Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24: The members of Airports Authority Employees’ Union started a hunger strike today protesting against a move to privatise the city airport and several other measures affecting their interests.
The employees expressed concern that the privatisation move by Airports Authority of India at other metro airports had invited criticism from various quarters, including the comptroller and auditor general (CAG). The CAG had cited huge losses to the exchequer and profits for the private players, the authorities were determined to privatise Biju Patnaik Airport here.
Branch secretary of the employees’ union Manoranjan Patra said: “We have come to know that the Bhubaneswar and Gaya airports are in the pipeline to undergo privatisation, though similar steps for facilities in metros have not been popular or successful. Privatisation means entry of market players who will never consider the overall development of the local airports. If it is allowed, there will be a negative impact on the aviation sector.”
To protest against the move, three women and two male employees of the AAI began a hunger strike from today. For the past couple of days, the employees have been staging a protest during lunch hours, but with the authorities paying no attention, the local branch of the employees’ union decided to go on hunger strike.
Airport director Sharad Kumar, however, told The Telegraph that the agitation was not going to affect any operation at the airport. “We always have extra manpower to cover certain jobs where the shortage can be efficiently managed. The designated doctor for the airport has been asked to check the health of the agitating employees and their health parameters will be monitored consistently. We will see that our employees never face any problem.”
Mohan Lima, another Airports Authority of India (AAI) employee, said: “The AAI is spending huge amounts to upgrade the airports, but the reason behind handing over the operations to private players remains a mystery. The AAI employees are capable of handling all kinds of operations. After upgrading the airport, the handing over of operations to private players is wrong.”
Manjulata Sarangi, who is on hunger strike, said that even before going for privatisation the AAI had taken certain steps, such as blocking the pension options of some employees who retired after 2007, that has put a question mark over the organisation’s attitude. “In Bhubaneswar alone, nearly 20 retired employees are not getting adequate pension cover after their retirement in 2007. Once privatisation is allowed, the employees will have no say over any issue and will lose out in career advancement options,” she said.
“Our organisation is not meant to operate only with the loss-making airports in the country,” said Shanti Puspa Tirkey, who is also sitting on hunger strike.