Government may start strategic sale of PSUs soon
Government is framing a formal policy regarding the sale of stakes, including transfer of control, in state-run companies as it revives the idea of privatising non-strategic public sector enterprises (PSUs). The initial emphasis will be likely on all loss-making firms except for those that have strategic importance. Officials from Finance Ministry and Department of Public Enterprises met recently to discuss the processes involved.
Disinvestment is the sale from the government, partly or fully, of a government-owned enterprise. Disinvestment of a percentage of shares owned by the Government in public undertakings emerged as a policy option in the wake of economic liberalisation and structural reforms launched in 1991. Initially, it was not conceived as privatisation of existing undertakings but as limited sales of equity to raise resources.
In 1993, the Rangarajan Committee recommended disinvesting up to 49% of PSUs equity for industries explicitly reserved for the public sector and over 74% in other industries. But the then Government did not take any decision on the Committee's recommendations.
In 1999, government announced that it would continue to strengthen the strategic public units and privatize non-strategic ones. Classification was done to distinguish between the two. Strategic enterprises included defense-related, atomic energy undertakings and railway transport PSUs. All other undertakings were treated as non-strategic. A Department of Disinvestment was established early in 2000 to give an impetus to the programme of disinvestment and privatisation.
In 2004, with the change in the Government, there was a change in the outlook of Disinvestment Policy. The Government adopted National Common Minimum Programme, which outlined the policy of the Government with respect to the Public Sector. As per the new policy, commercial autonomy will be given to profit-making companies and no disinvestment for such units; and sick PSUs will be revived.
Disinvestment got a boost in 2009 when the government approved an action plan for disinvestment. According to this, all PSUs can be disinvested while the government retains at least 51% equity.
In 2005, a "National Investment Fund" - NIF was constituted, into which the proceeds from disinvestment of Central Public Sector Enterprises were to be channelized. Initially, 75:25 ratio of annual income from NIF was meant for financing social sector schemes and reviving/expanding other PSUs respectively. NIF was restructured in 2013 after which it is used for recapitalizing public sector banks, railways capital expenditure, etc.
During the budget speech, Finance minister Arun Jaitley unveiled an ambitious target to raise Rs.69,500 crore through divestment in 2015-16. "This will include both disinvestment in loss-making units, and some strategic disinvestment," Jaitley said. In 2015-16, while receipts from divestment have been estimated at Rs.41,000 crore, additional resource mobilization of Rs.28,500 crore has been estimated to flow from strategic disinvestments.
In March 2015, the government said that five PSUs - three units of HMT, Hindustan Cables and Tungabhadra Steel will be closed down from the list of 65 sick PSUs.
Between 2001-02 and 2003-04, the NDA government sold shares either through strategic stake sale or through an offer for sale to the public. These PSUs include BALCO, HZL, CMC, ITDC, VSNL, Maruti Suzuki, Jessop & Company, Hotel Corporation of India and Indian Petrochemicals.
