Declaration
This historic
National Convention on right to Energy of people of India at the call of
Electricity Employees Federation of India, took place at Mavlankar Hall, New
Delhi with the participation of all major National Federation of Workers and Employees
of Energy Sector enterprises. 7th National Conference of EEFI held
at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu between 10 & 12 August, 2013 resolved to condemn
the Energy related activities of Government of India and called for united
struggle of the workers and employees of Energy Sector for an integrated Energy
Policy focused on Energy Security of the
Nation providing adequate availability of Energy for one and every citizen of
India.
Based upon this
background, this convention takes up the following
aspects for serious consideration towards developing united struggle of the
Energy Sector Employees and People of India as a whole to achieve universal
access to Energy:
- One of the primary living conditions for human beings of present era is access to Energy. Energy is a key driver of growth and development for an individual and the human community as a whole.
- In April 2011, the UN General Assembly declared 2012 as the “International year of sustainable Energy for All”. This was in recognition of the growing importance of energy for economic development and climate change mitigation. Separately, in November 2011, the UN Secretary General launched the “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative to attract global attention for meeting the three objectives of ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012-also referred to as “Rio+20” – was held at Rio do Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. While no firm commitments were made at Rio+20, a process for sustainable development was initiated. On energy and energy access, the agreement stated: “We are determined to act to make sustainable energy for all a reality and, through this, help to eradicate poverty and lead to sustainable development and global prosperity. We recognize that the activities of countries in broader energy-related matters are of great importance and are prioritized according to their specific challenges, capacities, and circumstances, including their energy mix”.
- Fact reveals, World Energy supplies are becoming increasingly constrained. India needs to grow its energy share in a market with sluggish growth in supply and rising prices. It is assumed that the world’s fossil fuel supplies grow by 2% per annum. Then India’s share of world supplies of fossil fuels in 2031-32 would rise from a level of 3.7% to a low of 7.6% in the most energy efficient scenario to 10.9% in the most energy intensive scenario.
- President Kalam in his Independence Day address to the nation in 2005 has called for achieving energy independence. While energy security is a major concern for the next 25 years, from a longer term perspective energy independence becomes important. The main challenges are to augment total domestic energy supply.
- As per Expert Committee constituted by Planning Commission in August, 2004, Energy Security, which means ensuring that our country can supply lifeline energy to all its citizens, at affordable costs at all times, is thus a very important and significant need and is an essential step forward. But it must be considered as a transition strategy, to enable us to achieve our real goal that is – Energy Independence or an economy which will function well with total freedom from oil, gas or coal imports. Is it possible? Hence, Energy Independence has to be our nation’s first and highest priority.
- Energy Security : Obtaining a secure and adequate supply of a traded commodity, be it food or fuel, is generally a problem prevalent amongst poor people, poor regions or poor nations. With the Power to pay the price the rich often find willing suppliers for what they want. The World Energy Assessment (UNDP 1999) report defines Energy Security as: “The continuous availability of Energy in varied forms in sufficient quantities and reasonable process.” This definition needs to be modified to depict our situation more clearly.
We define Energy Security as follows: “We are Energy Secure when we
can supply lifeline Energy to all our citizens irrespective of their
ability to pay for it as well as meet their effective demand for safe
and convenient Energy to satisfy their various
needs at competitive prices, at all times within a prescribed confidence level considering
shocks and disruptions that can be reasonably expected.”
- As per some experts, the Government of India has historically subsidized four major petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] with the primary objective of increasing their affordability and protecting domestic consumers from international price volatility. However, burgeoning subsidies have had a number of adverse consequences, including loss of revenues for the Government and for oil companies as well as inefficient consumption of fossil fuels. In 2011-12 alone, oil-marketing companies incurred under-recoveries to the order of Rs. 1385410 million ($27.06 billion). This burden increased by more than 75% from that in 2010-11 and has increased three times from the 2009-10 figures. Highly dependent on imported crude (almost 80% of crude consumed is imported), it is crucial for India to consider an appropriate delivery mechanism of petroleum product subsidies.
- This argument, however, is not indisputable. Fallacy lies in the term ‘under- recovery’ of Oil and Gas companies. They are making reasonable profit but question of under recoveries is hypothetically construed to incur more money from the consumers on the plea of global price equivalence.
- The new Exploration and Licensing Policy (NELP) was notified in 1999 to provide a level playing field to public and private sectors by allocating acreages based on competitive bidding. Reliance was awarded contract for operating K G Basin.
