Karnataka - Bangalore

Workers protest against marginalisation of PSUs

Special Correspondent

Rally held against private investment being allowed in Defence sector

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Demands raised: Workers of public sector undertakings at a protest rally organised by the Joint Action Front in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Bangalore: Workers of all major public sector undertakings (PSUs) in Bangalore held a rally here on Tuesday in protest against the United Progressive Alliance Government’s efforts to usher in private investment in the Defence sector. This, they said, would not only push PSUs towards bankruptcy but also compromise the sovereignty and self-reliance of the country.

Speaking at the rally attended by over 5,000 employees from all major PSUs in Bangalore, the former MP and labour leader Deepankar Mukherjee criticised the Government’s efforts to “divert orders” from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. and other PSUs to private undertakings shortlisted as Raksha Utpadan Ratnas. Foreign companies such as Israel Aerospace Industries were also entering the Defence sector, he said.

Allowing foreign investment amounted to becoming “junior allies” of the U.S., he warned. There was an effort, on the other hand, to encourage Defence research in the private sector by giving accreditation to companies as Anusandhan Vikas Ratnas to undermine the PSUs, Mr. Mukherjee said.

He wanted to know what expertise industries shortlisted as Raksha Utpadan Ratnas, such as Infosys, Tata or L&T, had in the Defence sector. “All major Defence PSUs have had to work for 50 years to earn that title,” he said.

Prasanna Kumar, convener of the Joint Action Front of Bangalore-based PSUs, said the Government was making no effort to strengthen the existing infrastructure in PSUs and use them to full capacity. The Government was instead pumping crores of rupees as development funds to private industries, he said.

BEL, for instance, was working to only 61 per cent of its capacity. While HAL had the capacity to manufacture combat helicopters, orders were being given to the Israel-based company, said Mr. Kumar. Private companies were even being allowed to do research in units of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, he said.

The Joint Action Front also put forward its demand that Bangalore be classified as an A-1 city. While all cities with over 50 lakh population were to be deemed A-1 cities, Bangalore was being discriminated against by not being given the status though its population far exceeded the limit, said Mr. Kumar. The committee also demanded that wage revision take place every five years as against the present practice of once in 10 years. The committee has resolved to go on an indefinite strike if the demands are not met.

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