Madhya Pradesh: Demanding OPS & regularisation of job, 70,000 power company workers go on indefinite strike

In what is being seen as a sign of growing resentment against the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, where assembly elections will be held later this year, 70,000 power company workers have announced an indefinite strike since Tuesday.  

The electricity workers have boycotted work and are on dharna in various cities including Bhopal.  

Demanding the restoration of the old pension scheme implemented by Congress governments in other states as well as the regularization of their jobs, the workers led by the United Forum for Power Employees & Engineers (UFPEE) reiterated that a committee be constituted by the state government to address salary issues. 

State convenor of UFPEE, VKS Parihar said that the workers have been agitating for the last six years. Despite that, their demands were not fulfilled. “On the contrary, the Shivraj Singh government has initiated action against us,” he added.  

“Accident insurance of up to Rs 20 lakh should also be provided. Further, a policy should be made to secure the future of employees by giving them increments according to their length of service and seniority,” the employees demanded.  

Earlier, UFPEE planned to launch an indefinite strike on January 6, but due to the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, it was postponed.  

Meanwhile, the former chief minister and chief of the MP Congress has supported the demands put forth by the electricity workers. He shot off a letter to CM Shivraj and urged him to redress the problems of the employees of power companies and electricity workers.  

In his letter, Nath stated that after the assurance of the government to meet their demands, employees postponed the agitation, but due to inaction from the government, they are restarting their indefinite strike.