Meeting of AGETOA Central HQ Leaders with Hon’ble Minister of Communication Shri Ashwini Vaishnav ji was held in the evening on 29.07.2022. Meeting lasted for about 40 minutes. Meeting was attended by Shri Ravi Shil Verma Chairman, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Veerabhadra Rao AIP, Shri Pavan Akhand Dy. GS, Shri Fazal Ahmad AGS, Shri Vivek Kumar AGS, Shri Sunil Gautam AGS and Shri Yogendra Kumar AGS. We apprised all the issues in detail i.e. Standard Pay Scale E2-E3 pending at DoT, Pay Loss issues of 22820/- and E1+5, No Career Progression and Internal Fast Track Promotional Channel, No Proper Social Security etc. He gave sufficient time and listened all the points patiently and assured his intervention for settlement of all legitimate demands. We sought his kind attention on Standard Pay Scale E2-E3 which is directly related with DoT, which he assured to look into it. On the matter of lateral entry at the level of MT and DR DGM, he was kind enough to agree with view point of the association that lateral entry is not the correct way and he will direct BSNL accordingly. Hon’ble Minister advised to defer the ongoing agitation program to carry forward the dialogue under his office guidance. He assured that our concerns will be taken care and legitimate demands will be resolved in a time bound manner.

On the official call from management, a meeting was held between AIGETOA delegates and Director HR on 29.07.2022 in the afternoon, where all issues were discussed point wise. The meeting was attended by Shri Ravi Shil Verma Chairman, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Veerabhadra Rao AIP, Shri Pavan Akhand Dy. GS, Shri Vivek Kumar AGS, Shri Fazal Ahmad AGS, Shri Sunil Gautam AGS, Shri Yogendra Kumar AGS, Shri Chander Singh Negi CS HP. All the issues were discussed and Director HR assured that a fortnightly review meeting will be held to achieve the desired result.

Following assurances were made in the meeting from the Management side:

E2-E3 Scale for JTO/JAO and SDE/AO Equivalent Grades:

As discussed previously, it is told that the informal group created consisting of members from AIGETOA and officers of Establishment Section of BSNL CO to study the impact of replacing the initial two scales on the executive strength and EPP policy and suggest the remedial measures. Based on the suggestions of the group, Management will examine the proposal and subsequently take up the Scale issue with DoT for further consideration of approval of the scales E2 and E3.

Pay Loss Issues of JTOs/JAOs (E1+5 and 22820/- and Pay fixation of DR JE to JTO):

The Pay Loss issue, committee on 22820/- shall be asked to expedite for submission of its recommendations after discussing the matter with Association giving the whole issue, a holistic consideration. The Committee on extending E1 plus 5 increments for JTOs/JAOs and equivalent grades as initial basic shall be constituted to examine it as a solution to ensure parity amongst all similarly placed executives.

Scrapping of MT & DR DGM RRs and introduction of Fast Track Promotional Channel:

It has been assured that management will not move further on the process of MT Recruitment. The work on internal fast track promotional mechanism shall be started as part of new BSNLMS RR finalization. It has been assured that New MS RR will have stagnation criteria for AGM/CAO Promotion as well as fast track promotion mechanism in AGM/CAO and DGM Grade. It was told that discussion with association on the provisions of the proposed draft shall be initiated immediately.

Enhancement of SAB to 30%, formation of PRMB Trust and deposit of pending SAB amount:

It is categorically informed that the pending amount of SAB will be deposited immediately after the first trench of the amount envisaged in the revival package is received by BSNL. He assured that by September, the funds shall be made up to date. However on increase of Quantum of Contribution, Management expressed financial crunch of the company as major reason and assured that with improved Financial Position of the company, increase in quantum shall be considered. Director HR assured to explore and develop a mechanism in which increase in SAB contribution can be linked to revenue growth. It was also assured that a DRF (Death Relief fund) Scheme will be created, which will be funded by BSNL to support the families in case of any untimely demise of the employees. The proposal will be worked out in a time bond manner and implemented in BSNL. The provisions of PRMB trust shall also be examined for further necessary action.

AGM Promotions:

It was apprised that HR Team of BSNL has met senior officers in DoPT to take feedback on methodology to be adopted for Reservation in Promotion and accordingly management is working on issuance of promotions to AGM(Telecom) grades latest by second week of August’2022. Other equivalent grades promotion will also be issued simultaneously. The number of promotions to be issued is still not finalized despite of insistence of the association to issue promotions of maximum persons by using the complete strength (4500) of AGM and DGM grades taken together. We categorically emphasized that the injustice meted out to them by department in degrading the seniority can only be nullified by extending the promotions by utilizing the complete strength of DGM and AGM. Director HR assured that management is not averse to this idea and they are open to this scheme but as of now he cannot commit anything but assured to take up the matter with CMD BSNL for positive consideration. Matter of more number of vacancies for promotion will be further taken up with CMD BSNL once he returns from Mumbai.

AO to CAO and DGM (Regular) Promotions:

It was assured that required relaxation for issuance of promotion in CAO and DGM(Regular) grades will be examined as suggested by association. Director HR further assured that management is equally concerned to effect promotions in all grade and will try to ensure the same at the earliest.

LDCE-2007 SDE Reversion issue:

Director HR assured that the issue will be resolved latest by 31.08.2022 as one time measure in line with what has been committed earlier. Association side requested to ensure that no such name should be dropped from the list and DPC for all the candidates must be done.

DPC Promotion for left out JTOs of 2K8 batch and subsequent JTO batches, Notifications of SDE/AO Equivalent RR and LDCE Notification:

It is informed that promotion in these grades will be affected either by notification of SDE RRs or by virtue of AGM Promotions whichever comes earlier. It was also apprised that SDE RR will be notified once cleared by DoT. LDCE notification will be considered once AGM Promotion is affected.

In view of above assurance on the issues through series of meetings with BSNL management and thereafter meeting Hon’ble Minister of Communication, AIGETOA CHQ-CS-CP discussed the ongoing organizational program and it has been decided to defer the ongoing organizational action program wef 30.07.2022.