In an exclusive interview B D Sinha, Managing Director of Kribhco told Indian cooperative .com that Kribhco is not dependent on subsidies for survival. In fact, we have sent a proposal to the government to take us out of the list , Mr Sinha said. Government takes our product at its own rate and we have to wait for six months in realizing the money from the government. We have to, meanwhile, take loan from the banks, lamented the MD.
Replying to a question what if government gives subsidy directly to the farmers, Mr Sinha said that Kribhco had no objection and would welcome such a move. But the problem is, if you give farmers say a cash amount of Rs 5000 he will use the money not on fertilizer but on some other urgent call. Coupon system may work but whom to give the coupon is a million dollar question as clarity between tiller and owner of land has been vexing government for years, added the MD.
Government equity has been reduced in Kribhco to 48.36 percent as a result of which only two government nominees were on Board compared to 3 in the last Board..
Rebuking cynics of Shyam Kribhco plant in Saharanpur Mr Sinha said that the plant was put to highest utilization resulting into record production of fertilizer for the current year. He also sounded proud of Hazira plant where Kribhco is putting in Rs 1300 crore for increasing its capacity by adding new and latest equipment. Hazira produces cheapest fertilizer in the country and thus needs minimum subsidy from the government, said Mr Sinha with pride.
Revenue service officer of 1978 batch, Mr Sinha is also proud of social responsibilities Kribhco is engaged into. It has adopted many tribal villages in Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan where Kribhco builds infrastructures and other facilities to check the migration of people to urban areas. In order to improve the quality of life, it offers vocational training, better technique of cattle breeding, construction of watersheds and such other activities. MD is also quite happy about the fact that Kribhco does this in an area where its commercial presence is nil.