CCORMAU set to join nationwide protest over Centre’s move to privatise Discoms

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 23, 2020

Employees of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) will join the nationwide protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Centre’s move for privatization of electricity distribution companies (Discoms) across the country.

The All India protest announced by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Engineers and Employees (NCCoEEE) and the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) will be held on November 26.

Engineers, officers, regular and contractual staff under the banner of the Coordination Committee of Registered MeECL (Employees) Associations and Unions (CCORMAU) will be participating in the nationwide protest, CCORMAU president PK Shullet said in a statement issued here on Monday.

The NCCoEEE is hellbent against the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Standard Bidding Document which has been circulated by the Centre to the States, intended for privatisation of Discoms across the country. 

“These exercises of the Centre are viewed as detrimental to the interests of the citizens of the country and hence all energy employees, various trade unions and farmers’ organisations have unanimously decided to protest against such a move on November 26,” Shullet said.

He said the protest will be democratic and peaceful with no disruption to or dislocation of work adding that all works pertaining to consumers of the state shall continue as usual.

The protest will be marked by wearing of black badges, sit-in demonstration and sloganeering during lunch hour as well as display of placards and banners in all the offices and stations across the state, he added.

At the same time, the CCORMAU leader said the MeECL employees will also display their resentment towards the discouraging and unproductive approach adopted by management in matters relating to various internal issues like habitual delay in disbursement of salaries, non-payment of medical reimbursement, ROP 2015 Arrears, Arrear DA, Arrear EA, Overtime, TA, Transfer Grant, issues related to terminal benefits to pensioners, availing of unnecessary loans by MeECL, regularisation of contractual staff  etc. which have caused much hardship to the employees.