Speech at the Conference of Cost Accountants

Elsewhere I have reproduced a report of The Hitawada, Nagpur which dealt extensively with my address to the Conference of Cost Accountants. Here is the full speech delivered by me.

Book Reviews Part 4

Still continuing with reviews of my published books, here are some more of them.

Book Reviews- Part 3

Some more reviews of my published books are given in this blog.

Book Reviews- Part 2

Continuing with Reviews of my published books, here are some more of them:

Book Reviews- Part 1

Many newspapers have reviewed my published books. Mostly they have been positive. Here are some of them.

Disinvestment and Public Sector Reform

Disinvestment has come to mean increased revenue for the government. But what does this mean for the PSU? Does it lead to greater autonomy, or any improvement in performance? Read more about this in the following article:http://www.financialexpress.com/news/disinvestment-and-public-sector-reform/128054/

Privatisation programme yet to take off

Though the Government was making all out efforts to disinvest its holdings in public sector enterprises, there is as yet no clear sign that the privatisation programme would take off in a big way. This was the view of Mr. G. Ganesh Member Secretary, Disinvestment Commission as reported in The Hitawada City Line, Nagpur in its edition of 18th December 2000. The newspaper report is being reproduced alongside. A copy of the speech of Mr G.Ganesh may also be seen herein.

If and when PSUs go private

Competition of private sector companies with the public sector has become very pronounced. Hence the necessity of continuance of public sector or the reduction of government holding in PSUs needs reconsideration. In today's post-liberalization scenario, disinvestment/privatisation appears to have become a necessity for PSUs. Read further on this subject in http://www.blonnet.com/2001/06/11/stories/12110901.htm

PSUs- Jewels in the Crown

The Public Sector Undertakings identified as the Navaratnas have a lot going for them. Government of India have approved various measures to grant a level of autonomy to these enterprises and to improve their operating environment. Read more about this in
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1710/fl171000.htm- Special Feature : Public Sector Undertakings- article by G.Ganesh

PSUs vs private cos: The reality check

A SCOPE sponsored study conducted by the Centre for Industrial and Economic Research (CIER) on the comparative performance of the Public and Private Sector in India, has tried to establish that the performance of public sector companies is better than that of private sector firms. This article explains why this exercise is entirely misplaced and serves only to obfuscate the real issues facing PSUs. Read more about it in http://www.blonnet.com/2001/02/15/stories/041546mn.htm

PSE Disinvestment - The obstacles Remain

The public sector disinvestment programme is arguably one of the most contentious economic issues which every government since the early Nineties has had to grapple with. In fact, it may be difficult to recall any other economic matter barring perhaps the insurance sector opening up that has proved so irksome. Read further on this subject which has also a reference to Mr G.Ganesh's views in http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/04/03/stories/06030003.htm

Facing up to Competition

The greatest challenge facing public sector industries today is its capacity to face competition, whether domestic or global. Ever since the advent of liberalisation, public sector has been finding that its favourite hunting ground, viz., the domestic market has spawned innumberable competitiors who are lean and mean, and surprisingly, have shown resilience in the face of seemingly unsurmountable odds. Read more about this in The Financial Express May 2000 under India Matters.

Disinvestment-Implementation Issues

Privatisation of Modern Foods and Balco has raised important questions regarding valuation of the enterprises, transparency of sale transactions, labour and other related issues. For a detailed exposition of these and other related issues of implementation of disinvestment policies, kindly see http://www.The Hindu Survey of Indian Industry 2001

Privatisation and Labour Restructuring

In the rush to privatize, many countries ignored the welfare role of the State. In particular, the negative social aspects of privatization resulted in impoverishment and considerable hardship to labour and led to questions on the wisdom of pursuing privatization policies. In his book "Privatisation and Labour Restructuring", the author has examined the privatization processes in Sri Lanka and India and the implications it has for various sections of society; he has also suggested measures to minimise the negative social implications of labour restructuring. For more details on this access http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/01/22/stories/2009012250210900.htm

Relook at Strategies

Sometimes, it appears that the other modes of disinvestment are not being seriously considered at all. International experience has shown that sale of equity through flotation is preferred in large businesses where there is expected to be a wide range of institutional and/or public demand and where there is an opportunity for a widespread public offering to promote wider share ownership. Read more in the book The Hindu Survey of Indian Industry,2003 article entitled "Relook at Strategies."http://www.hinduonnet.com/books/sii03.htm

Public Sector Reforms

The author has done extremely well once again, to present the reader with a readable book on the nuances of the privatisation programme. This time the focus is quite appropriately on the Indian experience. Practically everyone connected with the subject - officials, trade unions, stake holders such as equity holders as well as students, will benefit by reading the book. With big ticket privatisation announced - involving names such as Air India, Indian Airlines and the VSNL - there is a strong and urgent need to understand the subject. Read more in the Hindu dated 5th June 2001.

Slimming a Leviathan

IF ANYBODY had imagined that the disillusionment with the performance of the public sector in India during the last few decades would by now have paved the way for privatisation of the state-owned units, the scene at the Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) where the unions are putting a stiff resistance to the Government's decision to sell it to Sterlite should make it clear that the induction of the private sector is not going to be smooth. Read more in The Hindu Dated 1st May 2001.

The regulatory conundrum

THE recent imbroglio over the telecom regulation has prompted a study on the purpose and utility of regulation, especially in public utilities. For instance, the all-important question of where government controls end and where the powers of the regulato ry machinery start, has still not been answered satisfactorily. Also, what is the status of the regulatory authority and its independence? What has not been fully grasped is what good regulation and a properly-structured regulatory authority could do to boost investor confidence. Read more in the Hindu Business Line 05th May, 2000.

The right route to disinvestment

Public sector undertakings (PSUs) have long been considered rich sources of revenue. Increasing dividends are taken from them by the government and when equity is disinvested, they yield handsome profits for the government.

However, no attempt has so far been made to evaluate the effects that all these methods of raising revenue have on the PSUs concerned. Read more in the Business Standard July 14, 2004.

The right route to privatisation

The success or failure of a privatisation method would depend on a number of factors such as the state of the stock market, the degree of competition, the liberalisation and economic policies (including the extent of foreign ownership), and the level of entrepreneurship available in the country. Read more in the Hindu Businessline, 05 July, 2005.

Privatisation need not be painful...

There are unexplored routes, with success or failure dependent on many factors... Read more in the Financial Express, 05 July, 2005.

The Politics of Disinvestment.

Article in Hindu Business Line. June 6, 2005
The politics of disinvestment

Sell-off fund — Will it fall victim to petty politics?

There are a couple of articles recently published by my father in financial newspapers in India. These are to do with the subject of disinvestment and privatization of public sector undertakings.

Article in Hindu BusinessLine (Feb 4, 2005) Sell-off fund — Will it fall victim to petty politics?

Article In Financial Express (Feb 3, 2005) Clarity needed on selloff fund

I'll keep up posting his articles in this blog as and when things get published.