Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh to the family members of N. Venkatesh, an employee of the DCI who had committed suicide recently in protest against privatisation of the Schedule I ‘mini ratna’ company.
Mr. Naidu stated this when the bereaved family members, accompanied by members of the DCI Officers’ Association and the DCI Non-Executives’ Union (NEU), met him here. The Chief Minister promised to take up with the DCI management the issue of settlement of all statutory benefits and other dues to the family of Venkatesh.
Anakapalle MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao said the Chief Minister promised to take up the issue with the Centre. MLA M.V.V.S. Murti was present. According to CITU leader Ch. Narsinga Rao, the Chief Minister said he was not consulted by the Centre on the issue strategic sale of equity in the DCI. The DCI has its head office in the city.
DCIOA members K. Rama Rao, G.V.R. Murthy, and K.K. Chakravarty and NEU working president P. Venkata Rao called on Mr. Naidu and submitted a representation urging him ensure that the Centre withdrew its decision to privatise the DCI.
‘Threat to national security’
Mr. Narsinga Rao said they explained to the Chief Minister that the employees were agitated as DCI privatisation, if implemented, would not only put their future at stake but also pose threat to national security due to involvement of private dredging companies in naval jetties and major ports.
