Firms reluctant to takeover citing plant’s humongous size
Livelihoods of Nokia workers can be salvaged if government intervenes to rope in a private player and get the factory running under a PPP (public-private-partnership) model
Chennai: There still seems hope for the 800-odd employees of the Sriperumpudur Nokia telecom factory if the government intervenes just in time, say experts. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ rhetoric inspiring many telecom manufacturers to expand their production base in the country, the world-class handset-making facility could open new avenues for both telecom players and the Nokia staff.
Citing instances of the Sathyam takeover by Tech Mahindra, industry players say that the livelihoods of Nokia workers can be salvaged if government intervenes to rope in a private player and get the factory running under a PPP (public-private-partnership) model. “Nokia Chennai facility is a very big plant. Tho-ugh small domestic players like us are keen to set up our own production units, this facility is too big for any single individual player,” Sudhir Hasija, chairman of Karbonn Mobiles.
“However, if it is being lent to some big contract manufacturer, we are wil-ling to outsource a big chunk of work to them,” he added. At its heydays, the $500million—Sriperumpudur plant of Nok-ia was one of its biggest handset manufacturing facilities across the wor-ld, producing over three lakh handsets a day and employing over 12,000 people. Ever since its tussle with the income-tax authorities for non-payment of dues of Rs 21,000-crore to the centre and Rs2,400-crore to the state and the Microsoft take-over deal of Nokia’s hand set business, the company has been pruning its workforce.
The company had ann-ounced its decision to suspend production at the Chennai plant, effective November 1, owing to lack of orders. “Though in a democracy, people will have to follow the laws of the land, the government should come forward to work out an amicable solution considering the labourers,” said S. N. Rai, co-founder and director of Lava Inte-rnational, makers of Xolo mobiles.
“When a ready-made factory with a talented workforce is available, it should be put to best use by floating some SPV or setting up a common infrastructure facility to help industry at large,” he said.
There is a huge requirement for e-waste and electronic refurbishing centre and people can unlock the value of such a huge facility for the same, he added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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