Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
The Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, UP has decided to hold a series of protests against the proposed privatisation of electricity distribution companies. It has also planned candle march on 27 January.
The committee has also scheduled a joint meeting of all unions’ central executive bodies on 1 February in Lucknow to decide the next phase of their agitation.
Shri Shailendra Dubey, convenor of Sangharsh Samiti said, “On 27January, power employees, contractual workers, and engineers across the state will hold gatherings followed by candle marches at 5 pm outside their offices.”
The committee has demanded the cancellation of the irregular process of appointing a transaction consultant for the privatisation of Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal power distribution companies.
The Sangharsh Samit leaders said that the pre-bidding meeting scheduled for 23 January at Shakti Bhawan was instead held secretly at SLDC’s guest house. Three firms—PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and Grant Thornton—participated in the pre-bid meeting, raising concerns over conflict of interest as they are already associated with the Corporation.
They appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and scrap the privatization process. They warned that privatisation could lead to a tripling of electricity tariffs for consumers.