The Hindu Business Line : SCI divestment: `Bidder' makes waves

THE developments surrounding the disinvestment of the Shipping Corporation of India are not yet clear to most people but one of the bidders (there are now only two left) is believed to have already started giving the impression that it is not only ahead in the race but is almost certain to acquire the government stake in the state-owned shipping company.

The officials of this bidder have apparently started sending feelers to the leaders of the seamen's and other unions controlling SCI's floating and shore staff for discussions on the probable manpower deployment scenario, post disinvestment.

The message, it is learnt, is loud and clear: There will be rationalisation of manpower. SCI recruits seamen from three ports, mostly Mumbai, partly Kolkata (22 vessels) and Chennai (one passenger vessel).

Negotiations with the officers' union too are not far off, it is learnt. Neither the SCI senior management, nor the leaders of the unionised staff likes all this. But then they are helpless.

If this bidder has started throwing about weight, it must be very close to those who matter in the corridors of power. So goes the thinking.

As everyone suspects, and perhaps rightly so, the decision on SCI disinvestment will be a political one.

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