 "Now, Sahara seeks truckloads of opinions")
The survey began at the end of last month and employees and associates of the group have been asked to participate. Among the questions in the survey are ‘In Sahara-Sebi battle, who do you think is as at fault?’ and ‘Does Subrata Roy Sahara deserve ban on foreign tour (which is imposed on criminals) and does he deserve a non-bailable arrest warrant?’. Comments on the Sahara group and the ‘approach/attitude of Hon’ble Supreme court’ have also been sought.
“As per instructions of Hon’ble Saharasri ji, the attached questionnaire survey exercise has to be undertaken by each and every karyakarta (worker) of the organisation. Each karyakarta has to get handwritten responses of at least 10 respondents, including him/her,” said an email from the group’s human resources department. The group claims it has 1.2 million employees. This translates into 12 million survey forms, if one goes by the minimum per-employee target the group has set.
An email sent to a Sahara spokesperson on Saturday did not elicit any response.
The five-question survey, two pages long, is expected to “take only seven-eight minutes”. This works out to 24 million pages of opinion, to be sorted at Sahara’s Mumbai office in the Bandra-Kurla Complex and at Sahara Shaher in Lucknow — the two addresses where the employees have been asked to send their reports. Those answering the survey have also been asked to comment on the Sahara group’s recent advertisement that talked about the poor health of Subrata Roy’s mother and his not attending a court hearing on account of his desire to be with her. The advertisement had also detailed the background of the OFCD (optionally fully-convertible debenture) issue and Sahara’s contention that the issue did not come under Sebi’s purview.
The regulator, though, had felt otherwise and asked the group to stop raising money. Sebi’s stand was endorsed by the Supreme Court, which asked the company to return the money to investors with interest. The company then deposited Rs 5,120 crore with the regulator and said it had already refunded the remaining Rs 19,000 crore directly to investors.
Subsequently, Sebi said Sahara’s outstanding amount, with interest, had grown to Rs 37,000 crore. The Supreme Court, which had earlier ordered Roy’s arrest over his failed to appear before the Court, this month rejected the group’s staggered-payment proposal and ordered that Roy be kept in judicial custody.
The survey exhorts all workers of the Sahara group to answer the questions with complete honesty.
“All worker members of Sahara India Pariwar should comment and answer all five questions themselves... If you are true dedicated member of the family and you really mean that the organisation’s interest is supreme, all 10 sets, including yours, should carry only truth. Nothing else but truth.”The survey has asked employees to pass on any feedback they receive — negative or positive.
“A bitter truth is always useful and beneficial than a sweet lie or manipulation,” it says.
ANOTHER PAPER DELUGE?
Sahara has asked its employees to reach out to 10 individuals each (12 million people) with this questionnaire:
* In the Sahara-Sebi battle who do you think is at fault?
* Does Subrata Roy Sahara deserve ban on foreign tour (which is imposed on criminals) and does he deserve a non-bailable arrest warrant?
* Give your comment on Sahara.
* Give your comment on the approach/ attitude of Hon’ble Supreme Court.
* What is your reaction/comment after reading the full-page (advertisement on Sahara’s explanation for absence from court hearing)?