Dear Friends,

You have so far understood the energy as well power policy of Government of India through your day to day experience. There is no hide and seek in the object of the Government of India, at the dictates of imperialist-capitalist hegemony to curb the right to energy/electricity of the majority of the people of India, who can’t afford high cost of supply. Right from the post independent period electricity was considered through four decades as an essential service for socio-economic development. But through last two decades, at the behest of WTO-IMF, electricity has been declared as a marketable commodity and state governments responsible for all round development of the state has been removed from the role through Electricity Act, 2003. Government has openly declared that Electricity will be transferred to private entrepreneurs, who are interested to supply power to big cities. Villages will be kept dark through forthcoming years. State Electricity Boards, which immensely contributed towards developing the power back bone of the country by extending grid to most of the villages, Energising crores of pumpsets for green revolution of the country has been unbundled on the plea of accumulating a loss of Rs. 30,000 crores through a span of 50 years. Now Government of India has admitted through their Discom Bailout / Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) that the unbundled distribution utilities have accumulated loss of Rs. 1.9 lakh crores through a span of 4 years. They are insisting that this fund will be released on a condition of annual tariff hike and privatisation of the Electricity distribution by the State Governments. This is nothing but flat admission of Government of India that their long cherished so called reform policy has failed. It has aggravated the situation to worst possible extent. But they have not adopted any lesson. Their fancy of privatisation of power sector continues.

All Energy resources like Water, Coal, and Gas were transferred to Private players in power sector. Huge scam was unveiled through Coal Block allocation. Role of Prime Minister has become questionable. CBI was admonished by Apex Court for their attempt to cover the unscrupulous activities related to coal Block allocation. Natural Gas resources of KG-6 Gas Basin transferred to Reliance is being purchased now by NTPC as per pricing terms dictated by Ambani. Government of India, custodian of all geological reserves has become silent spectator. Promoters of Ultra Mega Power Projects were given lots of benefits at the cost of public exchequer. State owned Discoms signed PPA on levelised tariff fixed through International Competitive bidding for supply of electricity for 25 years @ 119 paise by Reliance from Sasan and 226 paise by Tata from Mundra. Now they are exploring unlawful path of tariff hike on this or that plea. Government of India is leaning to the interest of private capitalist sharks, while poor people of India will have to pay higher cost. We, the electricity workers and employees are to play suitable role for the people. Lots of anti-people policies are implemented beyond the knowledge of the people. We are to convey them appropriate information so that they may univocally declare- “This far and no further, we shall be succumbed under the jaws of the capitalists in the Energy arena at the behest of Government of India.”

7th conference of Electricity Employees Federation of India to take place at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu between 10th and 12th August, 2013 to deal all these aspects and chalk out suitable action plan to thrash the Government and its anti-people Energy Policy. We therefore render our fervent appeal to the people of India spread through states to rise to the occasion and extend support to Electricity Workers and Employees for their immediate future struggle to be initiated through this conference to protect Energy security of the country as well right to Electricity of our country men.

DEMANDS

1. Roll back unbundled SEBs to ensure quality & cheaper supply of Electricity for all.
2. Whole reform process in power sector is to be analysed by independent experts towards pro-people modification and remedial action over bankrupt power policy
3. Scrap the policy of privatization, franchising, outsourcing & contractorisation of power sector activities.
4. Stop transfer of natural energy resources to private hands to ensure national energy security with right to energy as human right. Scrap all unlawful transfer agreements of natural energy resources & punish all corrupt persons involved in the scams.
5. Discoms bailout/Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) is virtual admission of government for its failure of Reform Process. Stop FRP for making the state owned utilities under debt trap with goal of privatization and tariff hike to sky level.
6. None of the Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) are to be allowed tariff revision over levelised tariff fixed for 25 years though International Competitive Bidding. All the PPAs signed by UMPP Promoters and Discoms are to be fully honoured.
7. Research and development programmes towards efficient use of indigenous energy resources with the goal of cheaper power for the people are to be intensified. Scrap the policy of costlier energy in the game plan of global pricing/ price pooling mechanism.
8. Safety and occupational health of power sector workers and employees can't be left on the mercy of contractors. Stringent measures on safety and health are to be enforced. Impose severe punishment for breach of safety rule.
9. All demands of Central Trade Unions pressed through Nationwide Strike through 20-21, February are to be immediately settled.