Comrades,

BSNLEU CHQ has given some information about the latest position with regard to wage revision in BSNL. Neither NFTE nor the SNEA website shows anything till 1200 hours on today, 15-2-2019.

According to BSNLEU Website, the Management offers wage revision with ZERO Percent benefit immediately; thereafter Minister will go to cabinet for approval to grant 5%. Union now demands minimum benefit of 10% fitment.

Even if there is any agreement on 0% or 5% or 10% (I wish them the best) that has no impact on our pension revision. Nothing will come automatically to us. DoT will take time and go to cabinet for pension revision. If any understanding is reached with AUAB on fitment benefit in wage revision that will be used against us. Legally it is not binding on us. Pensioners are not party to the understanding on wage revision. A Company may give wage increase based on its affordability. Government cannot be led by that formula. The Govt is not under BSNL.

We are covered by CCS Pension Rule 1972. PRC report or any formula suggested by PRC is not applicable to those covered by CCS Pension Rule 1972.

So, as decided by Kanyakumari CWC, we shall continue our efforts more vigorously to realize our just demand for PENSION REVISION WITH CPC FITMENT BENEFIT as granted to all others covered by the CCS Pension Rule of 1972.

................................ PSR ............................

SINCE I AM GOING TO KANYAKUMARI TODAY, FOR CWC MEETING AND RETURNING ONLY ON 15TH, I AM NOT ABLE TO UPDATE THIS WEBSITE TILL 15TH EVENING. A SHORT BREAK......PSR

As per the feedback received from Circles our branches have sent thousands of Post Cards to Hon'ble Prime Minister demanding pension revision with CPC fitment benefits.

Circlewise figures are as:

ANDHRA: 4376

BIHAR: 537

CHHATISGARH: 75

CHENNAI TD: 2800

DELHI: 232

GUJARAT: 830

KERALA: 4050

KARNATAKA: 4472

MAHARASTRA: 860

MADHYPRADESH: 1466

MTNL DELHI: 350

ORISSA: 1100

PUNJAB: 815

RAJSTHAN: 503

TELANGANA: 1932

UP WEST: 944

UTTRANCHAL: 32

WEST BENGAL: 50

TOTAL: 25424

FINAL FIGURES ARE NOT YET RECEIVED FROM TAMILNADU FROM WHERE MORE THAN 8000 CARDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DESPATCHED. SIMILARLY MTNL MUMBAI HAS NOT COMPLETED THE WORK DUE TO SOME INCONVENIENCES. IT IS STILL GOING ON.

CONSOLIDATED FIGURES HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED FROM ASSAM, HARYANA, JHARKHAND, KOLKATA AND UP EAST CIRCLES.

AS CALLED BY CBMPA, OUR COMRADES AT DIFFERENT CENTRES ARE MEETING MPs TO MOBILIZE THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR DEMAND

FOR PENSION REVISION WITH CPC FITMENT BENEFITS.

AIRBSNLEWA COMRADES OF HYDERABAD MET MINISTER SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD AND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM.

THANJAVUR COMRADES MET SHRI K PARASURAMAN MP AND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM

PONDICHERRY COMRADES MET SHRI R RADHAKRISHNAN MP AND SUBMITTED A MEMORANDUM

SALEM WEST BRANCH LEADERS MET SHRI V PANNEERSELVAM M P AND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM.

COM K MUTHIYALU (Dy GS), V RAMARAO (ASST \TREASURER) AND VICTOR RAJ, ACS MET DR JAYAVARDHAN MP AND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM

COM. R N PADANAIR (AGS) AND COM. K V KURIAKOSE MET SHRI INNOCENT MP ND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM

COM. T P GEORGE AND OTHERS MET SHRI K V THOMAS MP AND SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM

ALL THE ABOVE POLITICAL LEADERS ASSURED SUPPORT .

WE SHOULD CONTINUE THE EFFORTS ALL OVER INDIA.

FEW PHOTOS

Committee of BSNL/MTNL Pensioners’ Associations

H.No. 6, G No. 12th Street, Jogupalya, Halasuru, Bangalore 560008

MEMORANDUM

No.CBMPA/ Pen-Rev/2018-19 Dated at New Delhi, the Feb 4, 2019

To Shri Narendra Modiji, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government of India

South BlockNew Delhi -110001

Subject :-Pension Revision for BSNL/MTNL pensioners ( combined service ) from 1/1/2017 on the basis of seventh CPC fitment factor

Hon’ble Sir,

At the outset, we beg apology for encroaching upon your valuable time meant for most important issues of national interest. But we are constrained to approach you, sir, as head of the establishment and sympathetic towards pensioners/senior citizens, as we don’t have any other option left.

We represent the erstwhile DOT employees who were absorbed in BSNL and MTNL on their formation and since retired from the service of BSNL/MTNL and entitled to Government pension (combined service) under Rule 37 A of CCS Pension Rules, 1972, as amended from time.

