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

Startup India initiative: A decade of building India’s innovation backbone

* With over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of December 2025, India stands firmly as one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems. * A decade of Startup India has built a full-lifecycle support system spanning ideation, funding, mentorship, and scale-up. * Around 50% of DPIIT-r

How toll policies are redefining the highway journeys

With the phenomenal growth in National Highways, queues at toll plazas used to affect commuters. However, over the last decade, tolling has undergone a major technological transformation, bringing faster movement and significant ease for road users. Building on this progress, year 2025 saw further people-c

From vulnerabilities to empowerment: Building resilience for small and marginal farmers

India’s small and marginal farmers are at the centre of a paradox in agrarian economy. They are the backbone of the food economy, but they are the most vulnerable stakeholders within agricultural economy. Among the 126 million farmers in India today, nearly makes 86% operate on small and marginal hol

Concerns over Mumbai air pollution ahead of Marathon

Environmental organisation Awaaz Foundation has flagged serious concerns over deteriorating air quality in Mumbai and the potential health risks it poses to participants of the Tata Mumbai Marathon scheduled for January 18. It has urged civic and pollution control authorities to conduct advance air quality

From darkness to demand: India’s power sector at a policy crossroads

India’s progress in electricity access over the past two decades represents one of the most consequential public infrastructure transformations globally. Yet, as policymakers now confront issues of reliability, financial sustainability, and grid stability, experts argue that the next phase of reform

2026: How AI is transforming everyday life and work in India

Artificial Intelligence is driving a new wave of innovation that touches every part of daily life, from healthcare and farming to education, governance, and climate prediction. It helps doctors diagnose diseases faster, assists farmers in making data-driven decisions, improves learning outcomes for student


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter