FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release 14th July 2013 Don’t Bury the Telegram Services – It is Still Alive The decision of the BSNL Management and Communications Minister to stop the 163 year old telegram services is ill advised and anti-people. The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations once again expresses its strong protest and demands the government and the BSNL Management to continue the services, which are still used by certain sections of the people. The plea of the BSNL for taking this drastic decision is the so called loss to BSNL for running the telegram services. It is stated by the CMD BSNL that while there is about Rs. 100 crore expenditure per year, the revenue is less than Rs. One crore. The next argument is that there are better communication services available to the people, like SMS, mobile services, internet etc. These are but only distortion of facts and reality. More than 50,000 telegrams are booked/ sent/delivered every month and lakhs of rupees received through the services. The so-called expenditure of Rs. 100 crore per year is a myth. The staff of the BSNL is doing the telegram services also in the same Customer Service Centres. Out of many counters for internet, mobile etc. one more counter is there for telegrams. No extra staff is employed, nor anybody is going to be retrenched after stopping the telegram services. There is not a single paise spent for the staff of telegram service alone. There is no extra maintenance charge, since it is part of the telecom services. All the telegram service centres are in departmental buildings and no rent is to be paid. In fact, more than Rs. One crore is received by the management without any major expenditure. Further, there are responsible and recognised unions representing the two and half lakh executives and non-executive employees in BSNL. The Management took the decision without consulting or even discussing with these unions/associations, which have great stakes in the services. The telegram services are provided as per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. Any change like closure cannot be done without any amendment to the Act by the Parliament. The closure decision is completely in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act. Telegram is a heritage service which is still used by the people. The rush to send telegrams in the last few days clearly shows their love and nostalgia for the telegram services. The service can be continued without any extra expenditure and some profit. The decision is nothing but backing out from providing service to the people. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations demands the Government and the BSNL to rescind their decision and ensure continued telegram service to the people. Telegrams are not dead; Don’t bury the living. It will be an injustice to the nation. V.A.N.Namboodiri Convener, Forum
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 12:08:48 +0000
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