RINL Skips Formation Day Celebration After 42 Years

Visakhapatnam: For the first time in 42 years, the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, failed to celebrate its Formation Day on Tuesday. Reacting to the management’s decision, the steel plant's union leaders said the government had shown its discrimination towards the RINL by not celebrating the day.

However, steel employees, their family members and the public led by trade unions paid rich tributes to the dead who fought for the plant.

Senior trade union leader Varasala Srinivas said the management's decision to avoid celebrating the 43rd Foundation Day was not a good development.

He said this was part of the central government’s privatization policies. He added that a large-scale programme is normally held yearly to present the Nehru Awards to hundreds of disciplined production achievers and accomplished steel employees and officers. The management's weakening of the foundation day this year is a manifestation of discrimination against Telugus, he added.

After leaders paid tributes by placing bouquets of flowers at the memorial candles at the Ukku Smritianjali Park, Srinivasa Rao said for the past six months, the industry has been facing a number of challenges including non-payment of salaries on time, layoffs, reduction in the CISF security force, termination of contract labour and various restrictions.

Stating this as a cost cutting measure, an official said the company would spend funds only on production and nothing else.

Union steel ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy and Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma congratulated the RINL management on the occasion of Formation Day.