SNEA(I)/Jt.Forum/1/4-08 Dated 15th April,
08. Convenor/ Jt. Forum, Sub:
Immediate need of sustained struggle and action on vital issues of growth of
BSNL. Dear Comrade: Critical issues of growth of BSNL,
mainly continuance of ADC, exemption from payment of licence fees to BSNL,
grant of Navratna status, absorption of ITS Gr A, severe equipment crunch that
BSNL continues to face etc. continue to remain unresolved mainly because of complete
lack of strategically planned and sustained struggle from the platform of Jt
forum. Our response, to say the least, has not been even half hearted, and the
inconsequential and insignificant token protest actions that we have been
holding from time to time have virtually assumed ritualistic dimension and are
fast eroding the credibility of all of us. It is high time that we simply stop
protesting for the sake of protest. We have had enough of it. Abolition of ADC, on the basis of
recommendations of TRAI, is an issue on which there has to be immediate
sustained action to force MOC&IT and the bureaucracy in DOT to out rightly
reject these unjustified, irrational and arbitrary recommendations. When DOT
can straightaway reject recommendations of TRAI on issues which are of far
greater and fundamental significance like allocation of spectrum (both 2g and
3g), resale of spectrum, facilitating acquisitions and mergers, allowing use of
dual technology etc., how and why should not we force DOT to reject highly ill
conceived and irrational recommendations on ADC abolition. Not being able to do
so is our utter organizational failure. There is just no other reason. Recommendation of TRAI that BSNL
should be compensated to the tune of Rs 2000/- crores per year for a period of
three years from USO fund is frankly speaking a well calculated move of the
regulator, intended to dilute the justified criticism and opposition that it
anticipated to face from at least trade unions and associations of BSNL for its
recommending abolition of ADC. Let alone launching sustained action to ensue
continuance of ADC, we have miserably failed even to lodge a formidable
protest. Our recent protest action was by all standards a meek one, a mere
symbol of tokenism to which we are increasingly getting used to and in the
process trying to befool ourselves and the entire base level membership.
The immediate and pertinent question
that arises is that if the regulator is
convinced that BSNL should be compensated through USO fund to sustain its rural
operations, then what is the basis of the regulator to recommend abolition of
ADC. The move of the regulator to recommend compensation to BSNL through USO
fund is nothing but a calculated gimmick of TRAI in connivance with DOT to make
all of us complacent, since there is absolutely no provision in the USO fund
which envisages such a mechanism for compensating BSNL for providing services
in the remotest parts of the Country. In fact, MOF is the sole custodian of the
USO fund, and DOT or TRAI has absolutely no jurisdiction to decide on
utilization of USO fund in any manner whatsoever. While DOT has for all practical
purposes become an agency to safeguard and promote the growth of private
operators in every possible way which is evident from quick decisions it has
already taken and is taking of late on acquisitions and mergers of telecom
companies to facilitate resale of recently allotted 2g spectrum, permit
crossover of technology, expedite auctioning of 3g spectrum, allocation of spectrum etc, abolition of ADC,
it is jeopardizing the growth of the Country's largest state owned telecom
company, performing highly strategic functions and meeting the social
obligations of the government in terms of ensuring uninterrupted growth of telecom services in
the far flung parts of the Country. Ministry of communications has of late
become a captive of the vested interests and our inability to expose the
growing nexus between the vested
interests and the bureaucracy in DOT has been and continues to be our biggest failure.
We have to completely abandon the
ritualistic manner of lodging protests and have to be, instead, quite focussed
in our plan of action. Our actions have to be long drawn, comprehensive, total
and the results have to be achieved in the desired direction. We have to all
recognize the criticality of the situation prevailing now in BSNL, particularly
the issues vital to the growth of the company. As things
stand today, the profit for the year 2007-08 has already dwindled to a meagre
Rs 3750/- crores, and from this amount Rs 1000/- crores towards payment of
merger of 50% IDA arrears and Rs 2000/- crores on account of abolition of ADC
will get reduced. We shall hardly be left with about Rs 750 crores as on March
09. How do we all expect, rather what strength would we be left with, to demand
implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd pay panel for executives and
wage revision for non executives. We are informed that an expenditure of more
than Rs 5000 crores would have to be incurred for implementation of new IDA
scales for executives and non executives w.e.f 1.1.2007, based on minimal
multiplication factor All these shall
very soon become nightmares for us. While writing all this, we do not
and cannot exclude ourselves from the present deadly situation. SNEA(I) is as
much a part of the failure to launch prolonged and decisive struggle as any
other constituent of the Joint forum is. To begin with, it is extremely
important, rather crucial, for us to fully apprise the base level membership
throughout the Country about the threatening state of affairs of the Company.
It is quite significant to thoroughly educate them, not to suppress anything
from them. That shall give them tremendous confidence and determination to get
involved in struggle in a committed manner. Making them abreast with hard
prevailing ground realities, particularly the role of the policy makers in DOT
to safeguard and promote the interests of the private operators and make BSNL
as much weak as possible, has to start. This mass awareness shall immensely
contribute towards creation of fertile ground for a protracted and decisive
struggle. We simply
cannot afford to waste time anymore for that would be disastrous and would
unmistakably mean that trade unions and associations are virtually presiding
over the decay of BSNL. Workers down the level have reposed their trust and
confidence in us and have remarkably and incredibly supported our decision to
struggle to safeguard the interests of their beloved Company. It is our failure
to consolidate the gains of July, 08 struggle. Prolonged struggle on vital
issues of growth of BSNL should have followed that historical struggle.
Unfortunately, we got bogged down in virtually issues which are of far lesser
significance compared to the fundamental issue of viability. Let us act swiftly, decisively and
resolutely lest posterity forgives us for our unpardonable lapse and total
failure to read the deadly writing on the wall which clearly reads that we are
surely on the way to rapidly losing our bread and butter. With fraternal greetings, Comradely yours, ( G.L.Jogi ) Copy to: All the constituents of the Jt.
forum.