We are going to Puri (Jagannath Puri) in Odisha for the next All India Conference. Odisha comrades have suggested 22-23 September 2018 as probable dates. Ensuing CWC meeting on 16-17, April in Chennai will finalize the dates. Before that, Odisha comrades will form Reception Committee and start the work. Odisha is comparatively a small circle unit with only 1500 members in total. Such a small circle has come forward to host the AIC of the largest organization of BSNL pensioners in India.

It is possible only with the willing involvement of all members in the country. Every member of our Association, Life member or annual member, is requested to donate Rs 50 towards AIC fund. It should be remitted to CHQ by branches. CHQ will hand over the amount so received to the Odisha Reception Committee. Some branches have already remitted the donation. List of donations received up to 20-3-2018 by CHQ is given below:

Gurgaon: Rs. 4000

Bhandara: Rs. 400.

Fatehpur:Rs. 600

Balaghat : Rs. 3900

West Godavari : Rs. 6000

Kurnool: Rs. 10000

Malappuram :Rs. 6000.00

Jhansi:Rs. 2600

Lakhimpur : Rs. 800

Varanasi: Rs. 2750

Lucknow: Rs. 1050

Pratapgargh: Rs. 1300

Salem East: Rs. 19100

Vellore: Rs. 20000

Late Com. Hariharan of Chennai: Rs. 5000

Smt. Akhilandeswari of Chennai: Rs 10000

All other branches are requested to collect it when the pension of March 2018 is disbursed and remit the amount to CHQ before 30, April 2018. If collection is not completed, please transfer the amount from District unit’s funds and then continue the collection.

Start preparation to meet at Puri and go ahead. PURI AIC will be another milestone in our path.

……P S Ramankutty, President.

THE ALL INDIA CONFERENCE OF NFTE-BSNL HELD AT AMRITSAR FROM 16-3-2018 TO 19-3-2018 HAS RE-ELECTED COM. ISLAM AHMED AND COM. CHANDESHWAR SINGH AS THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL SECRETARY.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW TEAM OF LEADERSHIP OF NFTE.

Jharkhand CWC meeting was held at Dhanbad on 18-3-2018.

CIRCLE CONFERENCE OF UP EAST WAS HELD ON 16-3-2018 IN GANDHI BHAVAN, LUCKNOW. COM. G NATARAJAN (GS) AND COM. T S VITTOBAN (TREASURER) PARTICIPATED IT ON BEHALF OF CHQ AND EXPLAINED VARIOUS ISSUES.

COMRADES MAHATMA PATHAK, J N DUBEY AND DHANI RAM ARE ELECTED AS CIRCLE PRESIDENT, CIRCLE SECRETARY AND TREASURER RESPECTIVELY.

District Executive Meeting of Krishna ,Vijayawada held on 14-03-2018. Com K.V.Subrahmanyam DGM Retired Vijayawada is elected as District Secretary. Com N.S.Sarma, the veteran leader and longtime district secretary of the SSA Unit has tendered his resignation due to his personal reasons. Com NRK Murthy District President presided. Circle President Com M.R.S.Prakasa Rao and Circle Secretary Com V Vara Prasad have attended. Com K K R N Purnachandra Rao and Com Mallisetti Janardhana Rao have also shared the dias.

BSNL Management has written a letter to the recognized Unions proposing a change in the method for membership verification of Unions. Management wants to change the method of Secret Ballot to the check off system. Paper organizations taking shelter under the wings of big organizations and enjoying fruits will be affected.

BSNL IS THE NUMBER ONE LOSS MAKING PSE

The Department of Public Enterprises has released its official Public Enterprises Survey for the year of 2016-2017. According to the Survey Report, BSNL stands out at the top of Loss making PSUs in India.

Five top profit making PSEs are:

1) Indian Oil Corporation: Profit of Rs. 19106 crore

2) ONGC: Profit of Rs. 17900 crore

3) Coal India: Profit of Rs. 14501 crore

4) NTPC: Profit of Rs. 9385 crore

5) Bharat Petroleum: Profit of Rs. 8039 crore.

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Five top Loss making Profit PSEs are:

1) BSNL : Loss of Rs. 4793 crore

2) Air India: Loss of Rs. 3952 crore

3) MTNL : Loss of Rs. 2941 crore

4) Hindustan Photos & Films: Loss of Rs. 2917 crore

5) Steel Authority of India: Loss of Rs. 2833 crore.

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The Survey gives lot of details. According to the figures, the BSNL had earned revenue of Rs 32411.32 cr. in 2015-2016. It came down to Rs. 31533.44 cr. in 2016-2017.

The Profit/Loss Before Tax of BSNL was Rs. (-) 4859.16 cr. during 2015-2016

and Rs (-) 4793.21 Cr. during 2016-2017. (There is some improvement) .

