ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER THE BODHI TREE?

          It is a well known fact that when BSNL issued orders for Revision of IDA pay scales w.e.f. 1.1.2007 for BSNL Executives, no revised Pay scales were notified for JTO & equivalent cadres and SDE & equivalent cadres.  The orders on the subject only had a mention that revised IDA pay scales for E1A and E2A would be notified later. Till such time these cadres were granted only E1 and E2 scales, lesser than what these cadres were drawing prior to revision of pay scales. This was the settlement that other two Executives’ Associations had with the BSNL Management at that time. Now more than a year has passed and still no E1A and E2A scales are in sight and the possibility of the Dept. of Public Enterprises (DPE) approving E1A or E2A scales seems to be remote due to the clear stand taken by it that no intermediary scales will be allowed.

2.       It was AIBSNLOA which first raised the issue, immediately after the release of BSNL orders for pay revision of Executives on 5th March 2009 and demanded E2 scale for JTO & equivalent cadres, E3 scale for SDE & equivalent cadres, E4 for Sr.SDE & equivalent, E5 for STS, E6 for JAG and E7 for SG JAG. [View AIBSNLOA letter dated 16th March 2009 addressed to CMD BSNL]. Subsequently, AIBSNLOA has been pursuing the issue at various levels relentlessly.  Viewers may also refer the following letters on the same issue taken up by the Association with different authorities:

  (1)    view AIBNLOA letter dated 6th April 2009 addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises;

   (2)   view AIBSNLOA letter dated 12th May 2009 addressed to the CMD BSNL;

   (3)    view AIBSNLOA letter dated 9th September 2009 addressed to the CMD BSNL;

   (4)   view AIBSNLOA letter dated 5th November 2009 addressed to the Secretary, DoT and

   (5)   view AIBSNLOA letter dated 12th January 2010 addressed to the Secretary, DoT]

        The DPE, on its part, had also forwarded our letter to the Secretary DoT for taking necessary action at their end. [View DPE letter dated 20th October 2009]

       While AIGETOA concurred with our demand and raised it with the BSNL Management, the other two Executive Associations, which are enjoying the facilities and patronage of the Management, were keeping mum, occasionally mentioning only about grant of E1A and E2A scales.  These two Associations neither realized the gravity of the issue nor were worried about the excruciating difficulties experienced by the JTO & equivalent cadres appointed or promoted after 1.1.2007, who have been compelled to draw lesser pay than what they were drawing prior to pay revision, with various shades and degrees of discrepancies, varying from SSA to SSA and Circle to Circle.

3.    Now, all of a sudden, the idea of E2, E3 scales for JTOs and SDEs has dawned in the mind of at least one of these Associations.  It has now even written that, ‘There is absolutely no rationale in pursuing mid scales E1A and E2A for JTOs and SDEs.’   Alas! What a sudden enlightenment? After chanting “E1A and E2A scales” for more than a year, what an abrupt ‘about turn’?  But we are able to understand the compulsion created on them by some recent developments which they are unable to digest. However, they admit in their write up hosted in their website that they are yet to bring out “strong justification” in favour of grant of standard E2 and E3 pay scales for JTOs and SDEs respectively. An honest admission indeed! But this happened on so many other issues also. Like their initial demand for ‘Pension revision on CDA pattern’ while obeying ‘His Master’s Voice’, which they had to subsequently change as ‘Pension revision on IDA pattern’ after the compulsion that was created by the mass. Let them not forget one thing that ‘The Executives - the members are always our Masters’ and not the Others who rule.

4.   We reproduce below the write-up in one Executive Association’s website which prompted us to put the records straight.

2nd June, 10. 

Meeting with Director(HRD)

GS had extensive discussions regarding expeditious completion of DPCs from JTO to TES GrB , TES GR B to adhoc STS and adhoc STS to regular STS were held with Director(HRD) who assured that all possible steps are being initiated to complete all the DPC’s as early as possible and further mentioned that he is very closely monitoring personally monitoring the progress of these DPC’s. 

GS had also elaborate discussion with Director(HRD) regarding new IDA pay scales of JTOs and SDEs, strongly pleading with him that BSNL management needs to relook at the whose issue and seriously consider processing fresh proposal of standard pay scales of E2 and E3 for JTOs and SDEs in view of high quality of JTOs getting inducted in the Organization. There is absolutely no rationale in pursuing mid scales E1A and E2A for JTOs and SDEs. Very shortly, we are submitting a comprehensive note bringing out very strong justification in demanding finalization of standard pay scales of E2 and E3 pay for JTOs and SDEs and thereafter we shall relentlessly pursue the matter.