Bull's Eye

Dear Prime Minister,

The day this issue hits the stands, you will be meeting the nation'scentral trade union leaders. You want to avert a nationwide strike. The UP power workerswere wrong to strike. Newspaper editors urged you to be tough. Be tough, prime minister.But also be just. Deal with basic issues.

Two issues agitate workers. First, they lack a proper national wagepolicy. Second, they question the government's disinvestment policy. Let's takethem in that order.

Making a sensible wage policy is comparatively easy. Just settle areasonable minimum wage and ensure that it is implemented. At the same time, create a wageratio between the highest and the lowest paid within each public or private unit. It couldbe one to 10. Even one to 20. Today, in many firms it is one to 100! Is this necessary? Iftop salaries are reduced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh a month, will heavens fall? Themarket won't shrink. Only wasteful expenditure would decrease.

The disinvestment problem is more complex. Disinvestment should not justbe a device to cover the fiscal deficit. Along with raising money, the government mustmake existing units competitive. Let workers opposing privatisation have a choice. Givethem the option to start the Workers' Sector. Surely you remember the Workers'Sector, prime minister?

In late 1981, we set up the Ekta Committee. On January 10, 1982, itapproved an approach paper outlining the broad modalities of a Workers' Sector tocompete with the public and private sectors. It rested on the principle that workers wouldhave a share in ownership, profits and floor-level management of all units in which thegovernment held the majority share. Provident funds would be adjusted against workers'shares. Only one internal union would function. Strikes would end because workers would beowners. The chairman and board would be elected by the workers and be accountable to them.Each unit could partner with foreign or domestic multinationals. The 1982 approach paperis still available.

The Ekta Committee included yourself, Chandrashekhar, Advani, GeorgeFernandes, Dandavate, Bhai Mahavir, the late Karpuri Thakur and the late Devraj Urs. Ihappened to be its convenor.

Prime minister, why don't you consider the Workers' Sector asa possible solution to the disinvestment problem? You can blaze a new trail in the newmillennium. The world awaits a new approach.

It's really funny
That my money
Makes someone boss
While I suffer loss!