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Editorial

A LOOK INTO A FEW RECENT DEVELOPMENTS In the recent times, a few Orders have been issued which are of direct concern to the absorbed BSNL pensioners. DOT had issued a clarification on the applicability of the OM 06.04.2016 issued by DOP&PW regarding “Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners – delinking of revised pension from qualifying service of 33 years” on the absorbed BSNL pensioners”. After going through the DOP&PW OM dated 06.04.2016, it appeared that the qualifying service of 33 years have been ordered to be dispensed with even for the pre-2006 CDA pensioners. But the contents of the said OM do not fit with the subject matter of the OM. This gave rise to some inadvertent confusions. It is found that the said OM or even any other OM did not dispense with the qualifying service of 33 years for revision of pension of pre-2006 CDA pensioners. An article on this issue by Shri S Ratnasubramanian, AGS, AIBSNLREA will appear in this website to throw more light. DOT has finally issued a clarification allowing enhanced DCRG limit to the absorbed BSNL pensioners also w.e.f. 1.1.2016 and thus conceded to AIBSNLREA’s persistent demand. In this case, DOT has unnecessarily delayed the Order in the name of seeking clarification from DOP&PW, when such clarification was already obtained by DOT at the time of

implementation of DOP&PW Orders enhancing DCRG and other benefits as recommended by VI CPC w.e.f. 1.1.2006. DOT/BSNL has failed to implement a condition in the Cabinet Note that the decision to extend the benefit of pension revision to the absorbed BSNL pensioners will be allowed within six months of the decision. Both BSNL Offices and CCAs, as usual, have been found at fault. DOT had to take note of the grievances aired by the aggrieved pensioners because of inordinate delay and issue further orders rescheduling the dates to complete the exercise. BSNL Corporate Office has also circulated this letter from Member (Finance), Telecom Commission to all its units instructing therein to strictly comply with the revised instructions. The situation has improved, but not yet fully settled. Had the AIBSNLREA branches all over India not persuaded with concerned Offices/Officers at regular intervals, the situation would have been much worse. AIBSNLREA is now planning to approach the Court on the issue of pension/pay arrears w.e.f. 1.1.2007 after the summer vacation of the courts is over.

BSNL has finally conceded to the demand to extend the benefit of free night calling facility to the BSNL pensioners having concessional telephone connection at their

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residences. Orders to this effect has already been issued. This will give some relief, since the request to enhance free call limit for residential telephone connections has not been accepted so far.

The reported decrease of IDA for the last two consecutive occasions for the CPSE

employees is a great blow. This will have impact not only on salary and pension, but also on the annual limit for grant of outdoor treatment to the pensioners for whom the IDA as on 1st of April of the year is of great importance.

IDA DECREASES IN TWO CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS

In a blow to the CPSE workers, the IDA has decreased for the last two consecutive quarters. The quantum of decrease w.e.f. 1.4.2017, according to calculations based on All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, is by 2.3% for CPSEs where last pay revision was implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2007 and by 4% where last pay revision was implemented w.e.f. 1.1.1997. In the earlier quarter the decrease w.e.f. 1.1.2017 was reported to be by 0.8% for CPSEs where last pay revision was implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2007 and by 1.3% where last pay revision was implemented w.e.f. 1.1.1997.

ISSUES TAKEN UP DECISION TAKEN IN THE SCOVA MEETING TO EXTEND CGHS FACILITIES TO THE BSNL RETIRED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF PENSION FROM CENTRAL CVIL ESTIMATES – REFUSAL TO EXTEND THE BENEFIT AS DECIDED IN THE SCOVA MEETING BY THE CGHS OFFICES IN CHENNAI AND KOLKATA: AIBSNLREA had earlier taken up the above issue with Dy. Director General (Estt), DOT with a copy endorsed to Director(HR), BSNL [View posting dated 18.03.2017 in this website to read the letter]. Now the Association has taken up the same issue with Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare with a copy endorsed to Director (CGHS) requesting to get the decision taken in the 28th SCOVA meeting allowing extension of CGHS facilities to the retired BSNL employees implemented immediately. View posting dated 29.03.2017 in this website to read the letter

EXTENSION OF CGHS FACILITIES TO THE RETIRED BSNL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF PENSION FROM CENTRAL CIVIL ESTIMATES – REFUSAL TO EXTEND THE BENEFIT BY THE CGHS OFFICES IN CHENNAI AND KOLKATA: On receiving two specific complaints from Kolkata and Chennai, AIBSNLREA has taken up the above issue with Dy Director General (Establishment), Department of Telecommunications requesting him to take up the issue with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and get the present stalemate sorted out at the earliest. View posting dated 18.03.2017 in this website to read the letter