- RIL offered NTPC Price of US$ 2.34 per mmbtu, while ONGC rate was US$ 1.83. In September 2007 before starting operation EGOM approved a rate of US$ 4.2 against their demand of 4.33. Their subsequent demand was USD 14.2 was not meted and RIL reciprocated with lowering the production.
- In 2011, 53% of Energy produced in India was Coal based. The Planning Commission estimated that at a 5% rate of growth of Coal consumption, India’s domestic Coal reserves (50 BT) can be expected to last only 45 years. Expert Committee on integrated Energy Policy indicated that India has an estimated 56-71 BT of extractable Coal.
- Resource is limited. Hence, prudent utilization demands much of care. But our policy makers are in a ruinous game. They are transferring Coal reserves to private hands to meet their unscrupulous goal in the name of Ultra Mega Power Projects and faster extraction. They are diverting Coal from the allocated blocks for their commercial gain in an unlawful way. Scam amounting to 10.6 lakh crores was unearthed in this murky deal in an initial report of CAG. After CBI intervention the report was changed at the sweet will of the minister concerned.
- All India Coal Workers Federation in the report of their 8th National Conference very perfectly commented, “Through such privatization drive in Coal mining, the Government of the day is finally abdicating responsibility to ensure availability of Coal and Electricity, both essential necessity for the common people and also for development of our country, at affordable price, thereby paving the way for total deregulation to serve the private corporates’ lust for profit.”
- This convention vehemently opposes various forms and avenues of exploitation of casual, contract, outsourced and irregular engagement of workers and employees in the Energy Sector and calls upon all sections of Energy consumers to come forward hand in hand with the organizations of workers and employees on the path of united struggle to make an end of the exploitation as well as to achieve the Right to Energy for all.
- Even after so many deadlines set by many a Government for Electricity for All, so far till 2011, about 400 million (33%) people of our country had no access to electricity and about 836 million (72%) people were dependent on traditional biomass for cooking (IEA 2012).
- The per capita electricity consumption required to achieve a fair Human Development Index for a country is estimated to be about 5000 units, whereas that available in India is around 700 units resulting in a very poor HDI rank of 136 among various countries. Whatever declaration and tall talks are being circulated by the Government their intention to deny right to Electricity is crystal-clear by the policy they pursue. CERC issued notification on Terms and Conditions of Tariff regulations for the period 1.4.2014 and an approach paper on the Terms and Conditions of tariff regulation for the period 1.4.2014 to 31.3.2019. Nowhere in this documents affordability of the people have been taken into consideration.
- The object of Government of India and its advisers towards denial of access to Energy for people of India becomes crystal clear from all the projects, schemes, mission declared by them. For example the Financial Restructuring Plan imposing compulsory annual tariff hike and imposition of open access etc. In the Energy chapter of approach paper for 12th plan Government has clearly declared the target of upward revision of Energy prices to global level. Our people will earn in local standard and pay for Energy in the global standard. It is a clear indication towards denial of Right to Energy for the people of India.
- This National Convention on Right to Energy being held at New Delhi on 11th December, 2013 calls for united struggles for recognition of the Right to Energy as a fundamental human right and to bring in necessary changes in the policies to strengthen the public sector institutions created by Independent India to achieve the goal of universal access to energy within the shortest possible time.
- “Right to Energy for all” or the call for “Urja ka Adhikar Manav Adhikar Banao” is undoubtedly a call for the change in the neo liberal policies pursued by the government in the whole Energy arena. The recognition of right to energy for all as a fundamental human right to ensure a decent and modern living condition for the citizens of the country will change the paradigm of energy sector policies pursued by the Government. The recognition of right to energy need to create the necessary institutional and policy frameworks for ensuring accessibility, availability and affordability of power for all.
This convention
pledges the following demands to Government of India for immediate settlement
v Ensure Energy for all at affordable cost
v Stop transfer of Energy resources to the private hands
v Control price hike-prevent corruption
v Stop exploitation on Energy Workers
v Ensure strict enforcement of basic labour laws
v Stop disinvestment of PSUs
v No contractualisation of perennial work
v Ensure full social security with pension / PF / ESI for all
v All demands of CTUOs are to be settled immediately
The Convention was
organised by EEFI. AIPEF Secretary - General Er Shailendra Dubey, Er K Ashok
Rao, Er Ashok Kumar -Secty Gen AIPDEF,
Er K O Habib President & Shri P N
Chaudhary Gen Secty EEFI, Er R K Singh President & Er D C
Dixit Gen Secty UPRVP Abhiyanta Sangh,
Er Satya Pal Gen Secty DVB Engineers
Association attended the convention.
Shailendra Dubey - Secretary General -
