It has been decided to hold an Emergency Meeting of AIGETOA Central Governing Council Members on 29.11.2020 (Sunday) though online video conference mode. All Members of Central Governing Council of the Association are requested to attend the meeting positively as per schedules (intimated). The details of the meeting shall be shared individually .
Annual General Meet and Circle Conference of AIGETOA Punjab Circle was conducted successfully on 22nd Nov 2020 through online mode. The Chief Guests of the function CGMT Punjab Circle Shri Sandeep Diwan, Guest of honors GM(HR/Admin) Punjab Circle Sh. Jaspal Singh, All India President Shri Ravi Shil Verma, GS Md. Wasi Ahmad, Chairman legal committee Shri Ajay Kaswan, JS North Shri Ajit Singh, CS Haryana Sh. Harjinder Singh, CS Himachal Pradesh Sh. Chander Singh Negi attended the event and graced the occasion with their valuable speech to the august gathering. Circle Secretary Punjab, Shri Vikas Kumar welcomed all guests on behalf of the Circle and Circle President, AIGETOA, Punjab Shri Santosh Kumar presided over the meeting. The brief address of the guests were as follows:
Chief Guest of the Function, Shri Sandeep Diwan, Chief General Manager Telecom, Punjab Circle: He expressed his gratitude for inviting him to the Circle Conference of AIGETOA, Punjab & emphasized that the AIGETOA has to play a key role to regain the last glory of BSNL. This is possible only with whole hearted cooperation and coordination among the executives to regain dominant position in telecom market. He ensured AIGETOA to extend his full support on any issues related in the larger interest of the organization.
Guest of Honour, ShriJaspal Singh, GM(HR/Admn), Punjab Circle: He extended his greetings through message as he was unable to attend the same due to some urgent unscheduled engagement in the period.
All India President, Shri Ravi Shil Verma: He addressed the august gathering, greeted all the dignitaries available online and thanked all the executives who supported AIGETOA to become No. 1 association in second MV. He Further told that, each and every member and leaders of AIGETOA are aware that, as a majority association we represent all the executives of our beloved organization and as Team AIGETOA through this dais he assured all executives that AIGETOA will not confine to the interest of any particular group and instead will work in the interest of organization and all executives, unlike earlier associations. He informed that the association is in continuous touch with DoT and hurdles regarding 4G rollout and try to ensure that they should be cleared soon. He expressed that every executive should know the need of the hour and shall continue to work for betterment of beloved organization. In conclusion of his speech, he appealed for unity among BR fraternity irrespective of cadre, verticals and wings and requested to all to support and do not indulge in any activity which can be derail the entire process and unity.
General Secretary, Shri Wasi Ahmad: He addressed the august gathering & welcomed all the participants and appreciated the Punjab Circle Team for arranging the event in big and fashionable manner with help the Online VC mode in this pandemic situation. The GS addressed the gathering and elaborated the latest status on all the HR Issues of the Executives as well as appraised the gatherings about the delay in 4G rollout in BSNL and the association efforts to escalate the matter to the highest echelon of the government. He explained in detail about the ongoing preparatory works of AIEL for DPC and issue of JTO to SDE Promotion and failure of the management to fulfill the commitment given on various occasions for issuance of the order. He also apprised that the association has decided to wait for the last commitment of the management for the order by this month failing which the association will seek other recourse to get it resolved. He also apprised about other issues where no serious progress has been made so far by the management even after positive assurance by Director (HR) on various occasions including the agenda meeting held on 15.09.2020. Assurance of Director(HR) about forming of the committee on pay loss issue was also apprised to the members against the input submitted by the association. The association is regularly following up all the issues and giving enough time to the management for peaceful resolution as well as reminding the management about serious repercussion incase of non-resolution of pending issues in a defined time period as assured. He also detailed about the ongoing restructuring process and association stand and efforts to ensure that the policy shouldn’t hamper the promotional avenues of working executives and ensures compliance actual field requirements. GS AIGETOA also apprised the gathering about AIGETOA recent meetings in DoT and the associations efforts in highlighting the serious delay in rollout of 4G service by BSNL as well as shown serious concern about the recent directive of the DoT appointed panel to use indigenous 4G Core for the roll out of the service in the light of the fact that no homegrown company make 4G Core as on date. He apprised that association will take the matter with highest authority in the DoT and the government to protect the interest of the BSNL and sustainability of the company to safeguard the future of 65000 employees. In the last GS extended his best wished for the AGM and Circle Conference of the Circle and hope that the delegates will elect a well balanced and dedicated team for the further progress of the Punjab AIGETOA Chapter.