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ACTION ON AIBSNLREA’S REPRESENTATIONS DOT ISSUES ORDERS CLARIFYING THAT THE DOP&PW OM ENHANCING THE LIMIT OF GRATUITY OF THE CG RETIREE$ IS APPLICABLE TO THE RETIRING BSNL/MTNL EMPLOYEES: AIBSNLREA had been pursuing the above issue ever since the DOP&PW issued its OM 04.08.2016 enhancing the limit of gratuity to the CG Employees w.e.f 1.1.2016 and demanded to issue a clarification on its applicability to the absorbed retiring employees of BSNL also, since some CCAs were not extending the benefit. DOT was time and again assuring the Association that the clarification will be issued after consulting the DOP&PW. Now DOT has clarified that the said OM enhancing the limit of gratuity is also applicable to the retiring BSNL/MTNL employees also. Thus a long pending issue gets resolved. View posting dated 17.03.2017 in this website to read the DOT Order

REVISION OF PENSION OF PRE-2006 PENSIONERS DELINKING OF REVISED PENSION FROM QUALIFYING SERVICE OF 33 YEARS - APPLICABILITY TO IDA PENSIONERS OF BSNL/MTNL - BSNL FORWARDS DOT LETTER: BSNL has forwarded the DoT letter dated 15.2.2017 which clarifies that pro-rata reduction of the minimum revised pension (50% of the minimum of the pay in the pay scale corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which BSNL pensioner had retired) was not included in the pension revision order in respect of IDA pensioners vide DoT OM No.40-17/2008-Pen(T)-Vol.III dated 15.3.2011. View posting dated 13.03.2017 in this website to read the BSNL forwarding DOT letter.

PG CELL OF DEPARTEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION SENDS AIBSNLREA’S REPRESENTATIONS TO DDG(ESTT), DOT FOR FURTHER ACTION: PG Cell of Department of Telecommunications has since forwarded two representations of AIBSNLREA regarding “Indifferent attitude of the concerned Departments/Ministries to address the genuine grievances of the pensioners in general and the absorbed BSNL pensioners in particular” and “Redressal of genuine grievances of the pensioners who are not allowed to earn the annual increment even though completing one full years’ service on the date of their retirement” to the Dy. Director General (Estt), DOT for further action. View posting dated 10.03.2017 in this website to read the PG Cell, DOT letter

DEPARTEMENT OF EXPENDITURE (MINISTRY OF FINANCE) FORWARDS AIBSNLREA’S REPRESENTATION DATED 18.07.2016 ON “INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE OF THE CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS/MINISTRIES TO ADDREES THE GENUINE GRIEVANCES OF THE PENSIONERS IN GENERAL AND THE ABSORBED BSNL PENSIONERS IN PARTICULAR” TO MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS: Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance),GOI has since forwarded AIBASNLREA’s representation dated 18.07.2016, which was addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and others on the above issue [view posting dated 19.07.2016 in this website to read the representation], to the Ministry of Communication for “appropriate action/redressal of the grievances”. View posting dated 10.03.2017 in this website to read the DOE letter

EXTENSION OF FREE NIGHT CALLING FACILITY TO THE RETIRED/ RETIRING EMPLOYEES OF BSNL: AIBSNLREA took up this issue with Director (HR) BSNL and had discussions with General Manager (Admin) BSNL Corporate Office on 20.12.2016 [view posting dated 21.12.2016 in this website]. While reporting the status of the issue on 02.03.2017 in this website, we had said that "A proposal

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in regard to raising the free call limit/extension of free night calling facility to the retired BSNL employees has since been put up to Director(HR)". Earlier, AIBSNLREA, took up the issue with CMD, BSNL [view posting dated 21.10.2015] and after its AIC at Bhubaneswar, again took up the issue with CMD, BSNL [view posting dated 20.07.2016]. The Association even took up the matter with Prime Minister of India in Resolution form after the AIC. Now BSNL Corporate Office has issued orders extending the Free Night Calling facility to the retired/retiring employees of BSNL having concessional telephone as has been extended to any other subscriber. View posting dated 09.03.2017 in this website to read the BSNL Order

