The government’s attempt to privatise Air India, by selling 76% of it’s shares had failed. There was no one to buy Air India. So, now, the government is trying to some how sell out Air India, by giving more concessions to the buyers. In tune with this, the government is proposing to sell all the 100% shares, instead of the earlier proposal to sell only 76% shares. It is needless to say that the government may come forward to give more and more concessions to the private companies, to ensure Air India’s privatisation.

[Source: Times of India dt. 12.06.2018]

Former Telecom Minister, Dayanidhi Maran was earlier let off by a special court, in the case of installing of an illegal telephone exchange at his residence and misusing it for the benefit of Sun TV. Now, the CBI has filed a criminal revision petition in the Chennai High Court, against the discharge of Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran, from this case.

[Source: Times of India dt. 13.06.2018]

Former Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram was interrogated for the second time, by the Enforcement Directorate. This interrogation is being made in connection with the charge of money – laundering, related to the Aircel – maxis case. Media reports say that P. Chidambaram’s son, Karthi, may be charge – sheeted in this case.

[Source: TOI dt. 13.06.2018]

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Agartala, has decided that the next All India Conference of the Union, shall be held at Mysuru, in Karnataka circle. The All India Centre has finalised the dates of the AIC as 4^th to 7^th January, 2019. In view of this, it is informed that all the circle and district conferences which have become due / or will becoming due before the AIC, should be conducted, to ensure the participation of their delegates in the Conference.

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) will be held at 14:30 has on 26.06.2018, at BSNLMS office, Atul Grove Road, New Delhi. The meeting will deliberate various important issues including the Wage Revision, Subsidiary Tower Company and BSNL’s revival.

Prominent Bangladeshi writer and publisher Shahzahan Bachchu, aged 60, was killed on Monday. Bachchu was an out spoken person of secularism. It is a matter of serious concern that secular writers and bloggers are being killed one after another, by Islamic extremists, in Bangladesh.

Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, held a meeting yesterday with the Core Committee, consisting of the General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA. Salient points in the presentation to the CMD BSNL are as follows:-

BSNL is facing a severe crisis in cash flow, due to the disruptions made by Reliance Jio. At least, 40% revenue is lost in the mobile segment and 3 times of the new connections are getting disconnected in the broadband segment. Payment of salaries has become a problem. The Company cannot go to the government for financial help to pay salaries, especially when the Company is recommending wage revision.

Hence, ways and means to step up the sales of BSNL in a big way, and thereby to increase the revenue collection substantially, is the need of the hour. The following are the important steps that BSNL is going to take to boost it’s revenue collection.

CFA Segment:-

So far as broadband segment is concerned, 3 times of the new connections given, are being disconnected. Broadband connection on copper cable has speed limit. Still, by offering 70 GB data per month, we have to encourage customers to avail it.

Secondly, BSNL is going to provide broadband connections with 100 mbps speed by deploying wireless and also by having tie up with cable TV operators. Through this arrangement, BSNL has planned to increase it’s broadband target by 20 times. To achieve this, each and every employee of BSNL has to become a sales and marketing man.

CM Segment:-

To overcome the challenge of Reliance Jio, BSNL has planned to increase it’s marketing aggressively. To achieve this, the Company has planned to give 12% discount to the retailers, for 3 months. Presently, Jio is giving 9% discount and Airtel is giving 5% discount.

EB Segment:-

EB Segment saved the Company last year, when it faced severe erosion in revenue. Maximum number of leased lines were given. However, Jio is going to enter this Segment also in a big way, within the next 7/8 months. This year the Company has planned to increase the revenue from EB by Rs.500 crores. To achieve this, the Company is going to engage franchisees.

Finally, the CMD BSNL said that each and every employee of BSNL has to become a sales and marketing man.

The Core Committee responded by saying that it would soon meet and chalk out suitable action programme for boosting BSNL’s sales and marketing.