As assured during the meeting held with CMD BSNL on 23rd June 2025, BSNL has once again forwarded the case for E2 pay scale for JTO/JAO equivalent and E3 for SDE/AO equivalent cadres to DoT, duly recommending the proposal in line with the submissions made by Bharatiya Doorsanchar Manch (BDM).

Further, in a significant legal development, the case filed by AIGETOA at Hon’ble CAT Chandigarh regarding the implementation of standard pay scales was heard today after a long gap. The matter was pending hearing for several days, and today’s hearing marks a positive step forward. The AIGETOA Legal Team, led by our experienced legal counsel, was present in the court and made robust submissions on behalf of the affected executives.

In continuation of appeal by BSNL Management, Today Team BDM was called by Director HR for a review meeting on the progress made on the issues raised by Bharatiya Doorsanchar Manch. Director HR informed about the status and told that issues have made decent progress and requested us to withdraw the agitation. However, upon detailed examination of the status report, BDM found that while some movement has taken place, the progress is still far from yielding any tangible outcome. Several key concerns remain unaddressed.

During the meeting discussions were also held on the recent orders issued with respect to the Asset Ambassador and Instructions on upgradation in the attendance portal. BDM raised strong objections to the recent orders issued. Director HR assured to review the same and agreed to initiate fresh discussions on the matter. BDM firmly reiterated that orders must first be held in abeyance before any talks are initiated. The issue of pending OTP and non consideration of many genuine retention/modification and cancellation requests was also discussed. Director HR told us to submit the list of such genuine left out cases.

Since, we didn’t see any appreciable output on the issues, BDM conveyed its inability to defer the organisational programs under the current circumstances.

Following the meeting, GS held a telephonic discussion with CMD BSNL, apprising him of the situation and lack of concrete progress. It was informed that BDM shall continue with its planned activities. Subsequently, a meeting with CMD BSNL has been scheduled for the evening of 10th July 2025 to assess the genuineness of the management’s intent in resolving the long-pending issues.

Dear Friends,

As a gesture of goodwill and to allow space for constructive dialogue, BDM has decided to postpone the Twitter Campaign by one day, i.e., from 10th July to 11th July 2025. The Memorandum Submission Program shall also commence from 11th July 2025.

We understand the inconvenience and disappointment this may cause to our office bearers and members, but as a responsible platform, BDM believes in exhausting all options for an amicable resolution.

Let us continue to stay united and strong in our pursuit. Future course of action shall be announced based on the outcome of the meeting with CMD BSNL.

GS AIGETOA writes to Director HR, BSNL Board with strong objection to the recent instructions issued by BSNL CO dated 08.07.2025 regarding the instructions on upgradation of the mobile-based Attendance App. The changes introduced are neither operationally required nor in alignment with ground realities but rather another coercive step aimed at harassing the dedicated workforce of BSNL.

✅ Click here for Letter to Director HR

Despite already functioning efficiently, the current attendance system is being forcefully replaced with a version involving facial recognition and auto-reading of OTPs. We flagged serious concerns regarding data privacy and cybersecurity, warning that the auto-read OTP feature can lead to unauthorized access, compromising not only employee accounts but also sensitive government systems like e-Office and Samanvay.

It need to acknowledge that BSNL is a service-oriented organization, and attendance cannot be measured in fixed office hours when executives are expected to resolve faults and manage systems round the clock. The association categorically opposed equating field work with rigid time-bound marking.

We request for the following add-on locking:

1] Mandate BSNL officers and Board members to use network for all official purposes.

2] Align IPMS assessment with official attendance hours.

If these coercive measures are not withdrawn, the association will be compelled to advise executives to work strictly within stipulated attendance hours and not beyond. We urge the management to roll back this ill-conceived directive and instead focus on critical operational and service quality issues.

AIGETOA writes to Director (HR), BSNL Board, requesting immediate consideration of OTP requests from executives who were transferred to other circles under the long stay criteria during 2022–2024 and have now completed the requisite tenure in their new postings.

✅ Click here for Letter to Director HR

AIGETOA highlighted the deep anguish and mental distress being faced by these executives, many of whom have spent the last 2-3 years away from their families under difficult conditions.

It may also be noted that there are several employees who have crossed the age of 58 years, whose requests may be considered in-line with the prevailing transfer policy guidelines. Additionally, there are many cases where employees have already completed two to three years tenure breaks and are seeking consideration on genuine grounds such as medical issues, caregiver responsibilities, spouse employment ground, etc., as per the existing policies in force in BSNL and in accordance with the DPE guidelines.

