EDITORIAL
ENCROACHMENTS
It is unprecedented. It is
mockery of governance. It is cruel joke when Government
itself becomes privy to largest ever encroachment
attempt. But then it happens only in Jammu & Kashmir
State. Hundreds of vehicles of all hues were
hired/engaged to reach Ragoora to forciby occupy forest
land. And in their anxiety and overzealousy to do it
quick and wholesale they set the entire forest area on
fire from different directions. The magnitude of fire can
be gauged from the fact that over a dozen fire tenders
were deployed to extinguish the fast spreading fire. In
the process several houses are reduced to embers and four
innocent lives of those putting up in and around the area
have been consumed. And all this because several hundred
migrant families temporarily putting up in Belicherana
area were exhorted by the Forest Minister to occupy the
vacant land with the promise that he would get the same
regularised subsequently. What a novel way of usurping
law and becoming law unto oneself! Any organised and
planned rehabilitation under the law of the land is
welcome. But the manner in which Government land was
encouraged to be encroached upon calls for thorough probe
and deterrent punishment for all those who set the forest
on fire. Those who conspired in the destruction and
killing of the innocent residents also cannot escape the
charge of homicide if not outright murder.
At this stage one has to
view the above from various angles. First, the political
one. If these migrants from Rajouri/Poonch area did not
have the requisite facilities at Belicherana, efforts
should have been made to accommodate them at some
alternate site in an organised and disciplined manner.
After all this is not the first time Government could be
dealing with migrants. They have enough of experience
with KPs and other migrants from Doda and post partition
migrants. Instead of meeting their genuine demands they
have been exhorted to resort to most unlawful act. But
for such encouragement these migrants would have never
dared to take the law in their own hands in such large
numbers. This surely has more political connotations than
rehabilitations.
Second, the administration
was caught unawares. They were ignorant of such heavy
movement of vehicles to the impacted area. The fact is
that there are various barriers and police patrol
supposed to be in force in the vicinity. Neither the
police nor anyone else other than the Forest Minister
knew about such organised attempt to capture forest land
in most unbecoming manner. If such large number of
vehicles can go on 'mission 007' and thousands reach
there in vehicles, undetected and unchallenged, it is
safe to surmise that small group of terrorists going on
some destructive missions can do it with great ease. This
simili is mentioned to bring home the point that there
was no intelligence input available nor those assigned
patrol/barrier duties could inform their immediate
superiors about such unprecedented and un-natural
movement of vehicles. To be precise these migrants
themselves are victims of terrorism forcing them to
migrate from their hearths and homes to the safety and
security of Jammu.
Third, only a few days
back Housing and Urban Development Minister who is also
the acting Chief Minister now had advised all the
concerned agencies to launch massive drive against
encroachers on Government land. There have been also
orders to get the evacuee land vacated and those
occupying it in surreptitious manner with or without the
connivance of the officials and politicians should be
forced out under the law of the land. One one appreciate
Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah's approach and useful advice to the
officials. His instructions are to undo the wrong done
and Government or custodian property restored from
illegal occupants/encroachers. But here is another
Minister in the same cabinet who advocates reversal of
such policy of clearing the encroachers. It reflects very
poorly on the administration and those supposed to
safeguard public interests and Government property.
Fourth, with lots of
protests, bandhs and strikes going on in the winter
capital, law and order machinery is already stretched to
the brim. This wholesale attack on Ragoora has put them
under excessive strain when they should be dealing with
more sensitive situations. Finding the fire becoming
uncontrollable, these migrants fled in the vehicles. But
for that, it would have become a very serious law and
order problem if security agencies were to 'disperse and
force them out'. As things stand the situation in and
around is already volatile and it is the duty of any
Government not to add fuel to the fire. But here it
happens to be the case of sprinkling the fuel, allowing
the fire to spread and then leave it to the mercy of
Almighty. Had they succeeded in pitching their tents
which they carried with them and other unsocial elements
who also joined in the 'loot of Government land', it
would have encouraged other migrants in Jammu to do the
same thing somewhere else.
