Bharatiya Doorsanchar Manch (BDM) writes to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji with Humble appeal to implement 3rd PRC in BSNL and extend residual benefits of 2nd PRC to the employees of BSNL – Government’s own Telecom Carrier.

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The efforts of AIGETOA and BTEU under the guidance of BMS with respect to the implementation of 3rd PRC has reached to the next level with Hon’ble PMO taking cognizance of the submissions by Bharatiya Doorsanchar Manch and directing the concerned ministry to take needful appropriate action. We are keenly following the developments on the aforesaid communication from the office of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

In the series of the efforts by AIGETOA and BTEU under the umbrella of BMS for implementation of 3rd PRC in BSNL, we are again making another submission before Hon’ble Prime Minister of India containing the justifications for the waiver of affordability clause and treatment of BSNL as a special purpose strategic sector PSU as stated below :

1. BSNL was specially carved out from Department of Telecom (DoT) in the year 2000 to carry forward the specific of agenda of the government to meet the objectives of National Telecom Policy 1999. BSNL has been declared as strategic public sector by Government of India to implement strategic policy decisions of Govt. of India. In the recommendations of the 3^rd PRC, the affordability clause has been waived for the PSUs which are formed to perform a specific agenda of the government.
2. BSNL has been the flag bearer for the Aatmanirbhar Vision in Telecom having successfully implemented the Swadeshi 4G/5G mobile technology across Bharat and has been able to reach to the farthest and remotest corners of the nation through the 4G saturation and Bharatnet Projects.
3. BSNL has successfully overcome all the market challenges since its evolution and has completed 25 years since its formation. Earning profit has never been the objective of BSNL. In fact, it addresses the market imperfections and acts as a tariff balancer in the best interest of the nation and its citizens. Still the financials of BSNL have been on a continuous rising trend since 2019 solely due to efforts of current government and the resilience shown by the employees during the toughest times of BSNL.
4. The BSNL board and other decision makers has been following the policy decisions of Govt. of India and have to work in the limits of the defined policy framework and hence are not having the same advantageous position as available to its private counterparts. Hence, more or less BSNL has been working as a government organization only. In fact, the top managerial/decision-making positions of BSNL has always been occupied by the officers on deputation/deemed deputation from DoT.
5. There are two set of employees in BSNL. One fully absorbed/recruited in BSNL and other working on deemed deputation in BSNL. The officers on deemed deputation are decision makers and are getting pay and allowances at par with officers of Govt. of India (7th PRC benefits) as they opposed absorption a decision of Govt. of India and are due for 8th PRC benefits. Surprisingly, they are not governed by the affordability clause of BSNL though have mostly been working in BSNL ever since it was incorporated. The second set of absorbed/recruited officers are yet to get even the full 2nd PRC benefits, Pay scales and 30% Superannuation benefits.
6. This has led to wide disparity between the two groups of employees in terms of pay, perks and allowances though working in the same organization and carrying out the same work. This bias is unprecedented in any organization especially the government owned ones, is totally discriminatory and against the Article 14 of constitution of India which stipulates “likes should be treated alike”.

We are very sure that the joint efforts of AIGETOA and BTEU under the umbrella of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will definitely pave the way for smooth and speedy implementation of 3rd PRC in BSNL. Our consistent and persistent efforts for the last many months are being finally acknowledged and taken into consideration by the various concerned departments.