Our pension is derived on the basis of last pay drawn on our IDA Pay Scales as per Rule 33 of the said rule.Though the chairman of seventh CPC Justice A.K.Mathur was very considerate during the oral evidence and he even told that there is a prima-facie in the demand.But it could not be incorporated in the recommendations because DoT delayed its reply to seventh CPC for 8 months on this demand (December 14 to August 15).

The third PRC (for that matter no PRC) did not have ‘pension revision’ in terms of reference.Though DoT tried its best to include, DPE refused to agree based on policy decision.Thus our pension has not yet been revised whereas more than 60 lakhs Govt. Pensioners got pension revision w.e.f. 1/1/2016.

We got pension revision in 2007 and after 10 years we are asking for revision.We have taken up this matter with DOT. The senior officers of DOT are of the opinion that unless pay revision takes place in BSNL/MTNL, pension revision is not possible. The pay revision is not being done in BSNL/MTNL due to restrictions imposed by the affordability Clause of 3^rd PRC recommendations as accepted and notified by the Govt. of India.

100% liability of paying pension/family pension lies with GoI and BSNL/MTNL do not have any role in this matter.Therefore, we have pleaded to delink the issue of pension revision from pay revision. Hon’ble Minister of State ( C ),I/C was kind enough to assure that this matter will be sorted out in consultation with DOP&PW.

But assurance of Hon’ble MOSC was made futile by the DOT officials by sending an inappropriate, half-baked proposal to DOP&PW. We call the DOT’s reference to DOP&PW on this matter as inappropriate because, DOT’s proposal is made deliberately short of compliance with the requirements of DOP&PW. DOP&PW has clearly stated that let DOT state how do they carry out pension revision after delinking from pay revision so that DOP&PW can examine the proposal in its entirety. DOT refuses to do so and sticks to its earlier position that pension revision is possible only after pay revision. Thus the assurance of Hon’ble MOSC has been made frustrated without even consulting DOP&PW appropriately and effectively.

Hon’ble Sir,

Our humble submission in this respect is as follows :-

1) The pension (combined service) of BSNL/MTNL pensioners are paid by DOT (CCA) from central civil estimates. This is governed by CCS Pension Rules, 1972. The pension contributions calculated on IDA Pay Scales have already been paid to DOT. This is not subjected to the “loss & profit” situation of BSNL/MTNL. Thus the pension revision cannot be affected directly or indirectly by the restrictions of “affordability clause.”

2) The BSNL/MTNL pensioners (combined service) are presently getting all pensionary benefits as per seventh CPC recommendations, accepted and notified by Govt. of India. Only pension revision is left to be done.

Hon’ble sir,

Thus you may kindly see that even the assurance of Hon’ble MOSC has been made futile, Therefore, having no other option left, we appeal to you, sir for your kind intervention in this matter and ensure that this lot of senior citizens get due justice by way of ensuring the revision of their pension.

With thanks & regards

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(P.Gangadhara Rao

Convenor / CBMPA

Copy to :

1. Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State ( C ) I/C
2. Smt ArunaSundararajan, Secretary (T), Ministry of Communication.

THOUGH BELATED, TODAY WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SAD NEWS ABOUT DEMISE OF SMT. RAJASHREE CHAUHAN, WIFE OF COM. B P S CHAUHAN, CIRCLE SECRETARY, CHHATISGARH AT BILASPUR AT 10.30 PM ON 31-1-2019. SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT 40 DAYS.

WE CONVEY OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO CHAUHAN FAMILY.

A new branch of AIBSNLPWA has been opened in Saharsa SSA of Bihar on 4-2-2019:

Following are elected unanimously:

President: Com. B Jha

Dist Secretary: Com. B K Singh

Treasurer: Com. R N Sah

.....

Another new branch of AIBSNLPWA has been opened in Samastipur SSA of Bihar on 4-2-2019:

Following are elected unanimously:

President: G R Mochi

Dist Secretary: Com. H P Singh

Treasurer: Com. H C DAS.

Comrades A K Singh (CS), S R Sinha (ACS), and H N Singh (DS Patna) attended the formation meeting at Samastipur,.

CHQ WELCOMES THE NEW BRANCHES.

..............................................

This is about arrangements for CWC.

Yesterday, on 5-2-2019, I visited Kanyakumari.Com. Chellaih, DS of our Nagercoil and 6 other comrades were also there.

NO MORE ROOMs: We have booked 20 double-bed rooms for 12-2-2019 and 29 double-bed rooms from 13, February morning to 16, February morning, in Vivekananda Kendra. All are same type and Non AC rooms. Vivekananda Kendra is just 10 minutes walk from Kanyakumari Railway Station. As you know, Kanyakumari is the south end (last) station of Indian railways. It is a small station with big compound.

