Srinagar, May 20: Union health minister and former J&K Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad has opposed the transfer of Hotel Centaur at Srinagar to the state government and said that he would take up the issue of renovation of the facility with the concerned ministry in New Delhi. He has stressed on the need to provide employment guarantee to the hotel staff apart from modernization of the hotel.
 A six member delegation representing the Hotel Centaur Coordination Committee called on Azad at the Nehru Guest House here Sunday morning. Expressing satisfaction over the assurances given by the Union minister, the committee also appealed the minister to scuttle any efforts of the government for privatization or outsourcing of the hotel.
 While giving details of the meeting to KNS, the chief spokesperson of the coordination committee Sabina Amin said the minister gave their delegation and patient hearing, According to the spokesperson, the Chairman of the Coordination Committee Mufti Iqbal apprised the minister about the apprehensions of the hotel staff comprising 300 employees regarding the privatization or outsourcing of the hotel, which according to them may put their jobs in jeopardy.
 According to the spokesperson, the delegation drew the attention of the minister towards a letter under no. CAD/PER/1021/320 dated 02.05.2012 written by the J&K government to the Hotel Corporation of India, in which the state government has clearly stated that it ‘can outsource the work in the hotel’.
 After giving a patient hearing to the delegation the minister assured the members that he would personally take up the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and he personally is not in favour of transfer of the hotel to the state government.
 Azad also told the delegation the hotel needs renovation and modernization so that it becomes economically self reliant. “If given due attention, this hotel can become the most beautiful and sought after hotel in the state”, sources quoted Azad as having said.
 The Centaur Hotel Coordination Committee has expressed its satisfaction over the assurances given by the minister and hoped that the minister would do his best to safeguard the interest of the employees of the hotel by negating any attempts for transfer or privatization of the hotel.
(KNS)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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