CS Haryana Sh. Harjinder Singh, CS Himachal Sh. Chander Singh Negi Chairman Legal Committee Sh. Ajay Kaswan: They also addressed the gathering and extended best wishes for the successful AGM cum Circle conference of AIGETOA Punjab. All DS of Punjab Circle submitted their district reports. Circle Secretary Punjab, Shri Vikas Gupta submitted CS report Punjab Circle and financial report was submitted by Finance Secretary Punjab Sh. Ajit Singh & finally Punjab Circle existing body was dissolved. New Circle body was elected as per provisions of the constitution of AIGETOA and the CHQ Observer for the election process was Shri Ajit Singh, JS (North). The following members are unanimously elected as Office Bearers for the Circle Body of Punjab Telecom Circle. Shri Vikas Gupta, SDE 2001 Batch, Shri Yogesh Chhabra JTO 2008 Batch and Shri Vineet Bhandari AO 2004 Batch were elected as Circle President, Circle secretary and Circle finance Secretary respectively. On behalf of AIGETOA CHQ, the AIP and GS congratulated all the members of new Circle Body and extended best wishes for their tenure and assure to extend all support. The Circle Conference concluded with vote of thanks to the House by Shri Mohd. Ahmad.
Corporate Office issued guidelines for Supply of monthly membership subscription to Unions/Associations.
GS AIGETOA writes to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji, Hon’ble Minister of Communication, Govt of India with a copy to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and senior functionaries of the government for consideration of our request for protecting the long term sustainability of BSNL by allowing it to upgrade its network for the launch of 4G Services through existing Proven Technologies and at the same time process for development of indigenous 4G/5G technology should also be undertaken in parallel.
We have mentioned that while we welcome the idea of current initiative of Government of India to develop indigenous technologies as part of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” in Telecom Field also but at the same BSNL should be protected from getting obsolete and redundant due to absence of full-fledged 4G services for a very long period of time in the cut-throat competitive era. We have highlighted that there is no company in India at present, which can provide Made in India core for 4G Technology. This whole technology needs to be developed indigenously and is definitely going to take minimum 1-2 years to ensure a firm and rugged technology in place and another few years after full-fledged rollout to ensure its efficacy and proven-ness in a go-live environment. Till that time, BSNL 4G services cannot be allowed to be affected by virtue of this experiment as it has the potential to ruin the business prospects of the company in totality and will affect the livelihood of around 65000 employees working in BSNL. Accordingly AIGETOA has requested to allow BSNL to upgrade/expand the network for 4G services through existing proven technologies and as an interim measure 50,000 odd BTSs may be allowed to be upgraded through the add on orders which will enable BSNL to rollout 4G services within minimum possible time.
