The government has reportedly constituted a high-level committee to address long-pending human resources (HR) issues at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and to establish a strategy and transformation vertical aimed at driving technology-led interventions.
The committee will be chaired by the additional secretary (telecom) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and will include the senior deputy director general (personnel), deputy director general (C&A), and a government-nominated director from BSNL.
From BSNL, the panel will include its chairman and managing director (CMD), director (HR), chief general manager (Chhattisgarh) and chief general manager (CN-Tx). An executive director from Indian Overseas Bank will also be part of the committee, bringing private sector experience to support HR reforms at the public sector telecom operator.
As per the memorandum, the committee will focus on strengthening BSNL’s governance and management structure. Its mandate includes developing a performance management system linked to incentives, recommending an HR sourcing and development framework, addressing succession planning and capacity building, and suggesting a policy for the deployment of Indian telecommunications service officers within BSNL.
The panel will also define the structure and functions of the proposed strategy and transformation vertical. This unit is expected to oversee strategy tracking and validation across business functions, drive execution, and recommend institutional frameworks and information and communication technology systems to ensure adherence to HR practices and enable technology-driven HR management.
The move follows multiple representations from BSNL employee unions to the government, highlighting concerns related to delayed promotions, career progression, and the implementation of the 3rd Pay Revision Committee (PRC).
Employee associations have also called for the inclusion of a full-time board member in the committee to ensure comprehensive reforms. Additionally, they have urged the communications minister to discourage the practice of appointing officers on deputation to BSNL against reserved posts, in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training and the Department of Public Enterprises.
