Three-day All India Central Executive Committee Meeting of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh held in Kolkata from August 17 to 19 strongly opposed the disinvestment of profitable Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs) by the Central Government. The largest labour organisation also warned to fight in the streets against the move. “As a first step the workers from BMS unions in CPSE, Coal – non Coal, Telecom, Aviation, Oil, Gas, Power, Heavy Industry, Engineering, Shipping and Financial sector will assemble in Delhi and demonstrate before the Parliament against proposed disinvestments during ensuing winter session (November) of the Parliament. To make it a joint programme and show of solidarity we invite all other CTUs to join the agitation. Prior to that, all BMS unions in the sector will observe Anti-Disinvestment Fortnight in second fortnight of October to highlight and propagate disadvantages of disinvestments,” a resolution adopted at the meeting said.
The resolution further said the existence of CPS and its functioning is smooth and is in the interest of the country as well as industry. Naturally, the interest of the workers is safeguarded. Therefore, BMS from day one has opposed disinvestment of CPSUs and it will continue its policy till the disinvestment programme is completely dismantled. So, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh opposes the contemplated disinvestment in CPSUs. The BMS in its national level demonstration during year 1993, 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2005 had concentrated on disinvestment and opposed it. “The government has announced it openly that profitable CPSUs shall be disinvested to generate revenue to meet expenditure on infrastructure and developmental programmes. Although the Prime Minister has said that CPS is an engine of growth and top wealth creator in the country, the Finance Minister has lot of praise for the sector but still the disinvestments proposal is on the cards,” the resolution said.
The resolution said in the backdrop of world economic recession the CPSE is providing formidable base to the industrial growth and economic prosperity of the country by extending excellent support to revenue generation. Therefore, the government should have taken steps for further improvement of this sector by offering relief packages to bail out the sick units such as HMT, Hindustan Cables, NEPA, Scooter India, ITI, Tungbhadra Steel etc. Contrarily, the government is contemplating to disinvest profitable CPSUs. The government proposed to generate an amount of Rs.20,000 crore by way of disinvesting 10 per cent of its stake in CPSE like BHEL, NMDC, NALCO, NLC, etc. in the first round. The second round may cover NTPC, BSNL, MTNL, GAIL, and ONGC etc. The government is on its way to sell coal blocks, introducing more and more private airlines in aviation sector by allotting them profitable routes and destinations and allowing FDI in financial sector like life insurance etc.
In another resolution on WTO, the Executive Committee warned of holding protest demonstrations all over India on September 2 and demanded the Government of India to stop sacrificing India’s interests in WTO. “For this India should come out of WTO, which will create confidence in all developing and least developed countries to come out of WTO. It also demanded that the government should urgently issue a white paper explaining the impact of WTO, the current state of affairs in the WTO negotiations and the implications of 2008 December Text proposals on India with special reference to Indian agriculture and industry including the livelihood concerns of workers and farmers.
On September 2 the BMS would hold mass demonstration before Parliament. Around 25,000 workers are expected to participate in the demonstration. On the same day demonstrations will be held at State Capitals too. The BMS will also observe “Anti-Disinvestment Fortnight” in 2nd fortnight of October.
(FOC)
