ALL INDIA BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED

RETIRED EXECUTIVES’ ASSOCIATION

Central Headquarters

111, New Ashiana Apartments, Plot-10, Sector-6, Dwarka,

New Delhi 110 075

Website address: http://aibsnlreachq.brinkster.net

President: P D Shukla General Secretary: S Basu Financial Secetary: Hari Ram Bharti

No.AIBSNLREA/CHQ/2009/01 Dated January 12, 2009

To

Shri Siddhartha Behura,

Secretary,

Department of Telecommunications,

Sanchar Bhawan,

New Delhi 110001

Subject: Reassurance for payment of pensionary benefits including family pension to the absorbed BSNL Employees by the Government

Sir,

At the very outset we would like to express our sincere thanks for once again reaffirming, vide your letter No. 40-12/2007-Pen (T) dated 05.01.2009, that the ultimate responsibility towards payment of pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL Employees (excepting those recruited after 01.10.2000) lies with the Government under sub rule 21 of Rule 37-A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. However, we are also constrained to convey that such reassurance in the matter of payment of pensionary benefits under various provisions of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 to the absorbed BSNL pensioners brings no joy to them since they continue to be deprived of their just dues. We are afraid that had this position been known beforehand that the absorbed BSNL Pensioners would be so badly treated by Department of Telecommunications and they would have to run from pillar to post to get their pensionary benefits as and when due but without result, none of them would have taken absorption in BSNL.

2. You may kindly appreciate that our frustration and feelings are not without reasons when the following few issues concerning the BSNL pensioners are yet to be resolved and there is no response from the concerned authorities in Sanchar Bhawan despite our repeated representations:-

(1) Non-extension of benefit of merger of 50% IDA w.e.f 1.1.2007 to the pre-2007 BSNL pensioners

DoT, while issuing orders allowing merger of 50% IDA to the serving BSNL Employees, did not order to extend the benefit to the pre-2007 BSNL pensioners. But in Government when 50% of DA was ordered to be merged with basic pay w.e.f 1.4.2004 for the Central Government Employees, orders were also issued extending similar benefit to the Government Employees retired prior to 1.4.2004. This differential treatment towards BSNL pensioners is regrettable since payment of pensionary benefits to both the Central Government Employees and absorbed BSNL Employees are regulated under the same CCS (Pension Rules), 1972.

(2) Non implementation of the Government Orders revising various entitlements on pensionary benefits endorsed vide DoT No. 36-06/2008/Pen-T dated 04.09.2008

On the basis of recommendations of 6th Central Pay Commission, the Government has revised various provisions regarding pensionary benefits including family pension which have since been implemented for the Government pensioners and arrears have also been paid. The benefit includes enhancement of limit for payment of Gratuity w e f 1.1.2006. These revised benefits are applicable for absorbed BSNL pensioners who are covered under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. The DoT has endorsed these orders to all concerned authorities for implementation, but the concerned Controllers/Joint Controllers of Communications Accounts of DoT responsible for payment of pensionary benefits have not implemented the same for absorbed BSNL pensioners.

(3) Revision of pension/family pension for the pre-2007 BSNL Pensioners consequent to impending revision of IDA pay scales w e f 1.1.2007

The Government issued simultaneous orders revising the pension/family pension of the pre-2006 Government pensioners while issuing orders for revision of Pay Scales for the Central Government Employees w e f 1.1.2006. Now, DoT has to issue Presidential Directive revising the IDA pay scales for BSNL Executives for which the process has been initiated. But no action has so far been taken to issue orders for revision of pension/family pension for the pre-2007 BSNL Pensioners.

3. From the foregoing, you may kindly appreciate that such issues for the Government Pensioners are automatically being taken care of. But despite having repeated the commitment, as has again been done now vide the order dated 5th January 2009 as quoted above, that it is the responsibility of the Government to pay all pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL pensioners as per CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the commitment is being allowed by DoT to remain in paper only. We, therefore, urge upon you to kindly personally intervene in the matter so that the BSNL pensioners do not have a feeling of being let down.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

(S Basu)

General Secretary

Copy to:

1. Ms. Rajni Razdan,

Secretary,

Deptt. of Pension & PW.

2. Shri T Sridhara,

Member (Services),

Telecom Commission.

3. Shri R Ashok,

Member (Finance),

Telecom Commission.