Statement by All India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE)
A Historic Victory for Haryana’s Electricity Employees and Engineers
Chief Minister of Haryana, Exercising Powers Under Section 108, Directs the State Electricity Regulatory Commission to Revoke the Parallel Electricity Distribution License
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A Historic Victory for Electricity Employees in Haryana Against Privatization
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The All India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE)—affiliated with the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and representing members and office-bearers from organizations across 28 states—extends a ‘Lal Salaam’ (red salute) to the unity shown by the electricity employees and engineers of Haryana. Under the banner of the ‘Joint Struggle Front of Electricity Employees and Engineers of Haryana’ (Haryana Rajya Vidyut Karmachari va Abhiyanta Sanyukt Sangharsh Morcha), they successfully concluded a historic two-day statewide strike. The strike, which began at 10:00 PM on October 21 and continued with full intensity through October 22 and 23, compelled the Haryana government to take action. Following discussions with the Struggle Committee, the Chief Minister of Haryana—invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003—issued strategic directives to the Haryana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (HSERC) to reverse its decision regarding the granting of a parallel electricity distribution license to ‘Eleven Power Private Limited’ for the Gurugram and Nuh regions, in the interest of both electricity consumers and employees. The Chief Minister has publicly announced this decision, clarifying that parallel distribution licenses will not be permitted in Haryana. In the light of these assurances, the Joint Struggle Front has decided to call off the strike.
Approximately 40,000 to 55,000 electricity employees and engineers from across the state participated in this strike. Participation was near-total across the South and North Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigams (DISCOMS) as well as the transmission company. The strike resulted in the disruption of power supply across large parts of Haryana. The prolonged power strike caused disruptions in electricity supply to households, water supply systems, offices, and industrial consumers. Although citizens across the state faced power outages lasting many hours, they stood in solidarity with the movement. Farmers’ unions, labour unions, and ordinary consumers extended their support despite the inconveniences they endured. Employees ensured that the supply of essential services to hospitals remained uninterrupted. This mass movement succeeded due to the strength of the strike and the unity of the people.
The government’s decision to issue policy directives under Section 108, combined with the Chief Minister’s public declaration that ‘parallel’ (competing) electricity licenses would not be permitted in Haryana, marks a significant victory in this struggle. The All India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE) welcomes this development and congratulates all the employees in the state of Haryana.
The 48-hour strike has demonstrated that electricity employees and engineers—backed by the public—will not allow public distribution utilities to be weakened for the sake of private profit. The fight against parallel licensing is not yet over. The struggle will continue until the policy directives are formally issued, the appeals are acted upon, and the threat of such licensing is completely averted.
Once again, congratulations to the electricity employees, engineers, farmers, workers, and the people of the state who made this struggle a success.
Inquilab Zindabad (Long live the revolution)!
The struggle shall always emerge victorious!
In solidarity,
Comrade M. Murthy, President (Tamil Nadu)
Comrade Samiulla, Working President (Karnataka)
Comrade Mohan Sharma, General Secretary (Maharashtra)
Comrade Krishna Bhoyar, Deputy General Secretary (Mumbai)
All India Federation of Electricity Employees