Power sector unions below the banner of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees’ and Engineers (NCCOEEE) on Wednesday unveiled a multi-pronged plan of marketing campaign towards the KSEB administration’s transfer to undertake the TOTEX mannequin for pay as you go sensible meter roll-out in Kerala.
From May 15 to 30, union members will name on KSEB customers to sensitise them concerning the hidden risks within the TOTEX mannequin. District-level rallies are deliberate from June 5 to June 10. On June 20, a protest march attended by 10,000 KSEB staff will likely be taken out to the KSEB headquarters at Pattom the place the following plan of action, together with strikes, will likely be introduced.
The announcement was made at an NCCOEEE conference attended by round 11 unions representing staff, officers, pensioners, and contract staff of the KSEB together with these backed by the CITU, INTUC and AITUC.
At the conference, senior commerce union leaders reiterated that their opposition was to not the sensible meters, however to the roll-out mannequin proposed by the KSEB administration. The TOTEX (complete expenditure) mannequin concerned the hidden hazard of opening up electrical energy distribution to privatisation, they alleged.
Inaugurating the conference, MP and CITU State normal secretary Elamaram Kareem was sharply essential of the KSEB administration for giving precedence to sensible meters, which had been eligible for under 15% subsidy from the Centre, over community enchancment that might fetch 60% subsidy, below the Centrally aided Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The foremost concern must be given for the perfect pursuits of the State and the electrical energy customers, he stated.
INTUC State president R. Chandrasekharan stated pivatisation shouldn’t be at the price of an present establishment. He attributed the current controversy to the flawed choice taken by sure bureaucrats. ‘‘Nobody here is opposed to smart meters, timely technological reforms or service optimisation. But the method of implementation is equally important. The KSEB should be protected and consumers should not be fleeced,’‘ he said, demanding a different approach to the roll-out.
NCCOEEE State convener S. Harilal, chairman M.P. Gopakumar, representatives of various employees’ organisations together with the KSEB Officers’ Association, KSEB Workers Association, Electricity Employees’ Federation of India, All India Federation of Electricity Employees, KSEB Pensioners Association, Contract Workers’ Association, Kerala Electricity Officers’ Confederation, and Contract Workers Federation, had been current.
Meeting on May 24
Electricity Minister Ok. Krishnankutty is predicted to carry a gathering with MP and CITU State normal secretary Elamaram Kareem, CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran, and INTUC State president R. Chandrasekharan on May 24 to debate the problems plaguing sensible meter roll-out.
