Meerut electricity workers oppose power privatisation plans

Electricity workers in Meerut have announced a strong opposition to the privatisation of the power sector. They have planned a rally in Lucknow on April 9 to kick off their campaign against this move. On Monday, many employees gathered in Meerut for a meeting called Bijli Panchayat. Leaders from various organisations, including the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers, expressed their determination to fight against privatisation. They promised to stand firm and make sacrifices to protect their jobs. Shailendra Dubey, a leader of the Sangharsh Samiti, stated that further protest actions will be detailed soon. Subhash Lamba, a representative from the national coordination committee, attended the meeting and showed support for the local workers. He warned that if any employee faces oppression, the 27 lakh power workers across India would respond strongly. The meeting resulted in a resolution accusing the government of widespread corruption related to privatisation efforts. The resolution mentioned that 42 districts are having their power services privatized without proper assessments, which is against the law. It also raised concerns about conflicts of interest among those advising on these transactions. Workers highlighted potential problems that could arise after privatisation, including higher electricity rates. They compared prices in cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi, which are much higher than what consumers currently pay in Uttar Pradesh. They argued that privatisation could harm farmers and households, forcing them back to using old-fashioned lanterns for light.