For more videos on people's struggles, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. The Indian public sector telecom service provider BSNL is currently facing a massive crisis that threatens its survival. BSNL was founded 19 years ago in 2000 and has been providing telecom services across India, including to those living in the most remote corners of the country. But the current crisis has caused a deterioration in the quality of BSNL's services. So what is the crisis? The crisis BSNL is facing today is multi-fold and largely stems from the neoliberal policies of the current far-right BJP government as well as the preceding governments which have favored private operators while denying and even playing field to BSNL. The once profit-making enterprise is now unable to pay its employees their salaries. Contractual workers in BSNL have not been paid salaries since January this year. Some have been waiting for their wages for nearly one year. The higher management of the company is blaming the financial crisis on the number of employees and workers that have been hired. In the name of cutting down avoidable expenditure, 30% of contractual workers are being laid off. Some have already been fired without their dues being paid. BSNL's services are also dropping in quality because of this financial crunch. The government is not allocating enough funds for it to pay off its electricity bills. As a result, 550 towers out of the 1 lakh towers owned by the company throughout India were shut down. This is forcing BSNL customers to look for other telecom operators. The publicly owned company is also unable to provide users with the latest services because the government is not allocating BSNL any part of the 4G spectrum. Moreover, there has also been no significant recruitment in the company in the last 25 years, making it harder for it to keep up the quality of services. Why the crisis? Up to 2014, BSNL was earning profit. From 2016, BSNL went on loss. Not only BSNL, Yatkel went on loss. Vodafone went on loss. Why? It is because the entry of Reliance, one company, one private company, Reliance Geo has entered and they have actually swallowed the subscribers with the patronise of Modi government. While the crisis in BSNL began before Reliance Geo's entry, it became much worse because of it. In fact, India's entire telecom sector is still reeling from the impact of Reliance Geo's entry. The owner of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani, is India's wealthiest man and is known to have close ties with the ruling government. But Geo was able to disrupt the market in this manner only because of the Indian government's support. Throughout the process of Geo's launch, from acquisitions of licenses and spectrum to the rollout of services, Reliance violated various regulations. Some rules and regulations were even modified on Geo's request. The company faced no punitive measures for these violations, enjoying the complete support of the government in dominating the market. Due to its wealthy parent company and the huge amount of bank loans granted to Geo, the telecom provider offered free services for over eight months after the launch. This itself violated the rule of free services being permissible for only a 90-day testing period after launch. Even after the free period ended, Geo's services were made available at a price much lower than all its competitors. This predatory pricing forced other telecom services to also slash their prices and incur huge losses. Many companies were even forced to merge or shut shop. As a result, apart from Reliance Geo and BSNL, only two other telecom companies remain in India, Bharti Airtel and the merged Vodafone Idea. Despite all these obstacles, it is only public sector BSNL which has continued to challenge the Reliance Geo juggernaut. From 2017 to 2018, the number of BSNL's mobile customers grew by 11.7%. This is much more than the 9.5% growth in Airtel and 3.8% growth in Vodafone, 3.2% growth in Idea. But this government continues to be hell-bent on not letting the public sector company perform and survive. India's Department of Telecommunications only allows BSNL to take loans for capital expenditure, not operational expenditure restricting its operations. This, even though BSNL's debt of Rs 13,900 crore or 2 billion dollars is much less than that of private operators. Vodafone has a debt of Rs 1.2 lakh crore, Airtel has a debt of Rs 1.13 lakh crore and Geo has a debt of about Rs 2 lakh crore or 30 billion dollars. The Indian government is not even permitting BSNL to monetize the land assets it owns for raising revenue. It is speculated that the current low data prices cannot go on indefinitely. Once more of the competition is wiped out, which seems likely, the data prices in India are expected to shoot up. If the government's proposal of shutting down BSNL instead of reviving it goes through, the only service provider keeping a check on prices will also no longer be present. But the employees of BSNL are not ready to accept all this sitting down. Various employee unions and executive unions of BSNL have joined hands to carry forward a struggle demanding their rights as employees as well as the protection of BSNL from Clota. They have carried out nationwide strikes, hunger strikes and various other protest actions. A public sector company which is giving service to the remotest areas of the country with all difficulties we want to say to the common people it is your company government may come government may go but this BSNL is serving to the nation that serving to the nation should not be deprived. Had our huge investments in the rural areas huge investments for the last 17 years we had no returns virtually on those investments. We were meeting the social obligations of telecom policy not earning profits.


