Gandhinagar: The Department of Public Enterprises' (DPE) #AKAM (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) mega show, which is set to see participation from 75 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), is the first-of-its-kind event to bring together PSUs cutting across sectors on a single platform, said DPE Joint Secretary Sanjay Kumar Jain on Wednesday. Addressing the media at the curtain raiser for the show that is slated to be inaugurated on June 9 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Jain said that one of the major events planned is an exhibition on 'Nation Building and CPSEs' at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
"The exhibition will showcase contribution of CPSEs towards self-reliant nation. The Hon'ble Finance Minister, and the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat will participate in the inaugural function on June 9. The exhibition will be open to public from 10th to 12th June," said Jain. The exhibition is part of a series of events being organised by the Ministry of Finance under AKAM to commemorate 75 years of Independence. "Keeping in mind the significance of the number 75, 75 PSUs are taking part in the show to exhibit their contribution their contribution towards nation-building," said the DPE Joint Secretary. DPE is organising the event with the support of PSUs and the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE), a body that represents all public sector companies in India.
Speaking to the press, SCOPE's AKAM planning head and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) Managing Director Amitabh Banerjee said that the through the discussions and workshops that take place over the next two days, PSUs will focus on their role in the creation of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
On being asked about how will the new Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) policy that seeks to privatise all PSUs in non-strategic sectors while maintaining a bare minimum number of CPSEs in the strategic sectors change the face of public sector in India in the time to come, Jain said, "Privatisation is a policy that is now in place. It is a fact. There's no arguing against it. The CEOs' roundtable that will take place on June 9 along the sidelines of this event will bring together PSU CMDs to deliberate on the same question, the role that the public sector will play in the time to come." Heads of over 30 CPSEs are expected to take part in the roundtable discussion.
A series of workshops on issues such as CSR with special focus on aspirational districts, annual appraisal system of CPSEs, procurement from micro and small enterprises (MSEs), Government E-Marketplace (GeM) are also being organised. Free shuttle services to the venue will be available for the public from June 10, said Jain.
Meanwhile, PSUs will undertake a pan-India plantation drive in which 75,000 saplings will be planted in their offices, townships, production units, etc.
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