Lastly, forests have been
set afire. Denudation of forest or loot of its wealth is
punishable. One really does not know if these forests
were guarded by the Forest Protection Force. If not why
not. If yes, then there was this FPF when the large
wealth was reduced to ashes. Who will pay for this
massive loss because this forest was not insured. Again,
four innocent citizens have been murdered in
broad-daylight. Mere registration of FIR is not enough.
The murderers and conspirators should be identified,
nabbed and proceeded against as per the law.
RAILWAY BUDGET
It is on anticipated
lines. Despite Prime Minister's assertion that rise in
fare structure on railways travel is inevitable in the
light of burgeoning deficit in the railways, the
ebulient, fireband and 'toofani minister' Mamata Banerjee
has done what subserves her personal and party interests
most. Some days back, Prime Minister had praised Mamata
Banerjee as the 'toofani minister' having done good job
in the railway slot. Taking advantage of it she has
refused to heed the advice of Finance Minister who is
going all out to reduce the overall deficit in the budget
to be presented tomorrow. Last year also Mamata had
refused to hike passenger fares but opted for selective
increase in freight charges. But unlike last year when
railways were bailed out of consolidated funds, this time
round Finance Minister puts the onus of meeting railway
needs by the railways themselves. Yet Mamata has thought
it prudent and politically expedient not to hike the
passenger fares. The reasons thereof are not far to seek.
She wishes to retain her not only popular but populist
image while facing the electorate in W Bengal in the
assembly elections in two months time. She would have her
dream and desire fulfilled if she becomes Chief Minister
of her State by dislodging the 23 year old Leftist
Government. It may be mentioned that she had threatened
to walk out of Cabinet if prices of petro-products were
not rolled back. Prime Minister succumbed to the lady's
whimsical style by ordering token roll back. What she did
not like in other ministries in terms of hike obviously
she won't do it in her ministry. The common man is thus
grateful to her for sparing them any hike this year too,
cracking tracks, signal failures, overcrowded trains and
short shrift to railway safety notwithstanding. She has
also introduced more trains, increased frequency of some
and holds the promise of better passenger amenities and
safety. But long-overdue linkage of Jammu with Haridwar
remains off her agenda; her maximum concentration is on
W. Bengal. And the Jammu-Udhampur link is left to the
Almighty!
|
Diesel
particulate- A lethal killer
By Dr B
K Fotedar
During the
last two decades, vehicular pollution has
moved high to alarming heights. The death
countries even in good technology
countris have tremendously gone up.
Though the scientists throughout globe
are researching and finding viable
options, but no complete success has been
achieved so far. History of vehicular
pollution is now too old, and after 1980s
different countries including the US woke
up to the crisis and thought seriously of
the methods to be adopted to reduce
pollution. More serious the countries
began to realise that particulate
emissions from diesel were the main
culprit causing myraids of ailments to
human beings the worldwide anxiety
towards curtailing the use of fossil
fuels increased day by day. Most of the
countries have partly switched on to
renewable sources of energy. Infact,
industry sector in so many countries uses
lot of oil and hence more of pollution.
If price of petrol goes high by levying
taxes on fossil fuels the nations would
be able to cut green house gases (GHG)
emissions considerably as agreed to under
Montreal Protocol. Though all countries
became serious to make a cut in GHC
emissions, yet keeping in view their
respective problems, the dates were never
same (deadline) for all the countries to
put the emission levels back to 1990
position. World organisations, however,
agreed to cut the GHG emissions
voluntarily as much as was possible in
different phases. For this Euro norms
from I to IV were proposed. From 100
percent particle emissions in 1980, it
was suggested to be brought down to 1.4
percent in Euro IV model. Euro model I
expired in 1997, but only a few countries
could show improvement in ambient air
quality. Euro II model expired in the
year 2000 and the period from Euro I to
Euro II remained full of struggle and
efforts by all the countries were made to
search for an alternative fuel. Efforts
in this direction continued, but still so
many countries remained behind in cutting
the GHG emissions to a desired level.
