My dear comrades,
I am indeed humbled by the enormous support extended to me by the
Representative Council of the XXIX AIC at Jaipur and unanimously electing me once again to lead the greatest and strongest Executives Association in the country. Yes, Comrades, it is indeed a proud privilege for me and the entire set of new CHQ office-bearers to gain your unqualified and unanimous confidence. I bow down my head before all the valiant, determined, committed and courageous comrades of this proud organization, the Sanchar Nigam
Executives Association. It adds to my strength, our strength that the AIC unanimously decided to nominate our great leader Com G. L. Jogi as our
Chairman to guide us and inspire us in future also. The AIC also decided to give special emphasis and focus on issues related to Finance and Accounts and nominated an officer from the Finance and Accounts wing as Advisor.
In the recent past we were able to make significant breakthroughs on various issues, the major among them being the ITS issue, BWA spectrum refund, expansion of BSNL in MPLS, Phase VII GSM, NGN, ERP, Wi-Fi hotspots,
MLLN eqpt. etc. On the cadre issues also substantial achievements have been worked out by ensuring promotions in different cadres. It stands to our credit that, perhaps, for the first time, promotions have been made current wherever Courts have not interfered with the promotions. Other major achievements are 78.2% IDA merger, recruitment to JTO cadre in 50% Dept quota, amendments in SDE RR and JTO RR, enhancing the quota from 50% to
75% in DE promotion ending adhocism, amendments of BSNLMS RR for
Civil/Elect. Standard pay scales of E2, E3...., Time Bound functional promotion or CPSU cadre hierarchy, 30% superannuaion benefits, first TBP uniformly after 4 years etc are progressing in the positive direction. Everyone knows and understands that these are no mean achievements worked out within a short time frame. I must acknowledge that these could not have been achieved without the total, unqualified and active support of all the
Circles. Yes, leaders and comrades, we bank only on your complete

involvement, your undivided commitment, your never-say-die spirit, your unmitigated energy, your full-throated support. Indeed that is the message that we draw from Jaipur, which sounded the bugles of unity, which gave the clarion call for oneness. We believe that this oneness should not and cannot be limited to within the Association alone but has to cross the barriers and spread to the entire Executive community and even beyond.
We have emerged stronger and more united in the AIC. In fact this was the very message, the message of unity, that had given to the AIC through the
GS report. I am sure it gladdens the hearts of all well meaning comrades throughout the country. This message of unity has worked wonders during the agitation of 1990. It worked miracles in the unification of the Executive cadres through the formation of the Sanchar Nigam Executives Association in
2003 at Kanyakumari. And I know pretty well that this shall not end here.
The experience from the past, the examples set by our illustrious predecessors, all teach us that the unity that we dream for does not end here. It has to go on until every single Executive in BSNL comes under a single roof, under a single umbrella. Therefore, deriving greater strength out of this strong message of unity, I pledge to stand by and along with this great dream of unity.
We have a plethora of agenda before us. But our immediate attention and focus goes to the most difficult, but not impossible, task before us. Making
BSNL profitable by 2017, before the 3rd PRC submits its recommendations, is our short term mission and vision. We know pretty well that it is a Herculean task to wipe out the loss of about 7,000 crores. But nothing is impossible and nothing is insurmountable. The employees of BSNL with the best talent and huge experience do not have the least of doubts in their strength. We have demonstrated it on several occasions in the most adverse conditions. We know, for sure, that the efforts we are going to put in the next two years, is going to decide our future, with the 3 rd PRC in the offing. Our promotions, perks, medical facilities, pension revision, everything depends on the performance during the next two years. We already missed the Performance Related Pay

(PRP) during 2 nd PRC itself. If we miss the bus at the 3 rd PRC in 2017, we may be missing it forever with remote hopes of another chance only after 10 years in 2027. So, as it stands today, Comrades, it is "perform or perish". Yes, it is "do or die". But we all know that we have come to this bridge several times before. And we have crossed it at all times. We are extremely hopeful that the Management will extend its most valuable hands by addressing the issues of development and profitability, which we have already highlighted and will be highlighting at appropriate times.
Other major issues at hand are further follow up on the already worked out
E2, E3 pay scales till its finality, CPSU cadre hierarchy, 30% superannuation benefits and membership verification. Positive recommendations worked out by us through the Joint Committee on all these issues viz. E2, E3 pay scales,
CPSU cadre hierarchy and first TBP uniformly after 5 years are to be pursued with equal vigour in the BSNL Board and the DoT to get the issue resolved once and for all before the next PRC. It will be a great challenge for the
CHQ to introduce a performance based mechanism like CPSU cadre hierarchy in BSNL where thousands of Executives are on higher pay scales. It calls for great vision and threadbare analysis at every step, at every level. The pensionary benefits and social security to the BSNL direct recruits are to be addressed comprehensively even at the expense of some risk in negotiations.
To introduce the mechanism without further delay is our priority, that also with maximum amount of contribution.
As far as the Verification process is concerned, the shortcomings in the recognition rules will have to be got rectified. And the process, Comrades, has to go on unhampered to completely come to terms with the vision of unity and greater strength. Fragmentation of any sort will only aid and abet the designs of the Management. It shall never contribute to the strength and bargaining power of the Executives and employees. Any unwitting stand on the issue will only contribute to cutting at the roots of the very dream of unity to which we are committed like never before.

Therefore, Comrades, let us take Jaipur as a significant signpost. Not that we are taking any deviation but that we are going ahead with added strength, greater commitment and undying determination to attack and achieve the goals set at Jaipur. Comrades, such bold dreams can never come to you on a platter. But you will have to build it brick by brick, stone by stone, which means hard work, sweat and even bloodshed. I know you are ready for it. I shall not fail you, we shall not fail you. The die is cast. Let us go hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder till we reach the shores of our dream.