Prime Minister is visiting Kanyakumari on 19-2-19 and some other conferences are also there in Vivekananda Kendra. Hence there are no more rooms available. Any one (other than CWC members and spouses, already intimated) coming has to make his/her own arrangement for stay and food.

The check in time in Vivekananda Kendra is 8 AM. As such, rooms are available only from 8 AM on 12, February. Some 13 or 14 comrades are reaching Kanyakumari at 6.15 AM on 12..2.2019. They have to wait up to 8 AM or they can go to P S R Bhavan, run by PSR Anjaneyulu Memorial Trust, take bath etc. and then shift to Vivekananda Kendra after 8 AM. It is 1.5 KMs away from the Railway Station. Few volunteer comrades will be available at Railway Station from 6 AM on 12, FEbruary.

GUJARART COMRADES

Gujarat comrades (2) are reaching at 4 AM on 12-2-2019. They may please take a three wheeler and go to PSR Bhavan or wait in railway station up to 6 AM so that some volunteers can assist them. I will be in PSR Bhavan. They can contact me over phone on reaching Kanyakumari.

THOSE REACHING 13-2-2019:

Since our comrades are staying in 20 rooms from 12-2-2019, those who reach 13-2-2019 morning can come to Vivekananda Kendra straight, use those rooms for fresh up and then shift to their own rooms after 8 AM

Regards,

P S Ramankutty, 6-2-2019.

During our Services, we had seen that officers come to the negotiation tables with clear understanding of the issues and with clear decisions. If they offered something it was authoritative.

Now situation is changed.

On 30th January 2019, the DoT officers offered pay revision to BSNL staff with 5% fitment benefit. Very next day same officers told that even 5% is difficult.

Ultimately, forced to the wall, the Staff Unions have served notice for three days strike from 18-2-2019.

Demands

(1)Implementation of 3rd Pay Revision with 15% fitment.

(2)Allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, as per the proposals submitted by the BSNL Management.(3)Implement assurance of the Hon Minister of State for Communications for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Revise pension of BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01.01.2017.

(4)Payment of pension contribution by BSNL as per the Government rule.

(5)Settlement of the left out issues of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee.

(6) a) Approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy without any delay.

b) Expeditiously complete the mutation and the process of transferring of all assets to BSNL, as per the Cabinet decision taken on the eve of the formation of BSNL.

(7) (a) Ensure financial viability of BSNL, as per the decision taken by the Group of Ministers, at the time of formation of BSNL.

(b) Issue letter of comfort for BSNL’s proposals for taking bank loans.

(c) Expeditiously fill up all vacant post of BSNL Board of Directors.

(8)Scrap BSNLs outsourcing for the operation and maintenance of its mobile towers.

AUAB meeting taking place tomorrow - Keep ready for the struggle.

Following the discussion that the AUAB had with the Additional Secretary (Telecom) yesterday, further discussions took place between the AUAB and the CMD BSNL yesterday, as well as today. In continuation of this, the representatives of the AUAB met Shri Anshu Prakash, Additional Secretary (Telecom) today afternoon. To their surprise, the Additional Secretary (Telecom) told the AUAB representatives today that, even giving the 5% fitment would be difficult. The AUAB did not accept the 5% fitment offer made yesterday. In this backdrop, the AUAB will be holding it's meeting at 11:30 am tomorrow. The meeting will take appropriate decision on the charter of demands. The Executives and Non-Executives are requested to keep ready for struggle. [BSNLEU WEBSITE]

[Date : 31 - Jan - 2019]

THE ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR DECEMBER 2018 IS ANNOUNCED AS 301 POINT. AS SUCH, THE RATE OF CDA WILL INCREASE FROM EXISTING 9% TO 12% WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 2019.

THE MATTER IN HINDI IS GIVEN IN WHATSAPP GROUP. I TRIED BUT COULD NOT UPLOAD THE SAME IN THIS WEBSITE. MAY BE BECAUSE THE FONT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN MY SYSTEM.

...PSR...

[from the website of BSNLEU)

In the meeting held on 03.12.2018, between the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and AUAB, it was assured that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision. However, the officers sitting in DoT are trying to deviate from the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C). For example, in the letter written by the DoT, to the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, the decision of Hon’ble MoS(C) was diluted. In that letter, the DoT had asked the DoP&PW, whether pension revision can be de-linked from pay revision. In yesterday’s meeting with the Additional Secretary also, the DDG(Estt.), DoT, was arguing that pension revision would be done only after pay revision is done. The representatives of the AUAB strongly protested this dilution and demanded that the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) should be implemented. On hearing both the arguments, the AS(T) directed that the AUAB and the DDG(Estt.) DoT, should hold further discussion on this issue. Accordingly, further discussion took place yesterday, between the representatives of the AUAB and Shri S.K. Jain, DDG(Estt.), DoT. The AUAB categorically told that the decision of the Hon’ble MoS(C) that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision should be implemented. After observing the stiff resistance against dilution of the Hon’ble MoS(C)’s decision, the DDG(Estt.) assured that the issue would be further discussed with the AS(T).

