AIGETOA CHQ has decided to publish a weekly update on status, level of persuasion and outcomes associated pertaining to various issues related to Executive Cadre. To start with, we are publishing the updates for the period 5th June to 13th June and hereinafter, weekly update shall be regularly updated on every Monday for the information of all the executives.

Last Week and this week Team AIGETOA comprising of All India President Shri Veerabhadra Rao, GS Shri Ravi Shil Verma, Dy GS Shri Pavan Akhand, AGSs Shri Yogendra Kumar and Shri Sunil Gautam met various authorities and had multiple meetings at the level of Director HR, PGM (SR & Restg), PGM (Pers), CGM (CNTx-North) and discussed the following issues:

Start of Process for Review of Cadre Strength:

The matter was strongly taken up before Director HR and PGM (Restg) and after detailed discussion finally instructions were given to start the cadre strength review process. Thereafter the Restructuring Cell has already initiated the review exercise. Association shall be giving its input in next few days. We are quite hopeful of increase in number of posts across all the cadres and streams in view of the increased revenue as well as because of new government projects like 4G saturation, Bharatnet, FTTH to Villages etc. AIGETOA’s firm emphasis shall be on sufficient increase in number of posts so that executives across various cadres and streams get a smooth career progression.

JTO to SDE DPC and increase in number of posts for DPC as well as LDCE:

We raised the matter pertaining to the long-awaited promotions in JTO to SDE cadre. We highlighted that Management must move ahead with a progressive thought process. Various complexities associated with the DPC process was discussed. We are hopeful of a positive outcome soon.

We also highlighted that the root cause of all problems is not filling up the vacancies of Pre-VRS and its high time that management must do a rethink on a current procedure adopted and instead should fill up the year wise vacancies available in the Pre-VRS ERA which will end the various disputes in fact across all cadres and streams. Further we have also requested for counting the SDE vacancies against Look After Posts in AGM Cadre which will also increase the number of vacancies. We are quite hopeful that management will definitely give a rethink on the approach adopted and ensure that sufficient vacancies are available for covering all the eligible JTOs in both the quota.

SDE to AGM Promotions:

We once again reminded management about their earlier commitment and to ensure that sufficient vacancies are available in AGM cadre for ensuring the promotions of all eligible SDEs. We also requested for considering the methodology which we have presented during the agenda meeting which was subsequently discussed with CMD BSNL also and there was a broad consensus on towing that line. We expressed our regret on the reluctancy on the part of Pers section for moving ahead with the SDE to AGM Promotions by making sufficient vacancies available by virtue of diversions and rearrangement within the defined strength. The matter is under discussion and deliberation at the level of Director HR and we sincerely feel and hope that finally management will move ahead with the proposal submitted by AIGETOA to ensure the promotions of all eligible. We also requested management to ensure that speaking order issued by BSNL in Madras High Court must be followed in letter and spirit and any deviation from that will result into a contemptuous act by BSNL for that the sole responsibility shall lie on Pers section only.

AO to CAO promotions:

We requested management for trying to get the stay vacated at Hon’ble Chandigarh CAT and if needed the appeal should be filed before Hon’ble High court to seek vacation of stay on the promotions. Further, we also requested for diversion of vacancies from SET quota to DPC quota which will ensure that promotions of all the eligible AOs can be done to CAO grade. We highlighted that AIGETOA will never allow recruitment of SETs and hence instead of keeping the vacancies on hold, the same must be diverted to DPC quota which will end the dispute.

DE to DGM Promotions:

We requested for filing an MA at Hon’ble Chandigarh CAT wherein we requested for submissions of BSNL with regard to fulfilling the directions of Hon’ble Court as now the decision at the highest level has already been taken for following the DoP&T guidelines for reservation in promotions and there is no ambiguity as such over the methodology to be adopted as concurrence of DoP&T has also been obtained on the methodology adopted by BSNL. It’s high time that management stops calling the promotions as provisional and should move forward with promotions in AGM Cadre to DGM cadre by filling up all the available vacancies. Management agreed to our request and assured that after taking legal opinion, matter shall be pursued either at Hon’ble CAT Chandigarh or at Hon’ble Supreme Court where the SLP is pending.

DGM (Adhoc) to DGM (Regular)

We requested for continuing the services of Senior Advocate and also requested BSNL for filing an appeal at Hon’ble High Court. The same was agreed by management side.

SDE 2007 reversal issue:

Matter was deliberated at length with the Director HR and committee members. The discussions were positive and we hope that things will soon fall in line. We sincerely hope that management will extend justice to the affected candidates and we firmly assure that AIGETOA will ensure resolution, come what may.

