Srinagar, Sept 2: The Valley-based ‘BSNL tower caretakers’ have decided to boycott their duties till the company renews its agreement with them. 
 Under the banner of ‘BSNL Tower Caretakers Association’ they said the BSNL had refused to renew the agreement it had earlier entered into with them for seeking their services.
 The association comprises of the people who have leased out their land to the telecom company for erecting the mobile towers and are also offering their services to the company for the smooth functioning of these towers. 
 According to the members of the association the Care Taking Agreement with the company has expired a year before and since then they are demanding the company to renew the agreement so that they can get the fresh wages.
 “Three years before when we leased our land to the BSNL for raising mobile phone towers the company offered us a very low rent but promised to provide employment to two of our family members which never happened,” they said.
 “That time we get Rs 7,500 per month to run these towers, besides the rent which continued for one year in 2006. After that they forced us to sign an agreement for Rs 4000 for the year 2007 under the care taker agreement. Though this agreement is renewed after ever years but this time it has not been renewed even after a year has elapsed,” they added.
 According to the land lords most of the people who have rented their land with the company are very poor and depend on the money from the company to support their family.
 “The telecom companies here depute two persons to run the towers erected on government land and each is paid Rs 12, 500 per month. But we are being discriminated against though we perform the same duties,” said Ali Muhammad of Illahibagh.
 According to the association members they have approached the company many times but to no avail.
 When contacted DGM Mobile BSNL, Zafar Iqbal said, ‘We have not refused to renew the agreement. There is no need for any meeting with the Union. We always go for individual agreements. Whoever needs to renew his agreement can come individually to the DGM Planning BSNL and get their agreements renewed.”
 He however did not divulge the amount that will be paid to the caretakers for upkeep and running of these towers in addition to the rent.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Sep 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Sep 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:00 IST