Press release by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)
Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Press Release
4 August 2022
Samyukta Kisan Morcha warns Union Government against tabling and passing the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 in this Parliament session
There has been no consultation whatsoever by the Government on this Bill with the SKM, as was promised in writing
SKM gives nationwide call for immediate massive protests if Bill is tabled/passed, and supports nationwide action call by National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has learned that the Union Government is likely to table and pass the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 in the current Parliament session. The Union Cabinet has already approved the Bill.
Withdrawal of this Bill was one of the main demands of the year-long farmers’ struggle. On December 9, 2021, the Union Government had given a letter to the SKM, which stated as follows, “4. On the provisions in the Electricity Bill which affect farmers, there will first be a discussion with all stakeholders/Samyukta Kisan Morcha. Only after the discussion with the Morcha will the Bill be placed before Parliament.” No such discussion has ever taken place in the last eight months. This is therefore, a stark betrayal of the Union Government’s own written assurances.
The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 aims to ensure entry of private companies in the Electricity distribution sector. This will give them enormous profits by hiking power rates for farmers, and for all other sections of the people in our country. Cross subsidy will be ended. Free or cheap electricity to farmers will end. The cost of production for farmers will further rise. Domestic rates of power in both rural and urban areas will rise tremendously. The jobs of electricity employees and engineers will be adversely affected.
The SKM gives a call for immediate massive nationwide protests if the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 is tabled/passed. The SKM fully supports the nationwide action call by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), for countrywide demonstrations on August 9, and to cease work if the Government unilaterally places and passes this Bill.
Issued by-
Dr. Darshan Pal, Hannan Mollah, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Yudhveer Singh, Yogendra Yadav
Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Email: samyuktkisanmorcha@gmail.com