MD retires; NLCF Board fails to appoint a candidate

Though it was never a very successful co-op federation even in the past, the ongoing political war among board members has brought the apex labour co-op body to a new low. Its MD Pratibha Ahuja retired on 31st March without any Board member present on the occasion.

Interestingly, without any message from the Board or the higher functionaries Mrs Ahuja passed the torch to a staff-member called Dinesh Chandra, who, many say, is too junior to hold the position. “He cannot write English, cannot type or communicate with the Ministry as desired by the position of the MD’, complain many.

Due to differences among the board members, the future of the apex labour cooperative-NLCF is hanging in the balance, alleges those keeping watch on the NLCF development. NLCF is staring into a series of problems, they allege.

Talking to the Indian Cooperative Amit Bajaj, the acting Chairman, NLCF said, “Due to Covid -19 there is disruption in the work and the board fails to meet physically. We are aware of various issues related to the organization, said the acting Chairman, who many allege, works at the behest of former Chairman Sanjeev Kushalkar.

“We will soon call the meeting to appoint a permanent Managing Director in the federation. Hope everything will be normal, I will visit the headquarters and come back to you”, he said.

It is learnt that the board is not taking the issues related to the organization seriously. In the last meeting which was held in February in Mahabaleshwar- Satara District of Maharashtra, the issue of retirement of MD Pratibha Ahuja was on the agenda but it was not taken up for discussion. What the Board meeting decided was to expel VPP Nair, who had earlier gone to the Police against some of the Directors including the outgoing MD.

The issue of appointment of new MD was deferred to the meeting on staff recruitment/ retirement/promotion subcommittee scheduled for 30th March 2021 but no meeting did not take place because the acting Chairman Amit Bajaj and other board members did not come for the meeting.

Interestingly, NLCF has received a govt grant to the tune of Rs 55 lakhs recently and a few allege that the sleep-mode of the Board would soon get active to what they call “settle the fund” in no time. Some board members are eager to swallow the fund, they allege.

The ghost of past, meanwhile is haunting NLCF with the outstanding dues of more than Rs 1 crore of employees. The dues of the former MD R N Pandey have been pending for the last so many years. Indian Cooperative has received several mails from Pandey’s family to help them settle the issue.