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G. Rambabu

NEW DELHI, May 12

PARLIAMENTARIANS, cutting across party lines, who also raised their voices against the recent hike in landline-to-cellular call charges, comprise the "single largest group" in country which owes Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) a total of Rs 12.34 crore in outstanding telephone bills.

According to official sources, as per the latest available data the outstanding dues of both the majors has been placed at Rs 3,530 crore, of which the MPs continue to remain the largest defaulting group. The rest of the individual subscribers contribute to a major chunk of the dues, followed by the State Governments, the Central Government, and the defence organisations.

"Being public sector companies, both BSNL and MTNL cannot take immediate action by disconnecting the phones of MPs who default in the payments, as a result of which it has become increasingly difficult to realise these dues. More so in the case of sitting MPs," they noted.

The sources pointed out that while BSNL's total outstanding dues have been placed at Rs 2,655 crore, MTNL's is much lower at Rs 875 crore. With the revenues from long-distance calls declining steadily over the past one year, this recovery of dues can easily make up for the shortfall in revenues, they said.

Although both the companies have been making efforts recover these dues, the statistics did not indicate much improvement. The various steps being taken by them include constant telephonic reminders, disconnection of phones, deployment of telephone revenue inspectors and field staff, recovery suits, setting up of liquidation boards and even the use of other Government machinery such as the police and revenue department. Incentives are also being offered to the staff to help in this process.

For that matter in August last year, BSNL had come out with a scheme to recover its losses. It introduced lucky draw scheme for its countrywide subscribers aimed at not only encouraging the subscribers to pay their bills on time, but also to induce the defaulters to clear their arrears by promising cash incentives and consumer goods to the winners.

Subscribers whose arrears were less than Rs 50,000 and are winners of the lucky draw were promised that 20 per cent of the amount would be waived. For arrears between Rs 50,001 and Rs 1 lakh, the prize amount was pegged at Rs 18,000 or 20 per cent whichever is less, and for arrears of more than Rs 1 lakh, the prize was Rs 25000 or 20 per cent of the bill whichever is less. Under this scheme, the company also gave away one all-India prize of Rs 2.5 lakh or one Maruti 800 through lucky draw among all the eligible customers.

The company had decided on this strategy to recover its dues after all the existing measures seemed to have delivered little results. However, with the outstanding dues continuing to remain high, both BSNL and MTNL are now working on other strategies to recover their dues.

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