Power sector workers protest against Electricity (Amendment) Bill

CORRESPONDENTS

BONGAIGAON/ NAHARKATIA, BISWANATH CHARIAL: Power sector workers across the country staged protest on Monday against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the move to privatize the power distribution sector. The Assam State Power Workers' Union, a leading union of Assam, also protested against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 under the banner of AIFEE at the call of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Engineers and Employees (central committee).

Power sector workers staged an hour-long demonstration in the office of the SDE, Biswanath Chariali. The workers said that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was not at all in favour of the public sector electricity companies, electricity officers and workers as well the common people and it would ultimately lead to privatization. They demanded that the bill should be withdrawn immediately. They also claimed that the electricity engineers and workers were capable of running the public sector electricity companies properly with support of the government as and when necessary, and hence there was no need of the aforesaid bill.

Talking to media persons, Amit Kar, general secretary of Assam State Power Workers' Union, said that they staged protest by wearing black badges and staging a one-hour sit-in. "During the lockdown period power sector workers have been working day and night to provide electricity to the people. They have been doing their duty despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under such circumstances, the Central Government has sent a proposal for handing over the power distribution sector to corporate houses. This will adversely affect both power workers and the public in general. We oppose it strongly and demand for withdrawal of this proposal immediately," he said.

The Assam State Power Workers' Union, Namrup branch also staged a protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at Namrup Thermal in front of the union office.

Along with the State president of Assam Power Workers' Union Brojen Boiree and Namrup branch secretary Lakhyajit Das, around 30 activists took part in the protest by wearing black badges.

Brojen Boiree said, "We will protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 till it is scrapped. One nation, one electricity tariff rule will affect the common people. So we are against it."