Monday, July 21, 2014

MTNL back on track with Rs 7825-cr profit; BSNL loss margin narrows

Telecom minister RS Prasad
THANKS to a refund of Rs 4,533.97 crore announced by the government in January for MTNL against surrender of broadband spectrum for which it was to pay same amount in 2010, the state-run telecom firm has shown profit of Rs 7,825 crore on books for 2013-14 on account of some write back provisions. On the other hand,another telecom PSU BSNL has been able to narrow down its mounting...
losses in 2013-14. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Rajya Sabha recently. MTNL had last posted annual profit of Rs 211.7 crore in 2008-09. As per the data, provisional loss of BSNL is estimated to be at Rs 7,085 crore in 2013-14. BSNL had posted an annual loss of Rs 7,884 crore in 2012-13.
"MTNL has shown profit of Rs 7,825 crore mainly due to write back of provisions on account of pensionary liabilities and spectrum amortization costs after decisions of government taken revival of MTNL," the Minister said.
The minister said that government is in the process of revival and revitalisation of both public sector units through various short, medium and long term measures. "The long term measures, including merger of BSNL and MTNL, would attempt to position these PSUs to emerge as market leaders in the converged telecommunication market," Prasad said.
MTNL, which operates in Delhi and Mumbai, had posted a loss of Rs 5,321 crore in the year 2012-13. Apart from the refund of spectrum, government also approved pension support for MTNL. The minister said that government is in the process of revival and revitalisation of both public sector units through various short, medium and long term measures.
"The long term measures, including merger of BSNL and MTNL, would attempt to position these PSUs to emerge as market leaders in the converged telecommunication market," Prasad said.
He said that three groups are conducting in-depth study on implications of merger of the two PSUs on issues related to human resource integration, technology integration and corporate integration. "Views of unions on merger would be taken into consideration before a decision is taken in best public interest and that of two companies," the minister said.
MTNL has posted a profit of Rs 7,825 crore on books for 2013-14 on account of some write back provisions. The PSU telecom firm had last posted annual profit of Rs 211.7 crore in 2008-09. "MTNL has shown profit of Rs 7,825 crore mainly due to write back of provisions on account of pensionary liabilities and spectrum amortization costs after decisions of government taken revival of MTNL," the minister said. MTNL, which operates in Delhi and Mumbai, had posted a loss of Rs 5,321 crore in the year 2012-13. Government in January had approved refund of Rs 4,533.97 crore to MTNL against surrender of broadband spectrum for which it was to pay same amount in 2010. He said that three groups are conducting in-depth study on implications of merger of the two PSUs on issues related to human resource integration, technology integration and corporate integration. "Views of unions on merger would be taken into consideration before a decision is taken in best public interest and that of two companies," Prasad said.

1 comment:

  1. The problem with the PSUs is the HR policy adopted by both. The top heirarchy is made up of officers who are in their positions for 15-20 years inspite of being officers of Organised All India cadre. But each of them is manning a post not knowing when they are likely to be asked to vacate because they belong to the DoT and not the PSUs. No long term action and planning can be expected from such a manpower who themselves are subjected to such uncertain career life. The DoT adamantly wants to give the PSU affairs into the hands of these reluctant officers against any supporting Govt rules and norms for such posting out of parent department. On the other hand the PSUs also want to run the show with such borrowed staff instead of recruiting and developing its own manpower. As a result all HR action is in shambles in both the PSUs and with this situation the Govt. expects revival.The Govt is just losing time and money in solving the issues arising out of the flawed HR policy instead of addressing the core HR policy issue.Till this happens it will be waste of exchequers money.

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