BSNL employees and retirees need immediate attention: Dr Satish Kumar Thaman

Ludhiana: Ludhiana (West) Grievances Redressal Committee Member Dr Satish Kumar Thaman has written to Minister for Communication Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Communication Devusinh Chauhan on certain issues related to BSNL employees and retirees. 

In his representation, he has stated that there is an urgent need to allow BSNL employees and retirees to avail indoor/outdoor treatment facilities from both sources i.e. Direct from BSNL and through CGHS Dispensaries and CGHS Indoor & Outdoor Hospital in Ludhiana namely Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, as no outdoor treatment facilities are permissible under CGHS, as per agreement with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under Memo No. DMCH/MS/2021/151 dt 15.7.2021. This facility of taking treatment from both sources i.e. from Direct from BSNL and CGHS is essential, because BSNL under GM Telecom Ludhiana had not made payments of the outdoor medical bills to the employees/ retirees of the BSNL, for the last about two years and this formula of taking treatment from both the sources may be implemented at the earliest. 

He has further stated refer to Office Memorandum No. S.14021/9/2020-EHS Govt of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi dt 7 April 2021, it is noted that the Circular was issued on 15.7.2021 under No. DMCH/MS/2021/151 dt 15.7.2021 by the Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana whereas the Memorandum relates to 7.4.2021 and this date of 7.4.2021 must be corrected to 15.7.2021 instead of 7.4.2021, as the Circular was issued on 15.7.2021. 

He has also pointed out that there is a delay in release of outdoor bills payments of Medical Bills for the last 15 months to 20 months causing harassment to the retiree pensioners.
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He has also stated that there is an urgent need to release sufficient funds to GM Telecom Ludhiana to enable him to release medical outdoor payments of medical outdoor payments of the employees / retirees of the BSNL; 

He has further mentioned that BSNL under GM Telecom Ludhiana must issue the gist of circular No. DMCH/MS/2021/151 dt 15.7.2021 and Office Memorandum No. S.14021/9/2020-EHS dated 7.4.2021 issued by Deputy Secretary to the Govt of India through media, print media and social media for wider publicity to employees/ retirees of the BSNL and BSNL must be authorized to avail facility of indoor/outdoor from both sources i.e. BSNL Direct & CGHS Dispensary and they may not be compelled to surrender old BSNL Facility Card in order to take valid CGHS Card and facility of both the card will remain intact and implemented in true spirit. 

Dr Thaman further mentioned that GM Telecom Ludhiana must issue directions through press/media and print media for detail procedure of taking CGHS Card as several retirees of the BSNL crossing the age of 70 years could not visit office of GM Telecom Ludhiana personally and they should not be debarred for taking treatment under CGHS facility, as to take medical treatment from both sources falls under Constitution of India; 

He said it is painful that there is a deficiency in services of BSNL violation of RTS (Right to Service), as payments of disease of chronic disease i.e. Cancer in respect of employees/retirees / dependent are not released inspite of the fact that Chief General Manager Telecom Chandigarh had released orders of the payments in respect of Cancer disease patients. 

He also sought that BSNL must clear how much amount pending of outdoor medical bills are yet to be paid by GM Telecom Ludhiana and payments be released from funds of Union of India or through lease / rent / sale of properties identified by the Civil Wing of the BSNL from the details and nothing should be concealed by the BSNL to employees / retiree pensioners of the BSNL. 

He demanded that it may be crystal clear how much amount is to be paid in advance by the employee or the retiree pensioner at the time of taking CGHS card on the basis of the scheme which has been implemented on 15.7.2021.