Employees seek revival of country's first PSU

A delegation of Indian Telephone Industry (ITI) Limited, country's first PSU, has sought the intervention of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for its revival and redressal of long-pending issues including non-payment of salaries.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said here today that their demands, including pay-related suggestions, will be put up to the ministry.
A delegation of ITI Ltd had sought Singh's intervention for redressal of their long-pending issues including the demand for revival of the company and release of their unpaid salaries and emoluments.
In a memorandum submitted to Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office, the ITI officials pointed out that in 2014 budget, a revival package was approved to put the company back on the rails, and requested that the same budgetary allocation may also be included in the budget of 2016-17.

In addition, the memorandum also pointed out that due to the financial crunch faced by the company, salaries are not paid regularly and even the salary that is paid is based on the scale of "Fifth Central Pay Commission".
"Singh said that the suggestions made by the ITI officials will be put up before the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology," a press release quoted him as having told the delegation.

The memorandum made certain suggestions including the options to liquidate the bank loan taken by the company and thus overcome the liability.
The employees also urged for immediate revival of ITI Limited so that it can play its expected and effective role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship programmes like 'Make in India' and 'Digital India'.

ITI has acquired a technology of Software Defined Radio (SDR) and if properly supported, it is capable of offering complete range of indigenous SDR, the memorandum said.
India's first public sector unit -- ITI Ltd --was established in 1948.
Prominent office-bearers of the ITI Joint Action Front accompanied the delegation, which included Subhash Chandra Singh, Sushma Kashyap Dhar, Naresh Kumar and Lokesh Sharma.