Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee Correspondent
The plan of the Central and State governments to install Pre-paid Smart Electricity Meters for all consumers, other than agricultural, is facing strong opposition from consumers as well as workers of various sectors including electricity. While the government claims that it will benefit consumers and improve efficiency, consumers fear it will lead to big increase in their power bills. They are opposing pre-paid meters which will make them pay for electricity before consuming it. Electricity workers see it as a step towards privatisation of electricity distribution and fear immediate job losses in large numbers. Farmers fear pre-paid meters will sooner or later be extended to them too and they will also have to pay at full rate in advance. Pre-paid meters will thus impose an additional financial burden on everyone.
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In order to make people aware of this impending attack, 46 workers’, farmers’ and people’s organizations have come together and brought out a booklet, Unitedly Oppose Anti-Worker Anti-People Prepaid Smart Electricity Meters, in Hindi and English. The booklet will soon come out in Marathi as well.