The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Government eager to please World Bank'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Government eager to please World Bank'

Special Correspondent

`If it is serious about protecting workers' interest it should wind up Impelementation Secretariat'

HYDERABAD: Unimpressed by the Government's decision to rescind G.O. Ms. 5 on public sector reforms, the CPI (M) is of the view that the Government is still bent upon implementing World Bank dictated measures for rationalising staff.

According to CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, the Government is indulging in `verbal jugglery' and has no intentions of withdrawing the reform process. "The Government should wind up the Implementation Secretariat to begin with if it is really committed to protecting the interests of the employees," he said.

Aimed at cutting staff

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Raghavulu said actions like extension of the tenure of the Implementation Secretariat and the Cabinet's approval for implementing the third phase action plan were aimed at rationalising the staff. Coupled with this was Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's reported contention that the World Bank was not a demon.

"After criticising the previous TDP regime for implementing World Bank dictated policies, the Congress is now trying to emulate it. Why has the perception changed so fast?" he asked. Statements by the Chief Minister and Ministers showed the Government was in a dilemma on whether to implement the reforms or to fulfil Dr. Reddy's promises.

Without reforms

Pointing out that Singareni Collieries and APSRTC could achieve a turn around without reforms process, he said the other PSUs could also follow suit if efficient officers were appointed to manage them.

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