Press Release of Sanyukta Kisan Morcha
(Translation of Hindi Press Release)
Sanyukta Kisan Morcha
25 June 2025, New Delhi
Press Release
Joint struggle against privatization of electricity intensifies in Uttar Pradesh
SKM demands that common people should not be looted by corporates
The support of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Uttar Pradesh to the united struggle against privatisation of power on the call of power sector trade unions is gaining momentum. Representatives of hundreds of farmer organisations attended the joint conference held in Lucknow on 22 June 2025 and pledged to struggle till we win the fight against the privatisation of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) in Uttar Pradesh. SKM has demanded that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should withdraw the privatization of the power sector so that there is no corporate loot of the people. The Narendra Modi-led NDA government is desperate to privatize all public power utilities. In Uttar Pradesh, electricity employees have been protesting for more than 200 days to oppose privatization and farmers are also joining the protest in large numbers. As per the decision of the UP State Coordination Committee of SKM, hundreds of farmers have organized demonstrations in district headquarters and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to respective District Magistrates on 24 June 2025. It is important to note that the historic farmers’ struggle forced the Modi government to promise to repeal the three oppressive agricultural laws as well as withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill. Later the government betrayed and reintroduced the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 in the Parliament. According to this bill, private distributors will not have to make any investment in creating distribution infrastructure. After a long and continuous struggle by the employees and consumers of the power sector, this bill was also stopped.
Cross-subsidy was established in India after a long struggle and was crucial for India’s food sovereignty and building of small-medium commodity production network. If such subsidy is withdrawn, it will lead to a sudden increase in retail electricity price, resulting in payment defaults and ultimately forced disconnections and denial of electricity service. Without cross subsidy, a farmer using a 7.5 HP pump-set will have to pay more than Rs 10,000 as monthly electricity bill, which means an unbearable increase in irrigation cost. Farmers who are already in severe agrarian crisis and facing rising cost of farming will be forced to give up farming and migrate.
The Ministry of Power has launched the disastrously nefarious prepaid smart metering project. Each individual consumer will have to pay Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 for the installation of a prepaid smart meter. The maximum lifespan of this meter is approximately 7-8 years. With about 26 crore consumers in India, this is a direct loot of Rs. 10,000 x 26 = Rs 2,60,000 crore from people’s pockets.
SKM will launch a nationwide campaign program along with all affected consumers to show solidarity with the electricity workers’ ongoing struggle and build resistance at every possible level. SKM will mobilize farmers on the All India General Strike on 9 July 2025 demanding no privatization of electricity and organize massive protests at the tehsil level.
Media Cell | Issued by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha
samyuktkisanmorcha@gmail.com