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Whereas, the MTNL has increased its Loss before Tax:

It was Rs. (-) 2755.76 cr. during 2015-2016 and increased to Rs (-) 2945.46 cr. during 2016-2017.

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Mr. Stephen Hawking, the brilliant British theoretical physicist who overcame a debilitating disease to publish wildly popular books probing the mysteries of the universe, has died, according to a family spokesman. He was 76.

Considered by many to be the world's greatest living scientist, Hawking was also a cosmologist, astronomer, mathematician and author of numerous books including the landmark "A Brief History of Time," which has sold more than 10 million copies.

Hawking suffered from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurodegenerative disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, which is usually fatal within a few years. He was diagnosed in 1963, when he was 21, and doctors initially only gave him a few years to live. But he lived a wonderful life 55 years more than the doctors predicted.

We had published a brief note on the wonderful man in Pensioners Patrika some time back.

We pay our respectful tributes to the great human being who was a source of inspirtion for lakhs of people the world over.

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FARMERS OF MAHARASTRA DID IT. THE LONG MARCH ORGANISED BY FARMERS OF MAHARASTRA FROM NASHIK TO MUMBAI BECAME A GREAT SUCESS. GOVERFNMENT ACCEPTED MOST OF THEIR DEMANDS.

Saroor Nagar branch having 479 members is the biggest branch of our Hyderabad District Unit which has more than 1650 members now.

Saroor Nagar branch held a special general body meeting on 12-3-2018. Com. DG, Vice President attended the meeting and spoke in detail on various issues and our efforts to settle them.

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Kindly refer to my postings in the whatsapp and photos as well about the special conference held at Thanjavur on 10-3-2018. Thanjavur district unit of AIBSNLPWA led by Com. V Swaminathan, Com. A K Dhanapalan etc. is holding special meetings every year to observe the International Womens Day. Since the suitable hall was not available on 8-3-2018 it was held on 10-3-2018. Even the big hall could not accommodate all the participants. More than 525 members, including more than 200 ladies, attended the conference this time.

At the outset, members whose birth days fell in the month of March were felicitated as being done in every monthly meeting.

Eminent women from various walks of life like S/s Vedanayaki, Manjula, Arul Selvi, Thangam Xavier, Burnella Divine Mary Joseph, Anbu, Jamuna Venkataraman and Udhaya Meenakshi spoke on different topics concerning women. Smt. T N Latha presided over the conference addressed by Smt. Chandrakumari, DGM BSNL Thanjavur and welcomed by Smt Mallika Sugumaran.

Shri C V Vinoth ITS, the PGMT of Thanjavur – an officer exceptionally humane in approach, attitude and action, was the Chief Guest. He spoke very nicely.

Com. P S Ramankutty, All India President, delivered a special speech on status of Women in India quoting several instances where the status of women is being eroded in our country.

Com. K Muthiyalu, Circle Secretary of Tamilnadu also greeted the special conference.

In the afternoon, Com. Ramankutty and Com. Muthiyalu spoke elaborately on the issues concerning BSNL pensioners, the activities of our association and the task before us. Senior leaders of Thanjavur like Comrades K S Krishnamurthy, V Swaminathan, A K Dhanapalan, Santhanagopalan, C V Thangaiyan also addressed the meeting.

Guests were fondly felicitated. Every woman attended the conference was given a shawl and every man was given a bag. Traditional Thanjavur feast given to all participants was another feature.

I was happy to note that Thanjavur district Unit has a well equipped office with 300 chairs, almirahs etc. etc.

I congratulate the Thanjavur Team for their fantastic work...... P S Ramankutty

Shri C V Vinoth ITS, PGMT Thanjavur

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Representing AIBSNLPWA, Comrades D Gopalakrishnan (Vice President), G Natarajan (GS), P Gangadhara Rao (Dy GS), Anupam Kaul (AGS) and R Changappa ( CS Karnataka) met Shri Ananthkumar, Honourable Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in New Delhi on 7-3-2018. On his directive the leaders then met Smt. Aruna Sundara Rajan IAS, Secretary Telecom in her office same day. DDG (Estt), DDG (PSU), and Director (PSU) were also present during the discussion. After handing over a letter for pension revision with 32% fitment benefit, as recommended by the Seventh Central Pay Commission, our leaders explained the rationale behind the demand and recalled the earlier meeting with her on 8-11-2017. Our leaders clarified certain doubts. The Secretary was able to understand our demand.

Our leaders have gained an impression that there is a positive change in the attitude of top officers in DoT. Let us hope for the best.

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MARCH 8 IS OBSERVED AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WORLD OVER.

ON THIS OCCASION WE GREET OUR WOMEN MEMBERS AND

SEEK THEIR BETTER PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF ASSOCIATION.

