Agitation against non-payment of medical bills and medical allowance to BSNL retirees on Aug 19

Ludhiana: K G Jayaraj, General Secretary, All Indian BSNL DoT Pensioners Association Central Head Quarters, New Delhi on August 7, 2020 has written to P K Purwar, CMD BSNL, New Delhi, informing him about “agitation against non-payment of medical bills and medical allowance to BSNL retirees”. He has further informed that “countrywide standing dharna from 11am to 12pm will be staged on August 19, 2020 before BSNL Offices, Exchanges and Customer Service Centres, holding placards.” 

Jayaraj has further informed Purwar, stating that “of course, we are quite aware of the serious situation prevailing in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is not conductive to conduct any agitation, particularly by the elders. But, we are compelled to take such a decision as our efforts to settle the issue peacefully failed due to the lethargic and discriminative attitude of BSNL management. Therefore, the BSNL management alone will be responsible for any adverse consequences to the participating pensioners. However, care will be taken to hold the programme adhering fully to Covid-19 protocol, limiting participation to 5 to 10 in each centre keeping social distance and wearing mask.”

This has been stated by SK Thaman, (Retired) JTO, Ludhiana here today. He has also written to Jayaraj thanking for taking issue with Purwar. He further wrote to Jayaraj stating that “such a step of yours deserves really appreciation, as retirees are living in a do-or-die situation. In Ludhiana, under GM Telecom Ludhiana, the issue of medical bills payment is lingering on badly since 01.04.2019 and retirees are feeling discouraged, disheartened and isolated.” He added that he had taken up various issues on 23.07.2020/25.07.2020 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Communication Ravi Shankar Prasad. He has also stated that “my last will & appeal to BSNL Administration is to constitute SIT (Special Investigation Team) and FFC (Fact Finding Committee) to plan, time bound programme for Medical Treatment to BSNL Retirees”.