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The port staff belonging to CITU-affiliated Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India sat on day-long dharna here on Wednesday in front of Visakhapatnam port administration building in protest against the Major Ports Authority Bill, 2016, awaiting the nod of Parliament.
In response to a call for simultaneous protest at all major ports, the federation members called for rejection of the bill, which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.
Federation vice-president V.S. Padmanabha Raju alleged that the NDA Government wanted to give away the valuable lands of Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and other ports to corporates. At present, port lands could be given on lease. Outright sale would be allowed once the bill was passed in Parliament.
He said the bill would also pave the way for parking reserve and pension funds and gratuity in private banks. At present, it is permitted to be deposited only in nationalised banks.
Disputing the claim of Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari that the bill would provide greater autonomy to major ports, he said as per the clause 50 (1 and 2) the directions passed by the Government would be binding on the board.
He said they had also represented to the authorities to sign wage revision settlement, implement the Supreme Court order on ‘equal pay for equal work’ and to fill up vacancies.
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