At the same time, AIGETOA understands and also supports the significance of ATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT in the Telecom field which has an important strategic advantage not only for taking Indian Technologies to the next generation but also is critical for the security of our mother nation. Accordingly, we have suggested that instead of holding the full fledged roll out of 4G Services for the want of indigenous technology, BSNL may be allowed to upgrade the infra through existing available and proven technologies and at the same time, a parallel exercise to develop the indigenous 4G/5G core by reserving some locations and allocating a separate spectrum for testing should be done. Once the technology is in place and its efficacy and proven-nessis ascertained, all the operators should be asked to migrate to the indigenous technology as mandatory condition to rollout 5G services. Since the development of this technology will be in the best interests of the country and will create a new chapter in the Indian Telecom era, Government of India should bear the expenditure for rolling out this Project along with expenses for AMC for five years. Association has also requested for ensuring monetary compensation to BSNL for the delay in roll out of 4G services because of all these issues. Association has further requested that all the Central and State Government Departments, Institutions and PSUs should be asked to mandatorily utilize BSNL mobile services also in line with the recent directive to use BSNL/MTNL lease line/landline/broadband to add revenue potential of BSNL. As doing away with 2G services will be next to impossible for BSNL for next few years and also the fact that these services are still required for many Indian citizens, especially for those below poverty line, AIGETOA has requested for extending the 2G spectrum allotment for next few years and also that the new developed core should not be a 4G only model but should support 2G/3G/4G technologies on the same core. Running two parallel networks for 2G/3G will not only be economically unviable but also will degrade the quality of service also.
Association has also requested that as BSNL has been totally engaged in carrying forward the telecom vision of government and also Atma Nirbhar Bharat Showcase Model for the Nation, BSNL should be exempted from profitability clause and the company and its employees should be compensated irrespective of Profit/Loss theory and the employees should get all the benefits of employees of BSNL at par with other Grade-A CPSE including that of extending Standard Pay Scales, Superannuation Benefits, Career Progression and other benefits. We have also requested that BSNL should be exempted from the profitability clause and the 3rd PRC should be implemented in BSNL without linking it to the profitability of the company and the additional fund on these counts should be borne out by the Government of India.
Friends, changing the thought process of government are herculean task and we all need to remain united. Association has decided to start a social media campaign also for the same so that government can ensure the long term survival of BSNL by considering the request of its employees.
AIGETOA has extended it support to the Lunch Hour Protest call given by NFTE and AUAB on 24.11.2020 and 25.11.2020 respectively in the larger interest of the employees. All members are requested to support the call.
Earlier, AIGETOA tried to build consensus to have a common call by all the major associations and unions working in BSNL to lodge our strong and unified protest against the DPE Order of freezing the Dearness Allowance of CPSEs Employees. But the same couldn’t be achieved as different platforms issued letter for symbolic protest of lunch hour separately. But AIGETOA will continue its efforts to bring all stake holders under umbrella to fight against this anti employee order of DPE in real sense instead of gimmick.
GS AIGETOA writes to Director (HR) regarding AIGETOA strong protest to the proposed physical shifting of ERP Development Center from ALTTC Ghaziabad to BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi.
GS AIGETOA writes to Director (HR) regarding issuance of Promotion Orders in the cadre of JTO(T) to SDE(T) within current month as per the final commitment given in the last meeting, failing which Organizational Action is inevitable.
GS AIGETOA writes to GS NFTE and Convenor AUAB for bringing consensus to organise a Common Protest Call on IDA freezing order of the DPE. However, he extended his full support to both the lunch hour protest call of 24.11.2020 and 25.11.2020 by NFTE and AUAB respectively.
Team AIGETOA comprising of AIP, Shri Ravi Shil Verma and GS, Shri Wasi Ahmad met CMD BSNL on 20.11.2020 in his chamber and held detailed deliberation on various issues including 4G roll out and pending promotions.
4G Rollout by BSNL: We apprised CMD BSNL about our discussions in the DoT with various officers including that of the brief meeting with Hon’ble Secretary (Telecom). We told CMD BSNL that it seems that Government is sticking to its decision for involving only domestic players in the 4G core technology through BSNL rout to promote Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme. But it’s also a fact that no domestic vendors have the proven 4G Technology to meet out the customer’s requirement of the service. The proposed methodology of DoT Committee for rollout of 4G Services in BSNL through introduction of SI, PoC testing, tender bidding by local vendors, commercial production and supply of equipment and rollout of the project by successful local bidder has lots of uncertainty. This will not only consume time but also a question mark about sustainability duration of the service. If the whole exercise got failed then BSNL will again back to square for loosing such precious time, which is crucial in the industry. So, the dependency of BSNL on such new local entrants to roll out its 4G service will posed a serious question on the viability of BSNL for which whole exercise of BSNL Revival Program was approved by the Union Cabinet last year. It seems government is forcing its decisions on BSNL without considering its technical and financial viability in its extreme desire for Atma Nirbhar Bahart Scheme and thereafter the employees will be held responsible if the decision will backfire. Although our BSNL Board under the esteemed leadership of CMD is putting all facts and figure in front of decision making authorities to protect the interest of BSNL but our responsibility as association gets multiplied to ensure that any adverse decision on BSNL should not be forced and AIGETOA is committed for it.
