Vizag Steel Plant: Country’s future matters over politics, says NSTL Union Head

Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) Union employees expressed great dismay over the privatisation process of the Vizag Steel Plant. Working for many years now, the central government’s move feels very emotional to every individual. Staging continuous protests since the decision was floored in the parliament, employees have not lost hope. Despite repeated requests from people of all walks of life, the centre has been firm on its decision to privatise the Vizag Steel Plant. The Narendra Modi-led government repeatedly assured that only after a thorough assessment, the decision has been taken.

From hunger strikes to protesting with a black badge, from distributing pamphlets to creating awareness around the importance of this government property, the NSTL Civilian Employees Union has tried every way in protesting against the privatisation of the Vizag Steel plant. Eminent people such as Janasena Party President Pawan Kalyan, former TDP MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, and others have continuously been expressing their views against privatisation in their own ways.

Speaking about the government’s decision, the NSTL Vizag Union President V.S.N. Murthy opined, “whenever there is a party sitting at the centre with an unopposed majority of seats, there is always trouble. No party should in my opinion be given this advantage. Back in the day, Indira Gandhi from the Congress Party took advantage of her majority and today the BJP party is doing the same. Apart from job security, the new pension scheme has not been promising. MLAs, MPs and corporators who have a 5-year term have better future security than an employee who has been working at this plant for many years.” He also added, “political parties are not important for us, the future of our country is what matters.”

“People believe with one recommendation you can land a government job. It’s not that easy. Maybe 10 per cent of jobs are based on recommendations, but 90 per cent of jobs here are based on talent. Taking my own case, I know how hard I have personally worked to earn this government job back in 1996. Out of 200 plus people, if I was selected it’s only because I was capable. If the selection process has been so stringent since inception, imagine the case when this plant becomes privatised,” said the administrator on how the whole situation is being overlooked.

As far as employees are concerned, the Union President picked up a comparison about how Smriti Irani fought for reducing gas cylinder prices back in 2013 when it was approximately ₹460 and now the same prices have soared to ₹1030. ” With a maximum wage of ₹650 for daily wage workers and ₹8000 for unskilled labourers, it is impossible for anyone to survive. Despite the pandemic, and no actions from the government to correct the current situation, they have today decided to sell what belongs to the people of this country,” he added. Though they are not directly involved with the trials at the Vizag Steel Plant, the Union strongly feels for its fellow employees.

The Union and higher officials further plan to aggravate their protests at the Center. Heads of all the 5 federations of the Vizag Steel Plant will shortly be planning to take these protests to Delhi and make sure the concerned people are made aware of the situation.  On a closing note, the Union President questioned,” everything cannot be sold to Ambani’s and Adani’s. If we today have to take hundreds of permissions to get one job done, it’s vigilance. Now when a private sector takes over, what will happen to the security of this country?”