BSNL board gives in-principle approval to Pitroda Committee report Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) board has given in-principle approval to the Sam Pitroda Committee report that called for, among other things, a 30 per cent stake sale in the PSU. However, the company has left it to the government to take the final decision on the quantum of stake to be divested. This is the third instance of the BSNL board clearing the stake sale. Since 2007, BSNL has twice approved the proposal to divest 10 per cent stake in the company but the operator has been unable to go ahead with the same due to stiff opposition from its employee unions. Earlier this month, the Pitroda Committee had recommended a strategic stake sale and staff reduction by a third, apart from scrapping the company’s 93 million GSM line tender, to revive the flagging fortunes of the stateowned company.
