The plan to withdraw 5 per cent capital from the Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) is a premonitory sign of privatisation, alleged Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) national vice-president Bishnu Mohanty.
In a Press briefing, Mohanty said to revive a competitive spirit and make the public sector unit more vigorous, the Government should invest more money. But instead, it is planning to withdraw capital which is not at all a good sign, he said.Now, on an experimental basis, 5 per cent will be withdrawn and in course of time, it will be enhanced, while in the long run it would finally be handed over to an international level private company, he said terming the move as a conspiracy to privatise the PSU.
Mohanty said the working class in general will not bear it and oppose it tooth and nail.Mohanty further said unnecessary delay is made in implementing the revised wage pact of the steel workers. He said already for early implementation of the pact, the CITU has served an ultimatum to the SAIl.As the Rourkela Steel Plant managed Ispat General Hospital (IGH) has the entire infrastructure, so without delaying further, the SAIl management should implement the proposal to upgrade it to a medical college, he opined.
On ESIC Medical College, Mohanty said there is no question of withdrawing from the demand for its location at Rourkela. As there are a number of medical colleges in Bhubaneswar, including AIIMS, it would be better to establish the proposed ESIC Dental College there and Medical College at Rourkela, he suggested.