Simultaneously, these three companies will also be making an initial public offering (IPO) to raise money for their projects. Together, they hope to net Rs. 2,400 crore (USD 545 million). Even after the IPO and the "disinvestment," the government will continue to hold 81.22 per cent of REC and 86.36% of the other two.
The government had mooted the NIF as a vehicle that will be used to fund the restructuring and reorganization of public sector units, most of which are bankrupt and make loss. Some of this fund will also be used to meet social sector requirements but there are no programs listed to benefit from this fund. So far, all plans for disinvestment has been stopped either by the communists (Bharat Heavy Electricals) or regional allies (Neyvelli Liginite Corporation) and no money has gone into this fund.
Again, it is not known if the allies of the government are actually going to allow it to go through with this version of "disinvestment." Earlier also, the cabinet had approved various disinvestments only to be stalled by those who would rather see the country suffocate and the government had to back down. That is perhaps why, Chidambaram went to great lengths to highlight that this "is not a standalone disinvestment" and reflects so poorly on the foundation of the government that depends on these marginal parties to stay in power. So, the plan looks like disinvestment, feels like disinvestment, but is not called disinvestment.
The communists had opposed the plans to make the IPO and will no doubt try to scuttle this plan to "disinvest."