DOT REPLIES TO OUR REPRESENTATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE ISSUE OF PAYMENT OF ENHANCED GRATUITY TO THE ABSORBED BSNL PENSIONERS AS PER DOP&PW OM DATED 04.08.23016: DoT has since replied to our representation dated 15.12.2016 to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on the above issue [view posting dated 16.12.2016 in this website to read the representation]. DoT has stated that “The issue is under consideration in consultation with DoPPW.” View posting dated 03.03.2017 in this website to read the DOT letter

BSNL/GOVERNMENT ORDERS

DOT PULLS UP THE CCAs AND BSNL FOR DELAY IN COMPLETING THE EXERCISES TO REVISE THE PENSION OF PRE-2007 AND POST 2007 BSNL PENSIONERS WITH FITMENT BENEFIT BY MERGER of 78.2% DA/DR WITH BASIC PAY/PENSION – FIXES REVISED TARGETS: The Association had made few representations to both DOT and BSNL about abnormal delay in processing the pension revision cases both at BSNL offices and the office of the CCAs [view posting dated 20.02.2017 and 27.02.1917 in this website]. Now Member (Finance), Telecom Commission in a DO letter dated 7.3.2017 has pulled up both BSNL and CCAs for the abnormal delay and has fixed revised target dates to complete the works. BSNL has also forwarded the same letter to all its units to comply with the instructions. View posting dated 27.03.2017 in this website to read the DOT Member (F) and BSNL

BSNL ISSUES FURTHER ORDERS WHICH ENABLES BSNL TO DECIDE ON ITS OWN THE CASES OF EXCESS/WRONGFULRECOVERY MADE TO ITS EMPLOYEES WITHOUT NEEDING TO SEEK APPROVAL OF DOT/DOE: In the background of the DOP&T OM dated 2.3.2016 that was issued following Supreme Court judgment in which it declared recovery of excess/wrongful payments in certain specific cases impermissible in law, on the request of AIBSNLREA, BSNL had issued guidelines for the same in consultation with DOT to process the cases of BSNL employees [view posting dated 12.09.2016 in this website]. Now BSNL has issued a clarification following further guidelines issued by DOT that BSNL would decide the cases of BSNL employees of its own without referring them to DOT/DOE for their approval provided there is no liability to DOT/Government by such employees. View posting dated 25.03.2017 in this website to read the BSNL Order

BRANCHES IN ACTION AIBSNLREA, AMBALA BRANCH HELD A GM MEETING: Ambala Branch of AIBSNLREA held a Gneral body meeting on 27th March 2017 at Food Court Restaurant under the presidentship of Shri P.C Chauhan. 30 members attended the meeting. Shri J.C Gupta Branch Secretary briefed the members on the various developments of the Association related to the BSNL pensioners. It was informed that almost all the members have received the arrears on re-fixation of pension

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due to implementation of 78.2% IDA order. In other very few scattered cases orders for revision of pension have been issued by CCA Haryana and the arrears will be paid with the pension for the month of March to be paid in April, 2017. One new member has joined the Association as Life member. AIBSNLREA, NAGPUR HELD MEETING WITH CCA MAHARASHTRA, MUMBAI: Shri P R Bhujbal Vice President CHQ along with Shri Arun Deshpande Branch Secretary Nagpur held a specially organized meeting with Smt Monali Dhakate, Controller of Communication Accounts, and Maharashtra Circle Mumbai on Sunday (26-03-2017) during her short visit to Nagpur. In the meeting, the Association expressed deep concern over the abnormal delay in issue of revised PPOs to BSNL pre-2007 and post-2007 pensioners in Maharashtra Circle despite DOT’s specific instructions for completing pension revision exercise before 31st December, 2016. As on date majority of the cases pertaining to WTR/WTP, Maharashtra have not been cleared. CCA Mumbai informed that three special teams have been deployed to complete the pension revision work within the revised target. CCA assured that due efforts are being taken to issue revised PPOs without further delay. CCA Mumbai was made aware about the dilapidated condition of the official web site of Pr CCA MH Mumbai since last 5 years. She was requested to look into the matter. She assured to complete the web site repairs before April, 2017. The Association expressed special thanks to Smt Monali Dhakate CCA Mumbai at Nagpur for granting meeting with AIBSNLREA Nagpur even on Sunday.

