As part of All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB)’s week-long campaign against the anti-BSNL policies of the government, the AUAB North East-II Circle, comprising of three North Eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, organised a street corner meeting in front of the office of the General Manager Telecom BSNL, Super Market here Thursday.
AUAB is protesting against the anti-BSNL policies of the government and demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. Speaking to Nagaland Post, AUAB NE-II circle chairman, Sukhai Sema, said that the purpose of meeting was to bring awareness among public about the anti-BSNL, anti-public sector policies being adopted by the Centre.
Sema said that subsidiary tower company had been formed by splitting it from BSNL, which he maintained was a “very first step to kill the existence of BSNL in the long run”.
AUAB NE-II circle chairman cautioned that once BSNL was out from the market, the cost of using mobile, telephone or broad band would increase. Further, he expressed apprehension that service in rural areas would be mostly affected, job creation for locals would be closed and contract works and supply work now being done by locals would be affected.
AUAB NE-II circle chairman, therefore, demanded immediate rollback of creation of the subsidiary tower company, saying there should not be any plans to split BSNL.
Stating that most of the private telecom companies had been given 4G spectrum license, Sema asserted that 4G spectrum should be allotted to BSNL. “Government of India should also allot 4G license immediately to BSNL for rolling out of 4G services so as to compete with private telecom operators,” he said. Further, he said central public sector undertakings (CPSUs) should not be privatised as it would not only affect employees and dependents of CPSUs but also the market and public.
Other BSNL telecom officials also highlighted and sensitized the public and staff on the issue.