Privatization of power sector; power engineers participated in national protest day
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
About 12 lac power employees and engineers of the country organised protests against the Central Government’s move of power sector privatisation and blatant loot of public infrastructure through the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2021 & the Standard Bidding Document for sale of public sector power companies, circulated by Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. On the call of National Coordination Committee Of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE), All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) and in solidarity with protesting farmers, all electricity employees and engineers of the country observed Feb 3 as National Protest Day.
President of the PSEB Engineers Association Er Jasvir Sigh Dhiman informed that more than 2000 engineers from Asst Engineer to Engineer-in-Chief kept their official mobile phones switched off and participated in protest rallies across the State. He further informed that in the middle of the COVID pandemic the Ministry of Power, Government of India had issued public notices inviting comments and suggestions on the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. The Ministry subsequently informed that they were considering the various comments and objections for making suitable amendments to the draft bill. But now ignoring the suggestions and objections of various stakeholders and without putting the proposed bill in public domain for consultation, the Government is trying to rush through major legislative change in the Electricity Act 2003.
Er Dhiman informed that major demands of the engineers are to scrap the Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2021 and Standard Bidding Document. To ensure affordable electricity to the consumers withdraw the process of loot and privatisation of Electricity to private companies in States and UTs. Cancellation of all existing private licenses and franchises in the power sector. To reduce cost of operations, reintegrate PSPCL and PSTCL as existing in the case of KSEB Ltd. (Kerala) & HPSEB Ltd. (Himachal Pradesh). Reintroduce Old Pension Scheme and Scrap New Pension Scheme. Forced retrenchment is not acceptable in the power sector. Regularise all Contract and Casual workers/employees to avoid legal complications, as already done by the Telangana state. Fixed Term employment is not acceptable in the power sector. To give employment to the youth of the State, fill in all existing vacancies with a policy of Regular jobs to be discharged by regular employees only. Association further demanded that the start scale of 18030/- be immediately granted to the new Engineers in PSPCL/PSTCL. Association condemned the delay in finalisation of pay commission by Punjab Government.
All Electricity Employees and Engineers across the country participated in the protests, opposing the privatisation of the power sector, in support of the farmers demanding the withdrawal of the three farm laws and urged the people to come forward to retain their constitutional right for access to affordable energy. Association warned that if the process of privatisation of public assets is not stopped immediately, engineers will go on indefinite strike.
February 3,2021
