Electricity department employees union against privatization

IMPHAL, February 17: The Manipur Electricity Employee’s Union (MEEU) organized its 46th Annual General Body Meeting of the Union at Lamyanba Shanglen, Place Compound today.

Speaking during the function, M Prithviraj Singh, MLA and Parliamentary Secretary, YAS said the government and members of the Union need to discuss on issues of privatization of the Manipur Electricity Department as the muster-roll and work-charge employee need to be treated equally like employees working on a regular basis.

Speaking during the function, Z Kikhonbou Newmai, MLA, Working President of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, Manipur branch said that there are 373 employees working under work-charge and 39 under the muster-roll under the Manipur Electricity department.

He further added, “Electricity department is a no thanks department working for the welfare of the society and a active service department,' while pointing out that the department has lots of backlog.

He ensured that the government lead by Okram Ibobi Singh will surely bring some change for the department within a span of five years.

Adding that electricity is an essential requirement for daily life and livelihood, he said that in most of the hill district areas, electricity facilities and even electric lines are still absent.

He further assured the department employees need not panic about the privatization move as there will be no change in the employee system. He requested to unite all the members of the Union to discuss with the CM and the concerned department about any misgivings over the issue.

Speaking at the function, MK Preshow Shimray, MLA and President, INTUC, Manipur branch said the lack of electricity in Manipur is because monthly electronic bills are not paid by the customers while the number of electricity consumers are increasing rapidly. He continued that the policy to change into privatization might be to collect the bills properly in time from the customers.

At the end of the function, the Union made an charter of demand to make regular of the employees working on muster-roll and work-charge; that the Manipur electricity department should not turn into into a private corporate and that all pending posts should be promoted.