SKM calls for building People’s Movement across India against Privatization of Public Assets
Privatization loot consumers, kill secured employment, eliminate reservation
New Delhi: January 30, Desh Click News
SKM strongly condemns the NDA3 Government for imposing Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the electricity workers bravely fighting privatisation of the Power Department of Chandigarh, Union Territory which is a highly profitable government utility. No privatisation of Electricity was one of the major demands of the historical farmers struggle of 2020-21.
Chandigarh Power Department is an efficient and model public sector unit, generating an average annual turnover of Rs 1,000 crore and a profit of Rs 250 crore. It has one of the lowest electricity tariffs in the country at Rs 4.50 per unit and has managed to keep AT&C losses under 10 per cent. Despite this strong financial position, the utility was put up for privatisation through a questionable bidding process, with a base price set at a meagre Rs 174.63 crore. Furthermore, the private bidder has been granted the use of valuable prime land at just Re 1 per month. Other assets have been valued at a token Re 1 per item, based on the flimsy excuse that the asset register lacks clear valuation data. This is nothing but looting of public assets by the private monopolies.
BJP ruled States of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also have taken steps to privatise their electricity sector and the electricity workers are on a struggle path in those States also. SKM and all the Kisan organisations have extended support to the workers in those States.
The privatisation of the public sector not only establishes domination of the market on electricity consumers in order to de-regularise the tariff and loot the people but also kills the secured employment in the public sector and eliminates the reservations existing on recruitment. Thus, youth and sections belonging to Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs and minorities also suffer the brunt of losing meaningful employment and social security measures. Through the privatisation spree across the country, the BJP-RSS combine is attacking the foundations of the Constitution of India that ensures strong public sector and welfare of the marginalised sections.
SKM supports the electricity workers who are protesting with large-scale daily demonstrations against the privatisation daily in Chandigarh for the last 50 days. SKM calls on the farmers and the people across the country to support the workers’ struggle and thus end the looting of people’s assets by the corporate monopolies. The struggle against privatisation needs to be developed as an all India people’s movement to protect the public sector.
Published on: January 30, 2025 8:03 pm
