The North News
Chandigarh, July 8
Electricity employees across India will observe a one-day token strike and work boycott on July 9 in protest against privatisation policies pursued by both central and state governments, with particular focus on Uttar Pradesh. The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers has called for the nationwide protest, urging the Centre to intervene and stop the privatisation of Uttar Pradesh’s power distribution companies—specifically Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL).
V.K. Gupta, media advisor to the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), said lakhs of power sector employees from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir are expected to participate. In Lucknow, the Vidyut Karamchari Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti questioned the rationale behind privatisation, pointing out that line losses have already been reduced from 40% to 15.54%. The committee alleged that the move benefits industrialists at the cost of public sector jobs.
The proposed privatisation plan in Uttar Pradesh could affect an estimated 27,000 permanent employees and engineers, and around 50,000 contract workers. Union leaders have warned of a “jail bharo andolan” if the government proceeds further with its plan.