Most of the countries thus could not
successfully show improvement in the
ambient air quality, but went on from one
option to another searching for an
alternative clean fuel. Euro III and Euro
IV models are yet to expire going as far
as 2005, but as the trend goes now,
further improvements of ambient air
quality are not discernible because of
lack of technology or different countries
do not have sufficient resources to
switch on to a cleaner fuel process.
Furthermore,
the consumption of oil has proved to be
in a mess. Unfortunate about India is
that the government at the Centre has
subsidized diesel. This has encouraged
consumers to switch from expensive petrol
to cheap diesel. Diesel emissions are
more harmful than petrol emissions.
Increase in diesel engines has made the
problem worse. More use of diesel has
created more health problems. Further
subsidies have kept the fuel use
inefficient.
The data
collected worldwide and in some of the
major cities of India, could only show
the dismal position. Air quality data for
suspended particulate matter in 70 Indian
cities for 1997 revealed only 19 cities
with levels below the permissible limit.
In 1992 Dehradun showed SPM level of 4809
ug/cum, Delhi 2340 ug/cum; Rajkot 1963
ug/cum in the year 1995; Shimla 2505
ug/cum in 1996 and Lucknow 2393 ug/cum in
1996. Daily permissible limit is 200
ug/cum. In Kashmir due to militancy work
of monitoring ambient air quality has
come to a standstill for the past 11
years. However, according to J&K
Pollution Board, particulate matter
levels were extremely high at all
monitoring sites in Jammu in the year
1997 December (maximum of 1635 ug/cum at
Bikram Chowk and minimum of 370 ug/cum at
the Railway Station sites). In Jammu 90
per cent of air pollution is considered
to be vehicular.
So at all
the places mentioned above, the air
quality data is alarming, and is bound to
cause many health problems. The problem
is so because of huge number of diesel
vehicles plying on the roads. In the
capital city of Delhi the number of cars
and three wheelers using diesel is still
huge inspite of the fact that many of the
vehicular engines have been switched on
to LPG use by the orders of the supreme
court. In city of Lucknow, the number of
vehicles running on diesel is in no way
less. There are 400,000 vehicles, 80
percent of which are diesel driven. In
Kanpur Vikrams, 3000 in number have
created a havoc, 350,000 vehicles ply on
the roads. At Pondichery, the maximum
levels of both SPM and SO, were found
high, three times the permissible limits
and No was two times the permissible
limit. In Kota 2000 vehicles are observed
to pass every day besides a large number
of trucks. According to recent data,
there are reports of 10 percent increase
in the number of vehicles every year. In
Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan there exist
90% of diesel driven vehicles and hence
air pollution levels can well be judged.
Similarly there are reports that in
Rohtak, Gajraula the air quality has
deteriorated during the last a few years.
More and more number of lung ailment
patients are daily visiting hospitals at
these places.
The
research on diesel particulates by
different countries have clearly shown
that these are harmful and result in
causing various lung diseases. Today,
scientists are perplexed by the discovery
that even at very low concentrations
these particles kill. Anthony Seaten of
the University of Aberdeen, UK has
researched airborne particles and their
health effects. According to him the
greater the surface area of the diesel
particles, the deeper they go into the
lungs. The great majority of the diesel
particles are from 0.65 microns to 10
microns. If the particle size is 4.7 to 7
microns, it rests in the trachea and
pharynx, the size of 0.65 to 4.7 microns
attacks the bronchial tubes of the lungs,
and if the size is still smaller (between
0.43 to 0.65 microns), the particles can
penetrate deeply into the lungs.
