Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 10: Former minister and MLA U T Khader, has condemned the initiative undertaken by the union government to privatize New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) port. He expressed the apprehension that over 4,000 people may lose their jobs because of this measure.

"After government-owned BSNL and airport, the government is now moving to privatize NMPT, which happens to be one of the major ports of the country. The work of handling containers in one of the divisions of NMPT has already entrusted to Chettinad Company. A decision has been taken to hand over another division to JSW Company in the next two months," he said, addressing a press meet here on Wednesday October 9.

"Around 40 shipping companies function in NMPT. These companies employ nearly 4,000 people. Privatization will rob these people of their employment," he said. He demanded to absorb people from the district who might lose employment by offering them employment on priority basis.

Khader demanded to earmark at least 50 percent of the vacancies for the locals when employing people here. He demanded 50 percent of jobs in banks also to be given to locals. He asked the MPs from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada to raise this issue in the parliament.

He accused the state government of convening legislature session just as an eyewash for three days instead of the previously planned ten days. He said that it is clear that the government's intention is to get approval for the budget and vote on account, and there is no time for question hour, and discussing the affairs of different departments.

Leaders Sadashiva Ullal, Ishwar Ullal, Muhammed Kunhi, Farooq, and others were present.