A rally by women on IWD in London

a Rally by Anganwadi teachers in India

Once these women were powerful wives or proud mothers in rich families.

AIBSNLPWA Convention at Thanjavur on 8-3-2017

Both BSNLEU and NFTE-BSNL have written to BSNL Management expressing strong opposition to the proposal to curtail medical facilities to BSNL staff and BSNL retirees.

Patiala District branch held its conference on 1-3-2018. Com. Atma Ram Verma (All India Org. Secretary) and Com. G S Bajwa (CS PB) participated.

2 Photos

A Note by Com. DG again:

We once again reiterate that we are not interested in polemics and we are not against the unity of workers and pensioners.Everyone knows that the demands and interest of workers and pensioners are different.The seasoned leader avoided answers to some of our points and the pensioners and leaders who read both the postings would understand them.So, we are not willing to raise any controversy between the organizations.

But, the core issue for DoT absorbed BSNL pensioners is revision of pension from 1/1/2017.Let us concentrate on this issue.The doubts raised by the seasoned leader and our reply:

Doubt - Point 5 – Let us assume that the Govt. accepts pension revision of BSNL retirees on the basis of VII CPC CDA scales instead of III PRC IDA scales.From which date it will be implemented from 2016 or 2017?

Reply – (i) Pension revision is not on the basis of CDA or IDA scales.It is determined on the basis of existing pension plus DR plus weightage benefit.(ii) Our simple demand is that the pension plus DR plus weightage suggested by 7^th CPC should be given to BSNL IDA pensioners.(iii) Since last pension revision was given in 2007 we demand it from 2017.

Doubt – Point 6 – Discrimination/Anomaly –

Reply - It is on the wrong presumption or understanding that we demand CDA pension revision and they demand IDA pension revision and hence there is confusion of discrimination, anomaly etc.However if our demand is conceded and if the pay revision is not commensurate with that pension revision, anomaly may arise but to solve that anomaly we have some ideas.

Doubt – Point 7 – Again unnecessary doubt - Either our demand is not understood correctly or with a view to confuse the pensioners.

Reply – After the 6^th CPC recommendations, the department had its own confusion about its applicability to BSNL pensioners.There was OM issued by DoP&PW on 19/9/2003 which says notional conversion from IDA to CDA and then implement the recommendation.DoT wanted to implement it and another agency also agreed with that.But DoP&PW which issued that OM differed because of the Apex court judgement, we referred earlier.So, there is no possibility of notional conversion from IDA to CDA as threatened by the seasoned leader.

Doubt – Point 8 – Now they say that it is only the fitment factor that they have demanded.How is the fitment calculated?It is on the basis of calculating the fitment factor based on the price index for the CDA.

Reply – From the beginning our demand was “Implement Same fitment formula suggested by 7^th CPC” and it is not our latest demand.We are surprised to know that fitment factor is based on price index for the CDA.7^th CPC has gone into the concept of minimum wage and arrived at a figure.One of its recommendations was multiply the existing pay/pension by 2.57.That was arrived at with pay plus DA/DR plus 32% of basic pay/pension.We are aware the index and methodology of CDA & IDA are different but the fact remains that Central Dearness Allowance is more beneficial than Industrial Dearness Allowance.Because of that factor, FCI/VSNL pensioners wanted pension on IDA and DR on CDA which was rejected by the Supreme Court which said that both can only be on IDA.We are aware about CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 and particularly 37-A.It is a statutory one.Sub-rule 10 speaks about industrial DA only. We want that statutory protection should remain.With the existing frame of mind, bureaucracy on its own may not take a positive decision and we are trying our best to interpret the rules and orders in favour of pensioners.We want other organizations also to join for pushing it fast and if that is not possible let them not play atleast spoiling game.

According to the seasoned leader’s posting on 2/3/2018 their demand is “on the basis of III PRC, pension revision should be ordered with 15% fitment, without waiting for the wage revision…….will not create the large number of serious anomalies”.

• i) No terms of reference for III PRC for pension revision and naturally no recommendation also. The recommendation is for pay revision with 3 fitment formula depending upon the profit of concerned PSU.
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• ii) For argument-sake if that demand is conceded by the Govt. will not create anomaly between pre-2017 retirees and post-2017 retirees? Because the demand is without waiting for wage revision.
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Warangal in Telangana branch held its district conference on 28-2-2018. Comrades G Natarajan, T S Vittoban, V V S Murthy, K S Koteswara Rao, Narasimha Rao (DS HYD), Chandrasekar (DS KHM), Upender, Yellaiah and others attended and addressed it.

Com. Somanath, Com. Viswandham and Com. Yellaiah are elected as President, DS and Treasurer of the district branch.

