Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), in collaboration with Anmol Foundation organised a seminar discussing electricity issues of consumers in Chhattisgarh. The meeting was held on 18th April 2024 at Hotel Kingsway Raipur, Raipur. Representatives of small-scale establishments, domestic consumers, as well as representatives from the media participated.
The programme had speakers from various capacities such as Mr. Jitendra Doshi, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Mr. Sanjeev Jain, Advisor, Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) and Mr. Purushottam Chandrakar, consumer activist.
Mr. Sanjay Sharma, addressing the participants
Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Director, Anmol Foundation, spoke about the need to create awareness among consumers on the subject of electricity. He also observed that when he invited Chhattisgarh DISCOM officials to the programme, they welcomed this initiative. He briefed the participants on how officials currently responded to complaints registered via a toll-free number. He also mentioned that Local Electricity Forums will be inaugurated in rural areas, empowering rural communities to address and solve their electricity issues.
G.N. Bharath Ram, researcher, CAG, emphasized the importance of the new project in helping consumers access their consumer rights within the electricity sector. He also provided an overview of the project's objectives, which include improving consumer engagement within the electricity sector and promoting a better understanding of electricity governance.
B. Kirubakaran, during his presentation
B. Kirubakaran, researcher, CAG, delivered a comprehensive overview of the country's electricity generation capacity and installed capacity. His presentation aimed to highlight the importance of energy audits at both the household and MSME levels. He emphasised that energy audits are a critical tool in identifying areas where energy can be saved and costs reduced. He further elaborated by providing several examples of how energy audit exercises have yielded significant energy savings in the MSME sector.
Mr. Sanjeev Jain, during his speech
Mr. Sanjeev Jain, CREDA provided detailed information about the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Under this scheme, consumers can generate their electricity and reduce their dependence on Discoms, resulting in a 30% reduction in their electricity bills. Additionally, Mr. Jain gave some other energy saving ideas such as painting roofs white to maintain a cool home even during Chhattisgarh’s hot and humid summers from April to June. This could potentially reduce temperatures by 5-6 degrees.
Mr. Jitendra Doshi, during his speech
Mr. Jitendra Doshi, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), appreciated the organisers, adding that as a business person, he found a lot of scope for conducting energy audits in small establishments in Chhattisgarh. He informed the participants that energy conservation and environmental protection are two sides of a coin. If we conserve energy today, we can protect our environment for future generations.
Mr. Purushottam Chandrakar, addressing the panelist
Mr. Purushottam Chandrakar said that the idea of a local electricity forum to discuss electricity issues is unique. While there are many forums available in other sectors, a dedicated forum for electricity discussions, he said, would undoubtedly benefit consumers. He added that it was by working together that we can achieve effective results, no matter how small or large the issue.
Ms. Sapna, during her speech
Ms. Sapna from the Domestic Workers Women Organization suggested that in order to maximise consumer participation and benefits, meetings should be conducted in small wards and localities in rural villages. This approach would enable more individuals to attend and provide their input on important matters, while also ensuring that the benefits of these meetings are distributed equitably across the community.
In the final session of the seminar, the participants focused on creating Local Electricity Forums in different districts, such as New Raipur, Bilaspur, Mungeli, and Korba. The participants comprised representatives from voluntary organisations and self-help groups who agreed to support in organising meetings in their respective districts. They also committed themselves to collecting and addressing the electricity grievances from their communities. The discussions were quite interactive, and the attendees shared numerous ideas and experiences on how to establish these forums effectively.
The day ended with Mr. Sanjay Sharma, expressing his gratitude to all the guests and participants.