കേന്ദ്രസഹായവും എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികള് ധൂര്ത്തടിച്ചു; നഷ്ടക്കണക്കിലെ കള്ളി വെളിച്ചത്തായി

Source : Mangalam News Paper (15th August, 2012)

നഷ്‌ടക്കണക്കു നിരത്തുന്ന പൊതുമേഖലാ എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികളെ സഹായിക്കാന്‍ നഷ്‌ടപരിഹാരമായും ബോണ്ടായും കേന്ദ്രസര്‍ക്കാര്‍ നല്‍കിയ ശതകോടികളില്‍ നല്ലൊരു ഭാഗം ധൂര്‍ത്തടിച്ചു. ഇതേത്തുടര്‍ന്നു നഷ്‌ടക്കണക്കു പരിശോധിച്ചു പുനര്‍നിര്‍ണയിക്കാന്‍ കേന്ദ്രധനമന്ത്രാലയത്തിന്റെ നീക്കം. നഷ്‌ടം ഊതിപ്പെരുപ്പിക്കുന്നത്‌ അടക്കമുള്ള വഴിവിട്ട സാമ്പത്തിക ഇടപാടുകളേക്കുറിച്ച്‌ അന്വേഷിക്കാനുള്ള തീരുമാനം എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികളെ വെട്ടിലാക്കും. അണ്ടര്‍ റിക്കവറി എന്ന പേരില്‍ എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികള്‍ നിരത്തുന്ന കണക്ക്‌ കമ്പനിയുടെ യഥാര്‍ഥ നഷ്‌ടമല്ലെന്നു പൊതുസമൂഹം മുറവിളി കൂട്ടിയിട്ടും സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ഇതു പരിശോധിക്കാന്‍ തയാറായിരുന്നില്ല. 'നഷ്‌ടം' നികത്താന്‍ കമ്പനികള്‍ക്കു നല്‍കുന്ന സഹായം 'കടലില്‍ കായം' കലക്കുന്നതു പോലെയായ സാഹചര്യത്തിലാണു കേന്ദ്രത്തിനു വീണ്ടുവിചാരമുണ്ടായത്‌. ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഓയില്‍, ഭാരത്‌ പെട്രോളിയം, ഹിന്ദുസ്‌ഥാന്‍ പെട്രോളിയം എന്നീ പൊതുമേഖലാ എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികള്‍ നടപ്പു സാമ്പത്തികവര്‍ഷം രണ്ടുലക്ഷം കോടി രൂപയുടെ നഷ്‌ട(അണ്ടര്‍ റിക്കവറി)മാണു പ്രവചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്‌. ഡീസല്‍, പാചകവാതകം, മണ്ണെണ്ണ എന്നിവ സബ്‌സിഡി നിരക്കില്‍ വില്‍ക്കുന്നതുകൊണ്ടാണ്‌ ഈ വരുമാനക്കുറവ്‌. ഇന്ത്യയുടെ വാര്‍ഷിക പ്രതിരോധ വിഹിതത്തേക്കാള്‍ കുടുതലാണ്‌ ഈ തുക. ഏതാനും വര്‍ഷമായി ഇങ്ങനെയായിരുന്നു കണക്കുകള്‍. ജൂണ്‍ വരെയുള്ള ഒന്നാം പാദത്തിലും നഷ്‌ടക്കണക്കു നിരത്തിയതോടെയാണു ധനമന്ത്രാലയം ഈ കള്ളക്കളിക്കു കടിഞ്ഞാണിടാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ചത്‌. ഇന്ധനവില കൂട്ടാന്‍ കമ്പനികള്‍ സമ്മര്‍ദം ശക്‌തമാക്കുമ്പോള്‍ വന്‍ തുക കേന്ദ്രം നഷ്‌ടപരിഹാരം നല്‍കുകയാണു പതിവ്‌. യഥാര്‍ഥ കണക്കാണു കാണിക്കുന്നതെങ്കില്‍ ഇത്രയും ഭീമമായ തുക നല്‍കേണ്ടിവരില്ല. അണ്ടര്‍ റിക്കവറി എന്ന പേരില്‍ ഇല്ലാത്ത നഷ്‌ടം കാണിക്കുന്ന എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികളെല്ലാം യഥാര്‍ഥത്തില്‍ ലാഭത്തിലാണ്‌. കമ്പനികളുടെ ബാലന്‍സ്‌ ഷീറ്റില്‍ (ബാക്കി പത്രം) ഇതു വ്യക്‌തമാണ്‌. വര്‍ഷങ്ങളിലായി ലാഭം കുറഞ്ഞുവരുകയാണെന്നു മാത്രം. ഏറ്റവും വലിയ എണ്ണക്കമ്പനിയായ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഓയിലിന്‌ 2011-'12 ല്‍ എല്ലാ നികുതിയും കഴിഞ്ഞ്‌ 3955 കോടി രൂപ ലാഭമുണ്ട്‌. തൊട്ടുമുന്‍പുള്ള വര്‍ഷം 7445 കോടിയായിരുന്നു ലാഭം. കുട്ടപ്പന്റെ മനക്കണക്ക്‌ പെട്രോള്‍ വില അടിക്കടി ഉയര്‍ന്നപ്പോള്‍ എണ്ണക്കമ്പനികളുടെ തട്ടിപ്പിനെ പ്രതീകാത്മകമായി അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു കേരളത്തില്‍ പ്രചരിച്ച എസ്‌.എം.എസ്‌. സന്ദേശമിങ്ങനെ: ''കുട്ടപ്പന്റെ പീടികയില്‍ ചായ വില അഞ്ചു രൂപ. ഇതേ ചായയ്‌ക്ക് അമേരിക്കയിലാണെങ്കില്‍ അഞ്ചു ഡോളറാകും. ഇതറിഞ്ഞു കുട്ടപ്പന്‍ കണക്കു കൂട്ടിയതിങ്ങനെ. അഞ്ചു ഡോളര്‍ = 250 രൂപ. താന്‍ ചായ വില്‍ക്കുന്നതോ വെറും അഞ്ചു രൂപയ്‌ക്ക്. അതായത്‌ ഒരു ചായയുടെ നഷ്‌ടം 245 രൂപ! എങ്കില്‍പ്പിന്നെ ചായയ്‌ക്ക് നാളെ മുതല്‍ 250 രൂപയാക്കിയിട്ടുതന്നെ കാര്യം.'' കുട്ടപ്പന്റെ ഈ കണക്കുപോലെയാണു രാജ്യാന്തര വിലയനുസരിച്ചു പെട്രോള്‍ വില ഉയരുന്നതെന്നു സാരം. പെട്രോള്‍ ലിറ്ററിനു മൂന്നു രൂപയിലധികം കൂട്ടണമെന്ന്‌ ഇപ്പോള്‍ കമ്പനികള്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നതും കുട്ടപ്പന്റെ മനക്കണക്കു പോലെ തന്നെ.