GS AIGETOA writes to the CMD BSNL regarding the pending gratuity contributions towards LIC for the BSNL recruited employees and requested to intervene urgently and issue necessary directions for immediate clearance of all pending dues to LIC under the Gratuity Scheme. The association has also requested that a regular monthly mechanism be ensured to avoid any future backlog.

✅ Click here to read the letter submitted to CMD BSNL

AIGETOA has expressed serious concern over the piling up of unpaid gratuity contributions, which is causing unnecessary hardship and uncertainty for employees at the time of retirement, death, or resignation. It has been emphasized that gratuity is a statutory right and its delay is not only unjustified but also legally questionable.

AIGETOA has submitted a letter to the CMD BSNL, Sh A Robert J Ravi Ji, raising unequivocal objections to the recently launched “Mission Revenue First – Asset Ambassador” scheme. The initiative as impractical, symbolic, demotivating, and disconnected from ground realities.

Click here for letter

🔴 Key Objections Raised by AIGETOA:

1] The policy lacks precedent, practicality, and purpose. Assigning network assets like OLTs and BTSs to employees without authority, resources, or control is operationally unsound and practically redundant.

2] BSNL is ignoring real issues like outdated transmission equipment, poor QoS post-4G rollout, repeated link failures, and inaccessible fault booking systems.

3] Employees are being burdened with responsibilities without authority, tools, or training. No incentives, decision-making powers, or operational infrastructure have been provided.

4] The morale of employees is already at a historic low due to non-implementation of pay revisions, no career growth, lack of social security, and poor working conditions.

5] The initiative overlaps with existing systems like IPMS, Integrated NOC, and KPI monitoring, causing duplication and administrative chaos.

🛑 AIGETOA Demands:

1] Immediate withdrawal of the Asset Ambassador policy.

2] Address systemic and infrastructural failures that are the root causes of revenue erosion.

3] Ensure dignified working conditions – many BSNL offices are in dilapidated and unsafe states.

4] Provision of necessary operational tools – transport, hardware, spares, and AMC support.

5] Implementation of HR reforms – including pay scales, promotions, superannuation, and employee welfare measures.

6] Fix accountability at leadership levels for flawed policy frameworks.

AIGETOA firmly states that such symbolic and impractical initiatives will not revive BSNL. Instead, trust, empowerment, and practical policies must form the foundation of revival. The association reaffirmed its commitment to protect the dignity and interests of BSNL executives and demanded corrective measures at the topmost level.

It is reliably learnt that as assured by the Director Finance in the meeting held with BDM leaders on 25th of June, 2025 in pursuance to our Agitation Notice and highlighting the facts with regard to the problems being faced in respect of approval of EPF Higher pension cases of BSNL Employees as well as unjustified rejections of BSNL employees higher pension joint applications and delay in completing the EPF Higher pension processes of BSNL employees have been taken up with the EPFO HQ New Delhi and requested to settle the grievances of higher pension cases of BSNL employees at the earliest.

Further internal directions have also been issued to the BSNL establishments for taking up the matter with the regional EPFO Commissioners to settle all pending joint applications of EPF higher pension to extend benefit to all interested candidate.

Team BDM is also requesting the concerned officers of Corporate office to personally visit the EPFO HQ for apprising the same and seeking intervention at higher level to settle the higher pension approval cases.

Further, BSNL is also taking up with EPFO for a meeting with Director Finance with CPFC.

GS AIGETOA has submitted letter to the CMD BSNL regarding serious discrepancies and arbitrary actions in the recently issued transfer orders dated 30.06.2025, following the original transfer orders dated 02.05.2025.

Click here for letter

Despite earlier concerns raised by AIGETOA about violations of BSNL’s OTP and Transfer Policies, the Personnel section has issued subsequent modifications without addressing core issues. The revised orders appear random, lacking transparency, and have led to widespread resentment among executives, further resulting in over 15 court cases filed across various CATs.

Issues Highlighted :

1] Immunity grounds: Many immunity cases of AIGETOA has been left for no reasons while the orders have been issued for other associations. On one of the retention on immunity grounds, the date has been arbitrarily mentioned which do not have any basis.

2] Age above 56 grounds: The policy states that a person who has acquired age above 56 years on 31st March of the Financial Year in which orders are issued cannot be transferred on long stay basis. While few cases have been considered, few have been left arbitrarily without assigning any reasons.