Please see the two attachments given below.

cards.pdf

card-matter.pdf

Today, the Convener and other members of CBMPA met Additional Secretary, Telecom Mr.Anshu Prakash and discussed about Pension revision. The result is not encouraging; rather most disappointing.

PREPARE FOR A SERIOUS STRUGGLE:

Comrades, we must prepare ourselves for the struggle. Make our programmes a great success and widespread. We must create an atmosphere so that the government should take the issue seriously............PSR

Committee of BSNL/MTNL Pensioners’ Associations met in a crucial meeting at Delhi on 29/01/2019 to review the status of our demand of Revision of Pension in BSNL and MTNL with Seventh CPC fitment and chalk out further courses of action thereto.

Com. Gangadhara Rao, Convenor presided over the meeting. The following members representing the various constituents have attended the meeting:

S/Shri Rajendra Prasad, Prahlad Rai, Kisan Singh, Anupam Kaul, M.K.Bagchi, S.S.Nanda, R.K.Mudgal, K.Jawahar, Badri Pathak, J.S.Yadav, Kishor Haldankar,and R.P.Sharma.

At the outset, Convenor thanked all members for attending this meeting with short notice. He recalled that the first meeting of CBMPA was held on 21/11/2018 in Delhi. Within this short intervening period there have been lots of developments and hectic persuasions at various levels. But still we have miles to go to reach the goal, thanks to the reluctant and negative attitudes of some important officers in DOT.

All members have taken active participation in the discussion. Among various opinions / observations expressed, one point has emerged as common and that is DOT is not alive to the assurance given by MOSC regarding delinking the Revision of Pension from Revision of Pay. It is clearly apparent that even the positive and proactive approach of DOP&PW is blunted by the inept handling of the issue by the concerned officers of DOT.

CBMPA has noted with satisfaction that AUAB and their agitation has highlighted the issue of pension revision among other matters and hoped that they would continue to do so in future.

The important decisions taken in the meeting is appended here below:

Decisions taken in the meeting of CBMPA held at Delhi on 29/1/2019.

1) Convenor and other members will approach the AUAB leaders and request them to strongly persuade with Additional Secretary (T) in the meeting to be held on 30/1/2019 for implementing the Policy Decision taken by MOSC to de-link pension revision from pay revision by resubmitting the file with a concrete and comprehensive proposal to DOP&PW.

2) Convenor has reiterated our earlier decision to contact important political personalities throughout India to take up with the Government of India regarding Pension Revision in BSNL/MTNL with Seventh CPC fitment

3) Post Card campaign to Shri Narendra Modi, Ho’ble Prime Minister from 4/2/2019 to 9/2/2019 by every pensioner of BSNL and MTNL on the issue of revision of Govt Pension in BSNL/MTNL.

4) A Massive Rally shall be organized at Delhi from BSNL Corporate Office to Sanchar Bhawan on 08/02/2019 (Friday) and submit Memorandum to MOSC/Secretary (T).

5) A suitably drafted letter should be addressed to Hon’ble Prime Minister highlighting the failure on the part of MOSC in dealing with the Pension Revision case as assured.

6) CBMPA expresses happiness to learn that DOT-BSNL Pensioners’ Association, Kerala has joined as Eighth constituent and has whole-heartedly welcomed this important development at this crucial juncture.

Convener and other members shall meet Secretary (T)/AST and present our case of Pension Revision with 7th CPC fitment and request DOT to send back the file to DOP&PW accordingly at the earliest.

P.Gangadhara Rao, Convener.

30-1-2019

We convey our deepest condolence on the demise of Com. George Fernandez, the dare devil fire brand hero of Indian politics. He expired on 29-1-2019, at the age of 88.

Com. George was a leader rose from the dust. He slept in the pavements of Mumbai city. He worked in hotels and in printing press for livelihood. He organized the taxi workers of Mumbai. The man from Mangalore in Karnataka won elections from Mumbai and then from Bihar.

He was the hero of 20 days strike of Railwaymen in 1974. I regret to observe that even railway comrades forgot him.

George Fernandez was unpredictable, some times. But he created and occupied a space himself in the political arena of India.

Minister George Fernandez was a minister entirely different from other traditional ‘manthris’ of Delhi. I had opportunity to meet him several times in his official residence at 3, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi. Minister George occupied a small room and left the rest of that bungalow as an Open House for visitors from anywhere in the country. The compound looked like a dharamsala.

He is no more. We salute Com. George Fernandez.

….PSR…