Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
Farmers in Bargarh district of Western Odisha have launched a massive struggle against the privatisation of electricity distribution that has been handed over to Tata Power. As part of their struggle, the farmers are boycotting prepaid smart electricity meters installed by Tata Power.
In Bargarh district of Western Odisha, more than 15,000 farmers removed the smart meters installed at their homes and farms and deposited them in the office of Tata Power in Padmapur and other blocks. Smart Meter boycott has become a widespread movement in whole of Bargarh district and surrounding districts of Western Odisha.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has extended full support to the farmers in their truggle against the privatisation of electricity distribution. On 8 November 2024, a ‘Krishak Garjan Samavesh’ was organised by the ‘Sanyukt Krishak Sangathan’ in Padampur, West Odisha. SKM has demanded 300 units of free electricity per month to the families engaged in farming.
The state government is filing police cases against farmers boycotting smart meters. SKM has strongly condemned the suppression of the peaceful movement of farmers against privatisation of the power sector by the BJP government of Odisha. It has asked the state government to immediately withdraw all the false cases filed against farmer leaders and other activists and start discussion with the farmers agitating for their just cause.