BSNL, MTNL strategic assets for country, we have decided to revive them: RS Prasad

New Delhi: BSNL and MTNL are strategic assets for the country, therefore the Central Government has decided to revive them, said Union Minister for Communications, Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday in Rajya Sabha.

YSRCP's Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy raised a question in the Rajya Sabha: "In view of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in BSNL and MTNL, many skilled and technical people are leaving the organisation so I would like to know whether technical and skilled people are going to be employed under contract basis to at least compete with the private operators."

Also Read: Congress walks out from Lok Sabha over Pragya Thakur's controversial remark 

Also Read | Centre approves merger of MTNL with BSNL

To which, Prasad reverted: "BSNL and MTNL are strategic assets for the country, therefore we have decided to revive them. The employee cost of BSNL was 75.06 per cent of revenue, MTNL was 87.15 per cent, Airtel was just 2.95 per cent, Vodafone-Idea 5.59 per cent and Jio 4.27 per cent."

"This load had to be revived by proper Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) package and we have given a very attractive VRS package, they are coming," he added..

Also Read | Parliament Monsoon session: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

"It is our government's desire and me in particular,  to revive it and make it professional," Prasad added. (ANI)

• #RS Prasad
• #Lok Sabha
• #MTNL
• #BSNL
• #Central Government
• #Ravi Shankar Prasad
• #rajya sabha