Particles larger than 11 microns do not
penetrate. It amply shows that the tiny
the particles are, the deeper they go and
hence the fine particles are more lethal
to human beings. Chemical coatings makes
the particles dangerous. Fine particles
from burning of diesel are a complex
mixture of sulphate, nitrate, ammonium,
hydrogen ions, elemental organic
compounds, metals, poly-nuclear
aromatics, lead cadmium, vanadium,
copper, zinc, nickel and so on. It is
this mixture of chemicals which makes
these tiny killers so lethal.
The
atmosphere plays its own role in aiding
the formation of deadly particles,
especially the sulphate particles.
Sulphate particles are also emitted due
to combustion of fuels with high sulphur
content. Diesel is a major source of
sulphur dioxide when burnt. Once it is
out in the atmosphere it gets further
oxidized and turns into sulphate
particles. This can be carried to
considerable distances through the air.
Sulphate particles are now treated as
more dangerous than PM 10 and PM 2.5
particles. So in all the cases, we are
actually inhaling poison. Then there is
deadly cancer. The cancer causing
potential of diesel cars is more than
twice the petrol cars in India. If only
particulate emission is taken into
consideration, the carcinogenic effect of
one new diesel car is equal to 24 new
petrol cars on road.
The cancer
index (sum total of particulate, Ben
zene, alkenes, aldehydes, PAC) is highest
in diesel i.e. 235, whileas it is 100 for
gasoline, 55 for Ethanol, 46 for methanol
and 19 for methane.
With the
diesel emissions many more diseases get
associated like allergies and Asthma.
Scientists now believe that diesel
exhaust plays a major part in
exacerbating allergies and allergenic
asthma in our cities. A current research
project also demonstrated that asthma
patients in Delhi are on an increase. So
after getting the evidences from all
quarters, the cleanest option among fuels
is methane (CNG is 80% methane followed
by methanol and ethanol or LPG). In
diesel engine, the combustion system
itself leads to high emission soot and
particles. Even if petrol is substituted
in diesel engines, the smoke and
particulate emissions would be almost as
high. The only possible solution to
significantly reduce particulate
emissions would be to use particulate
filter. However, such filters to be used
in larger scale does not seem to be
viable. This drawback for diesel cars
will persist for the next decade in
European countries and presumably later
in India. The only viable option
presently, therefore for India is to
switch on to cleaner fuels like CNG or
LPG.
After
learning about these lethal tiny diesel
particulates, it becomes imperative to
switch over the cleaner fuels like CNG/
LPG. The diesel use should be phased out
in the coming years with the enforcement
of stringent laws as has been done in
most of the western countries together
with check on subsidies. The cost of
diesel should be made higher to make the
transporters to use safer options.
Further emergency alert should be
declared where the air pollution levels
are high. Also mass awareness compaigns
should be started in the cities where
ambient air quality data is
disappointing. Specifically for school
going children in bad air localities, it
should be made mandatory to use air masks
as a check for inhaling the diesel
particles.
|
 |
Disinvestment
process for airlines, airport,
HCI
set in motion
By D K
Arora
Civil
Aviation in India is poised for a big
leap with Government's decision to
privatise the two national carries-Air
India and Indian Airlines and the four
metro airpots. ''The process is moving
smoothly and has entered Phase Two as far
as the two airlines are concerned'',
claims the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr
Sharad Yadav. It was a conscious decision
of the NDA Government to disinvest State
equity in Indian Airlines, Air India and
Hotel Corporation of India and to give
out on long-term lease the four major
airports- Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and
Chennai.
Early
January, the Government had asked
qualified bidders to submit their
proposals consisting of details of joint
venture consortium partners and business
plans in the second phase of
disinvestment of Air India and Indian
Airlines. The Department of Disinvestment
(DOD) has also issued the draft
shareholders' agreement, draft share
purchase agreement to those who had
qualified in the first round of bidding.
The bid
packs being offered also include
information memorandum and request for
proposal. The finalisation of share
purchase agreement or shareholders'
agreement and other documents of the
Government will be given to the bidders
only after the screening.
