Neighbours seek AP help to push privatisation

HYDERABAD: Impressed with the track record of the Implementation Secretariat (IS) in carrying forward the public enterprise (PE) reform programme in Andhra Pradesh, governments of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and Karnataka have sought its help in carrying out similar reform programme in their respective states.
The IS an autonomous body specifically created with the financial assistance provided by the Department For International Development (DFID), UK, to plan and implement public enterprise (PE) reform programme for the state-owned units in Andhra Pradesh. The PE reforms form a major component of the World Bank-assisted Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructure Programme (APERP). “The neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and Karnataka have asked for our assistance, having been impressed with the implementation of PE reforms in the number of state enterprises. And we are in the process of providing such assistance,� the IS officials told ET.
They said several high-level official delegations from those states have visited the IS office in the recent past to study its functioning, and also share its experiences in this regard.
Explaining the assistance being provided by the IS to various state governments, the officials said the Orissa government has sought information on how the sugar mills in Andhra Pradesh are being privatised, and they have been providing such assistance to it.
Further, they are assisting the Tamil Nadu government, following its request, on how to plan and implement the public enterprise programmes in the state-owned utilities in that southern state.
As far as the assistance to government of Karnataka is concerned, the officials said they are sharing the information and experience with it on how the social safety network programme (SSNP) for employees and workers affected by PE reforms is being implemented in the state.
“The Karnataka government, which has recently created a separate Disinvestment ministry for implementing reforms in the state-owned enterprises, is keen to implement the SSNP for the workers and employees of those units, and we are happy to share our experience with it,� they said.
The IS has so far helped in privatising seven loss-making enterprises, and is in the process of doing the same in eight more units. Besides, the IS has closed down ten totally unviable units, and helped in restructuring/downsizing six units. Importantly, it has helped the employees and workers, affected by the PE reform process, in finding alternate jobs in the same or related fields as per their qualifications and experiences through the SSNP.