Mysore Lamp staffs begging State’s Energy Minister for work
Mysore Lamps staff want to make CFL and LED lamps for the state’s Belaku project. Hundreds of employees are begging energy minister Shobha Karandlaje for work.
Today, hundreds of employees of Mysore Lamp Works, a state-owned electrical company, are begging energy minister Shobha Karandlaje for work. Following the Karnataka high court’s decision to quash the government’s closure order issued eight years ago, the employees want Karandlaje to purchase CFL and LED lamps for her Belaku project from their company.
The government had in 2002 ordered closure of the 71-year-old firm, set up by Sir M Visvesvaraya citing a loss of Rs 185 crore. The previous government had also decided to lease out 21 acres of the company’s land to clear debts. However, the employees challenged the government’s decision in the high court. Hearing of the case continued for eight years, but finally the court set aside government’s closure order. It directed the government to reconsider its decision.
The employees said the Belaku project was nothing new. They said the concept was first mooted by senior bureaucrat M N Vijaykumar in the company’s report. “In 2007, Vijaykumar had suggested that while implementing the Bhagyajyothi and Kuteerajyothi projects to provide electricity to all households, the government could promote use of LED and CFL lamps. He said awarding the contract for supply lamps to Mysore Lamp Works will help revive the company,” said Sasappa, a member of Mysore Lamps Workers’ Union.
“Employees continued their legal battle for eight years though they were not receiving any salary during this time. The company had never shown any signs of running under loss. On the contrary, all managing directors who took over the company had submitted reports to the government saying the company could make profits with a little bit of fine-tuning,” said T Prakash, an electrician and general secretary of the company’s SC and ST Association.
Courtesy: bangaloremirror.com
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