SANGRUR BRANCH OF AIBSNLREA HELD A GENERAL BODY MEETING: A general body meeting of SANGRUR SSA branch of AIBSNLREA was held on 27.03.2017 at Kaula Park Office, Sangrur under the Chairperson Shri H S Nijjar, Retired DET from Sangrur as on 31.12.2006 and a prominent personality in Divine Spiritual knowledge about Karam Yog and Samadhi. He spared his enough time to deliver a lecture for about 40 minutes and all the 14 members present were deeply impressed. The members also observed 2 minutes silence due to sad demise of our 2 active members namely Late Shri Satish Chander Rao JTO and Late Shri Manohar Lal DET. The new members who joined the Association in the meeting are S/Shri Sat Pal Aggarwal DET, Rajinder Singh SDE and Piarey Lal JTO retd from Sangrur SSA who were all welcomed. All members got their revised PPOs with 78.2% IDA merger notionally wef 01.01.2007. Pre-2006 pensioner's already received their revised PPOs and no case is pending on this account. The other issue discussed was late payment of medical claims of two members. The Pensioner's Identity Cards are being issued to the members but with logo of BSNL printed (without State emblem). The President also shared his thoughts in the meeting.. At last vote of thanks was presented by Shri V K Mittal, Branch Finance Secretary.

GB MEETING OF AIBSNLREA, MUMBAI HELD: A GB Meeting of Mumbai Division of AIBSNLREA was held on 24.3.2017 in the Conference Hall, Telephone House, Prabhadevi, Mumba at 14.00 Hrs under the Chairmanship of Shri Vasudeva. President informed the House about the untimely and sudden demise of Circle President Shri P C Dubey at Pune. The House then observed two minutes silence in memory of the departed soul. The briefed the House regarding recent developments and also requested the members to spare 20 minutes time in the Morning for practicing regular “Yoga” to keep body fitness. Branch Secretary read out minutes of last General Body Meeting which was passed unanimously. He welcomed all seven new life members for enrolling as life members of Mumbai Branch and requested all members present in

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the House for enrolling more members for Mumbai Branch. He also announced in advance that next General Body Meeting will be held in the first week of July 2017 in which New Body will be formed. He also informed the House that Several times the Association met concerned officers at different levels for early Revision of Pay / Pension by merger of 78.2 % D.A. But there is no satisfactory progress. He also intimated the status of Pay / Pension at par MTNL. Members were very unhappy and showed their displeasure for abnormal delay for settling the issues. Mumbai Division also passed a Resolution expressing their total displeasure for failure to settle the pension revision cases by the PR CCA. Shri S.N. Verma gave vote of thanks and meeting was concluded at 16.30 Hrs.

GUJARAT BRANCH MET JOINT CCA, GUJARAT TELECOM REGION: S/Shri R.C.Sharma AGS, B V Bhavsar, Organizing Secretary (West), CHQ and A.B.Patel State Secretary, Gujarat State Branch met Dr. Kamal Kapoor, Jt..CCA, Gujarat Telecom Region, Ahmedabad on 17.03.2017 regarding the progress of 78.2 % IDA pension revision issue. The Joint CCA specifically told that despite heavy shortage staff and other regular works, two teams have been formed for completing the entire work of Pre-2007 and Post-2007 pensioners which have completed about 95% of the cases as on 16-3-2017. Now about 300 cases out of 10,700 cases of pension revision are pending for want of some queries and some other problems. However, he assured that the whole work will be completed by the end of March, 2017. It may be added that a few pensioners from the Association and others are voluntarily helping the CCA staff for speedy disposed of the completed cases.

GENERAL BODY MEETING OF AIBSNLEA INDORE BRANCH HELD: The general body meeting of AIBSNLREA indore branch was held at Nehru Park Indore on 11/03/2017 to elect new office bearers of the branch. Election officer Shri R.N.Rathore conducted the election. Following office bearers were elected unanimously:-President- Shri S.K.Jain (Rtd) C.A.O, Vice president- Shri I.K.Vyas (Rtd) S.D.E, Secretary- Shri N.C.Yadav (Rtd) D.E, Asst. Secretary- Shri D.C.Pure (Rtd) S.D.E, Treasurer - Shri B.L.Jain (Rtd) D.E.

