Power employees in Haryana observe strike on second day

Thousands of employees of state power distribution companies observed a strike for the second and last day today to protest the outsourcing of operation and maintenance of 23 power sub-divisions in Haryana.
Defying Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), the protesting employees raised slogans against the state government at various places for its decision to privatise the job of maintenance and operation in 23 power sub-divisions.
The Joint Action Committee of Haryana power employees General Secretary Subhash Lamba claimed the government was adamant on its decision of "privatisation".
"The government should resolve the issue at the earliest," Lamba said.
He said they would be holding a meeting later to decide the next course of action.

Haryana government had invoked ESMA to prevent disruption in power supply due to the strike.

State government officials said they had made necessary arrangements to ensure that regular power supply was not disrupted during the strike period.
The employees are also demanding filling up of 30,000 vacant posts, inquiry into "sharp rise in losses and debt" of power discoms.
The strike has been called jointly by the All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union and Haryana State Electricity Board Workers' Union.