92,000 BSNL, MTNL employees opted for VRS scheme, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

More than 92,000 employees of BSNL and MTNL have opted for voluntary retirement, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday as he asserted that the government will make the two telecom companies profitable as they are strategic assets. The Communications Minister told the Lok Sabha that the merger of BSNL and MTNL will have pan-India foot print, synergy in operations, reduction of fixed costs and overheads, among others.

The merger would resultantly help the two companies to "provide better quality services to customers on a pan-India basis," he said. During the Question Hour, the minister said over 92,000 employees of BSNL and MTNL have opted for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). As part of revival efforts, VRS was introduced for the staff of the two telecom firms and December 3 was the last date for submitting the applications. The employee costs at both firms are high.

Both companies are strategic assets and the government would make them more professional and profitable, he emphasised.

He also said that whether it is floods in Kashmir or Tamil Nadu, cyclone in Odisha, BSNL provides free services. The Cabinet has approved administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL for providing 4G services. "With rollout of 4G services on a pan-India basis, BNSL/ MTNL will be able to provide high speed mobile Internet services in a data-centric market which will further improve the customer experience," the minister said. Read More