The poor taxpayer.

We already know of Air India racking up a debt of Rs 450 billion, now we are told that the public sector telecom giant, BSNL has accumulated losses of Rs 252.58 billion. The company says that it may make a profit of Rs 350 million by 31 March, 2018 if it gets a cash injection of Rs 150 billion from the government, which means taxpayer money. Mint, 7 August. In fiscal 2006 it had revenues of Rs 410 billion which have dropped to just Rs 263.96 billion in the last fiscal. Its problems, like all our problems as well as the problems of the country, are due to the government. In 2009 a committee had recommended that 30% of its shares should be sold to the public and the number of its employees reduced by 100,000 but the government took no action. The company is expected to make a loss of Rs 38.72 billion this year, Rs 41.07 billion next year, Rs 24.84 billion in 2015-16 and Rs 11.64 in 2016-17. The company seems to have been cheated in more ways. In 2010 it was forced to pay Rs 83.13 billion for 3G spectrum in 20 circles of which Rs 67.24 billion was for broadband wireless access in the 2.5 megahertz band, which it wants to surrender. Both MTNL, which serves Delhi and Mumbai, and BSNL which serves the rest of the country did not participate in the auction for spectrum in the 2.3 MHz band but were forced to pay at the discovered price and then were given spectrum in 2.5 MHz band, which is useless. Both companies now want their money back. An application filed under the Right To Information Act last year revealed that 6 serving MPs and 399 retired MPs - both dead and alive - owed Rs 70 million to MTNL. No action was taken against the cheats by MTNL to recover its dues. In its reply MTNL said," No parliamentarian is found for violation of any of the norms." TOI, 21 June, 2012. MPs are allowed 150,000 free telephone calls in one year so this excess was over and above that number. Yet no action was taken. MTNL covers only 2 cities while BSNL covers the rest of the country. Imagine trying to get unpaid dues from the thugs in UP, Bihar or Tamil Nadu ? Thousands of petty politicians must be enjoying free phone calls in every state. Add to that huge numbers of useless employees and it is no wonder that they are making losses. The taxpayer always suffers.