A formal meeting with CMD BSNL took place yesterday (11.08.2021) to discuss upon the restructuring exercise being undertaken by BSNL. The meeting was attended by the Director HR and GM Restructuring and association side was represented by Shri Ravi Shil Verma AIP, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Badri Kumar Mehta VP and Shri Rajendra Singh.
The meeting was quite exhaustive and detailed discussion took place on staffing norms, stagnation and career progression of the executives which satisfies the minimum career aspirations of all executives. Association pointed out many lacuanes in calculation of norms and many of them were acknowledged by CMD. However CMD BSNL expressed his firmness towards keeping the structure lean and thin. We stated that structure of organization can’t be transformed over night and persons, who are working in organisation can’t be allowed to stagnate just because a lean and thin structure is to be developed. On stagnation part, CMD BSNL endorsed our view that executives can not be allowed to stagnate beyond a stipulated period. He sought certain more inputs to us, which we will be submitting in 2-3 days. He also directed his team to provide the same input. On making AGM grade operational cadre, CMD BSNL was not in concurrence and said that alternative mechanism like LDCE/Selection Process can be thought of for pushing meritorious executives up in the ladder. We said in AGM grade, LDCE will not serve the purpose and instead all should be given chance to compete for the posts in DGM grade for which MS RR is already having the provision and for that all eligible candidates (JTO/JAO/SDE/AO/AGM/CAO and equivalent grade executives) should be promoted to their next grade before the restructuring exercise. This will give way forward of promotion despite of reservation and seniority issue.
On two points, there was some consensus between management and Association side but disagreement on Quantum.
1. There should not be stagnation in any cadre beyond a justified time. The management side stated that stagnation should not be beyond 10-11 years in JTO/JAO/Equivalent grade and 14-15 years in SDE/AO/Equivalent grade but association side took strong objection to this view point and demanded that the maximum stagnation of 4 years at JTO/JAO/equivalent grade and 8 years at SDE/AO/Equivalent grade can be tolerated. Further association side also ruled out introduction of any intermediate functional grade like Sr SDE/Sr AO grade and demanded no intermediary post should be created for name sake.
2. Meritorious executives at all levels need to be identified and pushed up in the ladder to take higher responsibilities. We demanded DGM Promotions strictly on selection cum merit as stipulated in MS RR instead of gifting it based on seniority which was never the intent of the MS RR.
Association shall be submitting it’s input on next 2-3 days based on which further discussion and decision on Restructuring will take place.
We also discussed the matter of Inter-Se-Seniority for VY 2006-7 onwards and highlighted various legal aspects on which CMD BSNL directed Director HR to get the same examined thoroughly before arriving at any conclusion.
Matter of left out promotions in JTO to SDE cadre was also discussed. It was assured to look into the same.
Thereafter reversal issue was discussed. Management side acknowledged the problem and stated that necessary action needs to be taken to get the issue resolved once for all.
The state-run telco reportedly said the deviations include a few critical issues that cannot be compromised for testing the equipment under Proof of Concept (PoC) or trials considering the same equipment will be commercially deployed for rolling out 4G services after the trials. State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)’s 4G trials has hit yet another roadblock as a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-led consortium has proposed 128 deviations in 4G equipment specifications, with the highest deviations proposed in radio network (71), Financial Express reported. Other specifications where TCS has reportedly proposed deviations include core (18), interworking (6), deferred core (13), and deferred radio (20).
BSNL, though said accepting these deviations could jeopardize its business prospects and customer experience. It has written to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) asking whether to accept the deviations or not. The state-run telco reportedly said the deviations include a few critical issues that cannot be compromised for testing the equipment under Proof of Concept (PoC) or trials considering the same equipment will be commercially deployed for rolling out 4G services after the trials.
“According to this office, acceptance of such deviations will cost BSNL in future once the rollout happens and it will not only jeopardise the interests of BSNL’s business prospects but also adversely impact the customer experience as well as BSNL’s competitive strength,” BSNL CMD Sh P K Purwar was quoted as saying by the publication.
It should be noted that ITI and TCS have submitted their bid with state-run C-DoT for core technology and Tejas Networks for radio, and will conduct trials at Chandigarh.
