The government’s move to appoint a Chairman-cum-Managing Director at Coal India Ltd. (CIL) may run into problems with trade unions opposing the plan to rope in someone from the private sector.
Although the Public Enterprises Selection Board will be involved in the entire process, some of the criteria, which had been set for the selection process, leave the scope wide open for private sector participants, it is felt.
The government has said that CEOs, CMDs, president and directors in listed companies with an average turnover of over Rs.5,000 crore in the last three years are eligible to apply.
“This is very suspect,” said S. Q. Zama, a senior INTUC trade union leader associated with the coal sector
Left trade unions too are opposed to the idea, questioning how the chief of a Rs.5,000-crore turnover company will be able to steer the CIL, which clocked a revenue of Rs.89,395 crore in 2013-14.
Relevant experience in the mining/coal sector is also not mandatory as per the criteria.
It may be mentioned that Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier talked about setting up of a search committee to scout for a chief for CIL giving indications that the government was open to lassoing in a private sector candidate. CIL has been headless since May end.
