World · India Bureau
Haryana power workers launch strike against private discom privatization
Staff at the Haryana power department have begun a three-day strike in Gurugram and Nuh districts, protesting the regulatory approval granted to a private electricity distribution company. The action marks a significant show of resistance from the sector's workforce against the state's move toward privatization.
LSN India ·
The Haryana Bijli Karamchari and Engineers Joint Sangharsh Morcha initiated the strike on Tuesday following the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's decision to issue a distribution license to a private firm. The collective action represents unified opposition from both workers and technical staff across the power sector in the two districts.
The strike encompasses power department employees who view the licensing of the private distributor as a threat to existing employment and working conditions in the sector. Union leaders have consistently warned that privatization could lead to job losses and deterioration in service standards, particularly in rural areas.
The regulatory approval has become a flashpoint for labor discontent in Haryana's power sector. Workers argue that private operators prioritize profit over universal access to electricity, a concern that has gained traction among trade unions across the state's infrastructure industries.
Authorities have not yet issued official statements regarding the strike's impact on power distribution or negotiations with union representatives. The three-day action is expected to conclude later this week, though union leaders have indicated willingness to escalate if demands are not addressed.