FNTO & BDPA(I) Grand Function - 12/05/2019

A Grand Function was organized jointly by FNTO and BDPA(I) District unions of Karaikudi TD at Kannadasan Manimandapam, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu on Sunday, the 12/05/2019 on the eve of May Day celebrations. The function started with Flag hoisting ceremony at 10.30 Hours. The National Flag was hoisted by Sri D.Chandrasekaran, Jt. General Secretary of FNTO and Circle Secreatary of BDPA(I), Tamil Nadu Circle while the Union Flag was hoisted by Sri R.Jayabalan, Asst. General Secretary and Circle Secretary of FNTO, Tamil Nadu Circle. The “Kaviyarasu Kannadasan” statue was garlanded by our Chief Guest Dr.V.Manickavasagam, Former Dean & Registrar of Alagappa University, Karaikudi. Sri G.Muthukumaran, District Secretary of FNTO welcomed the gathering and explained about the aim and object of the function containing three parts.

A Seminar was conducted on “the revival and financial viability of BSNL – Workers part” which was presided over by Sri K.Vallinayagam, Ex. General Secretary of FNTO. In his presidential address, Sri K.Vallinayagam elaborated the various activities of FNTO to strengthen the BSNL organisation and pointed out the failures on the part of recognized unions in ensuring the financial viability of BSNL. The Chief Guest Dr.V.Manickavasagam explained about the past, present and future of BSNL in details, by giving a SWOT analysis on various aspects. He, as a proud and loyal customer of BSNL, appreciated the BSNL workers for their dedicated service. While Sri D.Chandrasekaran spoke about the IIM-A report and its implications on BSNL, Sri R.Jayabalan spoke about the acute necessity of strengthening of FNTO & BDPA(I).

A history was written at Karaikudi by releasing a book titled “How did BSNL workers get Government Pension – The History”. The book, which was compiled in Tamil with relevant orders by Sri K.Vallinayagam, Ex. General Secretary of FNTO and Advisor of BDPA(I), was released by Sri KR.Palanichamy, Circle President of BDPA(I), Tamil Nadu Circle and the first copy was received by Sri S.Ramakrishnan, DGM(Finance) Retired, Karaikudi, an active member of BDPA(I).

After lunch break, Felicitations to the leaders elected in both the All India Conferences of FNTO and BDPA(I) held recently at Hyderabad and Thiruvalla were conducted in a grand manner. The function was presided over by Sri KR.Palanichamy and Sri D.Chandrasekaran, Jt.GS, Sri R.Jayabalan, AGS, Sri G.Muthukumaran, AGS of FNTO as well as Sri M.Abdul Wahab, CWC Member, Sri K.Vallinayagam, Advisor, Sri S.Nambiar, Advisor of BDPA(I) were felicitated by the District Secretaries and other circle office bearers.

At last, felicitations to the retired FNTO members who had become new BDPA(I) members were conducted. Sri T.Vincentnathan, TT, Sri M.Ramachandran, TT, Sri T.Muruganathan, TT and Sri SP.Karuppiah, TT were felicitated and presented with shawl by the leaders on the dias. All the four retired members gave donations to the union with minimum amount of Rs.2000/- and maximum amount of Rs.10,000/- which showed their love and gratitude towards our organization.

Sri B.Manoharan, District Secretary of BDPA(I) offered vote of thanks and the function concluded successfully at 18.00 hours with National Anthem. More than 150 members had participated in the function all over from Tamil Nadu.

Saving BSNL - The need of the hour - BusinessLine Editorial

The Centre needs to act urgently to revive this strategically important PSU

The Centre must take immediate steps to revive Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd if it wants to achieve the objective of reaching 100 per cent tele-density in rural areas and keep telecom services affordable for the common man. While private operators have taken over the market with billions of dollars in investments and cost-efficient operations, India’s telecom consumers need a public sector entity like BSNL as an effective counter to any monopolistic venture that may arise due to the ongoing financial stress in the sector. From as many as nine operators, intense competition and below-cost pricing have reduced the number to just three players. The larger surviving operators, who have so far managed to sustain their operations, are under pressure to increase tariffs. The highly leveraged balance sheets of these operators could also force them to slow down the rollout of next-generation data networks to rural and economically unviable areas. In this context, it is important to have a strong PSU telecom company which will not only prevent private players from increasing tariffs as an easy means to escape financial stress but also ensure that rural consumers are catered to.

Reviving BSNL is tough, but not impossible. The once dominant public sector company has been reduced to a mere footnote, thanks to years of political interference and bureaucratic functioning. There have been many attempts earlier to improve the company’s operations, but most of them remain on paper. For example, a committee headed by Sam Pitroda, then advisor to the Prime Minister, offered a 15-point plan to turnaround the PSU, including trimming staff, divesting 30 per cent equity, adopting a managed services model for its various operations and inducting a chief executive from the private sector. This plan has not been acted upon.

Time is running out, though. BSNL has, in 14 years, moved from Navratna status to being declared as a sick PSU, with cumulative FY2009-18 EBIT losses of Rs.82,000 crore. To prevent any further erosion of value, the Centre must do three things. First, divest all the real estate land parcels owned by the company and invest the proceeds into buying all the technology BSNL needs to be at par with private players. Second, implement the proposals of the Pitroda panel, especially those related to cutting down staff costs and hiving off various businesses into different verticals. Here, the Centre can study how British Telecom, once a struggling PSU in the UK, was turned around. Finally, remove all political interference and appoint a strong, independent management to run the company. This will not only secure the future of BSNL, but also ensure that affordable digital services reach every nook and corner of the country.

Published on May 03, 2019