Electricity Act 2003 Has Provisions to Safeguard Employees: MOS Power

Port Blair, March 10: The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma had raised the issue of privatization of electricity department in the islands in the Lok Sabha. The MP had shared his concerns about the existing employees being affected due to the decision of the GOI and also concerns about reduced employment in government sector for the islanders.

Replying to the Member of Parliament, Shri RK Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy in his letter mentioned that under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the distribution function in the Power Department/ utilities in the Union Territory are being privatized. The Minister explained that this is an important policy decision of the Government of India taken with an aim to provide better services to the consumers and improvement in operational and financial efficiency of distribution, which is currently beset with inefficiencies.

The Ministry of Power has taken up the matter of privatization of power distribution function with the Union Territories to take forward the process, said the MOS.

The MOS further explained that in regard to the safeguard of the Employees of Electricity Department of UTs, the Electricity Act 2003 already has provisions for protection of the benefits of employees and their terms and conditions of the services applicable to them would not be any less favourable or inferior to those applicable to them immediately before the notification of the transfer scheme. He further said that adequate protection would also be built in the transfer arrangements of the terminal benefits of existing employees.