31.03.2009:BSNL issues  transfer orders in the interest of service in AO/Sr.AO cadre. View orders...

31.03.2009: BSNL issues modifications in orders of promotion to CAO adhoc. View orders...

30.03.2009:CHQ writes to Executive Director (Finance) on inconsistencies in orders of Promotion, Posting and Transfer in CAO Adhoc. 'It may not be out of place here to mention that many Direct Recruit Group A officers have been allowed to continue in the same station for more than 8/9 years, but the hapless Accounts & Finance officers are being harassed by transfers every now and then, without any rhyme or reason'. Read More...  [All affected officers are requested to represent through proper channel and send a copy to CHQ for pursuing the issue]

30.03.2009:CABINET APPROVES REPORT OF GoM ON PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF PSU EXECUTIVES:  As reported by us earlier, Cabinet has today approved recommendations of Group of Ministers constituted at the instance of Oil Sector officers' strike. A PTI report says: 'Conceding to the demand from officials of public sector undertakings, the government today announced a further hike of up to 20 per cent in pay packets of about four lakh executives.
The improvement is over and above the pay package notified by the government in November last year, which prompted officers, particularly in the oil sector, to take to the streets. The decision for bettering the pay packages just ahead of the general elections was taken after government took the clearance from the Election Commission. Asked about the total benefits to the officers and non-unionised supervisory staff after the revision, Home Minister P Chidambaram, who briefed on Cabinet decisions, said it would depend on individual PSUs. Excluding superannuation benefits, on a basic salary of Rs 100 an officer will now draw Rs 370.48 as against Rs 351.12 that was approved last year.'  However the exact text of the cabinet decision is yet to be known.

27.03.2009:CABINET TO DISCUSS ON MONDAY (30.03.2009) THE GOM REPORT ON PAY & ALLOWANCES FOR PSU EXECUTIVES: The Election Commission has since cleared a proposal of Department of Public Enterprises to seek the cabinet approval for payment of various allowances including House Rent Allowance etc from the date of issue of its earlier Notification on revised IDA Pay Scales i.e. 26.11.2008 instead of the date of issue of Presidential Directive granting the revised IDA pay scales by the respective Ministries/Departments of its PSU Executives.  In addition, the IDA pay scales will also undergo upward revision taking into account 50% IDA merger on 1.1.2007. Now the new pay will be calculated by merging 78.2% of IDA with basic pay instead of 68.8% of IDA which was initially merged. These  demands were first made by our Association (view our letter dated 08.12.2008 addressed to Shri.Santosh Mohan Dev). This development is the result of the struggle solely made by the Oil Sector Officers forcing the Government to form a Group of Ministers’ Committee to look into their grievances which submitted its recommendations a few months back (already reported by us on  12.02.2009)

27.03.2009:BSNL issues promotion orders from AO to CAO Adhoc and transfer orders in CAO cadre. View orders...

26.03.2009:RESULTS OF JAO PART I (SCREENING TEST): Results of JAO Part I (Screening Test) conducted in May 2007 are expected to be declared shortly.  The declaration had been held in abeyance in view of a contempt petition in Allahabad High Court.  The competent authority has now conveyed its approval for declaration of the results.

24.03.2009: BSNL to lease out telecom towers in semi-urban areas: BSNL has decided to lease out its passive infrastructure, that includes towers mainly, to other telecom companies in semi- urban areas in the country. A senior official of the PSU today said that "since we have more towers in tier-II and -III cities, we have decided to lease out those towers with unutilised capacity to the operators." The agreement would be on bilateral basis, he said. Aimed at generating more revenue and fully utilising the huge tower base, BSNL plans to cash in on its pan-India presence. It operates all over India, except Delhi and Mumbai. The PSU plans to lease out its Ground Based Towers in circles such as Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), Uttranchal and West Bengal. BSNL has over 60,000 towers and the most of them are in semi-urban areas where private operators have small footprint. According to the industry analysts, erecting one cell site costs about Rs 30 lakh, which takes the most of the cost and time for any operator. (PTI)

23.03.2009:CHQ writes to CMD, BSNL on anomaly in pay fixation in revised IDA scales for JTOs/JAOs/Assistants etc: 'We therefore suggest that the pay of these officers may be provisionally fixed in the BSNL Board approved proposed revised E1A and E2A grades which are now awaiting approval by DPE, so that this unwarranted situation which invites reduction in emoluments and consequent recovery can be avoided.' Read More...