We also lodged our strong apprehension to the CMD on this non proven technology implementation in BSNL and its consequence on the viability of the organisation. We have seen how the employees were targeted for the downfall in the revenue of the BSNL, whereas it is a proven fact that wrong policy decisions were the main culprit behind the present state of BSNL. We requested CMD BSNL for seeking compensation for the losses of BSNL which is occurring because of the delay in rollout of 4G services as well as demand full project cost to implement non proven technology to carry forward the Atma Nirbhar Bharat theme of the government else otherwise BSNL should be allowed to procure the industry standard equipment for the 4G roll out in BSNL with open tender, where state of art equipment can be procured to roll out the service and maintained for long duration to recover the investment as well as earn profits by allowing all vendors including MNCs in the process. We also apprised CMD BSNL that AIGETOA has also taken up the issue of not allowing BSNL to upgrade the network with add on orders and requested him raise the issue once again.
Further, if government is so determined for local 4G Core deployment in BSNL then it should also come forward to bear the cost of employees related remuneration from government exchequer and immediately implement all benefits irrespective of profit/loss theory including 3rd PRC, Standard Pay Scale, Full Superannuation Benefits, LTC restoration, Medical and Insurance Care, Perk and allowances to all the employees. AIGETOA has decided to take up this issue of delay in rollout of 4G services to highest echelons and is prepared to start organisational action against such detrimental activities for stopping BSNL growth. We also requested CMD BSNL for ensuring the proper maintenance funds to ensure smooth functioning of the services.
HR Related Issues: We also discussed the Promotions issue with CMD BSNL. We apprised him that almost all the preparatory activities for the JTO to SDE DPC is complete and now decision needs to be taken with respect to treatment of vacancies. We told CMD BSNL that now the go ahead is urgently required for the DPC Process. We apprised that the process is going on smoothly under direction of the Director (HR) and the association is cooperating to maximum possible extent to get the order issued in current month. We further apprised CMD BSNL about the problems associated with promotions in other cadres like SDE to DE, AO to CAO, CAO to DGM and DE to DGM Promotions. We requested for an immediate intervention and action from his side to settle this impasse and ensure resolution of these issues. The CMD BSNL assured that he will be having detailed discussions next week. CMD BSNL told that he is currently totally involved in the 4G related and other viability related issues of BSNL and is having some very important meetings scheduled next week with various government agencies including PMO and Neeti Aayog. He shall be convening the discussion on HR issues after next week. He assured once again that management will not do anything which will stop the career prospects of executives and there is no adamancy as such with respect to number of vacancies and the same shall be decided taking into account the career aspects of Executives.
However, despite this discussion, we once again reaffirm our deadline for the JTO to SDE DPC within current month and firm positive movement on the promotional aspects of others cadre and the pay loss related issues. If management fails to execute the promotions within this committed period, we will move forward with our organisational action programs. Similarly, if we don’t see firm positive action on promotions in other cadre and the Pay Loss related issues, we shall be going ahead with the organisational actions program. Management has to fulfil the commitments it has made with association in agenda meeting and accordingly association is committed to go to any extent to achieve these rightful dues.
With extreme grief, we bring to you the sad news of the demise of father of Sh Ashok Acharya (JS East) today at Bhubaneswar. AIGETOA CHQ prays to the almighty to provide his family with sufficient strength and courage to tide over the crisis and for bearing this irreparable loss. We also pray so that the eternal soul rests in peace.