BSNL offices remain closed as employees go on strike

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: The transaction works in BSNL offices in all over the State remained suspended, as two-day nationwide strike called by the unions of the public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) demanding revival of the loss-making BSNL, began here today.
About 1700 employees (both executive and non-executive) of BSNL participated in the strike called by about 13 unions. All the offices of BSNL remained closed and no transaction work was done. The customers of BSNL who went to various offices of BSNL in the State to deposit their mobile, landline and broadband bills had to return disappointed, as the gates of the offices were closed.
The employees gathered outside BSNL offices in various districts of the State and staged protest demonstrations as part of the stir. However, there were no reports of any disruption of BSNL services so far.
The main protest was held at CGM office, Bahu Plaza, GM office, Trikuta Nagar and main Exchange at Kacchi Chawani, Jammu, where employees locked the gates of the offices and raised slogans in support of their demands.
Talking to the Excelsior, Satish Kumar Mahaldar, secretary, Sanchar Nigam Executives’ Association (SNEA), J&K Circle, said “This time our strike is not for any monetary benefit, but to protect our company and to protect our job. About 1700 employees of BSNL all over the State are participating in the strike demanding immediate action from the Government and BSNL Management for the revival of the BSNL”.
He said that BSNL was the number one telecom company in India but the non-implementation of the Government assurances on financial viability, continued cancellation of the BSNL tenders of mobile equipment, confiscation of cash balance of the company by the Government on one pretext or other and discriminating BSNL in favour of private companies, pushed BSNL into loss for the last five years’.
“The Government has withdrawn from its assurance to pay ADC, refund of license fee and liberal subsidy from the USO fund, for compensating BSNL for the loss of about Rs 10,000 crore per year for providing services to the villages and rural areas in the country which is as per the universal connectivity policy of the Government”, Mahaldar said, adding the present loss of the company of around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 crore per year may be covered and there may be profit for BSNL if these assurances are honoured and implemented.
NS Manhas, convener, Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations, Jammu, said that immediate purchase of various equipments for providing mobile, broadband services are of utmost importance for which sufficient funds are required, which BSNL was not having at present. He said that an amount of Rs 6,700 crore was due to be paid to BSNL by the Government towards the cost of spectrum, which the BSNL has surrendered. Besides, an amount of Rs 1,250 crore, allotted to BSNL in lieu of ADC for providing loss making connections for 2012-13, was still pending payment and the employees are demanding that these two amounts be paid immediately so that BSNL could purchase required equipment.
The Forum also demanded that BSNL should start 4G services without any delay. It has also demanded that it should be made mandatory for the Central/State Governments and PSUs to take BSNL service as was done in the case of Air India.

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