How's it going everyone Caleb here with Leighton sports cards working on our final group break in the night? It is 2021 plenty of city and football 12 bucks full case break number 14 This is a random division style break. The results are right there and linked in the chats Here we go Personals are full for the evening guys All right, what's your color? I'm saying DK Metcalfe. Nice. I'm gonna go with Josh Allen Josh I like it. I like it. It's my color blast prediction. Feel free to make a Four fun color blast prediction in the chat One per case sometimes I get to Have at least one The visions here we go Leave I showed you the results in case I didn't one more time Ashish Good luck, you're all lamb jack Have to see a rookie Rookie color blasts are so tough Okay Don to 100 and rookie color blast Unbelievable man Trey land Wow, that took no time at all. We got no build-up at all NFC West oh man, that took literally no time. That's wild Rookie color blasts are so difficult. Yeah, you're right. It's right as I grab one Man West 49ers card there.  Very nice There's another feeling Broncos Slide those dealings over one of them is to 100 one is the base and they're seeing work It's gonna be the 75 this time Elijah more trifecta materials Hey, I see East Yeah, crazy Jay Marts crazy What a start AFC North this time 21 of 75 Chris Evans auto FC North So fun It is gonna be NFC North 29 of 50 Jamar Jefferson Lions You go there nice one Lions Closing it out here. Hey, I've see East Gonna be numbered to 125 rookie patch autograph Shaylin waddle boom Nice card there dolphins AFC East we'll get that mag. That's nice obsidian RPA to 125 Congrats Vince Empty there good luck on the next one What a start. Oh, that is one of one rookie Michael Carter jets boom Holy cow AFC East Wow That's awesome Congratulations AFC East And the card I put down is NFC North Colorblast Randy Moss boom Holy cow, there you go NFC North What a start guys. Oh my goodness that will get mags Holy cow Greg Newsom there base EFC North Box is not done yet. I'll tell you that much just 75 Kellan Mond there NFC North He's not done yet. Yeah, no joke NW No joke All right, next one up here is Andre Cisco.  I think I said East So you go Wild card points here And it's all the ends And just so nice AFC South Davis Mills rookie patch autograph to 150 There you go AFC South Congratulations awesome RPA That'll get mags Holy cow crazy box guys Unbelievable I saw another 12 color blasts. Yeah, what in the world man next box It's awesome guys It's awesome. He shy smith that time Give me the 75 there NFC South Dex mill milk there Me NFC East to 100 Donald base Can be numbered to 75 this time for the Steelers Najee Harris rookie eruption patch AFC North there you go Number to 10 here AFC East Xavier and Howard auto eight of ten you go Next up here NFC West Trey sermon number to 199 rookie autograph and NFC South it is gonna be two twenty five rookie patch auto Terrace Marshall jr. Nice one there Congrats very nice great start just a few boxes in let's continue Right j-mart Just right to the next one Yeah, that was something yeah tough to Have to do a whole lot better Hey NFC North Justin Jefferson to 100 Ryan Tannehill there Titans AFC South to 50 saving Collins base Davis Mills patch to 100 You go AFC South awesome mills To 75 this time Aurora autographs nice gonna be Chris Johnson to 75 Very cool. That's going to the AFC South nice Take that to 199 Jacob Harris very solid rookie auto there NFC West And it is gonna be a rookie patch autograph to 150 Ian book there you go not too bad NFC South congratulations Nice Ian book patch auto Colorado is really winning five to zero. What is going on? Is the other squad shrine? No, that's not. Holy cow It's probably going Sam Ellinger there To 100 that's awesome looking that's gonna be one of the gold Seth Williams 10 of 10 awesome card there Very very clean looking look on that AFC West rookie card Broncos Certainly. Yeah, certainly not on an island there Jeremiah. Most people would agree with that statements Pete Warner base NFC North to 100 Chris Carter Unfortunately, they just kind of have to exist with how jerseys work We got a Giants hit here NFC East Gary Brightwell To 75 gonna be numbered to 100 here Get a sheeps will shields AFC West yeah Blind min auto there AFC Wests and it is gonna be NFC North Amir Smith Marceps to 150 rookie patch autograph There you go Okay, a little bit more obsidian guys we do have Almanac personals coming up after this tonight You go empty some four color patches. Yeah, I have as well.  That's to 100 FC South and beautiful to a here is gonna be a Mitreos Numbered to 35 19 of 35 there on the tour. There you go. AFC East. I love this stuff Rodney really clean cards Gary Brightwell base Giants You NFC East Monras St. Brown to 100 trifecta three window patch there NFC North So 100 Got another one here for the Jags You go AFC South to 75 Tony Boselli on the ink. Yeah, he's everywhere He's everywhere AFC South is everywhere AFC South having another one Dallas Clark. It's a 35 lightning strike auto Another one for the AFC South Is cool and AFC Nord gonna be to 99 Anthony Schwartz rookie patch auto You go AFC North Browns So can't believe this game. Oh, just never even a game at all. It really wasn't It's really a slaughterfest or something like that. We have one 400 points card to random at the end right now Here we go Justin Jefferson to 50 NFC North TJ Watts, that's to 75 AFC Frank Darby base Brandon I you care to 75 Galaxy gear to 75 Niners NFC West We've got to 100 Roger Stalback Here he is NFC East To 100 next up here AFC South Darius Leonard auto to 25 nice You go AFC South nice card Great to linebacker and we've also got a rookie patch autograph number to 99 NFC East again Kenneth Gainwell You go Eagles NFC East Here we go. Let's keep on ripping y'all This is 25 NFC North Delvin Cook Yeah, the obsidian goal is cool the Contra.  