Com. A.B. Bardhan presided over the meeting. The other participants were Shri. Akhtar Hussain, Kuldip Singh Kharwara, Mohan Sharma, Suneel Grover, Shaminderjit Singh Gill, S.B. Singh, Sadaruddin Rana, Chakradar Pd. Singh, Padamjit Singh and B.S. Meel.
    After discussions held with the Minister of Power and Secretary, Power, Shri Sushil Kumar  Shinde agreed to allow a period of three months for the existing integrated SEBs to continue and the further decisions on this issue would be taken only after due deliberations with the concerned state governments.
    In the discussions among  NCCOEEE leaders it was felt that  GOI is not serious for reviewing the impacts of  restructuring of SEBs and provisions of EA,2003 with the representatives of NCCOEEE and therefore serious agitation has to be conducted. Following decisions were taken unanimously:
1.    Three days dharna of electricity employees and engineers had to be conducted before Parliament at Jantar Mantar round the clock w.e.f 4th August'08 to 6th August'08 with the following arrangements:

a.    Electricity employees and engineers from U.P. and Haryana will stage dharna on 4th August'08 with atleast 500 powermen from each state to participate.
b.    On 5th August'08 electricity employees and engineers from all the states except Haryana,U.P, Punjab and Himachal will stage dharna. Each national federation will ensure participation at least in 100 numbers from their affiliates to appear it as an all India action.
c.    On 6th August'08 Electricity employees and engineers from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will stage dharna with atleast 2000 powermen from Punjab  and 500 from Himachal Pradesh.
d.    The leadership of all the national federations will participate during the entire duration of dharna i.e. from 4-6 August'08.

2.    Tentatively it was decided to hold one day national strike in power sector on 13th August, 2008 . ABVMS will indicate their consent only after 2nd June'08.

3.    Each national federation will send a draft of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only) to B.S. Meel, General Secretary, EEFI towards expenses of dharna to be conducted.

4.    The mobilization of electricity employees in each State shall be planned to mobilize the powermen to participate in the parliament dharna. The action is left to the states for their state activities.

5.    The meeting expressed  its serious concern at the consequences of the Electricity Act, 2003. The meeting also recognizes the right to strike as a fundamental right. The meeting notes that several trade unions have given a call for a strike on the 20th August, 2008. This meeting supports the entire struggle and appeals to the employees and engineers in the power sector to participate in the entire struggle in the manner that their organisation may decide.


(B.S. Meel)
On behalf of NCCOEEE

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NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF
ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES & ENGINEERS
B.T.RANADIVE BHAWAN, 13-A, ROUSE AVENUE,
NEW DELHI -110 002, Tel fax.011- 23219670
e-mail:eefederation@gmail.com, eefi@bol.net.in & info@eefi.org
website www.eefi.org


                                            29.05.2008


To
Shri. Sushil Kumar Shinde,
Hon'ble Power Minister,
Shramshakti Bhawan,
Govt. Of India,
New Delhi

    Sub: Discussions held with you and power secretary by the representatives of
             NCCOEEE today at 10.30 AM, at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi
Sir,

    Shri A.B. Bardhan informed that all the representatives of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and engineers were present including All India Power Engineers Federation, All Federation of Power diploma Engineers, Electricity Employees Federation of India, Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyut Mazdoor Sangh and All India Federation of Electricity Employees.

    Shri Bardhan informed that the main issue for discussion today is the move by the ministry of power regarding unbundling of the remaining 8 integrated SEBs of the country.  Even according to the report of the Indian Institute of Public Administration there were five important factors for successful restructuring of SEBs as under:
a.    Political commitment and support /policies statement
b.    One or two highly placed champions for the reforms
c.    Competent and professional consultancy support
d.    Buy-in of the employees and staff
e.    Financial restructuring plan (FRP)

However in all the cases of integrated SEBs, none of these five essential conditions were being met/fulfilled and so even if the ministry of power insists upon unbundling of the SEB, such a move was bound to result in failure.

Shri Bardhan informed that according to the statement of objects and reasons of the Electricity Act,2003 para 4 (xi) "the state governments have the option of continuing with the state electricity boards which under the new scheme of things would be s distribution licensee and the state transmission utility which would also be owning generation assets".

However the provision in 172(a) of the Act requires that for continuing the SEB, the consent of the central govt. is also required.  This provision in Clause 172(a) is not in accordance with the statement of objects and reasons and the spirit of the act. 

                        :2:

Since Electricity is a concurrent subject under the constitution, whenever any state govt. request for continuing the functioning of its SEB, such a request should automatically be allowed by the central govt.
                       
    The facts and figures contained in the report of IIPA showed that while many of the unbundled SEBs had extremely poor performance, on the other hand several of the integrated SEBs had much better performance and there was no ground to unbundle them. 

    The central govt. was applying pressure tactics on the integrated SEBs particularly in the release of funds by the centre for the states power sector. 

    Shri Shinde informed that the centre had already allowed extension to the SEBs in various states a number of times and now in case any state wants a further extension then that state must put forward an action plan for restructuring. 

    Shri Bardhan stressed that any hasty move for unbundling would not yield any results and minimum six months period must be allowed for the states on this issue, and GOI should not pressurize the states on this matter.

    Representatives from AIPEF stressed that states like Himachal, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, which had all-round good performance on technical parameters were being pressurized to unbundle on the ground of poor financial position.   

    After discussions the minister for power Shri. Shinde agreed to allow a period of three months for the existing integrated SEBs to continue and the further decisions on this issue would be taken only after due deliberations with the concerned state governments.

        With warm regards,

                                Yours sincerely,


                            (A.B. Bardhan)
                                 Convenor, NCCOEEE