The employees union of the Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Tamil Nadu Ltd will be soon approaching the Central government seeking a concrete solution for its rehabilitation which has been ailing for several years.
Despite several representations in the past, no government at the centre took any decision to revive or rehabilitate this public sector unit. On several occasions, many techno-expert committees were set up by the central governments to finalize a revival package, spent lakhs of rupees but no worthwhile suggestions have been made by them so far. “Now Tamil Nadu having more influence at the Centre, we are approaching it once again,” said S Navaneethan, working president of the Union.
IDPL TN Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of IDPL which is referred to Board for Industrial & Financial Reconstruction since 1992. BIFR has to clear the revival package formulated by the union government, only then the cabinet can take a decision for its revival. Before the 30th of this month when the committee of BIFR meet in New Delhi, the union leaders will represent to the chemical ministry and the PMO seeking immediate approval of the package, sources said.
Some leaders who have in depth knowledge about the crisis facing IDPL TN Ltd said that the company currently has no working capital and is running in losses, although some production of generic drugs being carried out as per the order of parent organisation. So the government should allot sufficient working capital to the company with immediate effect. Their demands include establishment of a Research & Development facility in the company. With the improved technology, the Chennai PSU can compete with private companies not only in the domestic market but also in the international market, feel the employees.
Along with new recruitments, the managements should take measures to regularize the casual labourers. Since many technical staff opted for VRS in 2002, those vacancies should be filled up with qualified and experienced personnel. The leaders said that now the company lacks talented people, most of them, after their VRS, joined some private companies. If a minimum of 200 technically qualified staffs are recruited, the Chennai IDPL can restore its past glory in the pharmaceutical sector.
As a point of pride, they said when the epidemic plague broke out in Surat in 1985, IDPL could check the situation with the production and supply of Tetracycline that could only control the disease. Before IDPL went into the production of tetracycline, the same drug produced by private companies was priced at Rs.3 and IDPL was selling at 60 paise per capsule. In the peak of the crisis, the price of Tetracycline went up to Rs.100 in the market as it was the only medicine used for treating the disease. This means that only public sector plants can supply quality products on lesser rates to the public during emergencies, the leaders said.
Alexander, the general secretary of the union said the company will prosper well provided the government should support the marketing system. Government can purchase the products of IDPL for its healthcare centres of ESI, Defence, Railways etc. The drugs produced by IDPL are of good quality and they can be supplied to the common people at a lower rate compared to those of private companies.
Leaders alleged that taking advantage of the plight of the PSUs, many private pharma manufacturing companies came up in the past two decades and monopolized the entire pharmaceutical market in the country. So government has to face tough time while reviving the IDPL.
They also wanted an efficient, sincere and responsible chairman & managing director should be appointed for the whole units of IDPL establishment.