BSNL employees stage protest

Ludhiana, October 15, 2012: Activists of the Forum of BSNL Executives and Non-Executives Unions/Associations held massive day long dharna infront of the GMT Office Ludhiana.

They demanded immediate repatriation of ITS (Indian Telecom Services Officers) into DOT. The call of the same was given by the Central Headquarter of the Forum.

Addressing the gathering Balwinder Singh, District Secretary, BSNL Employees Union told that the ITS officers are on deputation from DOT to BSNL since the inception of BSNL. They are on the rolls of DOT but drawing salaries and allowances from the BSNL. The entire workforce of Executive and Non-executives numbering 2.70 lakh has taken absorption in BSNL. But ITS officers numbering around 1,500 are reluctant to join BSNL. He demanded immediate repatriation of ITS officers into DOT.

Jasbir Singh, CWC Member, SNEA (India) said that the BSNL is incurring heavy losses since the last 4 financial years. In the current financial year, the loss of BSNL is around Rs. 9,000 crores. The services of BSNL are deteriorating due to the inefficient management of ITS officers. He further stated that the financial position and services of BSNL cannot improved until the ITS officers are not absorbed in BSNL. 

While addressing the gathering, Raj Kumar, District Secretary, SNEA (India) and Rajender Singh, Executive Member, AIBSNLEA said that the top management of BSNL is also not taking any serious steps to get absorbed the ITS officers in BSNL. He urged upon the central leadership to start serious struggle including strike for settlement of this long pending demand.

Among others, S. P. Singh, Circle Secretary, NFBTE, Hari Narayan Singh, Assistant Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Baljinder Singh, District Secretary, AIBSNLEA, Paramjit Singh, District President, BSNLEU Ludhiana, Harbhajan Dass, District President, SNEA (India), Jeet Singh, District President, AIBSNLEA, Sikander Singh, Assistant Circle Secretary, AIBSNLEU, Avtar Singh Jhande, Assistant District Secretary, BSNLEU, Darshan Singh, Sudesh Joshi, Gurcharan Singh, Chaman Lal, Amrik Singh, Madan Lala, Som Singh and Gulzar Singh were present.