OTP cases including transfer cases of KTK Circle and waiting list of other hard tenure Circles and changes in Transfer Policy:

It was assured that OTP cases shall be processed in this week including the ones from Karnataka Circle on which there is a firm assurance that the cases shall be considered based on the criteria of date of application when the executive first time applied for OTP. We further highlighted the precarious scenario where one executive is getting transferred within circle, thereafter Inter Circle. We requested for a moratorium on transfer of the executive in Inter Circle also for at least five years if he/she has already undergone transfer within the circle. We requested for a centralized transfer policy where an executive doesn’t faces repeated transfers, first within the circle and then Inter Circle. We further highlighted the arbitrary selection of choice circles where in an executive higher in waiting list is not getting his first or second choice while another executive getting the same station despite being junior in the waiting list. We also requested for publication of waiting list in OTP cases also and publication of vacancies available in circle so that an executive can make an informed choice in OTP window. Management side agreed to explore the suggestions and we are hopeful of a positive outcome on the above suggestions. Maximum use of automated procedures and minimum use of discretionary power is the demand of AIGETOA and transparency in the process is a must.

Extending the Laptop Policy for field units also:

Association extended its thanks for approving the Laptop Reimbursement Policy and requested for immediate replication of the same for executive’s upto JTO/JAO/Equivalent level in the field units. Management Side assured to positively consider the same for field units also.

Revision in the TA/DA/Allowances at current market rates:

Director HR appreciated the concern and assured that needful action shall be done to revise the same.

Association Immunity Policy:

We requested for keeping the letter dated 14.10.2022 held in abeyance at least till next MV. It is anticipated that management will take a considerate view on the same.

Friends,

Above are the update on the persuasion made by Association in Last Few Days and the outcome associated with the persuasion. All we can assure is that AIGETOA is fully committed to resolve the PPP issues and things are moving on a positive note on the issues related to promotion and restructuring. In next few days, AIGETOA shall be knocking the doors of the highest echelons in DoT and Nodal Ministry to ensure precipitation and resolution of the financial issues including the Pay Scale issues, Pay loss issues, 30 Percent SAB, 3rd PRC, Pension Revision. All these issues pertain to the policies of government and hence we must have to pursue at the highest level and our association AIGETOA is fully committed to go to any extent to ensure the resolution of these financial issues. Further our Legal team has finalized the Legal aspects and association has decided to take the legal recourse also for ensuring the resolution of all the pay loss related issues.

Further a detailed meeting of the Director HR and other senior officers of HR group has taken place with the leaders of the Forum of BSNL Associations on 13th June 2023 wherein issues related to MSRRs, promotions in various cadres, immunity, transfer policy etc has been discussed. The detailed update shall be shared at the platform of Forum in due course. Discussion of that meeting has also ended on a positive note.

Today President AIGETOA Shri Veerabhadra Rao and GS AIGETOA Shri Ravi Shil Verma met PGM Restg and discussed the issue of reviewing the sanctioned strength across various cadres in continuation of our earlier discussions held with CMD BSNL, Director HR, GM Pers and PGM Restg. Yesterday also GS AIGETOA reminded PGM Restg about the commitments made at the level of CMD BSNL and Director HR and requested her for immediately starting the process. Earlier also Team AIGETOA had met Director HR and CMD BSNL and requested them to intervene for immediate completion of the process. In the meeting itself, Director HR has directed PGM Restg to initiate the process.

Today a detailed discussion took place. PGM Restg informed that she has already set the action in motion and Circles shall be asked to give their feedback on the strength across various cadres. She also requested AIGETOA to give it’s input w.r.t the strength across various cadres/streams including Bharatnet and 4G saturation projects. Association also needs to submit its input w.r.t the staffing norms (operational as well as positional). AIGETOA Team shall be submitting this input by next week so as to get the exercise complete as early as possible. With an increase in strength, many of the worries will be over and a smooth career progression can be ensured across all the cadres and streams. It will be AIGETOA’s endeavor to ensure that the interest of the cadre is protected and unnecessary court cases owing to such apprehensions and confusion can be avoided.

Further discussion on the letter issued wrt Membership change option on ESS was also done wherein AIGETOA has suggested certain inputs on which PGM SR has given positive consideration. Option for dual membership shall continue in ESS also. Further concurrence of DS/CS as per existing process must be ensured in ERP for approving the membership as it is the DS/CS of any association who is authorized to accept the Membership not the administration. Corrigendum shall be issued by SR cell on this.

