Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 1: A delegation led by senior Members of Parliament, Ratan Lal Kataria and Keshav Prasad Maurya, today called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh at his Parliament House office and sought his intervention to revive and boost HMT Limited units, particularly the HMT unit at Pinjore, Panchkula, which is one of the premier establishments, having been set up in 1963, with manufacturing facility for milling machines as well as major structures and critical components used in auto industry and other sectors.
In a memorandum submitted to Dr Jitendra Singh, the delegation submitted that, due to sub-optimal functioning of HMT Pinjore, not only the production has suffered but the employees are also left without salary for months together. There is a section of employees who have not received their salaries consequently for more than a year causing tremendous agony and stress to the individuals and their families.
The memorandum also alleged that the ill-health of HMT establishment at Pinjore has now also started disturbing the health of its employees , who have started developing stress related health problems including Diabetes and high blood pressure. The tension at home has also resulted in distraction for the children who are unable to concentrate on their studies, it said.
The memorandum also claimed that “Tractor Business Group” is facing an escalation of expenditure up to Rs. 8 crore per month. The memorandum stressed the need to give a boost to HMT in order to make it economically more viable. In this context, it was their suggestion that while purchasing machines, tractors and other tools for government use, priority should be accorded to HMT products.
Dr Jitendra Singh gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured them that the issues raised in the memorandum will be put up before the concerned quarters, so as to find out what can be done to help HMT and its workforce.