AIBSNLREA CHENNAI BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS MEET OFFICERS OF CCA TAMILNADU IN CONNECTION WITH DELAY IN ISSUE OF REVISED PPO ON PENSION REVISION: Shri V.Dakshinamoorthy, Branch President, AIBSNLREA Chennai Branch along with Shri V. Chinnapappiah, President, CHQ, met the concerned officers of CCA Tamilnadu Circle, in-charge of revision of pension due to revised fixation with 78.2% IDA, for pre-2007 and post 2007 pensioners of Tamilnadu Telecom Circle, Chennai Telephones, STR & STP and expressed their deep concern over the delay in issue of revised PPO although DoT had issued instructions for completion of the work by December 2016. They also conveyed the grievance of some pre 2007 pensioners that they are yet to receive revised PPO while some post 2007 pensioners have received the same. AIBSNLREA office bearers were informed that files are being taken for revision on ‘first in – first out (FIFO) basis’, i.e based on date of receipt from concerned BSNL offices. As on date, majority of the cases upto May 2006 have been cleared. In some cases revised PPOs sent have been returned due to incorrect address. In the case of pre 2007 retirees, there may be some cases pertaining to the year 2005 and2006 pending for want records. In respect of Post 2007 pensioners, the cases up to the year 2009 (90%) have been completed and remaining cases are being taken up on day to day basis. In the post 2007 pension cases also, there are some cases kept pending for want of records. The delay pertains to many stages – receipt of

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revised pay fixation memo from BSNL offices, locating Service Books, preparing worksheet, checking and dispatch. And then there is shortage of staff in CCA office and inability to engage volunteers to do the work due to lack of infrastructure and space to be provided to them. However, the officers in CCA assured that all efforts are being made to issue revised PPOs at the earliest.

AIBSNLREA, UP STATE BRANCH PURSUES PENSION REVISION CASES WITH CGMT, UP(E), CPMG(UP), PGM(HR/ADMN) LW, CCA(UP-E) AND JOINT CCA(UP-E): Representatives of AIBSNLREA, UP State Branch comprising of S/Shri M.K.Shukla, President, R S Arora, State Secretary, Ambika Singh Finance Secretary, U.C.Srivastava, Jt. Secretary met CGMT UP East, CPMG UP and PGM (HR&Admn), C.O LW on 22.02.2017 and discussed the issues regarding non-forwarding of pending pension revision cases by the SSAs, delay in settlement of medical claims, non-issue of LPC/Revised Fixation memo to the concerned post/pre-2007 pensioners. It was informed by PGM that all pension revision papers from SSAs have already been sent on 16.02.2017 to the CCA Office and details of the same was also made available to the Association. The CPMG, on the other hand, assured to take prompt action to send the accumulated revised PPOs to the respective Post Offices by the DPS Office, Lucknow. Earlier on 21.02.2017, the State Secretary along with Shri A K Shrivastava, CWC Member and Shri Radhey Shyam, Org. Secretary, LW met CCA (UP-E) and Jt CCA (UP-E). A status report regarding issue of revised PPOs as on 20.02.2017 was made available to the Association with the assurance that other pending cases will be settled by 31.03.2017 for which additional staff on deputation have been deployed.

STATEMENT OF AMOUNT RECEIVED DURING MARCH 2017 Sangrur Branch (Punjab State) has deposited Rupees eight hundred (Rs.600.00) only as quota for 3 new life

members in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 27.03.2017.

Ballia Branch (UP State) has deposited Rupees eight hundred (Rs.800.00) only as quota for 4 new life members

in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 18.03.2017.

Shri M L Malhotra, Retd DGM(F) and a member of South-West Delhi Branch has sent a cheque for Rs.

2100.00 to CHQ owards donation on receiving his pension revision arrears which has since been credited in

the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 15.03.2017. East Godavari (AP State) has deposited Rupees one thousand (Rs.1000.00) only as quota for 5 new life

members in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Karur Vyshya Bank on 10.03.2017.

Faridabad Branch (Haryana State) has deposited Rupees two thousand two hundred (Rs.2200.00) only as

quota for 11 new life members in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 04.03.2017.

Allahabad Branch (UP State) has deposited Rupees eight hundred (Rs. 800.00) only as quota for 4 new life

members in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 03.03.2017.

Kanpur Branch (UP State) has deposited Rupees four hundred (Rs. 400.00) only as quota for 2 new life

members in the S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 02.03.2017.

Gujarat State Branch had sent a cheque for Rupees twenty thousand (Rs.20,000.00 ) only as quota for 100

new life members which includes the pending quota for 73 life members. This has since been credited in the

S/B Account of AIBSNLREA with Syndicate Bank on 01.03.2017. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited and published by Shri S Basu, General Secretary, AIBSNLREA