Brief discussion on immunity guidelines also took place.

Earlier a detailed discussion of Team AIGETOA was held on 31st May 2023 with the committee members constituted for taking care of reversal issue. Detailed discussion took place on the way forward and association has noted the inputs and is acting upon it in consultation with the team. We are sure of resolving the reversal issue also at the earliest.

Today, on 6th June, another meeting of Team AIGETOA is scheduled with GM Pers for discussion on the JTO to SDE DPC, SDE to AGM promotions, AGM to DGM Promotions, AO to CAO promotions, OTP cases, Tenure Cases, MSRR clauses, LICE etc. We hope for positive outcome from that meeting also.

AIGETOA will ensure the resolution of all the pending HR issues. We seek the support of all the executives in ensuring the resolution of issues irrespective of their associations which will motivate the leadership in performing better.

AIGETOA was an invitee in International L20 Meet for Symposium on Social Security organized by BMS Delhi Chapter. After the symposium, the delegation of AIGETOA CHQ Team met Hon’ble Minister of State for Communication, Sh. Devusinh Chauhan Ji and requested for his intervention in settling the long pending issue of E2 and E3 pay scales and 30 percent SAB along with 3rd PRC to BSNL employees. Hon’ble Minister invited us to his office for a detailed discussion on the issues pertaining to BSNL including the HR issues.

GS BTEU Sh R C Pandey and Chairman TOA Sh Anil Tiwari along with his team was also present. We also met International L 20 President Shri Hiranmay Pandya Ji and All India Organizing Secretary Sh V Surendran and exchanged greetings.

Notification for the annual general body meeting of AIGETOA was issued vide letter GS/AIGETOA/2022-23/64 Dated 04.05.2023 wherein one of the agenda is to fill up the casual vacancy of General Secretary post in Governing body of AIGETOA. Election schedule to fill up the vacant post of General Secretary is hereby notified as under.

1] Date and time of nomination : 21.05.2023 at 11am to 01pm.

2] Date and time of election : 21.05.2023 at 2pm.

3] Date and time of declaration of result : 21.05.203 at 5pm.

4] Returning office : Shri Vivek Kumar Singh, Deputy Manager, BSNL CO, New Delhi.

Venue : New Delhi.

Click here for Schedule for Election for vacant post

The Annual General Meet (AGM) of AIGETOA CHQ is notified to held from 20th to 23rd May 2023 as per the provisions of the constitution. The annual general meet of the association will be conducted at New Delhi. All Collegium Members, Central Working Committee (Elected & Nominated) are requested to attend the meeting. The details for the meeting are as below :

Schedule of Annual General Meeting:

20th May 2023 (10.00am to 2.30pm) : Central Governing Body Meeting.

20th May 2023 (3.00pm to 8.00pm) : Annual General Body Meeting.

21st May 2023 (10.00am to 8.00pm) : Annual General Body Meeting.

22nd May 2023 (10.00am to 6.00pm) : Open Session

23rd May 2023 (10.00am to 20.00pm) : CS-CP-CHQ (Elected & Nominated) Meeting.

Venue of the Meeting : New Delhi. (Exact venue shall be informed through AIGETOA website).

Click here for the Notice of AGM

Sh Ravi Shil Verma All India Chairman, Sh Veerabhadra Rao All India President, Sh Sunil Gautam and Sh Rakesh Meena CS NTR met GM(Pers) Sh S N Gupta and Pers Team for discussion on pending issues:

JTO to SDE Promotions :

We expressed our strong resentment on the non issuance of promotions in the JTO to SDE cadre despite approval and notification of the revised SDE RRs. We reminded them about the consistently missing deadlines despite the assurances given by the apex of the organization i.e. by CMD BSNL in meeting dated 21.03.2023 and Director (HR) in the agenda meeting held in February. We said such type of continued ignorance on the long pending issues is basically denting the trust of executives in the system and the same is never good for any organization to flourish.

After detailed discussions, it was finally agreed that all available vacancies upto 31st December 2022 shall be filled up by 25th May 2023. LDCEs shall be also notified simultaneously in which all the eligible JTOs can appear for promotion on the fast track basis. We requested them to expedite the process further and ensure the promotions in next few days. We also insisted that LDCEs should also be notified immediately to benefit more JTOs. Further, simultaneous processing of both the streams will minimize the legal hurdles also.

