Lok Sabha Debates
Request A Fresh Allocation In The Current Year''S Budget To Implement The Revival ... on 4 June, 1998
nt> Title: Request a fresh allocation in the current year's budget to implement the revival plan and to make payments to the employees of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL).
SHRI S. SUDHAKAR REDDY (NALGONDA): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the House to the plight of the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL), a prestigious public sector undertaking, employing 8,000 and odd employees. For the last 35 years, they have been producing many life saving drugs and the same is supplied to the people at cheaper prices. The IDPL have produced very important medicines for curing plague and malaria. Production in all the five plants has come to a standstill since October, 1996. Wages are not paid from March, 1998. Employees are facing a lot of hardships. The management of IDPL have submitted a revival plan of Rs.449 crore and the same was approved by all the workers' unions and by the Board of Directors on 24.10.97. In fact, the previous Government agreed for a package for Rs.249 crore. I would like to raise this issue because in the Budget, which has been proposed by the hon. Minister of Finance, no allocation has been made for the revival plan of IDPL.
I would request that a fresh allocation should be made in the current year's Budget so as to implement the revival plan and to see that the payment is made regularly to its employees to save this prestigious public sector unit.
">SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE : Sir, the hon. Minister is present here. IDPL is a very important subject. He should reply to this point. MR. SPEAKER: I cannot compel the hon. Minister to reply. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE Sir, you should direct the hon. Minister... (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER : If the hon. Minister would like to respond, I have no objection. But I cannot compel him. ... (Interruptions)