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"The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Secretary have been instructed by the Prime Minister to take firm action," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet, which was briefed on the situation on Friday morning.
Chidambaram, who has been asked by the Prime Minister to head a committee to resolve the grievances of the oil PSU officers, said the Centre has advised state governments to take firm action.
"Firm action is being taken and will be taken," he added. The Crisis Management Group headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar took certain decisions to deal with the situation, he said. "Those decisions have been communicated to the state governments as well as to other authorities and those decisions will be implemented," the Home Minister said without elaborating.
The Home Minister said the oil PSU officers should not "cripple" the economy and should be resorting to strike as the government has an open mind to address their grievances related to pay revisions.
While the strike entered the third day, with long queues at several petrol pumps, government was non-committal whether the situation could be brought under control immediately.
"I cannot promise there will not be shortage anywhere but every effort is being made to handle the crisis," Chidambaram said.
He, however, said HPCL was functioning normally, while BPCL was working 70 per cent till this morning and is "likely to improve".
Chidambaram said officers of HPCL and largely of BPCL have realised that strike was not the way to go about pressing their demands.
He said he has been asked by the Prime Minister to look into their grievances. "I wish to keep an open mind... My appeal to them is I am willing to hold the first meeting even today. They must come to meet me. They must call off their strike. They must recognise the intolerable burden they are placing on the people of India. If LPG is not available, how will families cook food for their children? If diesel is not available how will cars, buses run?" he said.


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If the demands and the strike of the oilmen are genuine, then the Almighty shall do the justice. Truth shall prevail and the culprits who damaged the very image of the oilmen would find their punishment from the Almighty, if not from this incompetent govt. (politicians and babus). The oilmen's hearts have been very much inflicted by this recent incident and unjustified actions on the part of the govt.
After effects of strike ;the babus have terminted 67 hardworking officers; their families along with kids have been evicted using brutal police force and thrown out into the streets; Where are the TV chanels and media the so called guardians of democracy? Why they are not covering the humiliation being metted out to these officers and their family members ?
Oil Sector strike was badly reported as one side forgetting the basic journalisim.The views and griveances of the officers is not aired in the right perspective.The marketing of an entry level officer getting 1.3 Lacs per month by the media/Govt is should be analysed.Even the CTC at entry level will not end up to the misled figures. Why the CTC of the beurocrats not evaluated.Why comparision of Technocrats being shown with Military jawans and officers.Both the ends have different roles and different structure,responsibilities and working conditions and one is in open market economics with subsidy burdens and other is cost to exchequer for a important role. The oil sector contribute 65% of GDP to the nation.There are multifacet issues involved beside salary hike to a level where there is no further poaching.The oil sector faught for existence of PSU in the country.PSU played and still playing very important role in walks of life of the Indian citizens.These are the backbone of country
PSU Pay revision is due since past 12 years.Justice JM Rao recommendation was acceptable with removal of irritants and inequalities involved in it as well greation of new categories.The report opened new avenues for PSU motivation as well autonomy.The discussion,presentation,followups,notices by OSOA led to no action on the ailing elephant govt.DPE took the chance of Oil Sector to improve pay package of class B,C,D PSU and gained sympathy where as the deserving Miniratna and navratna were left strangled on special dispensation and higher status via improvements in the recommendation.The strike notices kept on differed four times but a last resort left unfortunate decision was the way to screem loud.The way the strike was administered was a casual affair and was allowed to built to a level of crushing and gain public sympathy in the time of elections.Even it is heard the dealing office has distributed SWEETS on the brutal crash like tinamen square where DEMOCRACY was Killed.
The media was one sided. Whether any press person asked about the demands of PSU oil sector officers? They have been asking for genuine pay revision for the last two years which was denied by Govt / Ploiticians
All we are disheartened and discouraged by the attitude of the government towards striking Oil PSU officers. Government can keep terrorists many years in jail and feed them and let them to attack us. Our illiterate politicians enjoy all the privileges and can play with the nation in whatever way they want and enjoy from the money paid by the innocent tax payers. Our burocrats (IASs) are never asked for any debacle in this country and no responsibilities are fixed on them. Most destroying was the biased attitude of media which is fourth strongest pillar of democracy and we had high regards for them. But in ours case they have played a role of puppet of government and private players. Media Channels like Zee News termed striking offices as DESHDROHI, GADDAR and alleged that we sit in air conditioned rooms and do nothing. Everybody knows that Oil and gas are not produced in AC rooms.
All we are disheartened and discouraged by the attitude of the government towards striking Oil PSU officers. Government can keep terrorists many years in jail and feed them and let them to attack us. Our illiterate politicians enjoy all the privileges and can play with the nation in whatever way they want and enjoy from the money paid by the innocent tax payers. Our burocrats (IASs) are never asked for any debacle in this country and no responsibilities are fixed on them. Most destroying was the biased attitude of media which is fourth strongest pillar of democracy and we had high regards for them. But in ours case they have played a role of puppet of government and private players. Media Channels like Zee News termed striking offices as DESHDROHI, GADDAR and alleged that we sit in air conditioned rooms and do nothing. Everybody knows that Oil and gas are not produced in AC rooms.
