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Title : Regarding privatisation of Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala.
SHRIMATI PARAMAJIT KAUR GULSHAN (BATHINDA) : I thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak in Punjabi on matter of urgent public importance. The Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, was established in 1985. A lot of people were displaced from 1192 acres of land acquired for this purpose. A lot of people were rendered homeless. However, people had high hopes from this factory. It was expected that it would provide employment to a lot of unemployed people. It was also hoped that it would give a filip to the development of this area. The employees of RCF, Kapurthala worked with devotion, dedication and honesty. More than 16,700 rail coaches were manufactured here. It is 40% of the entire manufactured coaches in the country. The coaches were of impeccable quality. Every year, 1400 coaches are manufactured here. RCF, Kapurthala is the largest rail coach manufacturing unit in Asia. It not only caters to the needs of our country, its coaches are also exported. Over 6600 workers are employed in this factory. Several other smaller units are associated with this factory. These units too, provide employment to a large number of people.
Sir, inspite of these achievements, the Railway Ministry intends to privatise Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. It is rather unfortunate. This factory is not a loss-making unit. There has been no decline in the quality of coaches manufactured here. There has been no complaint against RCF, Kapurthala. The decision to privatise RCF, Kapurthala, made in the budget, is rather unfortunate and is a set-back for Punjab.
* Not Recorded
** English Translation of the speech originally delivered in Punjabi.
There are several other Rail Coach Factories in other parts of the country. The RCF, Chennai manufactures only 1200 coaches per year. In comparison, the RCF, Kapurthala manufactures 1400 coaches. The number of employees at RCF, Chennai is more than the number of employees at RCF, Kapurthala. It is reported that RCF, Chennai has been declared a ‘Sick Unit’. However, RCF, Chennai is not being privatised. Why, then is the RCF, Kapurthala being privatised? …(Interruption)
Sir, step-motherly treatment is being meted out to Punjab. The employees of RCF, Kapurthala should have been given a bonus and their salaries should have been raised for their honesty, devotion and dedication to work. It is unfortunate that the Railway Ministry has treated then with disdain and forced then to launch an agitation against the injustice meted out to them.
Sir, this is a serious matter. People who gave up their land for the establishment of this factory are now facing a lot of hardship. Railway ministry is responsible for this.
Sir, industrialists are already migrating from Punjab due to the faulty policies of the Government. RCF, Kapurthala was the pride of Punjab. However, this factory is facing closure now due to privatisation. The employees and their families are holding protests against this decision for the last 15 days. Punjab will suffer an irreparable loss if the Railway Ministry does not withdraw its wrong decision regarding RCF, Kapurthala. A large number of families will be ruined. The Railways will also suffer a great loss.
Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, I appeal to the Hon. Railway Minister to stop the privatisation of Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. I think, cutting across party lines, all Hon. Members from Punjab will support me on this issue. Thank you.
16.00 hrs.
श्रीमती परनीत कौर (पटियाला) : महोदय, मैं भी अपने आपको इस मामले से संबद्ध करना चाहती हूं।
डॉ. रतन सिंह अजनाला (तरनतारन) : महोदय, मैं भी एसोशिएट करना चाहता हूं।
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय :श्रीमती परनीत कौर और डॉ. अजनाला को इस मामले में संबद्ध किया जाए।