We, the leading functionaries, cadres, activists and supporters of CITU, representing the aspirations of all sections of the working people of our country, have gathered in this National Convention Against Privatisation to strongly condemn the privatisation spree of the Modi led BJP government, as part of its neoliberal agenda. In this convention we focus our ire particularly against privatisation of two of the most crucial public utility services, Electricity and Railways, which the Modi led BJP government is aggressively pushing. The government is totally unconcerned with the disastrous impact of these measures on the lives and livelihoods of common people and our economy, which the two papers presented in the Convention amply illustrated.
Attempts to denigrate our public sector, which has immensely contributed to building self reliant economy after Independence and to dismantle it have started with the official advent of neoliberalism. However, the Modi government is aggressively pursuing privatisation and dismantling our public sector and our self reliance in different sectors, even while deceptively talking about ‘Atmanirbharata’.
The government, whose responsibility it is to ensure the basic needs for the citizens, like electricity, transport, health, education, housing etc, is reneging in its responsibility. Instead, it is facilitating private corporate monopoly of these services and formulating policies to ensure corporate profits. The common people, particularly the poor are being deprived of these basic necessities of life, which are increasingly going out of their reach. Workers too, as consumers of electricity and passengers of the Indian Railways are also greatly impacted by this. Privatisation of Electricity and Railways has to be seen in this background.
This Convention congratulates the electricity employees for unitedly and consistently fighting privatisation of Electricity by both Centre and the state Govts and stalling the process to a considerable extent till now. But, despite their firm opposition, the Modi government is stubbornly pursuing with its privatisation policy.
This Convention strongly believes that the struggle of the employees alone to stop privatisation is not enough. All sections of people who are entitled to these services have to join the struggle against privatisation, particularly focussing on privatisation of Electricity and Railways, at this stage.
This Convention expresses its firm determination to develop a strong country wide movement against privatisation of Electricity and Railways and mobilise the workers and the people in general to fight these disastrous policies. It calls upon all sections of people and their organisations to join this campaign and struggle.
Demands
Stop Privatisation of PSUs and Public Services; Scrap National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP)
Ensure affordable electricity to all as a Right. Withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill (2022); scrap all moves of market-based reforms in electricity-distribution sector including “smart meter” schemes.
Fill up all vacant posts in Indian Railways. Ensure safety of passengers through adequate expenditure on safety and maintenance; scrap the exercise of splitting of Railway-management in different autonomous parts to facilitate private sectors’ entry and harming synergy of this mammoth transport network.
Scrap privatisation/outsourcing/ contractorisation of crucial railway operational including ticketing, and maintenance services/work.
Tax the Super Rich – Enhance Corporate Tax and Introduce Wealth Tax to mobilise resources for strengthening public transport, health, education and other public services
Programme of Action
The National Convention against Privatisation focussing on Electricity and Railways, adopts the following programme of preparation, campaign and action, with the above demands:
Up to 15th September: Prepare the entire organisation for the campaign:
Discuss the Declaration and the two papers adopted in the National Convention against Privatisation and concretely chalk out plan for the implementation of the campaign and action programmes
This should be done in:
•CITU state office bearers/ state committees
•District committees
•All lower level coordination committees
•All state level unions affiliated to CITU and up to their lowest level committees
•All industrial federations of CITU and their state and lowest level committees
If physical meetings are not possible, meetings of the above forums should be held online
Efforts should be made to involve mass organisations, consumers’ and passengers’ forums wherever possible and all other sections opposed to privatisation of Electricity and Railways, in the campaign
15th September to 10th October: District conventions involving all CITU affiliated unions and also all sections of people
District conventions- involving all CITU affiliated unions in the district, cadres of all state level unions in the district, and all sections of people
Lower level conventions, at block, panchayat, village, ward etc – with the initiative of the lower level coordination committees of CITU, wherever they have been formed
Campaign:
25th October to 2nd November – Extensive campaign involving CITU cadres and activists from all its affiliated unions at all levels, up to the grass root – workplace, ward, mohallas, village, panchayat, block levels
The campaign should aim to meet the largest possible number of people and households, through –
•Distribution of leaflets
•Booklets, pamphlets
•Local group meetings, street corner meetings
•House to house campaign
•Round table meetings, seminars
•Press meets etc
Action:
3rd November – District level massive demonstrations in maximum possible number of districts all over the country, protesting privatisation of Electricity and Railways
Demonstrations in front of the railway stations against Railway privatisation, on a separate day in the same week, as decided by the state committees of CITU
The National Convention Against Privatisation calls upon all affiliated unions and federations of CITU to take the necessary initiatives for its successful implementation
