GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1603
ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 7, 2012
QUESTION
Implementation of Recommendations of Sam Pitroda Committee on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
1603. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee, set up consequent upon letter of an MP to the Hon'ble Prime Minister dated 10 December, 2009 outlining therein suggestions to address the alarming and deteriorating financial situation of BSNL and to curb its decline, have been implemented;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the performance of BSNL since the implementation of these recommendations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) & (b) The Government had set up a Committee under Sam Pitroda to review the functioning of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The important recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee were as follows:
Telecom Commission deliberated on the recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee on improving the performance of the BSNL in its meeting held on 7.7.2010. The Telecom Commission decided to constitute 'Internal Committee' under the Chairmanship of Member (Services), Department of Telecommunications to give its recommendations on the report. Accordingly on 19.08.2010, a Committee under the Chairmanship of Member (Services) was constituted.
The internal committee submitted its report on 29.10.2010, which was discussed again in Telecom Commission in its meeting, held on 30.11.2010. Telecom Commission has decided the following in the matter:
(i) Taking 30-50 professional from market at market rates changing Board Constitution or separating Chairman and MD posts may not be feasible in only one Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) as it may trigger protest from BSNL and demand for similar treatment by other PSUs.
(ii) This is not the opportune time for listing & disinvestment of BSNL, as company is on downward performance path & disinvestment may not realize true value of the company. In absence of listing, option of giving stocks as incentive, to key management is not available for the present.
(iii) VRS across the board may not be required; BSNL could examine option of VRS for select categories, examining financial burden and cost/benefit of the company.
(iv) On adopting Managed capacity or managed services model - Internal Committee view that the Board of BSNL may take a view is endorsed.
(v) Unbundling of the local loop is a commercial decision, which shall be decided by BSNL Board after critically examining the issue.
(vi) All other issues are operational and commercial issues of BNSL for which the Board is competent to take decisions.
The Commission also observed that some of the above issues including items (ii), (iii) and (v) could be revisited if the need arose in the context of any major policy decisions involving restructuring and repositioning of BSNL.
(c) The financial performance and subscriber base of BSNL during the last three years is as follows:
Financial Performance
Financial Year |
Income (Crores) |
Expenditure (Crores) |
Profit/Loss (Rs. In (Crores) BSNL
|
2009-10 |
32045 |
34243 |
(-) 1823 |
2010-11 |
29688 |
36266 |
(-) 6384 |
2011-12 |
27934 |
36586 |
(-)8851 |
Subscriber base
As on |
Mobile (in million) |
Wireline (in million) |
Broadband (in million) |
31.3.2010 |
69.45 |
27.83 |
5.38 |
31.3.2011 |
91.83 |
25.22 |
7.62 |
31.3.2012 |
94.50 |
22.47 |
9.05 |
30.9.2012 |
96.51 |
21.36 |
9.58 |