Mass Contact meeting

MASS CONTACT MEETING (A SATIRE)
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In 2003-4 a short stature engineer occupied the seat of Rourkela steel plant as Managing Director (MD). He was rather dumped there as no one dared to join this union dominated, loss making oldest steel plant of India. He fought tooth and nail and brought the union people to his feet.
He was a brave little man who transformed the work culture of this integrated steel plant. The problem started (long before he joined) when the plant was renovated with millions of rupees. The beneficiaries were politicians, bureaucrats and some business houses.

People used to go for duty with Hawaii slippers, spending more time in gossips and reading news paper than producing steel. He made workers and officers wear helmets while working and driving two wheelers. He brought discipline to the work culture of RSP. No late coming no early going.
With rise in steel price globally and China purchasing any steel products, there was a turn around in the steel industries in India so also in Rourkela Steel plant. This dynamic MD was an Oriya, so the other state people, ministers and union were trying their best to out state him but did not succeed.

He changed the scenario of the steel city and made it look like a hill station. During his time a new concept of meeting the workers started called “MASS CONTACT MEETING” which was held every Wednesday. He thought (misconception) he changed the steel industry of Rourkela but the turn around was due to modernization, rise in steel price, and sale of steel and help of China to purchase any steel product from India. Of course he had contributed but there was more hype than substance.
But due to his ego problem and a group of officers (Chamchas) this meeting later on turned out to be a “Raj Durbar” type of show piece akin to the by gone days of Muslim kings.

The mass contact meeting turned out to be MASS COMPLAINT meeting. People started asking Union motivated question to settle old scores and pull down the legs of docile officers and departments. The Medical department was not liked by this MD for no reasons. People said he envied doctors and also the medical profession. He missed no chance to pull down the legs of the medical chief and the senior doctors in large gathering. On his last day in office he offended the director in front of sweepers and hospital staffs in such a way that one will feel pity for the medical executives.
This mass contact meeting made routine procedures obsolete. For petty things workers started complaining against officers and The BOSS enjoyed it. Hundred of man hours were lost every week. The press got material to publish, the union settled old scores, the department of public relation, personnel department of RSP were kept busy so also all the Executive directors and senior officers of Rourkela steel plant{RSP}.
Even though the ex-MD has left, his legacy continues. As it happens in India we have no guts to stop useless meetings and seminars.
It’s a time pass for some and promotion prospects for others and “Chamcha giri” for the close ones. So it continues every Wednesdays at the RAJ-DARBAR OF Gopobandhu Auditorium of RSP.
If you happen to see how the officers walk-in to the hall behind the MD with gallery full, you need not have to watch “Mogul –e-Azam” picture to recapitulate Mogul empire of 16th century.
So the Chamchagiri continues on every Wednesdays and will continue till some MD with a different attitude would like to stop it.

You are invited to watch this “tamasha” on the next Wednesday. Hope you will enjoy.

Writer: Dr.Sanjoy Kumar Satpathy
B/188sector18
Rourkela3