27 lakh power staff to strike July 9

New Delhi

Nearly 27 lakh power sector workers across India will go on a one-day strike on July 9 to protest the Uttar Pradesh government's plan to privatise two major electricity distribution companies—Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL). These two discoms serve 42 out of the 75 districts in the state.

According to Shailendra Dubey, Chairman of the All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF), the protest is being organized under the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE). In recent days, engineers, junior engineers, and workers across the country have staged demonstrations against the move.

Dubey warned that the July 9 strike could disrupt power supply on a national level, adding, We won’t be responsible if the supply is affected. He accused top officials from the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd of working with private firms to sell off discom assets—worth lakhs of crores—at low prices.

He further stated that privatization would harm poor citizens and farmers, as they might lose access to subsidised or affordable electricity. The strike and protests will take place in multiple cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Bhopal, Kolkata, Patna, Srinagar, Jaipur, and Lucknow, among others. The employees have vowed to continue opposing the discom privatization plan.