AGS met PGM (Pers) and DGM (Pers) and informed the discussions Association had with CMD on AGM to DGM (T) Promotions and CPSU Cadre Hierarchy. PGM informed that Pers section is dedicatedly working on these issues.

CHQ President and AGS met CMD BSNL and discussed on

Ø Delay in issue of Promotions from AGM to DGM (Telecom)

Ø Notification of CPSU Cadre Hierarchy .

CMD responded positively and assured to inform PGM Pers on the above two issues.

EDITORIAL: MAY 2019

Recognizing and acknowledging huge strategic national significance of BSNL, new Govt should accord highest priority to converting BSNL into a robust national telecom carrier through massive restructuring and adequate capital infusion. Employees, biggest stake holders, have to make real, honest, unrelenting and serious efforts to ensure massive revenue generation. Qualities of potentially emerging services will solely and surely enable accomplishing this herculean task.

The new Union Government, having secured fresh and massive mandate, is all set to take over, with change of guard in the Telecom Ministry and BSNL that is going to be decisive and significant. Coupled with this overwhelming and decisive change at the helm of affairs of Telecom, change of guards in crucial positions in DOT, Secy/DOT, CMD and Board of Directors of BSNL is to take place. This entire revamping of crucial decision making apparatus at the highest positions, in itself, is a very potent and path breaking development for the simple reason that it will result in fresh and pragmatic relook at the inclusive growth of BSNL.

In this context, implementation of the Revival plan suggested by the premier Management consultant of the Country, IIM/Ahmedabad, in a totally holistic manner has to be of highest priority for the new regime. Selective implantation of the recommendations of IIM(A), leaving one important recommendation of IIM, 3^rd PRC implementation for the BSNL employees is going to be definitely disastrous and counterproductive for revival of BSNL. The beginning of implementation of recommendations of IIM(A) must thus commence with implementation of 3^rd PRC in its totality so as to pave the way for smooth and productive implementation of other crucial recommendation. Entire new dispensation has to essentially reckon that the basic building block of the revival process is a highly motivated Human Resource of the Company. Thus according topmost and highest priority to keeping HRs in complete loop for revival by implementing 3rd PRC, decision on other equally crucial recommendations like allotment of badly and fatally delayed 4 G spectrum, asset monetization, capital infusion, massive restructuring to remodel and refurbish obsolete structure of the Company should be undertaken without any loss of time to translate existing dream of revival into a reality.      

As a responsible Association, we have had been consistently forewarning the policy makers in DOT as well as BSNL management for last couple of years about looming financial crisis that is going to nose dive the Company.  During last three years, the cash flow was not affected due to the refund of more than 15000 Crores on account of excess Income Tax payment, BWA spectrum refund and USO fund subsidy. From our side, we explicitly kept on reminding about this impending disaster, along with undertaking immediate structural reforms, in very specific and clear terms, to the BSNL management. Unfortunately BSNL management miserably failed in introducing even elementary reforms in the HR front which is the backbone and crucial asset of BSNL. Human Resources were virtually rendered obsolete by denying them basic access to inservice trainings so as to help them keep pace with incredibly rapid technological changes. And yes today, we have reached a stage where massive surgery is inescapable.

In the present scenario, Regulator has to fix minimum price for each service so as to factor in and reflect at least the operating cost of the service. This is inevitable as the entire Telecom Industry is reeling under severe stress and all the operators are facing huge losses for the last two and half years after the entry of Reliance Jio, with predatory pricing and market practices strictly forbidden by competition. For the revival and survival of BSNL also, this is required. Predatory pricing and unfair market practices indiscriminately indulged in by R Jio has spelt doom for the Telecom industry in the Country. Struggle on this front has to be intensified to force the Govt. to usher in healthy competition   that is so and critical for growth of the sector in general and BSNL in particular.

Full fledged, regular BSNL Board of Directors have to be appointed on war footing for taking quick business decisions to steer the company out of present crisis. The lethargic and callous attitude of the Govt in appointing regular Board of Directors for BSNL, which caused down fall of BSNL is just unpardonable.

Profit making and revenue earning Circles and SSAs should be given more operational freedom and financial powers. All SSAs and Circles are to be told to be self sustaining by generating sufficient revenues for the operations. Now performing and non performing SSAs/Circles are treated at par by BSNLCO in all respects. Along with responsibility, they must be given sufficient freedom to decide their priority areas also. BSNL management has to allow the SSAs/Circles to spend certain amount from their revenue collection directly, not keep them waiting for the central allotment. Balance amount only should be asked to be diverted to the Corporate account. This will help in creating healthy competition among the SSAs and Circles and compel them to perform better.

Yes, now it is the question of survival for BSNL. As a first step, new Govt has to act very fast and decisively to implement the Revival plan with 3^rd PRC, within no time, to keep the employees motivated. BSNL management has to initiate massive structural and gigantic HR reforms in the company with concrete measures to keep the employees motivated. Employees have to respond in the most befitting and hitherto not witnessed manner by providing just quality services and responding to customer’s fast emerging and never ending aspirations and requirements. This is going to be the mantra as far as employees are concerned.

Possibly, this is the last opportunity for us to be once again counted in the telecom sector and the challenge is the most daunting one, truly formidable and unavoidable. While revival of this great Company means also living up to the expectations of our Countrymen, it is also a question of our bread and butter, future of our families and our budding children, at least for younger generations. We cannot escape missing this great opportunity. Missing this opportunity will herald death of the Company as well as our death. We have to simply give out our very best, without attributing motives or advocating excuses. That has not helped and is not in any way going to help. We have to cross the river. It simply is that.