People's Democracy

 EEFI Holds Successful 5th Conference

 B S Meel

THE Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) held its fifth national conference at Anpara, a big power generating centre in Sonbhandra district of Uttar Pradesh, from August 30 to September 1. This conference was preceded by an exhibition at Lucknow in which the story of power development in India was depicted with pictures and graphs, attracting big public attention.

The conference began with a well-attended public rally at Anpara on August 30 evening in which Mohd Ameen, minister for labour (Left Front government of West Bengal), M K Pandhe (general secretary of the CITU), Basudev Acharya (MP) and Jibon Roy (MP), besides EEFI president E Balanandan, participated. Bhagvan Mishra, chairman of the reception committee (secretary, UPBBEU) welcomed the gathering.

On August 31, the second day, there was an open session from 10 a m to 12 noon. After Bagwan Mishra welcomed the gathering, E Balanandan delivered his presidential address in which he drew attention of the delegates to the nature of the ongoing imperialist offensive and the dangerous consequences of the policies being pursued by the government of India under imperialist led globalisation. The session was concluded after the greetings from fraternal delegates.

Then began the delegates session with the participation of 301 delegates from 15 states and one union territory, representing 31 unions, besides 33 observers. In his inaugural address, M K Pandhe narrated the difficulties being confronted by the Indian working class including the electricity workers as a result of the government’s policies.

EEFI general secretary B S Meel introduced his report, detailing the activities conducted by the federation since the fourth conference of the EEFI, and drew attention of the delegates to the tasks ahead. In the ensuing discussion on the report,  36 comrades participated on August 31 and September 1, in which they explained the problems being faced in each state because of the moves of privatisation being resorted to by the state governments and also their activities aimed at facing these problems and meeting the challenges.

On August 31 evening, there was a seminar on “The Impact of Indian Power Sector Reforms” which was inaugurated by Mrinal Banerjee, power minister in the West Bengal government. It was attended by power sector expert P Purkayastha of Delhi Science Forum, among others. Shyamal Chakravorty presided. 

The session concluded by 4 p m on September 1, after adopting seven resolutions and the general secretary’s report and reply, besides a campaign programme. The conference elected a new leadership, followed by the concluding remarks of the president.

A 20-member team of office-bearers, besides 58 working committee members, were elected.  E Balanandan was re-elected president and B S Meel general secretary.

Among the resolutions adopted, one was protesting against the retrenchment proposal of Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited through voluntary retirement scheme (50 per cent of the permanent 12899 workers), while another demanded changes in the Electricity Act 2003. A summary of the main features of Electricity Act 2003, along with the changes in the act the EEFI has demanded, is being given alongside. The conference generated enthusiasm among the delegates, which was a proof of its success.