After Dhenkanal, “Tata Hatao, Odisha Bachao” is now heard in Khordha

Khordha: Contractual electricity workers staged a major protest in Khordha on Monday, shouting the slogan “Tata Hatao, Odisha Bachao” against the alleged retrenchment of employees working in 18 sections under the Khordha Electricity Division. The protesters took out a large procession and expressed their anger by performing Danda Pranam and ringing bells. Through the march, they sought the Chief Minister’s attention and demanded immediate intervention in the matter.

According to the agitators, the Chief Minister had assured them about four months ago that no contractual employee working under Tata Power would be retrenched. However, they alleged that hundreds of workers were dismissed in October, putting the livelihoods of many families at serious risk. They further said that if the youth and workers of Odisha were denied employment opportunities within the state, they would be compelled to migrate to other states in search of jobs.

They urged the government to step in without delay to prevent such a situation. Besides the layoffs, the protesters accused Tata Power of increasing the financial burden on electricity consumers. They claimed that replacing a service wire, which earlier was provided free of cost, now costs Rs 1,128, and consumers are also being forced to buy the wire themselves.

The protesters also alleged that consumers were being pressured to install smart meters and were being exploited in the process. Questioning the silence of the state government, the demonstrators asked why an administration that speaks of protecting Odia Asmita had failed to address the concerns of contractual workers and the hardships faced by electricity consumers. They demanded immediate action from the government to stop retrenchment, protect workers’ livelihoods and resolve the issues affecting electricity consumers.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, around 450 contractual electricity workers from Dhenkanal district began a protest march to Bhubaneswar, demanding reinstatement of retrenched employees, regularisation of jobs, equal pay for equal work, and the removal of Tata Power from Odisha.