SDE Reversal Issue :

We told GM Pers that SDE Reversal is another issue which has kept unsettled despite repeated assurances at various levels. We insisted upon immediate conclusive action on the issue to ensure that these innocent SDEs do not suffer any further. GM Pers assured for a speedy action on the issue.

SDE to AGM Promotions and Increasing AGM & DGM vacancies:

We have reminded the deliberations and discussions held in our AIGETOA agenda meeting ( 08 & 22-02-2023 ) and separate meeting with CMD & DIR HR on 21-03-2023. GM pers said that as and when directed by Director (HR), action shall be initiated. AIGETOA Team shall be taking up this issue further with Hon’ble CMD BSNL and Director (HR) for a speedy resolution.

Issuance of OTP cases of Karnataka Circle :

The issue is under consideration and the same shall be processed along with the long stay transfer cases expected to be held soon.

Retention/Modifications/Cancellation cases

We informed that many cases have not been considered and requested to consider the same at the earliest.

Sports Board meeting was held on 19th April 2023 by BSNL. The meeting was attended by the Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh, CS Uttarakhand on behalf of AIGETOA. General Secretary of AIGETOA Shri Pavan Akhand is the board member of the sports board as GS of the only Recognized Representative Association of BSNL. The meeting started with the Welcome of Director HR Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, the vice chairman of BSNL Sports and Cultural Board. Thereafter, the welcome speech was given by GM Admin Shri S P Singh who welcomed all the participants of the meeting.

The meeting started with a brief introduction of all the participants of Association/Union and the members of different Circle boards across the country.

The meeting started with review of the minutes of last sports board meeting and their implementation along with presentation of the audited accounts from last board meeting till date.

All the points which were taken by the AIGETOA was appreciated by the management side and most of them were agreed and resolved in the meeting itself. The agenda points were submitted well in advance by AIGETOA and accordingly, a detailed and informed deliberation took place on all the points. Such serious discussion on issues related to sports and sports person has not taken place for years and after raising the issue by AIGETOA in the last agenda meeting on February, this meeting has finally been convened.

The point wise discussion of agenda is as below :

1] The Team participating in the national/national level tournament must be accompanied by the manager and coach :

The panel of coach for the year 2023-25 is already called by the BSNL CO and another person will mandatory accompany the team as manager. This was categorically agreed by management.

2] Issue of letter for participation in National/National level tournament well in time :

Agreed by the management side. They will issue the order for participation well in time.

3] For Recruitment of sports person in backlog vacancies :

Director HR said that the recruitment is not possible as of now but will resume when financial condition of BSNL Improves.

4] Many times services of Sports person/ Technical delegate/Coach/Manager are called by various sports federation for rendering their service in various National/International Tournaments, in all such cases permission must be given well in advance as per the existing DOPT guidelines :

Management assures to look after all these cases and will issue the order well in time.

5] It is seen some times that the specific sports guideline is not available with us, so in all such cases DOPT on sports must be followed in true spirit :

Management side told that if any guidelines or a particular case is there, the same may be brought to the notice of management and they will try to implement all such DoPT orders in BSNL.

6] In the Composition of Circle Sports and cultural Board the inclusion of member from recognized representative association is missing. Kindly make changes and inclusion in the composition of Circle Sports and cultural Board :

Management agreed to include the name and necessary instructions shall be passed down the line.

7] The Norms for sanction of sports Grants for AIBSNL Tournaments must be revised. The revision in rates of items is required :

Agreed by the management and revised rates as decided in the meeting will reflect in MoM.

The detailed discussion also took place on the new sports compendium, TA/DA, KIT money, of the sports person, rules, regulations and team nomenclature as per the updated federation guidelines, changes in the instrument categories in Cultural activities. Suggestion was given by the association to keep the new compendium in abeyance till modification takes place after having the detailed discussion and feed back from the recognized association. Director HR however stated that since the new compendium is approved by the competent authority, it will not be prudent to keep it in abeyance but it was agreed for review of the sports compendium, TA DA rates KIT money after taking members in review committee and feedback from association.

Director HR also agreed for the promotion of sports recruited person to the level of executive after getting medals at international level.

It was also assured by the Director HR that this year sports meet will be conducted well in time.

Vote of thanks was given by Jt. GM Shri Mayank Mishra. A momento was also presented to all the participants of the sports board meeting by Director HR. The meeting ended with a group photograph.

