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| Baig directs release of PSU employees’ pays within one week | | | Srinagar, July 08 – In first of its kind exercise to address the problems being faced by the workers and employees of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Baig has directed the release of pay and other wages in respect of the employees working in these units within one week. He also suggested workers’ participation in the management of these units by making them shareholders in the respective undertakings.
This was decided at high-level meeting convened by the Deputy Chief Minister to assess and analyze the status of these PSUs and the problems that are being faced by the workers of these undertakings.
Chairman, J&K Handicrafts, (S&E) Corporation, Haji Abdul Rasheed, Chairman, J&K Handloom Development Corporation, Mr. Mohammad Shafi Bhat, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Mr. S S Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Mr. S S Sahni, Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Ganaie, Commissioner Secretary, Finance, Mr. B B Vyas, Secretary, Tourism, Mr. Naeem Akhtar, heads of all major PSUs and representatives of all the PSU employees’ unions were present in the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Baig said the government is in know of the problems of the Public Sector employees and assured them that every possible effort would be made to provide relief to them. He regretted that the employees of some PSUs have their wages of three or more months yet unpaid and directed the Finance department to examine the possibility of budgetary support in this connection to meet the pending dues.
Terming the workforce as equal partners in the growth of Public Sector, the Deputy Chief Minister sought equal participatory role from workers in the management of these enterprises. He said he would be suggesting to the cabinet, as a part of restructuring of the Public Sector, that allocation of a certain percentage of shares in these enterprises be earmarked for the workers so that they become equal partners in their development. He said government would not hesitate to walk the extra mile in providing succour to the worker community of these PSUs.
On the request of the employees’ representatives that a majority of these Public Sector employees are due to retire in the coming two years, Mr. Baig directed all Managing Directors and heads of these PSUs to furnish details of Provident Fund, Gratuity and other accounts of the PSU employees to the government within 15 days so that remedial measures are taken. We won’t like any such employee to suffer even after retirement, he added.
On the question of reforms in the public sector, the DCM asked for making the Khursheed Ganaie Committee report as basis, with some improvements, for any future reforms. He said the Public Sector units that have a scope of revival should be strengthened with all support and management intervention from the government. In case of rest of the non-viable units, he asked for a gradual process of right sizing. In this connection, he asked for devising a Public Sector Restructuring model that would be best in the country and the employees should be a part of any such process. He said the government would make arrangements with JK Bank for credit facilities on easy terms for the employees opting for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) out of such units.
Thanking Mr. Baig for the generosity and concern shown towards their problems, the representatives of employees comprising heads of individual unit unions and confederation of all PSU unions expressed their gratitude to DCM for his timely intervention. They assured him of all support in his efforts of reviving Public Sector and the reforms and restructuring of the PSUs being proposed.
Chairman, J&K Handicrafts, (S&E) Corporation, Haji Abdul Rasheed and Chairman, J&K Handloom Development Corporation, Mr. Mohammad Shafi Bhat also addressed the meeting and thanked the DCM for taking cognizance of the problems of Public Sector and its employees.
Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Mr. S S Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Mr. S S Sahni, Commissioner Secretary, Finance, Mr. B B Vyas and Secretary, Tourism, Mr. Naeem Akhtar also addressed the meeting.
Earlier, briefing the meeting about the findings of the committee led by him, Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Ganaie gave an emperical account of the plight Public Sector is in. He said the 21 PUSs in the state employee about 21, 000 people for whom the annual wages come around Rs. 146 crores. He said the cumulative losses of the PSUs account for Rs. 817 crores in addition to the debt liability of Rs. 432 crores.
Mr. Ganaie said the committee studied many models of restructuring PSUs in other states during its study. Apart from VRS, he said, the committee proposed concepts like Safety Net, Renewal Fund and training of these employees coming under VRS in new trades and help them in finding jobs.
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