We are thankful to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon'ble Minister for approving the file within one day since it reached his office.

It is confirmed by Mr. Saravana Kumar, Private Secretary to Minister that Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, MOC has approved the File on 78.2% IDA for pension revision.

Com. DG gave an SMS to Shri Saravana Kumar enquiring the status of the File and Shri Kumar immediately replied giving the information.

Com. R L Kapoor reports from New Delhi that the File on 78.2% IDA for pension revision with effect from 1-1-2007 has reached the Minister for Communications today for his approval. Once he approves it the DoT will circulate the same to the four nodal ministries for their views. After obtaining their views the final Cabinet Note will be sent to Cabinet Secretariat. We are happy that our consistent efforts have the desired effects. Details will be given in the next issue of Pensioners Patrika.

Media reports:

"Answering a question in Lok Sabha, the Honourable Minister for Communications said that the matter of extension of 78.2% IDA for pension revision is UNDER CONSIDERATION."

The File on 78.2% IDA for Pension Revision is still in Sanchar Bhavan only.

For the last eight months, it is travelling from one Section to another Section.

Some times, within the same Section from an officer at the top to another officer down.

For them it is only a FILE. For more than one lakh Retirees it is LIFE.

NEW DELHI: The state-run telecom Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will offer free national roaming from June 15, Union minister for Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.Spectrum sharing and trading policy to go to Cabinet this month and full mobile portability will be given from July, he added. The minister was briefing the media today regarding the achievements of his ministry as part of the programmes to mark the Narendra Modi government's first year in office. Ever since it came to power, the NDA government has promised free roaming. It was also promised by its predecessor, the UPA government.

Earlier this year, Vodafone and Reliance announced plans to reduce the roaming charges to a minimum. The BSNL was expected to introduce plans for free roaming in January.In May, BSNL had slashed roaming tariff by up to 40% for its prepaid and postpaid mobile connection following a telecom tariff order issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

The minister said both state-run operators - BSNL and the MTNL - have been showing losses. In 2004, BSNL showed a profit of Rs. 10,000 crore, the minister said. "In 2014, when I took charge, BSNL showed a loss of Rs. 7,500 crore. The MTNL was in profit till 2008, when I took charge... it showed losses." But he said MTNL is now on the mend.

Good governance, the minister said, became a casualty "as far as these PSUs are concerned," and those sitting in Sanchar bhavan will have to "apportion blame".

[News in the Media]

Finance Ministry brings out new 3-page income tax forms

Last date of filing returns extended to August 31

THE ONE RANK, ONE PENSION (OROP)

has become a political issue now.

The All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers for the month of April 2015 has been released by Labour Bureau of India yesterday evening. It is 256 points.

The Index for March 2015 was 254 points.

There is an increase of 2 points from March to April 2015.

The IDA rate from July will be decided after declaring the Index for May 2015.

It will be announced on the last working day of June 2015.

If the Index for May remains at 256 points itself, then there will be an

increase of 1.6% in IDA from July 2015.

AP state pensioners will get 43% fitment benefit in pension revision with effect from 1-7-2013.

From 1-7-2013 to 1-6-2014 it is only notional fixation.

From 2-6-2014 actual financial benefits are permitted.

AP government has issued orders.

A MASSIVE CONVENTION OF ALL CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS INCLUDING BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU AND OTHERS DECIDED TO OBSERVE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2nd SEPTEMBER 15 AGAINST

1. THE ANTI LABOUR POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTING TO ERASE THE RIGHTS GOT OVER DECADES OF STRUGGLES

2.ANTI PEOPLE POLICIES

3.PRICE RISE

4 AND OTHER DEMANDS

1. WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM NOVEMBER 2012

2. 2nd AND 4th SATURDAYS WILL BE HOLIDAYS

3. COVERS 25 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS, 11 PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS AND 7 FOREIGN BANKS

THE PENSION ANOMALY CASE CAME UP FOR HEARING TODAY AT NEW DELHI.

NOBODY APPEARED ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENTS

THE COURT HAD DIRECTED TO MAKE OVER THE ANNEXURES TO US IMMEDIATELY SO

THAT WE CAN FILE OUR REPLY AND ADJOURNED THE CASE TO 6tH JULY 2015 ( as the court

vacation starts)

Com .M Selvarajan gave vote of thanks.

Finally, there is a happy news for BSNL retirees.

Even though it was delayed too much, beyond all expectations, the Cabinet Note prepared by Estt. Section of DOT in December 2014 has been cleared by the Finance Wing.

Yesterday, our Legal Committee Member, Shri R L Kapoor, was told that Estt Section has received the File back from the office of Member (Finance).

Today morning Com. D Gopalakrishnan, our Vice President spoke to the Director concerned and it was confirmed.

Again, today Com. R C Malhotra (NTR Circle President) and Com. Sisodia (Circle Secretary) met the Director. They were also told that Estt Section is finalizing the Cabinet Note.

It will be sent to the Minister for his signature, through Secretary, Telecom soon. Once the Minister approves the draft Cabinet Note it will be sent to the four nodal Ministries for their opinion. As per the rule, the Nodal ministries should convey their views (positive or negative) within 15 days. Thereafter, the Cabinet note will go to the Cabinet.

This is the procedure. Nobody can change this process.

We are happy that Finance has approved the proposal and the file is now moving...

It is confirmed that the Cabinet Note on 78.2% Has been approved by Finance wing of DoT.

Estt Section is taking further action on it.

AS WE ENCOUNTERED SOME PROBLEMS IN OUR OLD SITE bsnlpensioner.org.in

WE HAVE LAUNCHED THIS NEW ONE

bsnlpensioner.in

COMRADES ARE REQUESTED TO LOG IN TO THIS FOR LATEST UPDATES. COMMENTS ARE INVITED FOR

IMPROVEMENTS

The biannual general body meeting of our Chickamagaluru branch in Karnataka

was held on 15-5-2015. Com. P Gangadhara Rao (AGS and Circle President)

as well as Com. R Changappa (Circle Secretary) attended the meeting. They

spoke on various issues like 78.2% case, Future Pension Revision and also about

the ensuing All India Conference to be hosted by Karnataka comrades in Bangalore

in November next.

The meeting elected Shri T S Ramachandra (Retd DGM) as the President,

Shri B N Halappa as the District Secretary and

Shri K Satyanarayana as the Treasurer.

R C Malhotra, Circle President reports from Delhi today that Member (F) has cleared the File and the same has reached the office of Member(Services).

Entire BSNL staff went on two days strike on 21st and 22nd April 2015. Neither the Minister nor the Chairman of Telecom Commission gave any meeting to discuss the issues involved despite repeated requests from the United Forum of BSNL staff unions.

A meeting between the United Forum and the Secretary, Telecom was originally fixed for 25th April (Four days after the strike). Then, it was postponed to 27th April. Again, it was postponed to 1st May 2015. Finally, it was held on 1-5-2015. One of the items raised was the extension of 78.2% IDA benefit for pension revision. Secretary, Telecom has assured that the Cabinet Note would be sent without further delay.