Chennai:
Around 27000 workers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) have announced an indefinite strike asking the centre to revoke its decision to sell five per cent of its stakes in NLC. The strike is in defiance of an order by the Madras High Court restraining them from calling for a strike till reconciliation talks are over.
However, the Officers' Union comprising around 4000 employees have decided not to participate in the strike. "Officers have buckled under pressure from management, but with them they can only run the plant for a few more days," S Rajavannian, General Secretary of NLC Labour Progressive Federation, told NDTV.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had mooted the idea of NLC shares being sold to one or a few public sector undertakings. She wanted NLC to be run maintaining its public charter, without any dilution. The Centre has said the Securities and Exchange Board of India would take a call on this.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to Ms Jayalalithaa explaining that the disinvestment was to meet public shareholding norms for a Navaratna company.
DMK Chief Karunanidhi has also asked the centre to revoke its decision. He said the Centre should remember that similar disinvestment moves were withdrawn in the in 2006.
The workers are apprehensive that disinvestment could be a beginning for a complete take over by private companies. Presently the centre owns 93.56 per cent of the total share capital.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the plant presently supports community activities in around 25 villages. Local people are also worried that this could stop once this public sector organisation turns into a private company.
NLC generates around 2400 MW of power out of which Tamil Nadu alone receives 1140 MW. Any disruption in power generation due to strike could affect the power starved state. The plant also supplies electricity to neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry.