Mahavitran employees calls off strike; Devendra Fadnavis Reassures "No Privatisation"

Thousands of employees and contractual workers of three state power companies – MSEDCL, Mahagenco and Mahatransco – called off their strike on Wednesday, January 4, following an assurance from Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the companies will not be privatised.

He also proclaimed that the employees’ welfare would be safeguarded “at all costs”.

These statements were made after earlier in the day, Fadnavis, who holds the energy portfolio, held a meeting with 32 organisations representing the employees to discuss their demands.

While talking to reporters, Fadnavis told: “I would like to make it crystal clear that there is no question of privatisation of any power company. On the contrary, the state government has planned to invest INR 55,000 crore in these companies in the next three years.”

Terming the strike as an outcome of “miscommunication”, Fadnavis said, “The employees’ unions told us that states like Odisha and Delhi have allowed privatisation in power sector. But we are not going to do that.”

On the other hand, speaking to the media, Maharashtra State Electricity Workers’ Federation President Mohan Sharma exclaimed that the minister told that the government will file its objection in the MERC against Adani seeking licence for power distribution. In addition, a fund of INR 55,000 crores will be given to the three state-run power companies in order to make them stronger and more efficient. Besides, the demand for recruitment of 40,000 contractual workers through a special scheme was accepted. Therefore, the strike was called off.

Moreover, Fadnavis has given the assurance that no action will be taken against employees for their participation in the strike.

For those unversed, the Maharashtra government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) on Tuesday night, January 3. However, owing to this, thousands of employees had gone on a 3-day strike to express its agitation against the privatisation of such firms seeking parallel licence for power distribution from Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).