Electricity Board employees and pensioners protesting at Kumar House in Shimla. Awakening
Jagran correspondent, Shimla. Protests were held at 63 places outside Electricity Board offices across the state during the lunch break on Thursday in protest against the privatization of the State Electricity Board. These demonstrations were held on the call of the National Coordination Committee of Electrical Engineers against the central government's policies of privatization in the power sector. During this period, the employees observed pen down and tool down strike throughout the day. This had an impact on offices as well as field work. However, emergency services were kept out of the strike.
Smart meter also opposed
Also opposed the smart metering scheme of the central government. During this, to overcome the shortage of employees, there was a demand for new recruitment, implementation of the old pension scheme, making a permanent policy for outsourced workers working for 10-12 years. At some places, memorandums were also submitted to the Central Government through the administration. Electricity consumers along with pensioners of the Electricity Board also participated in these.
Demonstration of hundreds of workers at Kumar House
Hundreds of employees, engineers and pensioners demonstrated outside the board headquarters located in Kumar House, Shimla. The statement of the State Finance Secretary on privatization of the State Electricity Board was also condemned.
What does the joint committee say
The Joint Action Committee said that the Central Government is continuously pressurizing the State Governments for privatization of power companies. In this direction, many amendments have been proposed in the Electricity Act. Recently, the draft of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025 has been brought by the Ministry of Energy, which is likely to be presented in the Parliament in this budget session. The Joint Action Committee said that the power sector is a major source of employment for the youth in the state. Privatization will drastically reduce employment opportunities.
then pension payment will be affected
At present about 64 percent of the total revenue of the Board comes from industrial consumers. If this category goes to private companies then the financial condition of the government electricity company will be greatly affected. This will adversely affect the service conditions, pension payments and future security of the employees. During this, Lokesh Thakur, Hira Lal Verma and other employee leaders addressed.
Also read: The financial situation of Himachal Pradesh will be discussed in the all-party meeting, how much of the suggestions to reduce expenditure were implemented?
Chyawanprash is a part of every Indian's life, it reduces diseases and increases energy.