Dividend dilemma
Dividend dilemma: Dividend policies for PSUs cannot be applied on a one-size-fits-all basis
My VIEW:
My VIEW:
January
12, 2016
Level
playing field
This refers to your editorial “Dividend
dilemma’ (The Hindu Business Line, January 12). On the face of it the GOI
‘directive’ PSUs including public sector banks(PSBs) to declare dividend at a
particular rate if the organisations financials satisfy certain norms would
look reasonable. In reality, this is the continuation of a ‘practice’ GOI has
been following for some time now. A particular figure is shown in the budget as
expected receipts from dividends and surplus profit transfer by PSUs and
statutory bodies including RBI and later these organisations are persuaded to
fall in line.
Last
two years, RBI has been transferring entire ‘surpluses’ without transferring funds
to its own reserves which coming down year after year as a percentage to total
assets. Two years back, an internal committee of the central bank advised that
the reserves level was adequate for three years.
GOI
should allow statutory bodies and PSUs including PSBs to professionally manage
their finances and should not pressurise to transfer funds back to government
in a routine way. This is not denying GOI’s right to dividend and surplus
income from organisations it owns. All organisations, both in public and
private sectors should be allowed a level playing field in managing their
resources, activities and finances factoring in the risk perceptions and growth
needs.
M G Warrier,
Mumbai
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