DoP, BSNL end pact on freebies

Neeraja Kumar in New Delhi

Freebies no more. Exactly, one year after it was corporatised, the free postal services being enjoyed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) — the erstwhile Department of Telecommunications (DoT) — are being withdrawn by the Department of Post.

According to a Department of Posts circular dated August 2, 2001, from October 1, 2001 onwards, “postal and telecom services shall be on user pays principle, consequent on formation of BSNL.”

This means that even the free telecom services hitherto being shared on reciprocal basis betweenthe Department of Post and the erstwhile the Department of Telecommunications will no longer be available free of cost to the Postal Department.

As per the circular, telephone revenue collection being done on behalf of the telecom behemoth will also be transferred on payment of a service charge of 2.5 per cent, by the Department of Posts.
The service charge will be deducted from the telephone revenue collected before the amount is paid to BSNL.

Telephone bills addressed to the subscribers will now be posted fully pre-paid. Whether this additional cost is absorbed by the BSNL or passed on the consumer remains to be seen.

Despite repeated attempts to reach BSNL officials to gain further clarity on the issue, they were not available for comment.

Official correspondence of BSNL and Telecom Commission will also not be transmitted free of postage as “on service” and will need to be fully pre-paid, according to the circular.