88. Financial and business restructuring plans of a number of PSUs including SAIL and HMT have been approved. Since 1998 financial restructuring support to viable and potentially viable PSUs amounting to more than Rs 13,000 crore has been provided to 23 PSUs. Government has also decided to close down 8 non-viable PSUs during the current year. A package of measures for revival and closure of the various mills of National Textiles Corporation has also been approved.

89. The procedure for privatization of public sector enterprises has now been considerably streamlined. The Department of Disinvestment has been set up to accelerate the privatization process. To maximise returns to government, our approach has shifted from the disinvestment of small lots of shares to strategic sales of blocks of shares to strategic investors. The Government has already approved privatization of 27 companies in which the process of disinvestment is expected to be completed during the course of the year. These companies include among others VSNL, Air India, and Maruti Udyog Limited.

90. Given the advanced stage of the process of disinvestment in many of these companies, I am emboldened to take credit for a receipt of Rs 12000 crore from disinvestment during the next year. An amount of Rs 7000 crore out of this will be used for providing restructuring assistance to PSUs, safety net to workers and reduction of debt burden. A sum of Rs 5000 crore will be used to provide additional budgetary support for the Plan primarily in the social and infrastructure sectors. This additional allocation for the plan will be contingent upon realization of the anticipated receipts. In consultation with Planning Commission I shall come up with sectoral allocation proposals during the course of the year.