Food Security and Poverty Line: The Top-Level Mismanagement

This is the period where our government is always researching for decommissioning or withdrawing subsidies of food items through the public distribution centers (like ration shops). Keep in mind that the economic situation of normal Indians are not in a good position now. As per the WHO records, 63 Cr people in India are poor people and 19.8Cr in that is in very poor category now. As per the last survey result (in 2005), more than 77% of total Indian population is not capable for spending Rs.20 in a day.

Around 30% of our populations are still under below property line (BPL). Manmohan Singh Government is pushing the BPLs to become APLs (above poverty line) only by changing the definition of poverty which is actually an anti-people approach L.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia-led Planning Commission filled an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating anyone those who are capable for spending the excess of Rs.32/- in urban areas and RS 26/- in villages are not eligible for the benefits that are offered by Central as well as State governments to the BPL communities. Earlier these figures were RS15/- and Rs.20 respectively. This revision has done only because of Supreme Court's advice. So who earns Rs.960/- in urban and Rs.780/- in village area will not be in new BPL list. Think whether a human can live with this amount in a month!!!   Thus UPA 2nd government is trying to artificially reduce the number of BPL and reduce the expenses for supporting that poor community. Also the leading political parties in this Government can showcase this figure for their publicity. What an idea sirjiiii..!!! 

For urban areas, the spending of Rs 32 a day translates into spending Rs 5.5 on cereals, Rs 1.02 on pulses, Rs 2.33 on milk, Rs 1.55 on edible oil, Rs 1.95 on vegetables, Rs 0.44 on fruits, Rs 0.70 on sugar, Rs 0.78 on salt and spices, Rs 3.75 on fuel. Planning commission says that this spending should be sufficient for the people and we can keep these people in APL list. Now the minimum bus charge in Kerala is 5 rupees and price hike of provisions and vegetables are rocketing during the last few months. Then how we can leave a day with this amount of money?

If we look at the global poverty line that are defined by World Bank is $1.25 per day. As per World Bank’s record 456 million people (~42%) in India are now living under global poverty line. That means that one third of the global poor people now resides in India unfortunately. But still our government is trying some “black magic” for reducing the figure. 

Mismanagement of Food Grains

On other hand due to the Governments mismanagement, tones of grains damaged. Food is rotting in the warehouses of the Food Corporation of India, even millions go hungry. This issue was noticed by the court and warned the Government with the statement - “why the Gov is not distributing grains free or supplied at low cost to the people". But government had not taken any action for that yet.

As per the information using the right to information act (RTI), more than 10 lakh tons of food grains, worth hundreds corers of rupees were damaged in FCI godowns during the last period.  It can be used to feed over one core hungry people!!!! FCI had spent 2.59Cr just to dispose the damaged food grains!!!These all are happening only because of the mismanagement of our government. 

The records in 2012 June 1^st indicates that we have 502 lakh tone rice and 321 lakh tone wheat storage. In total 823 lakh tone food gain storage we have. So from this, government needs to distribute 500 lakh tone food grains to the people. There is no answer for the question “Why this Government is not distributing this Food grains to the people, instead of damaging it?”

These news are coming out at the same time, UN reports states that 63% of children in India are suffering by lack food. In International Food Policy Research Institute’s Global Hunger Index, our country’s position is 67 out of 81.

The central Government is always saying that there is not enough money for providing subsides for the food grains. But the fact that our Government is only using 1.8% (52489Cr) economy of for these purposes while they are ready to give 28Lakh Cr tax concession to co-operates. 

So what we can request to our government is to distribute the food grains to normal people instead of damaging them in warehouses. This is a simple request from the majority of Indian population who are struggling for the food in every day. 

WHAT DRIVES PETROL PRICE IN INDIA - An article from TheHindu.

I have read a good article about the facts of petrol price hike in India.

Source:- TheHindu

Published: December 4, 2011 00:34 IST | Updated: December 4, 2011 00:35 IST

Singapore spot market, not production costs, driving Indian petrol price.

Have you ever wondered why when petrol prices go up or down they do so uniformly across the retail outlets of the three oil marketing companies — Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum? If they are three different companies with their own refineries and distribution systems, then surely their costs and selling prices must be different?

Welcome to the strange world of petroleum product pricing in the country. A world where the laws of economics are turned on their heads, where there is no competition between the different players and where the price that we pay for petrol (or for that matter diesel or aviation turbine fuel) has no resemblance whatsoever to its cost of production.

It is a complicated world of subsidies and strange concepts such as “under-recoveries.” It is a hybrid world of controls and freedom — the oil companies have the supposed “freedom” to revise prices, yet that is subject to a discreet government nod.

