The Government must start production in the closed National Textile Corporation Limited (NTC) Mills immediately and provide work to all workers who are getting only 50 per cent salary since March 2020, said Ravindra Himte,

All India General Secretary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

In a memorandum submitted to Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal, the BMS requested the Government to divide the existing 23 mills into viable and non-viable categories and start production in all the modernised and viable mills immediately. BMS strongly feels that the perception of Government has to change to restart and revival of NTC Mills.

The production in all 23 NTC mills was suspended from March 25, 2020 under the instructions of Government of India as a part of COVID-19 norms. The closed mills have not started the production activity and is paying only 50% wages to workmen and 100 per cent wages to administrative and technical staff. Even the 50 per cent salary to workers are also not paid since last 3 months.

Now, the Government is trying to privatise all NTC mills thinking this textile PSU is a ‘White Elephant’. The BMS felt that the Government’s perception with regard to the mills should change.

In this connection, BMS made different suggestions to Textiles Ministry to restart production and revival of loss making NTC Mills.

It suggested a phase wise action and demanded to restart production in 10 to 11 mills which are viable in first phase; make use of huge land bank to generate additional finances; adopt ‘Relocate and Revive’ policy; adopt a new strategy of ‘Industry based production and mill production based supply’; explore support from Cotton Corporation of India; preferential treatment to NTC as a supplier; start solar and wind energy plants to reduce power costs; reshuffle entire administration and make top management accountable.

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh demanded Textile Ministry to pay the pending three months salaries immediately.

It has also demanded the Government to pay remaining 50 per cent salary with arrears of EPF contribution for the above period and payment of gratuity be paid on the revised salaries immediate, informs a press release issued by Suresh Choudhary, BMS Media Incharge, Nagpur.