STAFF WELFARE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
BSNL has a provision for constituting a BSNL staff Welfare Board, which shall
promote, develop organize and exercise the overall control in respect of staff amenities
and Welfare institutions, and cultural activities. After this session, participants will be
able to understand:
 Objectives of Staff Welfare Board.
 Allotment of Funds for Staff welfare.
 Welfare Activities conduct.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF STAFF WELFARE BOARD

1. Scholarship and other financial assistance to children and dependents of
2. BSNL employees for their education.
3. Financial and medical assistance in case of exceptional hardship resulting in
serious or long illness or major surgical operations.
4. Financial assistance to the dependents of the deceased BSNL employee.
5. Grants to Sports control board
6. Setting-up and Grant-in-aid to staff welfare institutions such as Holiday Homes,
Tailoring Centres, Crèches, Recreation Clubs.
7. Financial assistance to BSNL Welfare Association and BSNL Woman’s
Organization.
8. Financial assistance to BSNL Teams, players for participation in various sports
and games at the All India and International level.

ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS TO CIRCLE STAFF WELFARE BOARD

The annual grant to Circle Staff Welfare Boards for carrying out the welfare
activities is governed by the following principles:
1. The Funds will be allocated to the Circle Staff Welfare Board onpro-rata basis i.e.
on the basis of the staff strength in the particular Circle. For example a Circle
having the staff strength of 20,000 (out of total staff strength of BSNL say
4,00,000) will get the annual welfare grant to the tune of 10X20000/400000 i.e.
Rs.50, 00,000 for that year.
2. The Circle will have to managed within the annual grant for that particular year
and no further grant will be sanctioned.
3. 25% of the amount sanctioned to each Circle will be given to them in May as
ad- hoc grant. Remaining 75% grant will be given only after receipt of the
audited account of the previous financial year.
4. The Presidents of Circle Staff Welfare Boards can utilize at their discretion up
 to 15% of the grant allocated to them in the financial year from BSNL Staff
Welfare Board on special cases or on requests received by them, provided that
this expenditure is based on the general principles such as grant of flood relief,
educational assistance etc.
5. In the balance 85% of the grant sanctioned the Circle should earmark 35% for
scholarship, 25% for Book Award & incentive and 25% for rest of the welfare
activities.
6. The president of the Circle Staff Welfare Boards can however change the ratio
prescribed above keeping in view the total number of applications received by
the Circle.
7. In no circumstances the minimum eligibility criterion for giving away the
assistance form Welfare Fund, as circulated by BSNL CO. can be relaxed by the
Circle.
8. If a Circle finds that number of applicants in certain category is more they can
give Scholarship, Book Award and incentive by raising the eligibility criterion so
as to manage within the limit of grant for that particular category.
9. Allotment of Fund to SSA: Circles allot funds to each SSA proportionate to their
staff strength.

Activities under Staff Welfare Scheme

Most of the following are available for Employees drawing pre revised basic
pay up to Rs. 12,750/- p.m. in CDA scale or RS.17,600/-p.m. in IDA scale only.

Scholarship: Scholarships are given to the wards of employees studying in the

Technical/ Professional Degree Course (4 Year’ and above duration) such as MBBS/
BDS/ BVSc/ BE/ B.Tech/ B.Aarch./BE IInd year/BAMS/BHMS/BPT/BPharma courses
and post-graduate integrated degree courses upto the basic level of graduation
degree of that particular course viz. M tech (bio tech)/B tech Hons, MBA of more than
five years duration-up to 4th year [No basic pay limit], Technical Diploma (3 years
course) in Engineering/Architecture/Hospital Management/BBA/ Aircraft Mtce Engg,
B.Sc (Nursing) BIT/BCA/BSc (Food Tech.) B.Sc(Bio techniques). BA LLB (Hons) 5 years,
B.Sc B.Ed 4 years and -graduate integrated degree courses upto the basic level of
graduation degree of that particular course viz MSc Hons (bio) of more than 4 year
duration- upto third year of that course, Non-Technical Course- BA/B.Sc /B.Com, All ITI
Course in ITI Institutes, Handicapped children studying In Schools/ Colleges. The
eligibility criteria for award of such scholarship are also defined in terms of basic
salary, marks in school/college etc. Scholarship is allowed only to two children of an
employee.
 Book Award: - Book Award are given to the outstanding school going children
of the employees, on the basis of the performance of the previous academic year in
Class II to XII. To become eligible for book award, the children should have secured at
least 75% marks in the respective annual examination of the previous year in the
Government School/ Govt. Recognized school. The minimum prescribed percentage is
relaxable by 10% in case of the children belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories and 15% for
girls students. Both the relaxation cannot be combined. Handicapped students are also
allowed 10% relaxation in marks.

Incentive for Meritorious Student: Wards of BSNL employees who are toppers
(First & second) in the annual examination of schools Class II to Class XII,
Board/University are granted incentives. The toppers in the schools have to secure a
minimum of 75% marks in the respective examination. In schools where grading system
of evaluation is followed in the primary sections (class I-V), the students getting the
excellent/outstanding grade are eligible for grant of incentive. Wherever, annual
examination for Class VIII and X is conducted by Board, incentive is awarded to the
toppers securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.

Financial Assistance To Handicapped/Mentally Retarded Children Of

Employees For Transport/Hostel Subsidy: Handicapped/mentally retarded children of
the employees studying in recognized schools are granted financial assistance as
transport charge/hostel subsidy of Rs.150/-per month in A & B Class cities and Rs.100/-
per month in other cities.

Financial Assistance In Case Of Death: In case of death of an employee while in

service, irrespective of the fact whether he/she is a regular employee, a temporary
status mazdoor or a daily wager, financial assistance of Rs. 15000/- is granted to the
dependents of the deceased employee as immediate relief.

Financial Assistance In Cases Of Serious Illness Or Major Operations: If an employee or any

dependent member of his family is suffering from a serious disease like heart ailment, kindly
failure, cancer, etc. or undergoing any major operation, financial assistance up to a maximum
of Rs. 25,000/- is granted from the welfare fund. The Heard of Circles are competent to
sanction up to Rs. 15,000/- to the employee in such cases. For grant of financial assistance
over and above Rs. 15,000/- full facts of the case are required to be sent to the Welfare &
Sports Section of BSNL (HQ) along with the recommendation of the CGM
concerned.
 Financial Assistance To Employees Who Are On Leave Due to Prolonged
Illness: Such employees are given financial assistance of Rs.2000/-per month or half of
basic pay plus DA whichever is less, when on leave without pay and Rs.1000/-per
month or 1/3 of basic pay plus DA whichever is less, when on half pay leave.

Financial assistance to victims of natural calamities./ Communal Riots /

Terrorists Attacks: Employees affected by natural calamities/ communal riots/ terrorist
attacks are given financial assistance up to Rs.3000/- for suffered loss of moveable/
immoveable if certified by the Village Officer/ Tehsildar in whose jurisdiction the
property is situated and the area in which the property is located has been declared as
“affected area” by the State Government.

Grant to Recreation Clubs : Recreation Clubs are given grant-in-aid of Rs.20/-

per head for the total sanctioned strength and a matching grant of Rs.20/-per member
of the Club is also given. Voluntary organizations like TWCO and TWOS in Circles are
running Crèches/ Tailoring Centres for the welfare of low paid employees. with the
grants given from the welfare Found.

Participation in Sports: Departmental sports meets tournaments: Provision of

Special Casual Leave, Refreshment/ conveyance charges, Kit money etc. are allowed to
players/coach etc. 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders in All India BSNL tournament for
two consecutive years are entitled for cash award also.

National/ International Meets: Official tour of players/coach/manager for

participation/coaching, four hours daily off for practice after selection to represent
BSNL in National/ International Meets, kit money, dress etc. is allowed. Also Sanchar
Krida Awards are given for outstanding who have achieved excellence by representing
India in International competitions and also to those who achieve 1st ,2nd and 3rd
positions in the Nationals / national level tournaments.

Excursion Trips: Excursion trips organized by Welfare & Sports Section or

Recreation Club for the benefit of the staff are granted transport subsidy to the extent
of 75% of the cost of rail fare or journey undertaken by road in the case of employees
and their family members (spouse and dependent children only) subject to fulfillment
of terms & conditions as specified.
CONCLUSION
Learned about activities conduct by staff welfare board for staff and their family
member’s welfare and above all for larger perspective for society.