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BSNL proposes to stop payment of Quarterly medical allowance with effect from 1-4-2018 in CGHS covered cities and also to reduce yearly eligibility limit for outdoor treatment.

BSNL has written a letter to the recognised Unions. mrs-stoppage.jpg

One veteran Telecom Trade union leader has posted a matter in his blog on 26/2/2018.We are not interested in polemics but we have to put the records straight to avoid any confusion among the pensioners and leaders.

Point 1 Let us understand that there was no pay revision in 2000.It was only a conversion from CDA pattern to IDA pattern.It was a legal requirement.A three judge division bench of the Apex Court delivered a judgement on 3/5/1990 and based on the judgement, DPE issued OM dated 12/6/1990.Para 3 of that OM states that “All appointments made on or after 1/1/1989 in respect of all categories of employees of PSEs would be deemed to have been governed by the IDA pay scales and IDA. Appropriate pay scales on the IDA patterns for employees appointed on or after 1/1/1989 may be formulated by the PSEs concerned, in consultation with the administrative ministry and referred to DPE for approval.DPE vide its OM dated 10/8/2009 reiterated and emphasized that appointments including promotion on or after 1/1/1989 in CDA scales of pay have to be in IDA scales of pay.

Point 2 Wage revision for executives in BSNL in 2007 was on the basis of 2^nd PRC report and for non-executives, on the basis bilateral agreement signed on 7/5/2010 and order issued on the same date.But pension revision order was issued only on 15/3/2011.Infact DDG (Estt.) wrote a note to DoT finance stating that “revised pay scales are only applicable to those who were still in service as on 1/1/2007.There is no impact on the pensioners who retired before 1/1/2007 on account of revised pay scales.There is no scheme for BSNL with reference to revision of IDA pensioners retired before 1/1/2007”.We have published enough material date-wise in our journals about our efforts to get the pension revision and we need not repeat it here.

Point 3 Forum leaders met then Secretary (T) Shri R.K.Garg on 1/5/2015 and discussed 10 items and 78.2 was the 7^th item.Break through for annulment of 60:40 did not happen on that day but break through was achieved by us during our discussion on 24/3/2015 and 26/3/2015 (in between on 25/3/2015 there was an internal discussion in DoT).On 26/3/2015 Secretary (T) and Member(F) assured that a revised cabinet note annulling 60:40 would be prepared and circulated within 15 days.Accordingly Establishment section of DoT prepared the revised cabinet note annulling 60:40 on 30/3/2015 and sent to DoT finance.This was possible because of the direct intervention of Shri Ananthkumar, Hon. Minister.It is also a fact that this veteran trade union leader met Secretary (T) Shri R.K.Garg on 26/10/2015 and told that annulment of 60:40 has to be dealt separately and the issue of extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners retired before 10/6/2013 has to be delinked from it.We know success has many fathers.

Point 4 We are aware that Service Unions/Associations sole objective is to protect the interest of serving employees/officers.They do not have time to go into deep study of pensioners’ problems and suggest a proper solution.It is but natural.The same veteranleader gave an item for discussion in the National Council for revision of medical allowance with pension (instead of pay) plus every April DA and the management advised him to withdraw that item because that is against the interest of pensioners (in this write-up of 26/2/2018 he has mentioned medical advance instead of medical allowance).To settle 78.2% IDA merger for pensioners retired after 1/1/2007 one Association’s GS suggested one day salary arrears for those who retired between 1/1/2007 & 9/6/2013 and GS of one Union suggested last one month salary.We did not have such confusions.That is why we suggested that let them concentrate on pay revision seriously.

Point 5 We are not against struggles and we have conducted several struggles to achieve our demand.We have even supported the recent united strike organized by all the Unions/Associations.

Point 6 The veteran leader and his association wanted pension revision along with pay revision of BSNL employees.His successor in the union has demanded delinking pension revision from BSNL pay revision. Now Pay revision is not taking place and this leader wants pension revision at 15% of pay plus DA which works out to 32.925% of basic pension (we are demanding 32% of basic pension).From where this 15% theory comes?It is based on 3^rd PRC report.That report not only mentions 15% but also 10% & 5%.But it is all for serving employees and not for pensioners.The dictum of Marxism says “Everything will change except the law of change”.We stop with that.We are pretty well aware that today’s pensioners were yesterday’s workers and that today’s workers are tomorrow’s pensioners.Keeping in view the interest of yesterday’s workers and today’s workers only we have demanded 7^th CPC pension revision formula as a permanent solution to pension revision..First let there be unity among pensioners’ organizations in BSNL.We have made sincere efforts for that from our side but there is no response from that side.Let us unite on common demand of pensioners and move forward.

... ... ... ...................................................................... D Gopalakrishnan