Lok Sabha Question No. 3480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Voluntary Retirement of BSNL Employees in Kerala
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3480 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2021

## VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OF BSNL EMPLOYEES IN KERALA

## 3480.   SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  employees  of  BSNL  were  given  an  option  for voluntary retirement during the financial year 2019-2021 in Kerala;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and the respone of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the causes frequent call drops of BSNL mobile service in the country;
- (d) if so the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps to privatise the BSNL; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a)&(b) The  Union  Cabinet  on  23.10.2019  approved  the  revival  plan  for  Bharat  Sanchar Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  which  inter-alia  includes  reduction  in  employee  cost  through  Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for employees of age 50 years and above.VRS was implemented all over India  in  BSNL  including  Kerala  with  effect  from  31.01.2020.  Total  78,569  employees  in  BSNL including around 4593 employees in Kerala have retired voluntarily.

(c) & (d) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has laid down benchmarks for various Quality of Service (QoS) parameters including call drops by way of QoS regulations issued from time to  time.  TRAI  monitors  the  performance  of  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs)  including  BSNL against the benchmarks through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs). TSPs in India are required to ensure that the call-drop rate in their mobile networks remains within the benchmarks laid down by TRAI.

Wherever the benchmark is not met by TSPs, the explanation of the service provider is called for and after  considering  the  explanation  submitted  by  service  providers  in  this  regard,  TRAI  imposes financial disincentives for non-compliance with the benchmark.

BSNL  has  informed  that  it  is  meeting  majority  of  the  QoS  parameters  fixed  by  TRAI  for  both Landline and Mobile subscribers in almost all the Circles.

The steps taken by BSNL for improving its mobile services are as follows:

- i) It regularly conducts Drive tests/ Inter Circle Network audit/ surprise checks and optimizes its network for improving its Services.
2. ii) It  is  augmenting  its  Mobile  Network  progressively  by  carrying  out  expansion  of  Mobile Network in various phases to enhance coverage/ capacity of Mobile network depending on technocommercial viability and availability of funds.
3. iii) It continuously monitors the Call drop related problem in its network for better performance.

(e) & (f) No Sir. Government has no plan to privatise BSNL.

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