A very successful meeting of the newly formed Belagavi branch of AIBSNLPWA was held in the main Telephone Exchange hall, Belgaum on 4th November 2015, Comrades P S Ramankutty, D Gopalakrishnan and P Gangadhara Rao, representing CHQ, participated. Shri G A Majali presided over it. Com. R Changappa(Circle Secretary of Karnataka), Com. G Babu (Vice President, Karnataka), Com. Krishna Deshpande and Com. Kittur, veteran leaders also addressed the meeting. A lively discussion took place on important issues concerning BSNL pensioners. Large number of participants enrolled themselves as Life members of the Association, immediately after the meeting.

On 3-11-2015, a meeting of BSNL-DoT pensioners of Hubli-Dharwad district was held in the GM Office Conference hall, Hubli under the presidentship of Shri Angadi. Comrades P S Ramankutty, D Gopalakrishnan, P Gangadhara Rao, G Babu and R Changappa attended the meeting and spoke on various issues concerning BSNL pensioners in particular and the pensioners society in general. Com. Krishna Deshpande explained various aspects of 78.2% Case. Veteran leader Com. KIttur also spoke. After the debate, the meeting decided unanimously to form a branch of AIBSNLPWA in the SSA. Shri C S Sivananda was elected President, Shri G G Bharbhari (Retd DGM) as the District Secretary and Shri B A Nagaraj as the Treasurer.

IT IS LEARNT THAT THE FILE HAD BEEN SENT FROM DOT(F) TO MEMBER (SERVICES)

A NEW DISTRICT BRANCH WAS FORMED AT MATHURA ON 27-10-15 WITH COMS M.D .AGARWAL AS PRESIDENT, S.N AGARWAL AS SECRETARY AND K.K.VERMA AS TREASURER. WE WELCOME THE NEW BRANCH

The moment we gave the information about Consumer Price Index for September 2015, some comrades started asking about probable increase in IDA from January 2016. Repeatedly we have stated that without knowing Index for three months, to be released by Labour Bureau officially, we cannot calculate the rate of IDA. Similarly, we must get the Index for 12 months to calculate the CDA.

The prices of many essential commodities are soaring. Government machinery has failed to arrest it.Naturally there may be some increase in the Index for October and November. Only on the last working day of December 2015 we can ascertain it.

Presumption

It can be presumed that IDA may increase by about 4 percent from January next. Total 9 percent in six months. (You can confirm it only on 31-12-2015). Similarly, the CDA may probably increase from 119% to 125%. An increase of 6%. (It can be confirmed only on 31-1-2016).

…. P S Ramankutty

All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) for the month of September 2015 is released by Labour Bureau of India. It is 266 points.

The Index for August 2015 was 264 points.

It is reported from Delhi that the file on 78.2% case has been sent today to Advisor (Finance) from the office of DDG (TPF).

RUMOURS IN PLENTY

The 7^th Pay commission is given an extension of 4 months, up to December 2015, to submit its report to the government. But, much before the said date, rumours are floated by many corners about the probable recommendations.One is about Health Insurance for Central government employees and Pensioners. It is the death knell for CGHS. A news item appeared in the internet is reproduced hereunder.

Please mind: It is only a rumour, not a confirmed information. Future of CGHS will definitely affect the BSNL pensioners as well.

"......... Health insurance would be available for central government employees and pensioners till death, the insured employees and pensioners will have to pay 50% of the premium from their salaries and pensions and the remaining 50% premium may be paid by the central government.

The CGHS is financed mainly through the Centre’s tax revenues. Though beneficiaries do contribute a share of their wages towards premium, ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 6,000 a year depending on their pay scale, this accounts for just about 5 per cent of the total expenditure. The government shells out the remaining 95 per cent. Now the Government is looking for ways to end the CGHS in its current form and to move to an insurance based health scheme to cut costs...."

ALL PENSIONERS MUST SUBMIT THE LIFE CERTIFICATE TO THE BANK/POST OFFICE IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

LIFE CERTIFICATE CAN BE SUBMITTED TO ANY BRANCH OF THE RESPECTIVE BANK ANYWHERE IN INDIA.

The new format of Life Certificate is attached.

life-certificate-new-format.pdf

There is some result of our continuous efforts:

BSNL Corporate Office has issued an instruction to all Circles on 23-10-2015

that the medical claims by pensioners should be settled within one month.

mrs-claims-by-pensioners.pdf

On future pension revision of BSNL retirees, applying the formula to be recommended by the 7th CPC, we sent a representation to Shri Ananth Kumar, Honourable Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers. It was promptly forwarded to Communications Minister by Shri Ananth Kumar. Communications Minister has intimated in a reply to Shri Ananth Kumar that the Department of Telecom has sent their comments on our memorandum to Pay Commission on 17th August 2015.

letter-from-shri-ananth-kumar.jpg

letter-from-shri-ravi-shankar-prasad.jpg

cir22.doc

In a significant move that will benefit over 6.50 lakh employees and pensioners of the state government, the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to implement Cashless Health Insurance scheme in lieu of the existing policy of reimbursement of the medical expenses.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Ministers Office said that the facility of cashless treatment would be provided to Government employee/pensioners and their dependents in more than 250 empanelled public and private hospitals in Punjab, Chandigarh and NCR (Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida) adding that under this scheme all the benefits would be granted to the employee as per Service Rules (Medical Attendance Rules 1940).

