The meeting called by CMD BSNL with General Secretaries of All Unions and Associations of BSNL on 21/07/2026, started one hour late at 1930 hrs concluded at 2120 Hrs after threadbare discussions on pilot project of Uttarakhand Circle Restructuring, clearance of HR issues and consideration of Representations on Transfers & OTP Requests.
After welcome by the Director, CMD BSNL gave a brief idea about the Restructuring pilot project, conveyed that the restructuring proposal is being initiated as per the directions from the Minister of Communication for implementation of this pilot project. CMD stressed that the amended Restructuring plan will be implemented in all Circles with some changes suggested by the Unions and Associations.
CMD BSNL categorically informed that there is no chance of withdrawal of the Restructuring plan and only modifications are possible in it and appealed to leaders to share their feedback.
CMD BSNL also assured of consideration of HR issues including issues related to Transfer Posting. He expressed displeasure that till nobody is owning BTS except 3-4 Circles and there is need to give more by BSNL workforce and appealed all to give their best for BSNL.
All the representatives present in the meeting strongly opposed the proposed restructuring and unanimously demanded its complete withdrawal. It was pointed out that the proposal is based primarily on Gram Panchayat and Block-level norms, ignoring the well-established manpower planning principles followed by BSNL over the years. The representatives emphasized that the proposal neither considers operational requirements nor the business and revenue needs of BSNL.
The representatives highlighted that the real reasons for service interruptions are shortages of stores and maintenance materials, inadequate bandwidth augmentation, ageing batteries, power plants, and infrastructure deficiencies and not the present deployment pattern of executives. It was suggested that while procurement of materials may continue centrally, maintenance-related works should be decentralized to the Business Area level for faster restoration and better accountability.
The meeting also emphasized that BSNL Management has repeatedly introduced organizational experiments without evaluating their outcomes, and that the present restructuring proposal lacks a sound business model, financial analysis, operational justification, or projected revenue benefits. It was categorically stated that no restructuring proposal should be implemented without first addressing the long-pending HR issues affecting the morale of employees.
We strongly objected to the pilot Restructuring plan just for posting of all JTOs/SDEs based on GPs and Blocks without giving due weightage to the operational requirement of BSNL and its impact on revenue generation. The existing manpower is already inadequate to handle the present workload.
We submitted that there are 7256 blocks Copy<<<>> and about 2,65,000 Gram Panchayats all over India and BSNL does not have adequate manpower to post executives at each block and no chance to cover Gram Panchayats and these arrangements through proposed Restructuring Plan would not only overburden the executives further but will adversely affect service delivery.
We suggested Fresh recruitment of local manpower to meet technical requirements arising from additions of the BBNL network in BSNL. These specialized persons can take care of the issues related to BBNL Network spread across Gram Panchayats which is the primary concern of the management behind this restructuring plan. .
We further stated that Management is hiding its failure in giving adequate store, upgradation of Bandwidth requirement as per enhancement requirement of Internet, required Battery Sets, Power plants and related infrastructure including availability of 24 hours Electric supply which is real cause of down time. We also narrated that the centralized Tender for Stores/Material may be continued, but requested that all the tenders related to maintenance of the services should be decentralized at BA levels for effective utilization of services.
We pointed out that Management is coming with different ideas and has failed in successfully implementing such ideas even though there was some base for such ideas. But in this restructuring plan there is no proper base, nothing supportive is available and hence this plan will be a complete failure and it will add more loss to BSNL.
We categorically said that Management is going ahead unilaterally without giving any consideration to the actual needs of BSNL.
We pointed out that every time we are assured of resolution of HR issues and nothing has materialized even the report of the HR Finance Committee is not discussed before its finalization and all the actions of management are unidirectional and the same is not acceptable.
CMD BSNL was not in a mood to hear further arguments on the issue and he intervened stating that the issues recommended by HR Fin Committee i.e. TA/DA and SAB Contribution increases are already decided and the results will be seen soon. He directed PGM Pers to put up MC Note for its approval in the Management Committee Meeting scheduled on coming Thursday and PGM Pers consented for the same. CMD was of the opinion that it is a routine matter and there is no delay in its consideration and a copy of the report can be shared by PGM Pers.
We strongly put forward that the Management is coming with such repeated proposals and nothing is seen as a positive outcome. We pointed out that on one hand employees are denied third PRC for more than decade giving reasons of Profit loss of BSNL and applying only Affordability clause while other clauses in favor of granting PRC are neglected. We insisted that before going with any such restructuring review even for pilot Project, management has to look into long pending genuine HR issues with financial benefits viz. Third Pay/Wage Revision, Upgraded Standard Pay Scales. We categorically submitted that only after resolving these Major HR issues, the proposal can be discussed but before that we cannot discuss any such even pilot Restructuring plan.
We reiterated our demand for Complete rollback of the Uttarakhand Restructuring Plan remains the primary and non-negotiable demand of all leaders. Instead of going ahead with unilateral implementation, BSNL Management should first start detailed consultations with the Unions and Associations.
