BSNL to outsource dues recovery

Saddled with outstanding arrears of over Rs 350 crore, BSNL, UP East circle, has decided to adopt the established practice in the industry for recovery of dues.

It has decided to appoint retired employees of the post and telegraph department, postal insurance and LIC agents as recovery agents.

Franchisees of BSNL would also be authorised to recover the dues. Subscribers in Lucknow telcom district owe as much as Rs 60 crore to BSNL.

To persuade consumers to settle outstanding dues, BSNL has also offered a rebate of up to 20 per cent of the outstanding amount. The rebate will be available on all the disconnected phone connections.

As per the plan worked out by the PSU, there will be no rebate on two-year-old outstanding arrears, 10 per cent on two to four-year-old arrears, 12 per cent on fourto six-year old ones, and 15 per cent on six- to eight-year-old bills.

BSNL has announced that it will provide 20 per cent rebate on arrears that are more than eight years old.

The scheme will cover all categories of subscribers including government departments, PSUs of state government and all other government-controlled autonomous bodies and organisations.

BSNL has been struggling to recover its dues ever since the DOT was corporatised. While no substantial results have emerged, the arrears continue to mount.

"This time, we are serious and want to settle this issue once and for all. General managers of all telcom districts in the UP east circle have been directed to monitor the existing subscribers so that no new defaulters are allowed to emerge," a senior official of the UP East telcom circle said.