The expenses on treatment if taken outside the state would be reimbursed to the employees by the insurance company within 15 days of submission of medical claim. As per the scheme, the expenditure on treatment of patient admitted in hospital and 246 kinds of “day care” procedure (in which treatment was provided in less than 24 hours) and treatment of chronic diseases in OPD would be provided to patient without spending any money.

The OPD expenses other than those related to chronic diseases would continue to be met through fixed medical allowance. The scheme would cover pre and post hospitalisation benefits up to seven days and 30 days respectively, which were not available under the prevailing rules.

Though the insurance company cover was Rs 3 lakh per family, however, the scheme would cover a family for an unlimited amount. The scheme would be made compulsory to employees and pensioners it would be optional for All India Service Officers, serving and ex-MLAs, serving and ex-Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE

Department of Expenditure (Finance Ministry) has issued fresh instructions on 16-10-2015 to all banks to accept the Life Certificates from pensioners at any of their branches in India and issue an acknowledgement receipt to the pensioners. [Copy of the order is available in IMPORTANT ORDERS of this Website.]

SUCCESSFUL KERALA CIRCLE CONFERENCE

The third biennial Circle conference of Kerala was held very successfully and brilliantly at Calicut (Kozhikode) on October20, 2015. 497 Delegates from all the eleven SSA units attended the meeting.Com. P S Ramankutty (President), Com. A P Saraswathy (VP), Com. G Natarajan (General Secretary) and Com. S Gunasekaran (Treasurer) representing the CHQ attended and addressed the conference.Com. Natarajan inaugurated the conference.Shri N K Sukumaran, GMT, Calicut greeted the delegates in addition to leaders of SNEA, AIBSNLEA, NFTE-BSNL, NUBSNLW, BTEU and veteran leaders like S/s M K Beeran, K S Venugopal and T V Balan.

Com. R N Pada Nair is elected as President.Com. T P George is the new Circle Secretary. Com. (Smt) N Shancy is re-elected as Treasurer of the Circle Association unanimously.

S/s T V Balan, R N Pada Nair(CS), P K Gopala Pillai (Circle President), P S Ramankutty (AI President), N K Sukumaran(GMT), S Gunasekaran and Smt A P Saraswathy (AI Vice President) are seen on the front row, sitting.

A view of the delegates attending Kerala circle conference; 20-10-2015

A section of Delegates in Kerala Conference at Calicut on 20-10-2015

Another view of the Delegates in Kerala conference on 20-10-2015 at Calicut

Negotiation between the Management and Staff Unions in LIC on pay revision is in progress. An Agreement is expected soon. One demand under active considerations is about Cash Medical Benefit should be raised to Rs 25000 per year to all employees.

But, Pension revision is not a topic in the talks.

The retirees are paid pension by LIC from its own fund. Unions have not demanded Pension Revision this time too.

78.2% case is unnecessarily delayed.There is no reason to delay this case.The benefit was given to serving staff 28 months ago.

The Cabinet Note was prepared long back.It was sent to the four nodal ministries for their concurrence.Three ministries have approved it.Only the Ministry of Finance wanted some data.Data was already prepared by Internal Finance Wing of DoT. It was sent to Establishment section.Now, they have sent it back to Finance!!. Even after these exercises undergoing for months and months, DoT could not supply the data to Finance Ministry.

Why this delay?

During the discussion we had with him, in first week of August2015,the Chairman of Telecom Commission gave an impression, that the Cabinet Note would be sent to the Cabinet soon.But, it is not yet done.

Our branches all over the country should record their emphatic protest against this

Unwanted,

Undue,

Unnecessary delay on the part of Department of Telecom.

ORGANISE PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS AT SSA HEAD QUARTERS ON 5-11-2015. SEND A MEMORANDUM TO THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER INVITING HIS ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE. THE FORMAT OF MEMORANDUM IS SENT TO ALL BY CHQ ALONG WITH CIRCULAR No 22.

[At some places the elections may take place on the day. In such cases, the date can be adjusted according to local conditions. But, do not delay it much. ]

We are happy to announce formation of a new Circle Unit of our Association in Kolkata Telephone District Circle in a meeting held on 14, October 2015.

Following are elected as office-bearers of the ad-hoc body:

President: Com. Kalyan Chakraborty

Vice President: Com. Sushil Kumar Halder

Vice President : Com. Gora Chandra Halder

Circle Secretary: Com. N N Goswami

Asst. Circle Secretary: Com. Nirmal Chakraborty

Asst. Circle Secretary: Com. Pradip Kumar Bose

Treasurer: Com. Dulal Chandra Dey

CHQ welcomes the new Circle Unit.

The Finance Ministry has issued orders today granting ad-hoc bonus (Non Productivity Bonus) to all central government employees, not covered by any PLB scheme. One employee will get 30 days pay as the ad-hoc bonus. For calculating the bonus the pay shall be taken as Rs 3500.00 p.m.

In other words, every employee will get a sum of Rs 3454.00 as ad-hoc bonus, no matter the department/institution earns any profit or not.

Unfortunately, this order is also not applicable to BSNL staff.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare has issued a fresh order reiterating that they should be consulted in all cases, involving a policy, before filing an appeal against a court order or before implementing the court order.