We sought for the restructuring plan that must clearly explain the business model, the financial rationale, the expected revenue growth, the operational benefits and the profitability that will come out of the proposed changes.
We asked for a well thought Restructuring Plan that should be prepared without disturbing the existing three-tier structure of Corporate Office, Circle and Business Area and mainly giving consideration of generation of minimum required revenue for BSNL.
We raised serious objections, fundamental lacunae in the Restructuring plan and demanded for immediate roll back of Restructuring plan for Uttarakhand Pilot project and discuss all the issues in detail.
It completely ignores the long-standing norms that have been followed by BSNL for years. No proper weightage has been given to the actual operational requirements of BSNL and to revenue generation. Management is proceeding unilaterally without considering the real needs of BSNL and the feelings of the workforce. While strengthening rural connectivity is important, it should be achieved within the existing organizational framework and without harming the revenue-generating areas.
Any Restructuring plan that adversely affects the revenue-generating capabilities of the Circles will not be acceptable. We insisted that Management should not present vague proposals to DoT and should withdraw this baseless and defective Restructuring plan.
We also expressed serious concern about the insensitive approach of Management in dealing HR issues and specifically delay of two months in considering the genuine representations.
In response, CMD BSNL told that discussions should continue and instructed Director HR and PGM Pers to have detailed discussions with these leaders and look into their suggestions and left the meeting stating that he is having another meeting.
Before leaving meeting, CMD BSNL confirmed the following
- He directed to continue the meeting, have more rounds of discussions, include Uttarakhand team also in the discussions and finalize the issues.
- To decide to review all Representations received against transfers viz. Medical, PwBD, caregiver, immunity, age bar and pending OTP Transfers etc will be considered sympathetically.
- On HR issues recommended by the Committee will be decided in the coming BSNL MC meeting which is scheduled on coming Thursday.
- On our request to CMD BSNL to approve the recommendations of the Committee for clearing disparity in educational qualification as now Honourable court has given directions for its consideration, CMD BSNL informed that he will discuss it with PGM Legal and suitable action will be taken on this subject matter.
The meeting continued by Director HR and PGM Pers and made one more attempt to convince leaders that there is nothing wrong in this pilot project and they are ready for discussions and appealed to leaders to share their suggestions and firmly assured that all possible suggestions will be given consideration of the pilot project.
We shared the restructuring guidelines issued by BSNL in 2021 for justification of posts wherein basis for justification of posts is Landlines, Broadbands, FTTH, Transmission Network and nowhere it is mentioned that posts will be justified on the basis of the Gram Panchayat.
We shared the recent orders issued by Kerala Circle, Karnataka Circle, Maharashtra Circle and Gujarat Circle for restructuring review where no consideration is given to Gram Panchayat and Block level posting of Employees as being done in Uttarakhand Circle.
We called for reasons for such justification based on Gram Panchayat and block and in response PGM Rstg/SR informed that the Minister of Communications desires to have presence of BSNL employees at Rural places to grab the business opportunities.
We expressed that for many years BSNL Management has been informing that there is no business in the Rural area and has taken the decision to close all rural Exchanges . In the last five years each and every exchange in Rural and even in urban area is closed by closing or changing over existing landlines to FTTH and in Gram Panchayat level no landline connection is working and entire communications is depending on Mobile services maintained through vendors and FTTH Connections maintained through TIPs. It was also propagated by Management that entire business activities are centralized at BA and Circle HQs and maximum executives transferred from their locations are posted to BA/Circle HQs. The activities like MM, Tendering, Planning of Equipments, Distribution of stores etc is centralized and many executives and JEs have already undergone transfers and transferring them again will be harassment to them.
We shared a copy of Restructuring order issued by BSNL Corporate office before fortnight wherein three tier structure is issued for BSNL works Copy<<<>> and within 15 days six tier Structure in being issued and asked for clarification for such contradiction order. PGM Pers responded that this is a different scenario and Uttarakhand is different. When we asked details it was only shared that it is reducing layers for office efficiency and in field units the efficiency will be increased by addition of tiers. We expressed that management is using rules as per choice and not following ethical or office values in deciding the issues.
We also shared that since last decade the JTO and SDE are treated equal and JTOs were reporting to AGMs and this has been changed all of sudden without giving any reasons for it. PGM Pers informed that in these arrangements also the reporting of JTOs may continue to AGMs but added that some JTOs will have to report SDEs.
On posting of JTOs at Gram panchayat level, PGM Pers informed that no JTOs will be posted at Gram Panchayat Level and all will be posted to Block level but they will have to monitor Gram Panchayats under his /her control.