AIGETOA has taken serious exception of the letter issued by the BSNL CO New Delhi including names of some of the LDCE 2007 passed SDEs for the process DPC under left out case. This was already categorically assured by the Director (HR) that their case will be settled as one time measure and their service in the SDE grade will remain intact since date of promotion in the cadre but the action of the management is contrarily to the decision. AIGETOA demanded immediate removal of these names and settlement of their cases immediately.
The Circle Conference cum Annual General Body Meeting of AIGETOA Chennai TD was conducted successfully as per on 1st August 2021 through Online Video Conferencing Mode. The Topic of Open Session was “Role of Chennai TD in BSNL 2.0”. The Chief Guest of the function was Shri V K Sanjeevi, CGM Chennai TD. The Guests of Honour were our beloved & Energetic General Secretary Md Wasi Ahmad and Joint Secretary South Shri Sridhar Babu, who participated in the event and graced the occasion. The above dignitaries addressed the house with their valuable content on the topic. The GS AIGETOA appraised the house about stiff challenges being faced in the sustainability of BSNL due to various reasons including excessive delay in the Pan India roll out of 4G wireless network by BSNL, No substantive progress in Land Monetization, Non receiving of payable of more than 30,000 Cr of BSNL from the DoT and high debt/liabilities on the shoulder of BSNL etc. These have created serious challenge in the real turnaround of the BSNL as per the Revival Package announced by the Govt of India in Oct, 2019. The policy of the management is equally responsible for the deterioration in the condition of the BSNL causing severe hardship to the employees. GS, AIGETOA also spoken in detail about various HR issues under persuasion by the association, including proposed man power planning. It was apprised by him that association will not accept any dilution in the promotion avenues of the executives on the name of restructuring by the management. The association will be having its detailed meeting with CMD BSNL on the subject very soon on the subject. In the meantime, he apprised that the left out DPC for SDE, notification of LDCE for SDET, notification of LICE for JTO(T) and promotion in the SDE grade of other streams of Electrical, Civil, Arch etc are also under persuasion by the association and we are hopeful for the result very soon. The promotions in AGM/CAO grades are also under persuasion by the association and the legalities involved in the process are being looked into for settlement. The other issues including E2 for JAO/JTO, Pay Loss Issue of E1+5, 22820/- and JE to JTO Pay Loss issue were also discussed by the GS. He also apprised about the association stand for ensuring vacancy year based seniority to extend the legitimate rights of LDCE qualified executives and ensuring one promotion to all before restructuring. He extended his good wishes to the Team for memorable circle Conference.
The CGM CHTD spoken in length about the initiative taken for the growth and development of the BSNL in Chennai TD and also acknowledged the positive role of the association towards the goal. He also called upon all the employees to face the tough time with more vigorous efforts and explore other source of revenue generation to meet out the shortfall from other verticals in the testing time. The Open House was also attended by CS-SEWA Shri S Sathish Kumar, CS-SNEA Shri A S Suresh, CS-AIBSNLEA Shri P Ramalingam along with various dignitaries, our OBs, Members and other Executives of Chennai Telephone.
In the afternoon session, the election of the New Governing Body of Chennai TD carried out as per the laid down provisions under the guidance of our esteemed leaders Shri Sridhar Babu, Jt Sec (South) as CHQ Observer and vigilant eyes of Returning Officer, Shri J Uday Kumar. The following Circle Body was elected for the next three years tenure of AIGETOA Chennai TD. Shri Jaimurugan P, Shri Uma Chandran S and Shri Tharik Anwar I was elected as Circle President, Circle Secretary and Circle Finance Secretary respectively of the AIGETOA Chennai TD.
AIGETOA CHQ congratulates the newly elected Chennai TD Circle Governing body and wishes all the very best to the AIGETOA Chennai TD Office Bearers for all associational activities in Chennai TD.
BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy, 2021-Implementation of the scheme w.e.f 1st September,2021.
Board level and below Board level posts including Non-unionized supervisors in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) – Revision of scales of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2007-Payment of IDA at revised rates w.e.f. 01.07.2021.
Telecom News – In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Communications submitted that the loss of BSNL narrowed to Rs 7,441 cr in 2020-21 from Rs 15,500 cr in 2019-20.
Telecom News – A pan India roaming pact with Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) for the fourth generation or 4G commercial services may be a first step towards a synergy between the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Aditya Birla Group-driven private operator, the state-run telco groups said.
BSNL CO issued instructions for submission for verification of service books of BSNL Employees by BSNL Units.