Report by KEC correspondent based on the information received from Com. Krushna Bhoyar, National Deputy General Secretary, All India Electricity Employees Federation (AIFEE)
General Secretary of All India Electricity Employees Federation (AIEEF) Comrade Mohan Sharma presided over Electricity Employees Union Goa office bearer meeting held at Vidyut Bhavan Union Office, Madgaon, Goa. The meeting was attended by Comrade Krishna Bhoyar, National Deputy General Secretary of AIFEE as chief guest. The meeting was organized by Electricity Employees Union Goa and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Goa. The meeting was attended by Prasanna Utgi, President, AITUC Goa, Praveen Palyekar, President, Electricity Employees Union Goa, Comrade Abel D’Silva, Deputy General Secretary, Carlos Falero, Treasurer; Cosme D’Silva and Petkar, Rajendra Verenkar were also present.
The work of power distribution and transmission in the state of Goa is being done on behalf of the Goa government. All the employees working in the electricity industry are Goa government employees. Electricity Employees Union Goa is the only recognized union among the workers in Goa’s electricity industry. This union was established in 1974 under the Trade Union Act 1926. It is affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress and All India Federation of Electricity Employees since its inception. The golden jubilee program of this union was completed on 11th August 2024. At present eight thousand workers are working in Goa’s electricity industry. All contract workers have been retained. At present there is no contract labour in Goa’s electricity industry. No electricity is generated in the state of Goa. The electricity required is procured from the state of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among the cadre of technical workers and engineers are helpers, assistant linemen and linemen, mechanics, and junior and assistant engineers.
Addressing the meeting, Comrade Mohan Sharmaji gave guidance on the current state of the electricity industry in the country. In his address, he elaborated on how the central government is privatizing the public power industry in the country. He also explained that since the Central Government could not pass the amended Electricity Bill in the Parliament since 2014, various means are being used to start the process of privatization in the states like Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Div Daman Nagar Haveli, and Puducherry (Pondicherry). The Odisha State Distribution Company has been sold to Tata, a private investor, for 20 years. Chandigarh Electricity Company has also been sold to Goenka, a private electricity firm from February 1, 2025. Eight hundred electricity workers have been laid off by giving forced retirement.
Comrade Krishna Bhoyar gave detailed information about how the process of privatization has started in Maharashtra through franchising, parallel electricity distribution license and smart prepaid meter. Comrade Prasanna Utgi and Comrade Abel D’Silvey moderated the meeting. Central officials of the organization in Goa state were present in this meeting.
