Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee correspondent based on inputs received from Comrade Krushna Bhoyar and Comrade S. R. Khatib
On 15th October 2026, hundreds of workers under the banner of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers’ Federation, participated in a demonstration at Azad maidan in Mumbai. They were demanding that 800 candidates who have been selected for the post of Technician Grade-3 through direct recruitment process should be given appointment letters by Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company (MAHAGENCO or Mahanirmiti). They also demanded that Mahanirmiti must immediately advertise for 1920 vacant positions of Technician Grade 3.
Candidates selected from different power generating stations like Parli, Chandrapur, Deepnagar, Eklahare, Khaparkheda, Paras & Koradi participated in large numbers. The demonstration was led and addressed by Comrades Mohan Sharma, Krushna Bhoyar, S. R. Khatib and Arun Mhaske.
In their speeches they pointed out extreme injustice meted out to the selected candidates. They explained that Mahanirmiti first advertised for the post of Technician Grade 3, in April 2024. After that written examination was conducted and the result was declared on company’s official website. But, the Mahanirmiti administration kept on delaying issuing appointment letters, and now administration is saying that since some other dissatisfied applicants have gone to court it cannot issue appointment letters to the selected candidates.
Workers are refusing to accept these excuses, since it is not their fault. Comrade Krushna Bhoyar later on told media that in all probability the administration is deliberately delaying the issuance of appointment letters since it does not want to recruit permanent workers but want to recruit more and more workers on contract basis. After the demonstration, a delegation of leaders and workers met with the Chief Secretary (Energy) who has promised them that the administration will do the needful. Next discussion with administration is expected on 22nd October.
It is very important to note that most of the selected candidates are already working in various power generating plants as Advanced Skilled Trainees since last many years, some since 2010, at very meagre monthly wages. They do same type of work that is done by Technicians. They have long duty hours but not even minimum wages are paid, using the excuse that they are just trainees. There are around 2100 such workers out of which so far only 800 have passed the exam.
A large number of them are women workers. It is also important to note that 400 of the selected candidates come under “project affected” category. This means that many years ago agricultural land of their families was forcibly taken over by the State government for establishing or expanding the thermal power plants, on a promise that their family member will be given permanent employment in the power plant. Far from keeping that promise, they have been forced to work on meagre wages for more than 15 years and now even after passing examination are being denied permanent employment!
This callous behaviour is obviously a result of a very calculated plan to eliminate any addition of permanent workers in any public sector undertakings, whether belonging to Central government or State governments. In the power sector of Maharashtra, already a decision has been taken to close down 6 thermal power plants across Maharashtra and encourage new power generation by private capitalist companies.
This clearly means that the struggle for permanent employment and for filling up vacancies with permanent workers must be waged unitedly by all the workers. The capitalist class and their main political parties are united in attacking the right to permanent employment, hence reply of working class also needs to be strong and united!
