Power sector reports from Indian states

Voice of Electricity Workers

July - September 2001

Reports from states

1. J&K

A seminar was organised on “Economic Reforms and its impact on Power Sector”in Jammu on dated 18^th April, 2001 by Central Non-Gazetted Electrical employees Union, Srinagar, which was inaugurated by Shri R.C. Jagga, Secretary, EEFI. Those present were minister of power S.S. Salatia, and Shri Qumar Ali Akhoon, Com M.Y. Tharigami, MLA, CPI(M). Chief Engineers and Supdt. Engineers participated in the deliberation besides Trade union leaders of state government central and state public sector. Com. Mohd. Maqbool, General Secretary presented a paper stressing the special status enjoyed by J&K where it is not necessary to go by world bank dictated power sector reforms. The minister of power while appreciating the stand of the union has appealed for launching the drive legalise the illegal connections. Com. MY Tharigami, MLA said that economic reforms have caused tremendous hardships and the state government have failed so far to harness and tape water resources in J&K. There was a broad consensus in the seminar against the privatisation with the need to cure the ailments in the present set up by way of reforms based on experience and opinion of power experts to enable the state power sector to be self reliant and improved customer services.

2. UP- CONFERENCE OF BIJALEE BOARD EMPLOYEES UNION, KANPUR WILL BE HELD W.E.F. 19 TO 21^ST OCTOBER, 2001 AT KANPUR

3. Guwahati

Under the Banner of Asom Bidyut Parishad Suraksha Samitee Employees of Assam State Electricity Board held a gate meeting at 5.pm in front of the main gate of the Bijulee Bhavan where speakers one after the other highlighted the adverse impact of Dabhol Power Company PPA with MSEB forcing the state government to constitute Godbole Committee which has sought a judicial enquiry from the Supreme Court Judges to investigate into the undue influence at every stage of decision making process. The concrete demand in the meeting was to scrap the PPA. The Joint Convenors D.K. Saha and P. Talukdar were directed to attend the national convention on 7^th July, at New Delhi on Power Sector Reforms.

4. Tripura

Tripura Vidyut Karmi Union conducted 11th Bi-ennial Conference from 15^th June to 17^th June 2001. Com. Kedar Mukherjee from WBSEB had participated on behalf of EEFI and highlighted the adverse impacts of deepening power crisis that will effect the development of the country. EEFI President had sent the greeting message for the success of the conference excerpts of which are reproduced:

Comrades,

Glad to know that your state conference is being held from 14 - 17^th June 2001 at Agartala.

Your conference is being held at a time when all the central trade unions of the country have come together to fight against the World Bank and IMF dictated policies, which are vehemently being pursued by the government of India. This policy which has been initiated during 1991 after the dismemberment of the Soviet Union and the set back suffered by socialist countries of Europe.

This policy has been initiated with bombastic claims that this is the panacea for all the ills of economy and the way out for growth and development. During that period many trade union centers of the country were supporting these measurers claiming that this is the only way out.

However we find today after a decade the Mighty American economy is facing a slow down together with developed nations of the world in different degrees. However a fear is haunting the capitalist world that if the economic slow down in the US is not reversed the whole capitalist system will plunge into a crisis bigger than that of 1930’s. The British economist has come out editorially that the future of globalisation itself is in danger (24 to 30th March, 2001). Today the Indian economy also is facing slow down though claiming to be faring well. In this background the wholesale privatisation of public sector including those, which are making sizeable profit together with industries in the strategic sector including Defence. The proposals for downsizing, retrenchment and closures have forced the trade unions, as noted above to close their ranks for fighting this offensive.

The opening up as part of globalisation, removal of quantitative restrictions on import is adversely affecting agriculture and industry creating serious crisis. Together with the attempt of the Government of India to take away the legal rights enjoyed by the workers, attempting to change the labour laws etc., have made the trade unions to come together forgetting their organizational, political differences. The INTUC, AITUC, BMS, CITU, HMS etc., have agreed for a joint agitational programme including general strike. The demands they have formulated are “(1) Against thoughtless privatisation of the profit-making and potentially viable PSUs including defence sector industries.(2) Against withdrawal of the quantitative restrictions on imports as per WTO conditionalities, much to the detriment of Industry, agriculture and national interest as a whole.(3) Against the move to change the labour laws in favour of the employers. (4) For immediate enactment of a comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers.(5) Against the policies leading to severe aggravation of joblessness and unemployment.”

I am glad to inform you that the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers have decided to coordinate their activity in the fight against the above IMF dictated policies. An all in unity to fight against these policies are taking shape. This is a happy occasion for us since we were always standing for the unity of the trade union to fight these offensives.

In the power sector, the policies enunciated by the central government miserably failed and the power crisis has dramatically increased. The disastrous effect of the Enron agreement has put the Maharashtra Electricity Board and the Government to consider scrapping of Enron contract. Also the experience in Orissa has forced the government to review the policies of privatisation implemented as part of the power sector reforms. Therefore the NCCOEEE have decided to further strengthen the fight against the new power policies of the government.

Comrades, therefore I request you to consider the above points and take appropriate steps to strengthen the fight which we are carrying on together with steps for strengthening our organisation.

I wish your conference a grand success.


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