The three unions of the company- RSMM Workers Federation (INTUC), RSMM Karamchari Sangh (BMS) and the RSMM Executive Association have made a joint declaration opposing the breakup and announced a state wide protest on November 24 at various units.

More than thirteen hundred employees of the Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals limited (RSMML), one of the largest profit making enterprise of state government, have decided to protest against the government’s decision for  disintegration of the company.

“Surving all odds, we the workers have toiled day and night for the company’s progress and contributed in earning crore of rupees every year. But suddenly the government has initiated steps to disintegrate the company into 7 units which is unacceptable” union leaders said.

The three unions of the company- RSMM Workers Federation (INTUC), RSMM Karamchari Sangh (BMS) and the RSMM Executive Association have come under a common banner of “RSMM Bachao Sangharsh Samiti” and jointly declared to oppose the breakup, announcing a state wide protest on November 24 at various units and offices in Udaipur, JhamarKotra, Jodhpur, Gotan, Nagaur, Barmer, Jaiselmer, Hanumangarh, Bikaner and Jaipur. The declaration was announced at a press conference here on Tuesday.

“In 2004, RSMML was formed after amalgamation of RSMDC and RSMM and the reason given behind the act was to avoid duplication of work and cost reduction” informed SM Iyer, General Secretary of the workers federation. “The company already has four separate strategic business units for different minerals like lignite, gypsum, phosphate and limestone and hence, there is no need for further breakups. However, recently the government has applied for registration of seven different limited companies by the name of RSMML Rock Phosphate Ltd, RSMML Lignite ltd, RSMML Gypsum Ltd, RSMML Limestone cement ltd, RSMML Non conventional Energy Ltd and RSMML Base Metal Ltd” Iyer said.

“If the disintegration is being done for the company’s betterment or benefit, we would have never opposed the decision, but the government is acting mysterious and not giving a proper explanation behind the decision which has invoked suspicion and insecurity among the dedicated work force” said MK Katewa, the president of the executive association.

“We have seen the after effects of disinvestment of the profit making Hindustan Zinc and the Laxmi Vilas. Disinvestments of any profit making enterprise is not acceptable and comes with a motive to serve vested interests of  corporate houses whereas public enterprises cater for larger interest” said Pramod Kundraa, president of the Karamchari Sangh.

The union leaders also claimed that despite being a profit making organization, the government has not appointed a full time Managing Director to the company for past 7 years which has adversely affected the functioning of the company. “We saw 15 MDs in seven years and most of the time the Divisional Commissioners were rested with the additional charge, making it impractical for the officers too, to devote the needed time to the company” leaders said.

The union leaders also demanded immediate termination of Tulsiram Agarwal, the financial adviser of the company, whose decision they alleged, had led to a dip in the yearly profits of the company by some 70 crores. The company had recorded a net profit of 186 cr, 281 cr and 410 cr successively in 2011, 2012 and 2013 but in 2014 the profit figures reduced to 326 crore, which is mainly because of the various insensible decisions made by the adviser, leaders claimed unanimously.

Contributed by: Geetha Sunil Pillai