MARGAO: One of the oldest cellular networks, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is losing day by day.
Three-hundred and sixty three employees of the BSNL Goa region opted for voluntary retirement at the beginning of this month. Most of the voluntary retirees were linemen; and now there is literally nobody to man the lines. Rural areas of Sanguem Quepem, Sanvordem which are solely dependent on the landlines and BSNL mobile are going to have a tough time.
BSNL was leading the way in landline phones and had the best cellular network for village and remote areas. However, may be due to government apathy or the failure of the company to come to terms with modern demands, the BSNL is a sinking ship now. The BSNL was spending more money on salaries than its earning. Therefore, the Central government came out with voluntary retirement scheme, taking advantage of which 363 employees opted to retire.
The savings from the scheme for BSNL is mere Rs 7 crore, which is just a fraction of the Rs 20,000 crore the company is incurring every year.
BSNL Administrative Officer Sankara Rao admitted that the exit of 363 employees would an effect on the operations of the BSNL. “However, we will make other arrangements to make sure the people are not inconvenienced. Additional responsibilities have been given to the existing staff,” he said.
BSNL Deputy General Manager Balkrishna Mungase said, “At least 60 employees will retire from Margao. 14 workers from Curchorem, Sanguem and Quepem offices retired on January 31.”
