BSNL cuts down broadband rental discounts to Central Government employees by 50%

BSNL cuts down broadband rental discounts to Central Government employees by 50%

BSNL had reduced the discount offered to state and Central Government employees on its broadband facilities from 20% to 10%. It has further been reduced to 5% from October 1 onwards.

The Government-run BSNL is currently the market leader in broadband internet services. At the time of launching the service, in order to attract customers, BSNL had offered massive discounts and special schemes. One such scheme was the 20% discount on the monthly bills for employees of the state and CG agencies, and Public Sector Undertakings, officers, and retired employees of these departments.

Subscription for BSNL broadband services soared. Such discounts soon made BSNL the market leader in cable-based internet services, despite the presence of some big private players. Meanwhile, two years ago, BSNL reduced the discounts from 20 percent to ten percent. Although the cash crunch in BSNL was blamed for the move, some accused that the decision was made under pressure from private companies to decrease BSNL’s popularity.

Now, BSNL has reduced the discounts to 5%. In other words, there will be only five percent discount in the monthly rent. The revised discount comes into effect from Thursday, October 01, 2015 onwards. The monthly rental fee was hiked by Rs.50 for the free phone call services between 9 PM to 7 AM.

This is not all. The internet fee has increased multifold in the past five years. The five percent discount for state and Central Government employees, especially pensioners, will be a disappointment. The taxes are far bigger than the discounts. In addition to the charges, 14 percent taxes, including service tax and educational tax, are being levied.

Source: http://www.govtenews.com/

Clarification for booking of air-tickets on LTC – Dopt issued on 23.9.2015

Clarification for booking of air-tickets on LTC – Dopt issued on 23.9.2015

G.I., Dept. of Per. & Trg., O.M.No.31011/5/2014-Estt (A.IV), dated 23.9.2015

Subject:- Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC- Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No.31011/4/2014-Estt.(A-IV) dated 19th June, 2014 which lays down that the Government employees are required to book the air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s). Vide DoPT’s O.M. 31011/5/2014-Estt.(AIV) dated 24.09.2014, the web-portal of these authorized travel agents will also be treated as an acceptable mode for purchase of air tickets on LTC subject to the conditions stated vide Department of Expenditure’s O.M. No. 19024/1/2012-E-IV dated 5thSeptember, 2014.

2. It has been observed that various Ministries/Departments continue to send references to DoPT seeking relaxation regarding the booking of air tickets for the purpose of LTC from the travel agents not authorised by the aforesaid O.M.. In most of the cases, the common reason stated by the LTC beneficiaries is that they were not aware of the guidelines and inadvertently booked the tickets from other travel agents.

3. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to ensure a wide circulation of the guidelines as stated in para 1 of this O.M.. This point may also be emphasized by the Administration whenever any advance is sought or intention to avail LTC is conveyed by the Government servant.

Authority: www.persmin.gov.in

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