People's Democracy

CITU Opposes Privatisation Of Postal Service

THE CITU has urged upon the central government to keep in abeyance the budget proposal to amend Government Saving Bank Act 1873 to outsource saving bank functions of post offices to the banks and other financial institutions. 

Expressing grave concern at this government proposal mooted by union finance minister P Chidambaram during his budget speech, CITU president M K Pandhe in a statement from Thiruvananthapuram on August 8 requested the government to maintain status quo ante so that a satisfactory solution to the question can be sorted out through discussions with the representatives of the postal employees.

It is estimated  that 40 per cent of the functions of the Department of Posts consists of Saving Bank functions and this proposed move of the government would adversely affect the 6 lakh Postal workers. It would not only throw 40 per cent of the staff on to the streets but also cause serious losses of revenue to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore to the Postal department.  The CITU extended its solidarity support to the postal employees legitimate struggles against the detrimental policy of the UPA government. Postal employees are observing ‘National Protest Day’ on August 11 against this proposal. 

The CITU appealed to workers of all affiliations to stand by the side of postal employees at their hour of trial.

(INN)