The
Government has been tightlipped about
those who have qualified except stating
that three bidders are out of the race
for India and one for Indian Airlines for
not fulfilling the criterion of having
combined net worth in excess of Rs 1,000
crore or US $ 225 million. Eight bidders
are in the race for buying 40 per cent
stake in Air India, while another five
are seeking 26 per cent take in Indian
Airlines to become strategic partners in
the two airlines. Those who participated
in the first round of bids for Air India
included Tata-Singapore Airlines
consortium, the Delta-Air France,
Hindujas, L N Mittal-Kotak Mahindra
group, Emirates Airways and Indian Pilots
Guild. Those bidding for Indian Airlines
equity include Tats, Hindujas and
Videocon for Indian Airlines.
While Air
France and theHindujas have not announced
their partners yet. Videocon has tied up
with Cathay Pacific for technical
collaboration. The Mittals are expected
to go in for the British Airways-Qantas
team for technical support. Final
price-cum-technical bids are expected to
take place in two to six months and the
whole process is expected to conclude
sometime later this year.
The
Disinvestment Minister, Mr Arun Shourie,
states that the Government has decided
not to reveal the names of parties, which
have bid for Indian Airlines and Air
India as this might lead to
cartelisation. The disinvestment process
commenced May last year, when it was
decided to disinvest 51 per cent of
Government equity in Indian Airlines, of
which 26 per cent would be given to a
joint venture/strategic partner. The
remaining 25 per cent would be offered to
employees; financial institutions and the
public. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG)
had been constituted to assist in the
process of disinvestment, comprising
representatives of the Department of
Disinvestment, Ministry of Civil
Aviation, Department of Economic Affairs,
Department of Enterpises and the Indian
Airlines, stated Mr Sharad Yadav.
He said
the disinvestment would be done within
the framework of the Domestic Air
Transport Policy that the bidders should
not have more than 40 per cent foreign
equity. M/S ANZ Grindlays has been
appointed as advisor for the purpose.
As far as
Air India goes, it has been decided to
sell 60 per cent of the Government
equity. Of this, 40 per cent would be
given to the strategic partner of which
foreign holding cannot be more than 26
per cent, 10 per cent to the employees,
and 10 per cent to financial institution
or on the share market. M/s J M Morgan
Stanley has been selected as advisor to
steer the process of disinvestment in
Air-India.
Apart from
the revenue generation which is likely to
help the Government to improve its fiscal
position, the equity sale in the two
carriers can be showcased as a great
success in the disinvestment exercise.
The quality of bidders has come as a
surprise to many as Air India's losses
total Rs 1,000 crore and its debts amount
to Rs 3,800 core. However, valuation of
the airline's assets or the price tag was
not available from analysts of the
Government Mr Shourie expressed surprise
at the media's wild Rs 24,000 crore
valuation of Air India.
As far as
bidders go, the stake in Air India could
provide the partner a strategic regional
hub, a foothold in the huge and growing
Indian travel market, a popular
brandname, crucial bilateral flying
rights and less visible assets like real
estate which could unlock value. The
national airline's unused bilateral right
would be an invaluable asset to the new
partner. Air India's current rights allow
it to fly to 96 destinations, though it
can operate just 19 at present with its
small fleet of 23 aircraft.
The
government has also decided to introduce
a five year lock in period clause for the
resale of Air-India and Indian Airlines
equity by the successful bidders after
privatisation. The Cabinet Committee on
Security insist upon it so that no
tax-haven country gets undue beenfit.
Official sources confirmed that the
Department of Disinvestment has accepted
the proposal of lock-in period and the
Ministries of Law and Finance have
cleared it.
The
lock-in-period clause is being introduced
to ward off the public mind any thought
of security risk. However, such a clause
will not be part of the general
divestment policy. It will pertain only
to ''conspicuous case'' like A-I and IA.
