People's Democracy

Convention Against Electricity Act 2003

B Prasant

IN a joint convention of central trade unions and federations, held in Kolkata on July 5, a resolution was passed unanimously demanding changes to the Electricity Act 2003.  The convention was conducted by a presidium comprising Kali Ghosh (CITU), Ranjit Guha (AITUC), Ashok Ghosh (UTUC), Atanu Chakravarty (AICCTU), Sibshankar Roy (central coordination committee), and K D Ghosh (mercantile federation).

Addressing the convention, president of the Bengal unit of the CITU, Shyamal Chakraborti said that in the struggle against the Electricity Act 2003, power workers as well as consumers must get to participate.

He said that the Act took away the power to control electricity rates away from the state governments.  This has put to jeopardy the interests of the common people, including the urban and rural poor, kisans, as well as the middle class.  Also in peril are schools and colleges, hospitals, and small industries.  Earlier, the cross subsidy in existence would lighten the load of the less well off.  Now, under this Act, both the rich and the poor shall have to pay the same amount for the electricity.

Chakraborti noted that in the CESC area, those who consumed 60 units would have to shell out Rs 30, those consuming 100 units would have to pay Rs 151, and those who consumed 200 units shall pay Rs 352.  There would be no social security in the power sector.  The state electricity boards would be split up and privatised.

The CITU leader pointed out that the new central government could change and modify the Electricity Act.  The Left would discuss with the prime minister as to how to make the Act pro-people.  The state government’s response to the request to make the total package equipped with exemptions has been positive.

The resolution introduced by Himangsu Das of the AITUC contained the following points:

•  The enhanced power tariff must be withdrawn immediately

• Cross subsidy should be continued with

• The union government must take steps to make the Act pro-people

• Legislative steps must be initiated to protect the interests of small consumers and of the people in general.

• Widest sections of the people must be mobilised to build up a mass movement against the Electricity Act 2003

Other speakers at the convention included Basudeb Basu (AICCTU), Mihir Chandra (UTUC), Chunilal Dasgupta (12 July Committee), and K D Ghosh (Mercantile Federation).