20.03.2009:BSNL, MTNL refuse to halt 3G-based video call services: BSNL and MTNL have refused to stop offering their video call services over 3G network saying that the services are fully compliant from security point of view and the real time monitoring of such services is possible. The two firms have responded to the DoT notice asking them to stop these services following concerns raised by the government security agencies. The agencies had pointed out that real time monitoring of calls was not possible and hence these services should be stopped immediately. MTNL had earlier said that the onus of installing the right equipments to monitor such services laid in the hands of the security agencies. -TT

18.03.2009: People who were recruited or promoted to JTO/JAO/Assistant cadre after 1.1.2007, face a peculiar situation wherein fixation of their pay in the revised provisional scale approved by DoT for JTO/JAO/Assistant, results in reduction in the emoluments and consequent recovery of huge amount.  CHQ has discussed the issue with concerned authorities and it has been assured that fixation of pay in respect of such cases will be put off for now to avoid reduction in emoluments and recovery.  Even if BSNL does not find some alternate interim solution, the problem will get settled once DPE approves the 18000+ basic for JTO/JAO/Assistant.

18.03.2009:BSNL adds 'Overall Grading' column for Reporting officer in Form APP-54 ( CR ) of Group B officers. View order...

16.03.2009:CHQ writes to CMD BSNL on Removal of disparity in pay scales of the BSNL Executives: 'The financial benefit will, however, be available only for the new entrants at JTO level after 1.1.2007. But this minimum expenditure on the part of BSNL for the highly qualified new entrants will give it back a big gain. BSNL need to retain the services of these Executives and ensure that they are not forced to migrate to other Organization in search of higher emoluments. BSNL is also proposing to recruit Management Trainees. With the low pay scale offered, no qualified personnel would tend to join or stay with BSNL for a longer period. They will always be on the look out for a better opportunity elsewhere. But our above request, if conceded to, will resolve this problem of BSNL also. In view of the above, we would like to request you to kindly consider our above proposal which is having no financial implication on the part of BSNL and which will certainly benefit BSNL to retain its highly qualified Executives and attract more new entrants to join and serve BSNL with more commitment and dedication.' Read More...

15.03.2009:All India GSM subscriber figures for February 2009: View sheet...

13.03.2009:REVERSION AND REFIXATION OF SENIORITY OF 1966 SDEs TELECOM: BSNL orders for protecting their seniority are under issue on the same lines as reported by us on 5.3.09.

13.03.2009:CHQ writes to Secretary, DoT on non-implementation of Department of Pensioners’ Welfare O M No. 38-37/08-P&PW(A) dated 02.09.2008 introducing amendments in various provisions of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 in respect of retired/retiring Employees of BSNL:'The amendments introduced through this O.M. of DoP&PW have so far not been implemented by the concerned Controllers of Communication Account of Department of Telecommunications in respect of the retired/retiring BSNL Employees whose pension are to be refixed in terms of the new amendments and arrears paid. The difference in payment of gratuity is also to be paid, where ever due, to the BSNL pensioners retired/retiring on or after 1.1.2006.' Read More...

12.03.2009: CHQ writes to Director (HRD) on anomaly in pay fixation:'The order is silent on the method of fixation of pay and drawal of next increment in respect of officers whose increment date falls on 1.1.2007. If the pay of these officers are fixed after allowing the increment due to them on 1.1.2007 in the pre-revised scale, it will result in anomaly where officers having increment in February and later months, will be getting higher pay on drawal of increment in new scale.' View More...

12.03.2009: CHQ writes to Director (HRD) on TA/DA revision: 'The present rates of Dearness Allowance and limit for reimbursement of Hotel charges in respect of the BSNL Employees under TA/DA Rules were introduced as back as in September 2002. These rates were not revised during the last seven years.' Read More...

12.03.2009: CHQ writes to Director (HRD) on Out-Circle Allowance:' The Circle Service cadres like Junior Telecom Officers, when posted outside the territorial jurisdiction of their recruiting circles, at present are being paid only Rs 45/- per month as Out Circle Allowance. This rate was fixed long years back and when the other allowances underwent revision during last exercise, this rate somehow remained unchanged. This amount, in the present day background, is very insignificant and needs to be revised as Rs 500/- per month.' Read More...

11.03.2009: TRAI slashes call termination charges : "India is divided into 22 telecom circles and calls within a circle are carried only by state owned BSNL, which charges 20 paise per minute. The regulator has slashed this to 15 paise per minute. This would benefit private operators but will mean a loss of revenue for BSNL." Read More...

