Telecom Minister lashed out at BSNL employees, said in the leaked audio tape – work or sit at your home
Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has given a stern warning to 62 thousand employees of BSNL to work, or go home. For the sick BSNL, the government has given a package of one lakh sixty thousand crore rupees. The government is also being criticized for this. An audio of Vaishnav has been leaked in which he is asking the employees of this government company to work hard for the next two years.
Ashwini Vaishnav told the employees that they should either work or take VRS, otherwise those who do not work will be forcibly given VRS, as was done in Railways.
Significantly, the Central Government has recently approved a revival package of Rs 1.64 lakh crore to bring BSNL back on track. The package has three parts – improving services, strengthening books and expanding the fiber network.
After this decision of the Union Cabinet, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav had told that the government will allot spectrum to BSNL to offer 4G services. He had said that, “We are committed to strengthen BSNL.” Telecom is a strategic sector, where the government is committed to help BSNL.
According to Vaishnav, the first revival package given to BSNL in 2019 brought stability to the company and thereafter posted operating profit. Now with the revival package of Rs 1,64,156 crore, BSNL will become a viable entity.
BSNL is rapidly losing market share to private players and would have been in deep trouble if it had not received government support for upgradation of technology and services. Vaishnav had said that BSNL’s statutory dues of Rs 33,000 crore would be converted into equity. Also, the company will issue bonds to pay off bank loans of the same amount (Rs 33,000 crore).
Vaishnav had told that the package includes a cash part of Rs 43,964 crore. Under the package, Rs 1.2 lakh crore will be given in non-cash form during four years. He had said that the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also approved the merger of BSNL and Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL).
