ALAPPUZHA: The prospects for the reopening of the public sector Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Kalavoor, which is lying closed since September 2003, have brightened with Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac earmarking Rs.3 crores for the KSDP in the Budget.

The reaction of company employees was one of jubilation and they thanked the Government and the Finance Minister for allocating the amount for the company's revival.

Harikumar, personnel manager of the company, said the sole priority of workers was revival of the company. The 164 employees in the company, including managers and ordinary workers, had not received salary for more than 25 months.

Though there had been attempts to reopen the factory during the last few years nothing materialised. There had been incidents of workers committing suicide because of financial problems.

The children of many KSDP workers were forced to discontinue studies, as nobody was willing to give them financial help even as loans.

The KSDP, first public sector drug manufacturing company in the country, was founded in 1971 with a paid up capital of Rs.4.2 crores. It started production in 1974 and was a profit-making company till 1984. It deteriorated to a loss-making PSU in the late 80s and 90s. Several factors that included an unhelpful policy of the State Government in the issue of purchasing drugs for the Health Department and mismanagement lead to its deterioration. The workers said they would not demand promotion till the factory achieved breakeven.

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