Letter to the Editor of the AIFAP website from Shri Rakesh of Thane, Maharashtra
(Translation of Hindi letter)
To the Editor,
I read the declaration letter of the NCCOEEE (National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers) published on your website (https://aifap.org.in/16926/). I want to thank them for their fact-based letter. They have provided many facts about the power sector that reveal the truth about the current situation.
The first question that arises is this: if this country is democratic, why is the government elected by the people acting against the will of its own people? As we can see, countless people—workers, farmers, and youth, including employees in the power sector—have been protesting against this “anti-people” bill since its introduction; yet all central and state governments are insisting on the sector’s privatization. If the people don’t have a say in policymaking, what kind of democracy is this?
The second question is: if the power sector is running at a loss, why are so many capitalists lining up to buy it? Are they so generous that they are willing to risk their capital to serve the people? I would like to quote an excerpt from the declaration:
“Similar attempts are underway in Uttar Pradesh, where the government is trying to privatise PVVNL and DVVNL. These DISCOMs have received large investments under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to reduce losses. They still have around ₹66,000 crore of pending recoverable bills. Yet the proposed reserve bid price is reportedly only around 6,500 crore, though their estimated value exceeds 1 lakh crore.”
The proposed reserve bid price is 10 times lower than the realizable bills and 15 times lower than their estimated value. So, if this is a government elected by the people, why is it working for capitalist bidders?
The third question that arises here is whether this is an issue for just one party, or for all parties? Another excerpt from the declaration:
“In the 1980s, SEBs were pushed to earn financial surpluses through accounting reforms. In 1991, electricity generation was opened to private participation, and by the mid-1990s states began inviting private players into distribution. Odisha, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh enacted reform laws to facilitate this process.”
If we look at the timeline of this development, we find that almost all parties—whether on their own or through coalitions—have formed governments; but their policy has remained the same, which is the policy of privatisation.
Now, the fourth question is that if in any system of governance all the political parties are working against the wishes of the people or voters, then can such a system be called the political system of workers, farmers, women and youth?
– Rakesh, Thane