The 72 hour strike has affected the power distribution in the state ,especially the eastern part

of the state.
To improve efficiency and power infrastructure in the state ,the government is planning to
outsource majority of operations to private players, in accordance with the vision of
“maximum governance, minimum government”. The plan entails reducing the expenditure of
government on staff salaries, reduction in overall staff in various departments, and an
improvement in overall efficiency of power distribution in the state.
However, the governments’ initiatives have met with fierce opposition from the State
Electricity Power Corporation-UPPCL (Uttar Pradesh Power corporation Limited).
Employees ,and at times (senior management) had protested with their own set of demands
against the alleged privatisation and reiterated their long due demands of removing the
anomalies in pay scales. They have also accused the state government of influencing the
election for appointment to senior positions in the UPPCL organisation so that the
government can effectively manage the transition towards outsourcing of work to private
contractors.

Despite an agreement reached post Allahabad high court orders in December 2022, with the
Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti (The confederation of various Trade Unions
of UPPCL across the state), regarding reinstatement of the suspended employees and
revoking of legal action taken against the protesting employees ,the agreement was never
implemented in practise.This inaction had prompted the employees to organise a protest in
March 2023.
It resulted in a massive hue and cry and disruption of power supply across eastern districts of
Uttar Pradesh.
There was growing mistrust between the employees of UPPCL and the state government due
to various reasons which included some statements of the state Power Minister.
He had threatened the use of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for vandalism,
Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), as well as resorted to petty accusations against
the protestors-some of which included damage to power lines using sugarcanes.
The protestors had all these acts had been invoked in the wake of an frenzied atmosphere to
direct the public anger against the protestors, even when they had taken the permission for the
protest as is required in the case of PUS(UPPCL being an essential service provider).

As Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, there exists a profound dilemma. On one hand, there is
significant pressure from their own commitments, a smooth transition towards outsourcing
and the realization of their vision for a more efficient power distribution system. This entails
adopting a firm stance against protesting employees and potentially employing legal
instruments like ESMA and NSA to suppress dissent and prevent further power supply
disruptions. The government contends that these measures are necessary to maintain public
order and prevent economic losses.

On the other hand, there is a moral and ethical dilemma. The protesting employees have
legitimate concerns about job security, wage equality, and salary anomalies. The mistrust
between them and the government is palpable, and their grievances are deeply rooted.
Implementing harsh measures like NSA and ESMA could exacerbate tensions, harm
UPPCL's reputation, and potentially lead to protracted conflicts.
Moreover, the failure to implement previously agreed-upon terms has eroded trust to a critical
point. As Chairman, the decision-making process must navigate the delicate task of
rebuilding trust, addressing employee concerns, and honoring government directives
simultaneously.