Power sector employees to protest against Electricity (Amendment) Bill on Dec 8 & 15

• The decision has been taken at a meeting of the NCCOEEE on December 3 as part of an elaborate action plan
• In case the government attempts to place the Bill in Parliament, employees will resort to work boycotts and day-long demonstrations at all electricity work centres, said AIPEF Chairman

New Delhi: Power sector employees are going to hold day-long demonstrations across all power utility headquarters, projects and work sites on December 8 and a central-level protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 15 to protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 under the banner of the All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF). The decision has been taken at a meeting of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) on December 3 as part of an elaborate action plan for all states to oppose the bill, said Shailendra Dubey, chairman of AIPEF, on Saturday. 

'Day-long work boycotts if Bill introduced in Parliament'

Dubey also said that in case the government attempts to place the Bill in either of the two Houses of Parliament, NCCOEEE constituents will resort to spontaneous work boycotts and start day-long demonstrations at all electricity work centres.

"This Bill is trumpeted to bring power sector reforms, while it is the document that will sound the death knell for power distribution companies. The Bill will facilitate private players to make open loot by making use of the infrastructure of electricity distribution utility without any investment. Privatisation means the nationalisation of losses and privatisation of profits," said Dubey. 

Backdrop

The AIPEF has accused the government of acting unilaterally and rushing the amendment bill through Parliament without holding consultations with stakeholders. The body has also said that many provisions of Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 are anti-people and against the interest of employees in the power sector.

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