A team of MPs from Kerala led by K. P. Dhanapalan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday and submitted a memorandum listing the problems facing the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore and seeking immediate government intervention for a revival package and compensation for the high price at which natural gas was being made available to the fertilizer company.
A spokesman for Save FACT Action Committee, which is spearheading the more than a 100-day old protest action seeking government attention to the company’s problems, said Mr. Dhanapalan was deputed by the State government to meet the Prime Minister to draw his attention to the troubles of the public sector unit.
Top on the list of demands by the Save FACT Action Committee is the announcement of a revival package for the company as recommended by the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Undertakings.
The BRPSE had recommend in late December last year that FACT be given a nearly Rs. 1,000-crore financial aid for seeing it through its current financial troubles.
The FACT management has also submitted a list of projects for the expansion and diversification of the company. These proposals, involving investments to the tune of Rs. 7,000 crore, are also awaiting government approval.
Hunger strike Hunger strike by a representative of the employees and officers of FACT entered the 14th day on Monday as K. C. Raphael of FACT Employees’ Congress (INTUC) continued his protest for the third day.
Anwar Sadat, MLA; former minister and CPI leader Binoy Vishwam, senior Congress (I) leader K.P. Haridas and INTUC general secretary V. P. George were among those who expressed their solidarity with the protesting FACT workers and officers, said a press release here.
Trade unions from FACT’s Cochin Dvision and unions of contract workers offered their solidarity. Kalamassery Zonal unit of Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham and Cochin Refinery Employees’ Association too expressed their solidarity with the FACT workers.
