Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee Correspondent based on report received from Comrade Satyabadi Bagh, General Secretary, Odisha State Electricity Employees Federation
Tata Power began electricity distribution operations in Odisha in June 2020 when it took over the management of the Central Electricity Supply utility (CESU) in central Odisha through a joint venture called TP Central Odisha Distribution Ltd. (TPCODL). Gradually it took over distribution in other parts of Odisha and by April 2021 Tata Power was distributing electricity in the entire state of Odisha through four regional companies namely TPCODL, TPSODL, TPWODL, and TPNODL. This was done despite strong opposition by power sector worker unions and consumer associations who were dissatisfied with the quality of customer service provided.
Instead of taking steps to improve service, like any other privately owned company hungry for more and more profit, Tata Power has been taking steps to reduce the number of workers. Due to that, staff shortage is so high that implementing “two-shift duties” is also not possible. This results in delay in breakdown repairs which sometimes extends to 2 to 3 days.
It is reported that Tata Power has formulated a plan to retrench approximately 3,150 workers engaged in the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities of its four distribution companies in Odisha. These workers, many of whom have served for extended periods within the Customer Care Service (CCS) departments of the DISCOMs, were originally recruited through contractors referred to as ‘Business Associates.’ This workforce reduction is scheduled to come into effect on June 1, 2026.
Odisha State Electricity Employees Federation has opposed this anti-people anti-worker move. They have written to various officials of Tata power and also the Chief Minister of Odisha. (See PDF below). They also organized massive protest rallies in Burla and Balasore on May 15 and May 20 to register a strong protest against the Tata Company.
Tata Power is justifying this move by saying that the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has issued directives regarding cost reduction. However, when Comrade Satyabadi Bagh, General Secretary of Odisha State Electricity Employees Federation, met with the Chairman of the Odisha State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) on April 30th, the Chairman clarified that while they had indeed issued directives for cost reduction, they had not issued any directives for workforce reduction. While OERC chairman clarified this, the state government of Odisha has so far not taken any steps to thwart Tata Power companies move of retrenching workers.
Across the country, power sector workers and consumers are experiencing two scenarios. Wherever the power distribution is still in the hands of state government owned DISCOMS, huge number of vacancies of workers are just not being filled up and contractualization is rampant. This is happening irrespective of whichever political party is managing the state government. And wherever the power distribution is in the hands of private companies, they are constantly on the lookout of reducing the workforce. Both state government owned DISCOMS and private companies are this behaving in the same way with the same focus of “cost reduction to improve profits”. This is resulting in tremendous increase of workload on existing electricity workers and poorer quality service to electricity consumers.
Not only electricity workers but all the working people who are consumers of electricity must oppose any such moves unitedly.
Upload.Odisha elcty federation letter opposing retrenchment of workers