submitted the following:

There are about 3 crore pensioners in India, including 65 lakh central service pensioners.

Pensionary benefits are not taxed, but pension of government employees and PSE pensioners are taxed.

Pension of MPs is not taxed on the plea that “ it is not salary but income from other sources”.

“Other sources” is nothing but Exchequer. Govt pensioners too get pension from same source.

Hence, PENSION of everybody should be out of tax net. Such a declaration by the MODI II Govt. will earn goodwill of 10-15 crore of people, though the beneficiaries may be 10% of that.

Taxes on Liquor and luxury items should be increased.

We do not produce gold. But we are second in the world in buying gold ornaments. This wealth is nonproductive; it helps neither the nation nor the society. Hence maximum tax should be imposed on gold transactions.

Tax on cars costing Rs 5 lakh or above may be increased.

.... P S Ramankutty ..

THE COURT CASES

As all of you know we had filed two cases before Ernakulam bench of Central Administrative Tribunal.

1. to get pension arrears with 78.2% IDA from 1-1-2007 instead of 10-6-2013, as granted. (Arrears Case in short)

2. to get pension refixed @ 50% of Last Pay Dawn for all BSNL Pensioners retired prior to 1-1-2006. (LPD case in short)

After many postponement again and again, The Arrears Case (338/18) is listed for 18-6-2019. We hope it will be taken up for hearing.

The LPD case (346/18) was also postponed again and again and finally listed for 7-6-2019. One day before that date it was re-posted for 12-6-2019 by notification. Again on 11-6-2019 it is once again posted to 21-6-2019 by notification.

Earlier there was only one judge. Now both judges are available. We hope that the Tribunal will take up the cases for hearing.

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ANOMALY CASE: On 16-12-2016, CAT Principal bench pronounced its judgement in our favour in the anomaly case . Unfortunately, instead of respecting the court order, DoT preferred to file appeal in High Court. The high court of Delhi gave a very long gap to consider the case. Now, it is posted to 18, July 2019. More than 4200 BSNL employees retired from October 2000 to July 2001 have suffered huge loss in their pension due to the anomaly. Half of them have already left this earth. Remaining people are 79 years old. They are waiting for the justice.

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Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, new Finance Minister will present her maiden budget on July 5. It is customary for the Finance Ministry to ask views and suggestions from various departments, organizations etc. on budget proposals. This time, the Department of Pension sought views of Pensioners Organizations also in this regard. Excited over this, many pensioners are sending all types of suggestions. Finally, the political leadership will decide the policy and accordingly will present the budget. We have no illusion.

However, we have suggested that PENSION SHOULD NOT BE TAXED.

Pension of MPs is not taxed. Why? It is said that their pension is not salary and that is income from other sources. Nothing but Government fund is the ‘other sources’. We are also getting pension from same government funds. Then why this discrimination?

Now, Assocham (Association of Chambers of Commerce in India) has suggested to raise income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh in Budget “Considering the inflation over the years, tax exemption limit should be increased from Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 5,00,000,” the chamber’s memorandum to the Finance Ministry stated.