Palla Srinivas Calls for 50% Job Quota for Displaced Steel Workers at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
TDP President Palla Srinivasa Rao has strongly reaffirmed the party’s commitment to opposing the privatisation of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL-VSP) in 2025. He drew a direct comparison to the TDP’s fight against privatisation in 1998.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Rao confirmed that the TDP, along with its coalition partners, will work to keep the steel plant under public ownership. “We stood firm in 1998, and in 2025, we will continue to protect the plant,” he said, emphasizing the coalition’s ongoing support for its survival and growth.
Rao stressed that the rights of displaced persons (DPs) and local workers are “non-negotiable.” He also praised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his role in protecting RINL-VSP from past privatisation efforts. “Chandrababu Naidu played a vital role in ensuring the plant’s protection and workers’ welfare,” said Rao.
Rao also demanded that 50% of the jobs at RINL-VSP be reserved for displaced families and R-Card holders. Many of these workers have been with the plant for decades, often as contract employees. He warned contractors not to use workforce streamlining as a reason to replace long-serving local workers. “Retention of local and senior employees is mandatory,” he stressed.
Rao recalled issues with fraud at RINL-VSP, where nearly 2,000 fake workers were on the payroll. These malpractices were exposed after the introduction of the biometric system, and the coalition government quickly removed the bogus names.
On the restructuring of contractors, Rao clarified that the number would be reduced from nearly 1,000 to just 42, one for each department. This is aimed at cutting costs while maintaining efficiency. “This restructuring is not privatisation,” he emphasized.
Rao concluded by reaffirming that RINL-VSP is more than just an industrial unit. It is a key economic and emotional pillar for Visakhapatnam. “Its survival is crucial for our future. The TDP will always support the plant,” he said.