A total revival package submitted by the ailing Hindustan Photo Films (HPF) is under the active consideration of the Union Heavy Industries Ministry, said the Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Vilasrao Deshmukh, while addressing a press conference at Indunagar, near here, on Tuesday.
He said that the affairs of the company are not sound and it is ailing.
Stating that the package estimated to cost Rs. 302 crore is now in the process of being circulated among the Ministries concerned, he said that efforts are on to clear it as early as possible. Already a sum of Rs. 30 crore had been given to keep its production going.
Adverting to a long standing grievance of the employees relating to wage revision, he said that considering the difficulties an interim relief on an adhoc basis has been mooted. The potential of the company is good and with the help of technology the workers can do well.
Stating that efforts would be made to market the Company's medical X-ray films in all the hospitals, he made it clear that on no account should quality be compromised. The revival package included diversification proposal. The work force which was 750 now will be brought down to 650.
He also said that public sector enterprises should be made competitive. If they do not perform well the managements of the respective companies should be held responsible. Pointing out that out of 32 Public Sector undertakings which came under the purview of the Heavy Industries Ministry 15 are ailing, he said that all of them had submitted revival proposals. Stating that some of them are in the process of being restructured, Mr. Deshmukh said that henceforth in companies like the HPF the focus would be on professionalism.
Funds for reviving them are coming from the tax payer. Earlier, Mr. Deshmukh accompanied by the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, HPF, P. Jagadeeswaran, went round the company. He also interacted with employees and representatives of various unions.