10.03.2009: Security clouds still hover over BSNL & MTNL 3G video call services: 3G seems to have entered India on a negative note as the services offered BSNL and MTNL are under scanner from the Intelligence Bureau. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is of the opinion that real time monitoring of the video call services offered as part of 3G services by the two firms is not possible. It has asked the two companies to demonstrate such a monitoring. “The IB was of the view that till such facility is not made available by the service providers, the various services should not be offered to the subscribers. Therefore, MTNL and BSNL may not provide such services to subscribers till monitoring is not available with IB,” said a DoT note to the two firms following IB concerns. The two companies however are in a complete state of denial. An MTNL official has reportedly stated that the onus of deploying proper and compatible monitoring mechanisms lies with the IB and hence it should not be held responsible. The two PSUs have gained head start advantage over its private counterparts by way of being granted 3G spectrum. While there are other services also on offer as part of the 3G services, the two PSUs incidentally have given more prominence to the video call services and in fact both the firms marked their respective 3G service launch with the video call feature. (Courtesy: TT)

07.03.2009: BSNL issues order modifying the circle of posting for SDE (C) who has been promoted to EE (C). View order...

06.03.2009: CHENNAI TELEPHONES AIBSNLOA FORMED: Com.P.Udayasuriyan, has left AIBSNLEA, along with its entire membership - barring a few - and has joined AIBSNLOA. AIBSNLOA Chennai Telephones Circle has been formed with almost the same set of office-bearers. CHQ congratulates Com.Udayasuriyan and the members of AIBSNLOA Chennai Telephones Circle and extends a very warm and hearty welcome to all of them. View more details...

06.03.2009: BSNL has delivered a letter by hand to our GS, seeking our comments regarding framing of rules for membership verification of Executives. We request suggestions from members to be sent to E-mail ID of General Secretary: ved2511@gmail.com. Our response has to go on Monday. View letter...

06.03.2009 1600 Hrs: BSNL issues orders on IDA Pay revision for BSNL Executives. View orders...

05.03.2009:ISSUE OF IDA PAY REVISION ORDERS BY BSNL: Orders are yet to be issued and expected to be issued tomorrow.

05.03.2009: REVERSION AND REFIXATION OF SENIORITY OF 1966 SDEs TELECOM: Consequent on abolition of 1966 TES Group B Posts as per direction of the Court, DOT had issued orders for reversion of 1966 SDEs Telecom promoted in 1998 DPC. These 1966 posts in TES Group B were once created as additional posts by up gradation of posts of JTOs to avoid reversion of 550 TES Group B Officers who faced reversion following implementation of Rule 206 of P&T Manual Volume IV for promotion.  The action of DOT to revert these 1966 SDEs Telecom was challenged in various courts. During the process, DOT reviewed its Order and restored promotion of 553 TES Group B Officers. But rest of the SDEs did not get relief. Finally, BSNL Board has taken a decision to avoid reversion of the rest of the SDEs Telecom by creation of required number supernumery posts. Even after this decision in principle to create supernumery posts, BSNL was undecided whether these posts could be created at Circle level or centrally in Corporate Office. Finally, decision has been taken to create these posts in Corporate Office. Now Orders are expected to be released very shortly to avoid their reversion and protecting their seniority.

04.03.2009 BSNL issues clarification on fixation of inter-se-seniority between external candidates and Direct Recruit JAOs. View letter...

04.03.2009 :DPE issues revision of IDA rates for CPSEs where IDA pay  was last revised on 1.1.1997. The revised rate is 96.8%.  However this is not applicable for BSNL Executives, since Presidential Directive for  IDA pay revision has been issued and DPE has already issued separate orders for increase in IDA by 3.7% to 16.6% for CPSEs where pay revision has been implemented w.e.f.1.1.2007. View orders...

03.03.2009 : BSNL issues orders abandoning the process of retention of temporary posts and permanency of the posts. View orders...

03.03.2009 : BSNL issues orders based on clarifications by CBDT that deemed deputationists/deputationists fall within the ambit of recovery of Income Tax on perquisite of accommodation as in the case of employees of all employers other than Central/State Governments. View letter...

01.03.2009 :BSNL launches 3G services commercially in 11 cities: As a positive sign of BSNL's Market challenging capability, BSNL has launched its 3G services commercially in 11 cities - Agra, Ambala, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Dehra Dun, Ranchi, Shimla, Lucknow, Durgapur, Haldia and Patna. It has already completed the soft launch in Chennai and Jammu. MTNL was the first telecom company to launch 3G services, in New Delhi.  Both BSNL and MTNL were allotted 3G spectrum ahead of the auction as the government exempted them from participating in auctions  to tide over the procedural delays the PSU firms are subject to. Auction for 3G has been postponed and it may take atleast another six months for other private operators to join the race. We should take advantage of the position and do vigorous marketing to atleast partially improve our Market Share. BSNL has also announced  its tariff plans. In a Rs 2,500 plan, a rate of Re 1 per minute for video call has been fixed. The voice call would be available for 10 paise per minute under monthly rental plan of Rs 1,000.