People's Democracy

BSNL Disinvestment In The Pipeline, Union Warns  

THE BSNL Employees Union has expressed serious concern over the reports that the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is weighing the option of initial public offer (IPO) to raise funds to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore. The union charged the BSNL manager with having already informed the media about the BSNL exploring this option, to finance its expansion plans, in the wake of the government’s refusal to reimburse the BSNL’s license fee and spectrum charges. Further, disinvestment minister Arun Shourie too has told the media that he has given free hand to the BSNL board to take a decision on the IPO option, the union said.

In a statement issued from New Delhi on July 14, the union said the initial public offer from the BSNL would kick-start the process of disinvestment of this public sector undertaking (PSU). It is relevant to note here that of late the government has decided to sell off its remaining shares in five PSUs, including the VSNL, BALCO and IPCL, through the IPO route only.

Since the BSNL has been undertaking unremunerative services on behalf of the government of India, like providing rural telephony, the union said it is incumbent on part of the government to reimburse the BSNL’s license fee and spectrum charges. The government has also unduly burdened the BSNL by making it pay pension to the retired DoT employees. In fact, if the government gives up its flawed policies that are impending the BSNL’s growth, the union said the BSNL would have no need to resort to IPO.

The BSNL Employees Union has demanded of the management not to resort to the IPO. It has urged upon all BSNL employees to voice their protest against the IPO in BSNL. The union has also asked its circle, district and branch level unions to campaign against the move and alert all the BSNL employees against it, as the move would be the beginning of disinvestment in the concern. The union has also urged upon all other unions in the BSNL to come together to rebuff this threat. (INN)