Public sector, Central Govt officers to launch agitation against 'privatisation moves'

 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUGUST 6:  

The officer cadre in the public/ Central Government sectors is growing restive over ‘suspected moves’ aimed at large-scale mergers/ privatisation.

The All India Public Sector And Central Government Officers' Confederation has decided to launch a nationwide agitation programme until such ‘ill-conceived moves’ are called off.

REPRESENTATIVE SECTORS

These programmes would include nationwide demonstrations and a march to Parliament, in line with decisions taken by the first conference of the confederation held in Chennai on Sunday.

The confederation claims to represent 13 lakh officers drawn from the banking, oil & gas, telecom, defence, railways and pharma sectors; GST & central excise; LIC and insurance; and central public works, among others.

Representatives of various unions from these sectors shared their concerns on the ‘retrograde moves to privatise’ public sector undertakings and enterprises, a spokesman told BusinessLine.

The representatives also appraised the delegates on how the ‘faulty policies of the successive governments’ has ensured the systematic weakening of the public sector.

SHIFTING BURDEN

Rather than making persons responsible for their mismanagement, the burden is now sought to be shifted to employees.

A public perception is sought to be created using mainly the electronic media in favour of privatisation.

The conference unanimously opposed "the road map laid at the behest of NITI Aayog, Banks Board Bureau and the RBI to weaken and privatise public sector organisations."

It resolved to oppose what it described as anti-labour and anti-people moves and agitate and fight together whenever any sector or an enterprise is under attack.

The confederation will not accept the argument of "affordability" put forward by the government for pay revision, the spokesman said.

It resolved to demand a common forum of public sector undertakings/ enterprises to represent and settle with the government for a uniform pay revision and other benefits.

GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL

The conference also demanded that there should be grievance redressal mechanism for gazetted officers of the Central Government, the spokesman said.

The confederation proposes to reach out to the public through its programme called ‘Peoples Parliament for Unity and Development’ to know what sort of growth they require and will pledge to them its support in each district of the country.

Awareness will be created amongst the public about the contribution of the public sector in the development of the nation since Independence and its requirement for inclusive growth.

The Government has always understated the efforts put in by the public sector and its employees to successfully carry out its various social security schemes. 

Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com