Search the Internet           Tips

Konark TV staff turn to
god for firm's revival

Frustrated employees of the sick Konark Television Ltd, which manufactured Konark TV sets, a household name in Orissa, have turned to god, organising a 'yagna' for the company's revival.

"We have done everything to exert pressure on the state government to revive the company, but no one has listened to us. Finally, we have decided to pray to god," said Prafulla Mishra, an employee, who along with others organised the 'yagna' on Thursday and Friday.

''We strongly feel that only god can help revive the company," said another employee, N Patnaik.

After they performed a day-long siddhi puja on Thursday, in front of the company premises on the city's outskirts, most were optimistic that god would come to their rescue.

They told rediff.com that they would organise other types of pujas and yagnas in the coming weeks to please god.

The employees have not received salaries for one and a half years, ever since the company stopped production.

A revival seems a distant dream, as neither the state government nor any private firm is showing interest. The state government recently offered to sell the company to any private party, through its official website.

The government offered voluntary retirement schemes to 345 employees and 241 of them accepted reluctantly. But none has been paid the amount till date.

Sources said that the government requires Rs 3.5 crore to implement the schemes, but it has only Rs 1.85 crore.

Union leaders feel that the company has a tremendous potential and claimed that it used to make profits. They alleged that the company became sick due to mismanagement.

The company had an installed capacity of 80,000 black and white sets and 40,000 colour sets every year.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report