We asked for the supporting hand as the majority who were responsible for line maintenance have left BSNL and TIPs and contract workers of vendors available do not bother with instructions of JTOs/SDEs. We expressed what will be the change in their working if JTOs are posted at Block level as JTO do not have any control over TIPs and workers of vendors. This will not solve the very purpose of change in posting of JTOs, but there was no suitable answer from the management and was informed by Director HR that JTO will be king of that area. We emphasized that in today’s scenarios when even CGMs do not have adequate powers to deal with any issue independently as per practical requirement and how JTOs working at Gram Panchayat Level will be without even minimum required administrative or financial powers, may be explained. Director HR informed that Management will be posting JTOs to their home town places and directed PGM Pers to ensure that certain powers are delegated to JTOs.
We narrated that Management is giving wrong feedback to DoT and hence such baseless and anti BSNL proposals are being projected.
We stressed that Management has to put the factual position before DoT and Honourable Minister of Communications . But unfortunately, such capabilities are missing and management seems to be following each word by DoT without applying mind. We told that we will not allow Management to go ahead with such one sided, biased Restructuring plan damaging overall growth of BSNL, future of BSNL and its executives.
We highlighted that associations and Unions are pursuing additional posts for effecting promotions for all eligible executives and JEs but nothing has been done by Management even after constitution of two committees for the same. But has come up in hurry with this Restructuring plan of rearrangement among available executives and employees shifting them from revenue earning areas to loss making areas.
We pressed that if management really wants to have proper restructuring then first add the post for effective promotion of all eligible JEs and JTOs respectively to JTO and SDE Cadre and in that case some rearrangement with focus to revenue can be decided.
We suggested that wherever required, outsourced manpower may be utilized at the GP level. Specialized activities such as Transmission, Core Network, OFC and other technical domains must continue to be handled only by specialized officers. Expecting every JTO or SDE to perform all specialized functions is neither practical nor acceptable.
We reiterated that we have no objection for rural areas where there is really Telecom business for BSNL with desired revenue but we will not allow posting even in semi urban areas where there is no desired revenue for BSNL.
We stressed that management cannot work in blind approach in following the each and every instructions of DoT/MoC and it will have to take stand as per the needs of BSNL.
We pointed out the concept of One Geography One Owner projected in order dated 04/07/2026 and how the geography has been defined in Uttarakhand Circle. We asked when even two Gram Panchayats are not at one Geography, how it will be owned by One owner and there was no answer from Management to it.
We categorically pointed out that there will be no change in place of posting of AGM and above level officers but about each and every JTO and SDE will be dislocated. PGM Pers informed that the post of GMs is being reduced as officers on deputation are to be repatriated to DoT. We asked why these posts are reduced, when a good number of officers are available and these posts can be occupied by other eligible officers and junior officers under looking after arrangements. PGM Pers informed that the issues will be discussed further.
In continuation to our queries we have asked for clarification on certain points as submitted in the last meeting Copy<<<>> and it was assured that such issues will be clarified in the next meeting.
We also narrated that there are no office Accommodations in many Blocks and some districts and BSNL has closed its offices by surrendering rented buildings and hence posting of Executives and employees at these places will be nothing but futile exercise and hence needs to be stopped before it is implemented.
We pointed out that in Restructuring order it is mentioned that there is no expenditure involved in implementation of this Restructuring model, but there is huge money involved in mass transfer of executives and employees and management cannot continue with such wrong projection of information.
We asked for data used for calculation of profits after implementation of this Restructuring plan and it was not available with Management. We informed that BSNL has installed over One lakh Mobile towers in Rural areas, but BSNL is not earning profits out of it but losses are added to BSNL balance sheet. This futile Restructuring exercise will also add losses to BSNL and there is no chance of any profit out of it.
We narrated that Uniform implementation without considering ground realities will adversely affect both service quality and the employees.
Existing manpower is already inadequate to handle the present workload. Such an arrangement centred only at Gram Panchayat level would only overburden executives at JTO/SDE level and will adversely affect service delivery.
Specialized activities such as Transmission, Core Network, OFC and other technical domains must continue to be handled by specialized executives and such random shifting on basis of Gram Panchayat and Block will hamper the specialized needs of BSNL.
BSNL Management expects that every JTO/SDE has to perform all activities starting from labour to GM level including specialized functions and with fixing responsibility only to JTO/SDEs is neither practical nor acceptable. This is an impractical and unfair expectation which will ruin the cadres which are working at frontline and facing different challenges.
We insisted that adequate resources, maintenance funds, infrastructure and vehicles must be provided before assigning any additional responsibilities to the field units.
The unique geographical and operational challenges of hilly and difficult terrains must be properly factored into any restructuring plan.
We expressed that BSNL was formed to overcome control of Government on newly created PSU, but over the years entire control of BSNL is regained by DoT and there are virtually no role of BSNL Management and every time we are being informed that this action and that action is being taken as per the directions of DoT.
We submitted that if the restructuring is being driven by higher authorities in DoT and the Ministry, then all BSNL employees should be brought on Government rolls and should be extended the benefits of the 7th/8th Central Pay Commission along with Government Pension to executives and employees.
After elaborate discussions for about one hour, it has been decided that before or on coming Friday, fresh discussions will be held in presence of Team Uttarakhand and both sides will present their views and then only further course of action will be decided.
