NITI Aayog says no proposal for MTNLS’s disinvestment or closure -Governance Now

NITI Aayog says no proposal for MTNLS’s disinvestment or closure

Amitabh Kant has assured that there won't be any unprecedented move against MTNL or its employees

GN Bureau | October 28, 2016

#PMO #Amitabh Kant #MTNL #Niti Aayog #DoT

The government has ruled out the disinvestment plan for state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), for the time being. After massive protests by employees' union of MTNL, NITI Aayog has cleared the air, saying that as of now there is no proposal of strategic sale or closure of the government-run telecom firm, according to a news report published in The Pioneer.

After media reports of the MTNL's strategic sale, followed by the government's move for the same in a select few loss-making PSU units, employees of MTNL panicked. They appealed to the prime minister's office (PMO), NITI Aayog, telecom ministry and department of telecommunication (DoT) for its revival.

Niti Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant in a letter has assured that there won't be any such unprecedented move against MTNL or its employees, but he had never mentioned any way out or revival mechanism for a long-term sustainability plan of the continuous loss-making firm.

However, according to the news report there is still no clarity on the fate of MTNL as the proposal of disinvestment or strategic sale of MTNL is still pending in the PMO for consideration.

The PSU telecom firm, which offers services in Delhi and Mumbai, has been without a full-time CMD since May 30, 2014, when AK Garg retired from the post. However, PK Purwar, director (finance) of MTNL was given additional charge for the post from June 2014. From June 2015 to June 2016, NK Yadav, who is member (services), held the charge. Purwar was again given the additional charge in June 2016, after completion of Yadav's tenure.

For this key post, the government had sought suitable candidates who were required to submit their applications before September 8, 2016. Purwar's name had been recommended for the MTNL's top post by the PESB in November 2013, but the government did not go ahead with the recommendation.

Comments

Other News

‘World’s biggest festival of democracy’ begins

The much-awaited General Elections of 2024, billed as the world’s biggest festival of democracy, began on Friday with Phase 1 of polling in 102 Parliamentary Constituencies (the highest among all seven phases) in 21 States/ UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the State Assembly Elections in Arunach

A sustainability warrior’s heartfelt stories of life’s fleeting moments

Fit In, Stand Out, Walk: Stories from a Pushed Away Hill By Shailini Sheth Amin Notion Press, Rs 399

What EU’s AI Act means for the world

The recent European Union (EU) policy on artificial intelligence (AI) will be a game-changer and likely to become the de-facto standard not only for the conduct of businesses but also for the way consumers think about AI tools. Governments across the globe have been grappling with the rapid rise of AI tool

Indian Railways celebrates 171 years of its pioneering journey

The Indian Railways is celebrating 171 glorious years of its existence. Going back in time, the first train in India (and Asia) ran between Mumbai and Thane on April 16, 1853. It was flagged off from Boribunder (where CSMT stands today). As the years passed, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway which ran the

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: How to connect businesses with people

7 Chakras of Management: Wisdom from Indic Scriptures By Ashutosh Garg Rupa Publications, 282 pages, Rs 595

ECI walks extra mile to reach out to elderly, PwD voters

In a path-breaking initiative, the Election Commission of India (ECI), for the first time in a Lok Sabha Election, has provided the facility of home voting for the elderly and Persons with Disabilities in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Voters above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with 4