The Hindu Business Line : Absorption in BSNL/MTNL — Telecom service officers to defy deadline

THE Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officers have decided to defy the October 10 deadline set by the Government to get absorbed in BSNL or MTNL on the grounds that the package offered was not acceptable.

In a general body meeting of the ITS Officers Association, it was decided that none of the 2,200 officers, currently on deputation in the two public sector companies, will accept the compensation package offered by the Union Cabinet for getting permanently absorbed. Mr S.S. Sirohi, President, Indian Telecom Service Association (ITSA), told Business Line that the Government was not prepared to listen to the concerns of the officers and had designed the package without any discussion with the telecom officers.

"The Department of Telecom has humiliated us by closing doors for negotiations. It is very unfortunate that the officers who have spent a significant part of their careers for the development of the telecom sector are being shown the door in this manner.

It has been resolved that no ITS officer will take absorption on the offered demeaning terms. " ITSA has written to the Prime Minister and to the Home Secretary, seeking immediate intervention. It has also offered a compromise formula wherein the officers have sought additional avenues for promotion. This was, however, rejected by the Government.

"We have 700 officers at the level of joint secretary. BSNL does not have enough positions to compensate. Besides, the salaries would also come down significantly if we decide to get absorbed. We are not opposed to getting absorbed, but at least no officer should be worse off after permanently moving to BSNL or MTNL," said Mr Sirohi. In a letter written to the Prime Minister, ITSA said, "DoT is acting arbitrarily in utter disregard of the stays on this process granted by various courts. DoT is going ahead with its disastrous plan of throwing out the entire middle and top management of BSNL and MTNL."

Meanwhile DoT is sending offer letters to former BSNL officers, including those who have since started working for private telecom service providers, to replace the ITS officers. Assistance from the Railways and the Army has also been sought as a contingency measure.

ITSA said that such a move would make the two companies sick, as they would lose the momentum and the ability to survive competition from private players. The officers said that they may meet the DoT once again on Monday to break the deadlock.

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