The revised rates as per point 7 is as below:

Today Team AIGETOA comprising of Sh Pavan Akhand GS, Sh Veerbhadra Rao AIP, Sh Ravi Shil Verma AIC, Sh Amit Roy JS North, and Sh Sunil Gautam AGS met Shri Ravindra Himte Ji General Secretary BMS at their national headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi. Shri R C Pandey, GS BTEU, Shri Sanjay Tyagi FS, TOA and Shri Manoj, AGS BTEU were also present in the meeting. The team discussed about various issues related to BSNL including a brief discussion on the pending HR issues and 3rd PRC to BSNL Executives. We exchanged our views on the upliftment of BSNL as well as growth of basic cadre of JTO & equivalent. He appreciated our vision and assured all out support of BMS to AIGETOA for all BSNL related issues and for ensuring the resolution of our long pending HR issues and for highlighting and precipitating the same at appropriate platforms.

Team Further met Dr Deependra Chahar, Secretary of the BMS state Chapter Delhi and had discussions on the vision and mission of BMS and how they are promoting the young generation to fight for their rights. He assured his firm support on the endeavors being taken by AIGETOA for the betterment of cadre and BSNL. He stated firmly that BMS Delhi will extend its full cooperation to AIGETOA for the resolution of issues pertaining to BSNL employees.

It will be worth mentioning that with firm support of BMS, AIGETOA’s efforts to resolve the pending HR issues including the Pay and Pension related issues will definitely get a big impetus.

Click here for Glimpses of Meeting

A meeting was held by BSNL Management with all unions and associations today at 16:00 Hrs wrt submission of EPF Higher Pension. On behalf AIGETOA, the meeting was attended by Sh Ansal Mohammed along with President AIGETOA Sh Veerabhadra Rao.

In line with our earlier discussions, it is informed that BSNL will be giving a certificate stating the compliance of para 26(6) and the contributions made there of to each employee so as to enable the aspirants to upload along with the enhanced pension option online link. The certificate and undertaking will be made available through ESS portal within a week. It is also a matter of pride that Dir HR has mentioned about recent judgement by Hon’ble HC Kerala and its relevance which was fought by AIGETOA and it’s OBs. We have also submitted the clearance on EPF act -1952 (where para 26(6) is applicable) and EPS-1995 scheme where the 11(3)/11(4) enhanced pension option is envisaged and in line with Hon’ble SC Judgement dated 4/11/2022. Association submitted that to make full proof on the 26(6) matter, the joint option signed by employee and employer also may be submitted to respective RPFCs and a copy of the same may be made available for employee to submit along with the higher option along with the certificate by BSNL. This can be done as per Hon’ble HC Kerala judgement on WP(c) 13120/2015 and connected cases where BSNL employees are also parties, directed to EPFO that the options on 26(6) need to processed without insistence on a date.

The team AIGETOA met PGM SR, GM Pers and GM Recruitment on 16th Mar 2023 and discussed the following points:

Meeting with PGM(SR):

We met PGM(SR) and asked about the release of MoM of the agenda meeting held with Dir(HR), Allotment of quarter to Association and Initiation of MV process. PGM SR Informed that MoM Draft is under circulation for comments from participating sections before final approval. It will be shared with us once the draft is ready. It is expected to be issued next week as assured by PGM(SR). On allotment of quarter to association we apprised about the development from the time we received vacant quarter list from Building Section. She said She will discuss with Dir(HR) about all the developments regarding it. AIP showed his apprehension about the intent behind premature initiation of MV and raised doubt about the process started by the SR branch, she said that MV shall be conducted in Sep 2023 and they are only making the preparations to hold it in time. We pointed out that SR cell has deviated from the defined process and they must keep things in order to enable smooth completion of process.

Meeting with GM(Pers):

Later team has met the GM pers to discuss the burning issues like SDE reversal issue and left out JTOs promotions issue and other HR issues.

GM pers told us that Left out promotions couldn’t be done as the new SDE RRs have yet not been finalized. Team AIGETOA expressed its strong displeasure on consistent missing of timelines and sought immediate necessary conclusive actions.

On SDE reversal issue GM Pers said that the committee has not yet finalized the step to issue the promotion orders from SDE to AGM and he shall be discussing with Director HR in coming week on this. We requested to take this issue in mission mode and resolve the long pending issue without any delay now.

Meeting with GM(Recruitment):

Team has met GM Recruitment Smt Samita Luthra and discussed the release of Special JTO LICE results and other points. On result declaration she informed it may take tentatively one week more as the PWD reservation issue is not yet finalized by the BSNL management.

We have later met officers from establishment section to pursue the Rule-9 JTOs extension cases. The requests have been considered positively and orders have been issued.