Dharmanagar, Tripura, 4th of July 2026 : A vibrant public convention was held in Dharmanagar on Friday to protest the proposed privatization of the electricity sector and the implementation of smart meters, which organizers alleged would undermine public interest and place an additional financial burden on consumers. The event was organized by the Electricity Consumers and Employees Welfare Association at the CITU office in Dharmanagar Sub-Division at 3:00 PM.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest and keynote speaker, State Secretary of the Electricity Consumers and Employees Welfare Association, Nataraj Dutta, said that electricity is no longer just a utility service but an essential foundation for education, healthcare, agriculture, and everyday life. He alleged that the smart metering project was being imposed in an authoritarian manner under the influence of the World Bank and described it as a mechanism that would increase the financial burden on ordinary consumers. He also criticized the ongoing move toward privatization of the power sector, claiming it primarily serves corporate interests.
Dutta demanded the immediate withdrawal of the increased electricity tariffs, the assurance of uninterrupted and affordable power supply, and the repeal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025. He further expressed concern over the unsafe working conditions faced by electricity department employees and called for the recruitment of adequate staff to improve both safety and service delivery.The convention was jointly presided over by Ranjit Bhowmik and Satish Nath. Among those who addressed the gathering were advocate Subhash Roy, advocate Manik Lal Nath, labour leader Nikhil Kar, retired headmaster Sajal Chakraborty, retired teacher Nagendra Nath, social activist Shribrata Chakraborty, and educationist Ajay Deb.
The speakers unanimously emphasized the need for a united movement to safeguard the interests of electricity consumers and employees, expressing concern over the present state of the power sector.To strengthen and coordinate future campaigns, the convention unanimously constituted a 21-member Sub-Divisional Committee. Advocate Subhash Roy was elected President, while educationist Ajay Deb was elected Secretary of the newly formed committee.
Participants expressed confidence that under the leadership of the new committee, the movement to protect electricity consumers’ rights and public electricity services in Dharmanagar would gain greater momentum in the coming days.
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