The oil companies adopt a strange pricing policy that is linked neither to their costs nor to the competition in the market. The prices of the products that they sell in the domestic market are driven by the prices of the same products in the global markets; currently domestic prices are determined by the price swings in the Singapore oil market.

This is unlike in any other industry. Let's take the case of steel. The price of finished steel produced by an Indian company will be determined by its cost of raw materials such as iron ore and coking coal, the cost of power used to produce the steel plus other items of cost such as salaries and other overheads. The competition that the company faces in the market will determine how much margin it can add to this cost base.

The oil companies simply take the price of petrol in the Singapore market, apply the rupee-dollar exchange rate to that price, add other costs such as freight and import duties and lo, there comes the price that they should charge domestic consumers. Interestingly, not a litre of the petrol that these companies sell in the market is imported from Singapore; they are all produced here in their own refineries.

Now, the problem is that most often the price that they so arrive at has no relation to the prevailing domestic retail price, which is invariably lower. Thus is born the concept of “under-recoveries,” something that is unique to our oil companies. You should note that they don't call this loss, simply because it is not a loss. A loss will be caused when a company is forced to sell a product below its cost of production. In this case, we have no idea what the cost of production is for petrol or diesel or, for that matter, any petroleum product.

Under-recoveries are therefore bogus numbers that bear no resemblance to reality. Yet, pricing decisions for the domestic market are based on these numbers.

A careful reading of the statements that the oil companies put out whenever prices are revised will be enlightening. Here is an extract from the latest one released on November 30. “Review of international oil prices and INR-USD exchange rate of relevant fortnight for prices effective 01.12.11 brings out a further downtrend in international oil prices and a further weakening of the exchange rate. Thus, while petrol international prices have moved down significantly from $116/barrel approx. to $109/barrel approx., the exchange rate has deteriorated from Rs. 49.32/USD to Rs 51.50/USD. The combined impact of the two factors is an over-recovery of Rs. 0.65/litre. It has therefore, been decided to revise the petrol prices downward by Rs.0.65/litre (excluding state levies) w.e.f 1st Dec. 2011.”

Simply put, what this statement from Indian Oil Corporation says is that petrol prices have dropped in the global markets and despite the depreciation in the rupee, there is still room to reduce the domestic retail price. Of course, it goes without saying that if there is a rise in petrol price in the Singapore market and the rupee continues to depreciate, domestic prices will be revised upwards.

The question is: why should we in India pay for petrol a price that has no resemblance to either the cost structure of Indian Oil (or Hindustan Petroleum or Bharat Petroleum) or to competition in the market? Prices in Singapore dance to various tunes ranging from fundamental reasons such as consumption levels by countries in the region or shutdown of refineries or pipelines to market-related reasons such as levels of speculation and money flows into the commodities market. How are we in India affected by these when we do not import a litre of petrol or diesel from Singapore?

This flawed pricing model is a legacy of the control era when we had the administered price mechanism in place. The model does not belong in a liberalised market where the prices should be free and be determined by the costs of refining petroleum products and market competition, say analysts.

A senior official in a leading oil company concedes that this model is flawed and interestingly, says his company is all for a cost-plus pricing structure with competition between the three oil retailers — Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum.

The collusive pricing policy of the oil companies is an anti-competitive practice and has come under the radar of the Competition Commission in the past. Would the government tolerate a situation where MRF, Apollo Tyres and Ceat collude on pricing their tyres? So why should we allow oil companies to collude?

These problems arise because the winds of change that led to serious reform in industries such as telecom have largely bypassed the oil industry. What we need is a strong dose of reform in the form of freeing of pricing of petroleum products while simultaneously encouraging competition. We also need a strong regulator for the retail market; the existing Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is not tasked with regulating the retail market.

These are important issues that need to be addressed sooner than later by the government.

Related Article : http://theprogenitor.blogspot.com/2011/05/petrol-price-hike-my-findings.html

ANiSH PANTHALANi