Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Safeguard The Interests Of Employees Of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. on 19 April, 2010
> Title : Need to safeguard the interests of employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.
SHRI P.R. NATARAJAN (COMBATORE): Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, carved out of the Department of Telecom Services under the Union Government’s Ministry of Communications, has now slipped from its pre-eminent position due to non-availability of about 4.5 crore mobile lines and other moves to divest it by about 30% though it could maintain its first place till 2006 due to the dedicated efforts of its employees. BSNL that made a profit of Rs. 5000 crores a year, could make only Rs. 574 crores of profit in 2008-09. A written assurance was given to BSNL employees in 2006 that BSNL will not be privatized and its shares will not be divested. But the Sam Pitroda Committee’s recommendations for 30% divestment, cutting of 1 lakh jobs, offer of golden hand shake, outsourcing of cable laying have caused agitation in the minds of BSNL employees whose Joint Action Committee has called for an indefinite strike from 20th of April, 2010. Hence, I urge upon the Union Government to allay the justified apprehension in the minds of BSNL employees by way of guaranteeing pensionary benefits and expanding infrastructure facilities while giving up moves towards privatizing and outsourcing.