More than 25,000 employees of Haryana power distribution companies today decided to go on a two-day strike from June 29, seeking rollback of "outsourcing" of operation and maintenance of power sub-divisions, even as the government invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent disruption in power supply.
"We have decided to go on two-day strike on June 29 and 30. The government's invoking of ESMA is sheer despotism," Haryana Joint Action Committee (Power), General Secretary Subhash Lamba said.
Employees have been protesting against the government's decision of "outsourcing" of operation and maintenance of 23 power sub-divisions in the state and removal of 485 contractual employees and purchase of power from private sources.
Besides, they are demanding filling up of 30,000 vacant posts, inquiry into "sharp rise in losses and debt" of power distribution companies.
The government today invoked ESMA in the state for six months.
"Treating the distribution and maintenance of supply of electricity as an essential service to the people, Haryana government has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state for six months in view of the call for two-day state-wide strike given by the unions of workers of Haryana Power Utilities on June 29 and 30," an official spokesman said.
The protesting employees condemned the government's decision, saying "it is choosing a path of confrontation instead of addressing their issues."
"The employees have given a notice about the strike to the government well in advance and have assured it that power disruption will not take place. Despite it, the government went ahead invoking ESMA which shows that the state government is pursuing a path of confrontation," Lamba said.
Lamba said they will not bow down and will go ahead with
their plans.
"We are not scared. We will go ahead with our proposed plan," he said.
Earlier, the talks between protesting employees and senior officials of power distribution companies failed to reach any consensus.
"The power portfolio is with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He did not show any interest in talks with us to resolve our issues. Rather, the government sent its officers for talks who were not competent to address our concerns," Lamba claimed.
Employees also had on May 11 gone on a mass-casual-leave against the government's move.
