Reforms help 21 PSEs make profits

With a host of reform measures undertaken by the Orissa government in the last couple of years, twenty one governments owned Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) were able to make profit during 2007-08.

Out of a total of 64 state-owned corporations in Orissa, 32 are working PSEs. Of them, 9 units were in the red and the remaining two were operating on ‘no profit’ ‘no loss’ basis, sources said.

The loss making units are Idcol Software Ltd, Orissa Pisciculture Development Corporation, Orissa Bridge and Construction Corporation, Orissa Agro Industries Corporation, Konark Jute Ltd., Orissa Small Industries Corporation, Orissa Rural Housing and Development Corporation, Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Ltd and Kalinga Studio Ltd.

On the other hand, the profit making units included Orissa Mining Corporation, Orissa Power Generation Corporation, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), Orissa Hydro Power Corporation, Idcol Kalinga Iron Works, Orissa State Beverages Corporation, Idcol Ferro-chrome Alloys Ltd, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Ipicol), Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd and Orissa State Road Transport Corporation were able to make profit during this period. The Agriculture Promotion and Investment Corporation (Apicol) and Orissa State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) were operating on ‘no profit’ and ‘no loss’ basis by March 2008, sources added.

With a view to make the loss making PSEs profitable, the state government has taken a series of measures. The state government is actively considering a proposal to transfer the existing manpower and business of Idcol Software, which made a marginal operating profit of Rs 3 lakh in 2007-08, to Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC). Similarly, the government has decided to conduct restructuring and due diligence study of the Orissa Pisciculture Development Corporation. Similarly, steps have been taken for rightsizing the manpower of Orissa Bridge and Construction Corporation even as the business and financial restructuring of the corporation is in progress.

Orisssa Agro Industries Corporation has already released VRS benefit to its staff. On the basis of the reform option report, necessary action has been initiated for restructuring of the corporation. While the privatization process of Konark Jute Ltd, another state owned unit, is under the supervision of the company court, Orissa Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) will shortly go for one time settlement of the loan bond and SIDBI loan with support from state government. State cabinet has approved the proposal and manpower rightsizing is in progress.