The Government is trying to take care of
security related issues as far as
possible, because it feels that security
should not become a pretext for blocking
the sell-off process.
At the
same time, penalty clauses cannot be
unrealistically harsh. For instance, if
there is worldwide recession in the
market, the future owners of Air India
and Indian Airlines may want to sell
bilateral rights. The Government will see
to it that policies do not prove a
stranglehold for the futuree owner,
official sources said. The Government
decided to insert the lock-in period
clause as the opponents of privatisation,
including those within the government,
had been using security as a pretext to
stall or delay the sale of PSUs.
There are
several other issues that the Government
has to tackle before the proposed
privatisation process could be completed.
One of them is high and varying sales tax
on air turbine fuel (ATF). Air India and
Indian Airlines pay a very high sales tax
on ATF, which results in a big loss of
revenue. The future owner will not like
to take this burden. But this will mean
loss of sales tax to States. Many States
are objecting to this, as sales tax is a
major source of revenue for them. A Group
of Ministers has been set up to sort out
the issue.
Even
though Government is evolving rules as
the process moves on, experts feel that
the Government should have done its
homework before embarking on the untried
path. However, the privatisation process
is not as smooth as it appears to be. It
is facing stiff opposition from
bureaucrats, the CEOs of PSUs and some
politicians. For the delay. Baijal blamed
it upon lack of a well defined
administrative apparatus for
privatisation of public sector units
(PSUs).
''There
are no pre-defined rules of the game, and
we have to evolve the rules as we move
on'', he said. But one must give credit
to the Vajpayee-led coalition Government
for handling the issue successfully and
with determination in a quiet and steady
manner. By moving promptly into the Phase
Two of the disinvestment, the Government
has indicated that it is not willing to
brook any delay in corporatising and
ultimately privatising the two national
airlines.- CNF
|
|
Liberalisation:
Bringing down public sector edifice
By Romesh Chander
When the Lord of
Independence blessed India with its presence on
August, 15th, 1947, it found, among other Core
Sector, the economy in shambles and the
Industrial Sector of the Country at its lowest
ebb. The entire economy of the country was at
that time controlled by a few Private Industrial
Houses with no public involvement at all.
It was at this
juncture that the Architect of modern India and
its first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal
Nehru envisaged a comprehensive plan for setting
up of Industries in Public Sector on the
socialist pattern. This was done with the motive
of providing employment, development of
infrast-ructure and technology with the active
participation of the people of India. This worked
wonders and the time is witness to the fact that
the heavy and large, medium and Small Industries
flourished in Public Sector as a result of which
the economy of the country stabilised and the
living standards of people saw an upward swing.
There came a time when there was hardly any item
which was not produced in the Public Sector
including the most advanced sophisticated and
heavy defence and life saving equipment. The
heavy Agricultural machines marked a new chapter
on the Indian horizon, with the 'Green
Revolution' which saw India becoming self
sufficient in food grains. Today, India is
producing world class defence equipment,
Aeroplanes, Missiles, Atomic Reactor, computers,
Super-conductors communication equipments and
what not but in Public Sector Industries only.
This was going on with a healthy atmosphere in
almost all the States, our J&K State not
being an exception, watching the huge trees of
Industry growing, blossoming and yielding very
sweet and nourishing fruits in all the areas
including the Core Sector.
But Alas! The
liberalisation bug hit the minds of Managers of
our country in late eighties and thus started the
decline of Public Sector. All the decisions taken
by previous Government to strengthen in this,
once most prestigious Industrial Sector, were/are
being reversed in the name of opening up of
economy - liberlisation. The lack of managerial
skills and foresight of the part of Govt.
functionaries at the Apex levels become highly
cancerous to the Public Sector and the result
being that hardly there is any day when we do not
come across the news about one or the other
Public Sector Industry being disinvested or
closed. Well, they argue that the Industry will
grow in Private Sector/hands as they are more
capable and result oriented. Agreed- but who is
primarily responsible for the decline in the
Public Sector. Did the Govt or its functionaries
even try to ponder over this all important issue.
