NCOA passes resolution for strategic merger of steel sector PSUs
Demands IT benefits for PSU officers at par with Central Govt officers
Bhilai, Sep 07: Apex organization of executives of public sector steel undertakings – SEFI has been emphasizing on restructuring and strategic merger, in place of indiscriminate privatization and disinvestment of PSUs. SEFI had passed a resolution for strategic merger of PSUs in the steel sector in its meeting held on April 04, 2021 in New Delhi. They are demanding formation of a Mega Steel PSU under the Ministry of Steel by strategic merger of RINL, SAIL, Nagarnar Steel Plant, NMDC, MECON etc. Based on the SEFI resolution, the topic of strategic merger of steel sector PSUs was discussed in the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2021.
Steel Sector PSUs have not only created employment through steel plants in different places of the country in the last six decades but have also done overall development of their surrounding area through health, education, infrastructure and CSR activities. Today, the well-educated and capable class, known as “middle class” in the country, basically flourished due to such public undertakings and became the reason for the economic, educational progress of the country. There is a dire need to save this inclusive model of development so that a strong citizen can build a strong nation. The steel sector has played an important role in nation building in the last 60 years.
National General Council meeting of the National Confederation Officers Association (NCOA) was held in Goa on September 03 and 04. After a detailed discussion on this subject by all the public sector officers associations, the NGC unanimously approved the resolution passed by SEFI. A detailed discussion was held about the benefits of formation of a mega steel company by strategic merger of all the PSUs in the steel sector and the proper utilization of the national wealth in the national interest.
It needs to be mentioned here that in the steel sector, apart from SAIL, companies such as Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, MECON, Nagarnar Steel Plant, MOIL, FSNL, etc are working under the Ministry of Steel. Merger of these PSUs can create a huge steel producing company. Thereby, the resources available with these individual companies can be used more efficiently, thereby enabling the proposed mega PSUs to be very productive and profitable.
NCOA meeting was attended by representatives of public sector companies. They appreciated the efforts being made to revive the PSUs like BSNL and MTNL. They strongly opposed the proposed privatization of other PSUs and the possible national loss from this move. In this meeting, a demand was made to end the discrimination arising due to higher tax burden on public sector employees as compared to central government employees. It needs to be mentioned here that the Central Government employees enjoy tax benefits on EL Encashment, car loan, education loan, home loan, etc, whereas public sector employees do not get the same tax exemption.
NCOA has demanded from PSEB and the Central Government to increase the eligibility for the post of Director of Public Sector from the present 12 candidates to 24 so that the availability of eligible persons can increase for many vacant posts.
NCOA felicitated its two former office bearers for their appointment as CMD in public undertakings. NCOA expressed concern over the delay in the appointment of higher posts in the public sector and appealed to the PSEB to complete the process of appointment within a reasonable time period.
NCOA office bearers informed in the meeting that the Supreme Court has reserved its decision on their case regarding EPS 95 higher pension. Under the banner of NCOA, all officers associations had challenged the decision of DA Freezing in the Gauhati High Court.
NCOA appealed to the Central Government to implement Third PRP in all the undertakings so that the employees could get fiscal benefits
NCOA President Alok Rai, General Secretary VK Tomar, Patron K Ashok Rao, SEFI Chairman Narendra Kumar Banchore, SEFI General Secretary Abkash Malik, SEFI Joint Secretary KBD Prasad, SEFI member SS Katam Chandrarao and others attended the meeting.