Dear sir,all sacked employees must be take back.They were protesting for all employees not for self only.It would be better for emloyees as well as organizations too. This type of hardship will demoralise to empolyees. PSU employees asking for pay revision after eleven years, Govt.is aware with since last one year. our inteligent empoyees are leaving PSU only becasue of better pay scales
Don't you think Media coverage is one-sided? Pay or revision, more is the public fury and shameless govt actions for vote bank poloiticsThe coverage of Oil PSU strike was totally from the side of Government. 1) Govt's claim that "Junior level officer of an Oil PSU gets 1 lakh minimum" was not verified by Media and repeated verbatim. 2) Did any media channel talked about "why govt wakes only when the public is crying hoarse. There were 4 strike calls by Oil PSUs in last 1 year, has govt took any concrete measures to fulfill it's promises to OIL PSU Association?"3) When it comes to these Leaders
The crux is COS(bureacrats ) undoing the Justice Rao committee report for PSU by which the Navratna PSUs were most affected and of which Oil PSU are a major part. The Cabinet sets a committee for PSU wages which gives it recommendation. The same is examined by Committee of Secretaries of GOI. The report is diluted and accepted by Cabinet in toto. Then wht was the purpose of setting the Rao committee when its report was not to be accepted. The COS was to examine it in light of PSUs wanting some clarification on its interpretation and anamolies. The Great Free India Media has not gone into this and given only one side of the story. Hopefully the committee of Ministers headed by Honourable Sh Chidambaram will look into it in true and transparent view without being influenced by either side. The strike notices were served but it is portrayed as if strike was without discussion and Govt was unaware about it. The strike was already deferred post Mumbai attack by oil sector.
Dear Sir,During the entire episode of strike by OIl Sector Officers,it apparently seems that the media as well as the Govt. are working at the behest of some vested interests. The media is supposed to be just, but in this case, none from the media bothered to go to the root of the problem. Is it the case of "Kissa Kursi Ka again", coterie of media, politician, beaurocrat and vested businessmen, who want to sap the PSUs dry. The officers had been asking for their just demands, since more than last two years, but to no avail. How do they make the people at the helm listen to? Doesn't termination of officers remind us of emergency days? It is requested to media to be more practical and just in itsapproach. As far as politicians are concerned, less said the better.
If your news is true to its spirit then it is clear that a person who has never faced a election in the democratic country like ours and who has been highly paid public servant of the MIGHTY Government of INDIA, which now he heads, perhaps he could not understand sentiments of PSU employees, whom now he along with other mahatamas of our countries like ministers and secretaries treat as his bonded labourer.ALAS! THE ONLY REAL MAHATMA RESPECTED MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHIJI must be taking into notice the real FACE of congress.PLEASE TREAT THE EMPLOYEES ATLEAST AS A HUMAN BEING. In this LAND OF gods demons are always being there.Why these intelligent MAHATAMAS of modern days not done anything during the period of strike notice?As far as illegality of STRIKE is concern IN THIS country of billions it is easy to hang (terminate/ expell) the bonded labourers of ministeries then to impliment the ORDERS OF SUPREME COURT OF INDIA TO HANG TERRORISTS.
Many of the recommendations are Justice Rao Committee's recommendation has been put in trash
Dear friends ,the manner in which our petroleum secratry and media has given wrong picture of getting psu employee more than 1 Lac per month,it has put so many officers and there families at risk.Its quite possible if some day a PSU offices child caught by some criminal and may ask for 10-15 lak rupee to set free.Some one should lodge a petition againt all this agencies.
Dear sir, The entire show was done on one sided. The feelings of the PSU officers were never considered either by the Government or by the media. The last pey revision took place in 1997 and this is the only oppertunity for the officer community to think of some uplift in their life style. The private sector is offering lot of facilities and they have freedom to pay their employees. In PSUs working is becoming difficult day by day due to many experienced officers are leaving for different reason. Working procedures are so eloborate and freedom of decision making is not available at top level also. The officer community discussed several time at put up the pay structure to Oil ministry and subsequently to cabinet. The points agreed by the oil ministry were also denied when the final proposal came out from the parliament. Last decade the PSUs mainly the Oil sector earned lot of revenue to the Government and the Government is treating its own employees as slaves. GET UNITED AND FIGHT.
FEW AFTER THOUGHTS ON THE ROLE OF MEDIA ON THE STRIKE ISSUE We have to recognize the fact that these PSUs are favorite poaching grounds for Private sector companies. The PSU employee gets still only 1/4th to 1/10th of his counterparts in private sector. Is it not a fact that the pay package is one of the means to face this competition. Is there any poaching for these leaders and bureaucrats?4) Has anyone taken notice of the petroleum minister hobnobbing with Ambani? 5) Has the media ever compared the cost of ATF and petrol, the govt is providing ATF at around Rs 30/- a litre to the people of higher class and providing huge benefits to the private operators where as petrol is Rs 50/- a litre to the common people.6) The election of Sanjay Dutt was more important than the strike of truckers and oil sector? Did our media has got it's nose all occupied elsewhere and could not smell any rat in this whole crisis?
Dear Sir,There is lot of differences between pay scales of executives of Category “A ” Enterprises recommended by committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice M Jagannadha Rao, and the scales approved by cabinet on recommendations of Committee of Secretaries (CoS. In fact CoS has misled the cabinet