On the contrary, they are adopting the technique
of replacement of the system as a whole without
troubling themselves to find the cure for its
repairs.
As the virus of
liberalisation spread and did so at a more rapid
speed catching the fancy eye of the top echelons
- how could our poor State remain without
contacting this infection. Sadly enough, the
eruption of violence in the Valley of Kashmir,
the paradise upon earth, did further lend a
helping hand and also an excuse to the succesive
Govts of this beautiful State to suffocate the
working atmosphere of State Public Sector
Undertakings by hook or by crook bringing these
organisations to such an impasse, where they very
act of breathing has become impossible, making
talking, walking achieving a goal, a distant
dream for them.
Our Silk Industry,
which once occupied the position of pride the
world over, is today reeling under sub-zero
temperature and the people having almost
forgotten its name now.
Our emporiums,
spread all over the country and even abroad, used
to be the ambassadors of our craftsmanship in
embroidery, wood carving, paper machine etc.
throughout the globe.
Our mineral
wealth, especially the Saphire, 'Neelam' as it is
commonly known, used to find its place inthe
crowns of kings and monarchs but now instead of
saphire only "Cipher" i.e. Zero is
left.
These are but a
few examples of the products of Public Sector of
the State and it would need volumes to describe
the other details.
But, as the things
stand on date, every thing has gone into private
hands, with the Public Sector and its hapless
employees left with only sweet memories of their
glorious past.
But one can not
live by memories alone. One needs two square
meals and the money enough to feed and bring up
one's family. This basic right of survival, food
and shutter is also being denied to the employees
of Public Sector now. For instance, the employees
of one of the biggest Public Sector Undertakings
namely J&K Industries Limited have not been
paid their salaries from October 2000 onwards and
the plight, in absence of the salaries, can well
be imagined and guaged by any sane person. such
employees of this Corporation, as have retired
some four or five years ago, are still clamouring
for their post retirement dues. Can the so called
guardians of the State and the Society imagine
the pitiable conditions of such retired persons,
who have no pensionary benefits, and tell them
where should they go. Presently, the employees
including the poor workers, who have not been
paid their rightfully eaned crisis on all fronts
-- starvation, wards being turned out of
Educational Institutions for non payment of dues,
loss of identity in the society, inability to
have Medical treatment in case of illness of self
or any dependent so on and so forth. The poor and
helples lot of employees have exhausted all their
reserves, including the CP Fund balance
accumulated/ contributed by them over the years,
which is normally the only financial reserve
aimed at the sustaining support in post
retirement days, again to remind that they are
non-pensioners. In addition they have during.
These five months begged of borrowed to keep
themselves and their dependents alive.
Would any body
among the Govt functionaries after in between the
preceding lines which are based on truth alone,
come out of the deep slumber, wake up and adopt a
human approach. Leading to mitigation of the
problems of the helpless employees of the Public
Sector Undertakings in General and those of Jammu
& Kashmir Industries Limited in particular
enabling them to feed their starving mouths
besides meeting other domestic expenses. It may
be mentioned here additionally, that for the last
three yeas no Dearness Allowance being paid to
them in the shape of "COLA" (cost of
living allowance) has been released in their
favour, which has further compounded their
miseries in view of soaring market, which is not
subordinate to the Government orders. The
pensionery benefits, granted by the Government of
India, which covers all the Public Sector
Undertakings in the country and also the
organised Private Sector, have also been denied
to the employees of the State Public Sector as if
this part of the country does not constitute a
part of the Republic of India.
In short, the
Public Sector Employes and particularly those of
J&K Industries Limited, who once formed a
place of pride in restructuring the economy of
this State in the post independence era, are
finding themselves on cross-roads fighting for
their survival as a result of apathy and callous
attitude of the Govt. and its directionless
policies.
|
|
| |
|
|
