People's Democracy

Electricity Employees & Engineers

Hold National Protest Action

THE National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers congratulated all the electricity employees and engineers who took part in large numbers in the national protest action on December 7, 2007.

Its convenor B S Meel  in a statement said that this massive protest action was held on the following demands:

1.     Scrap Electricity Act, 2003 and in the meanwhile SEBs be kept as single entity.

2.     Restore unbundled/privatised SEBs

3.     Stop franchisee, privatisation and outsourcing SEBs

4.     Add adequate generation capacity in public sector

5.     Ensure affordable and adequate power to agriculture, domestic and industrial consumers

6.     Improve deteriorating working conditions of power employees and engineers

The electricity employees and engineers of the power sector held protest dharna/rallies/conventions in the state capitals all over the country under the banner of National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers on December 7.

Inspite of the disastrous consequences of privatisation of the power sector bring experienced in state after state, the government of India is bent upon the continuing this perilous anti-people path, said Meel. The Electricity Act 2003 is being implemented resulting in heavy slippage in generation capacity addition in the Tenth Plan.

The NCCEE requested the employees and engineers to continue to explain to the people of the country the dangerous consequences of the power sector liberalisation and privatisation, and prepare for an intensified mass action. This would also include submitting memorandums on Electricity Act 2003 and status of deteriorating power position in the country to MPs, MLAs and public representatives before January 14, 2008, and a massive campaign for preparing a national level agitation.

(INN)