Yep Yeah base David Montgomery And I see North AFC North patch here to 100 Anthony Schwartz Thank you Rodney. I appreciate that Thank you. Thank you, man But you guys are enjoying it tonight. Thanks Rodney NFC North as well here Randy Moss atomic patch to 75 FC North And FC North again Robert Smith 24 of 25 Not a name you see every day Robert Smith auto to 25 NFC North You've got AFC North rookie patch autograph to 99 Rashad Bateman You go AFC North Solid solid solid we'll have a recap at the end of this for you guys Okay Yeah, NFC North has been doing solid I would have to agree Jari Alexander there that's to 100. I believe the Saquon is to 10. Yeah nice one there to 10 on the Saquon Awesome card congrats on that one NFC East See Fajoco base for you as well Rondale more to 100 there Cardinals NFC West get a galaxy gear here to 100 Derek Carr You go on the car AFC West Thanks, Shay. Almost that time for Almanac personals. We're so close. Oh It's a 25 Justin Jefferson second-year autograph nice There you go NFC North I sit there take that and Very cool. One of the Super Bowl autos here Warren sap. Nice. There you go. Get on the bus beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful Congrats there NFC South rather next one up 50 there to Hubbard The end to 75 NFC North the Monras St. Brown Tiling Wallace base To 100 on the patch trace sermon You go to 100 for you there NFC West NFC West the next card as well trifecta materials also numbered to 100 Trey Lance this time You go congrats NFC West couple patches in a row Lance and sermon NFC North gonna be someone 99 a Monras St. Brown rookie auto you go Lions NFC North solid Close it out here Ramon's Ray Stevenson numbered to 50 AFC East rookie patch autograph Go AFC East Next one up We turn my look up as well Colorado is in the power Every single time like they're like they must be Must be playing dirty. There's absolutely nothing going for them. Yeah Stefan Gilmore that's the 25 That's so cool Vitrious Patrick Mahomes It's gonna be numbered to just 10 very cool nice card there to just 10 AFC West Petty mohomes Awesome card seven of ten You go AFC West excuse me. They're just a West Very nice Beautiful one for you AFC West Javante Williams base Fun start to the box there. Yeah, we had two color glass so far We had a Randy Moss for the NFC North Yeah, we had a Trey Lance for NFC West This game has been a bad game Just like a straight-up bad game. I was like squinting through them Terris Marshall their rookie eruption patch Panthers Gets me as well NFC South there you go LT Lawrence Taylor to 100 on the patch atomic patch there NFC East Nice 99 to 100 Justin Fields rookie autograph boom That is sick Very very nice congrats on that one NFC North crushed it on the break as well. Yeah Very nice break for you congrats again. Awesome Fields. We'll get that magged up In rookie patch autograph here simmy fahoko it's gonna be number to just 25 There you go NFC East One more Yeah solid stuff there Mike. That's a nice box. Oh, yeah, that's just got to be demoralizing if you're Tampa Especially this deep in the playoffs you can hear up for the next game Jacob Harris to 50. Hey. Yeah. Thank you, Jim and Larry round tree there to 75 Appreciate that J. Sure. You guys have smashed the like if you're enjoying it. You got a fun time coming up with person else. Oh, yeah Brandy and I you clear It's gonna be Washington there to 75 Diamond Brown volcanic patch Washington football team NFC East It's gonna be trace sermon this time trifecta material six of ten nice patches. Wow. There you go You got the E of Niners. That's cool 49ers E in there. It looks like that's awesome Nice one there number to just ten beautiful there NFC West Cool patch Take that Next up.  Let's do the patches first of your guys recap trace sermon Dami Brown Lawrence Taylor Teres Marshall jr. Trey Lance Trace sermon Derek Carr Rondale Moore Randy Moss Anthony Schwartz Roger Stalback Brandon I you Amandha St. Brown Chris Carter Davidson Mills Najee Harris Kellan Mond and Elijah Moore autos and then Maggard's We've got autos here Tyson Campbell Semi Fajoco Ramon Drey Stevenson Amandha St. Brown Warren Sapp Justin Jefferson Rashad Bateman Robert Smith Kenneth Gainwell Darius Leonard Anthony Schwartz Dallas Clark Tony Boselli Amir Smith Marceps Will Shields Gary Brightwell Ian book shake of Harris Chris Johnson Teres Marshall jr. Trey sermon Xavier and Howard Andre Cisco Jamar Jefferson and Chris Evans Do you have a 400 points card to random as well guys? Let's do the mags your first we've got a Jalen waddle patch autograph Davis Mills patch autograph Patty Mahomes. This is gold to 10 It's a cool card as well fields auto Fields patch auto Michael Carter one of one very cool Colorblast Randy Moss black color blasts from obsidian and a Trey Lance rookie color blast So sick. Thanks again so much for joining all we'll have them all protect it up and set right out to you Let's do a points random here for you quick one seconds grab the divisions Divisions gonna be number 14 Okay, guys, I've got all eight divisions here. This is for a 400 points card only one in the entire break That's nice to see The division on top after six here we go It's one two three four five six NFC East congratulations on the points appreciate everyone. Thank you so much once again for joining