3] Medical immunity cases: Few cases considered while many genuine cases not considered including even self-critical illness and family care giver cases.

4] PWD Self and Dependent Care Giver cases not considered.

5] Few orders issued on Own Cost while Few on Company Cost.

6] OTP requested for a particular circle and transfer carried out to other than requested circle. As per policy either OTP is to be considered or rejected but it cannot be modified to other circle as per choice of management being a voluntary transfer.

7] Non Implemented Transfer cases modified arbitrarily to other circles which is completely in contravention to the transfer policy.

8] OTP orders of persons not completing tenure issued while orders for those who have completed or about to complete the tenure have not been issued. As per policy, tenure orders used to be issued in advance but now this has been delayed for almost six months now and still no visibility about those who are going to complete their tenure next month.

9] 12th class immunity not extended despite provisions in the prevailing norms.

10] OTP cases of those transferred under long stay in the year 2022-23 are not considered while for select few the same has been considered.

11] Many officers having higher stay at station has not been transferred while those with lesser stay at station have been transferred out.

AIGETOA demands the following:

1] Direct the concerned authorities to review the orders issued on 30th June, 2025 and address the omissions related genuine grounds as per policy precedence and norms.

2] Institute an inquiry into the whole state of affairs pertaining to issuance of the orders under reference to rule out the involvement of the vested interests and fixing up the responsibility.

3] Reiterate and ensure strict adherence to the Government of India guidelines and BSNL’s Active Transfer Policy for all future transfer processes, emphasizing the distinct nature and priority of hard tenure postings.

4] Further officers must be asked to work according to the delegated power instead of dragging the higher office for even routine works like transfer postings. Since most of the time, orders are issued in contravention of the guidelines, a general perception goes that the orders have been issued under instruction from higher authority.

Team AIGETOA Karnataka met Hon’ble MoS on dated 1st July 2025. The Hon’ble MoS was welcomed in the Traditional way & a detailed Memorandum pertaining to the issues of BSNL Executives was submitted.

Click here for Glimpses of Meeting

The Hon’ble MoS was on one day visit and totally pressed for time due to his hectic schedule. All associations were combinedly allotted a mere 10 minutes, Team AIGETOA was able to squeeze in enough slot of his precious time and explained about the lingering issues pertaining to Executives.

The discussion was largely based on implementation of long delayed 3rd PRC, 2nd PRC residual issues, Social securities viz., PRMB, SAB and recurring Pay loss of the Executives, Timely Promotions, Roles of CDOT/TCS in delay of 4G implementation & QoS.

Regarding 3rd PRC, Hon’ble MoS was aware of pendency from 18 years. Since BSNL is in profit for the last 2 quarters, it was requested for immediate implementation of 3rd PRC by waiving off the affordability clause. It was also apprised that the PRC ordeal was compounded by the Non-implementation of Standard Pay-Scales, E2 & E3 at the initial levels, due to which many executives post-2007 are facing substantial recurring loss till date without any signs of early resolution. This in itself is the biggest demotivating factor for all the young employees.

The PRMB and SAB was also discussed in detail with the Hon’ble MoS. AIGETOA KTK put forth the precarious condition of the BSNL Executives, whose Social security is not protected as envisaged during formation of BSNL. A point in case that was put across to the Hon’ble MoS was the unfortunate spate of deaths of BSNL Executives, whose family is left to the mercy of God without any financial support. He was particularly appalled with the benefits (rather no benefits) that an employee and his Family will get post-death of a BR. The decade long delay of SAB and its corresponding loss which is in total violation of SAB guidelines as enshrined in 2nd PRC was also discussed with Hon’ble MoS.

Team AIGETOA apprised the working conditions in which the Employees perform in Rural areas and adverse environment as BSNL is categorised under Essential Services category. But when it comes to boost the morale, the lack of Promotional Avenues is denting the confidence of Executives.

The Hon’ble MoS was curious about the performance of 4G implementation and Team AIGETOA provided the relevant feedback. The Hon’ble MoS assured a joint strategy meeting between CDOT & TCS to iron-out the issues for effective 4G implementation.

The Hon’ble MoS was gracious enough to assure that he will personally take up the issues at the highest level and possibly with Hon’ble PMO to sort out the issues. We are truly thankful for his kind gesture.

The Team AIGETOA also briefly met Secretary, DOT at the program venue scheduled at NIMHANS convention centre. But due to his pre-scheduled tight itinerary, the discussions could not take place.