Date:19/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101903271200.htm

National

Plea to improve Labour Ministry functioning

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 18. Trade union leader and MP Gurudas Dasgupta has written to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, pointing out that the Labour Ministry which has to play a crucial role in the implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme cannot be allowed to go "astray."

"In a situation of sharp changes in the economic scenario, problems of labour must be attended to with a human mind. Something is definitely missing," Mr. Dasgupta pointed out in his letter. "I encroach upon your valuable time to express my agony and implore upon you to take steps so that the Ministry of Labour is put on the proper rails. I believe that our expectations with regard to the performance of the Labour Ministry have been rudely shaken."

Recalling his meeting with Dr. Singh on September 17 wherein he had raised the question of "deterioration" in the functioning of the Labour Ministry, Mr. Dasgupta alleged that the process had intensified. "The Standing Labour Committee has been postponed. No fresh date has been fixed. No preparation is being made to have a session of the Indian Labour Conference and the Employees Provident Fund Organisation is in [the] doldrums," he said.