Chander Shekhar, a veteran trade union leader and the general secretary of the New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) Punjab and Chandigarh, inaugurated the convention, while union president Ram Sarup presided over it. In his address, Shekhar alleged that privatisation policy of the Central government is being dictated by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation (WTO).

He said the reduction in subsidy for agriculture and other sectors and the opening up of the Indian market has put the Indian farmers in difficult situation, due to which the food security of the country has become questionable.

The general secretary of the union and Federation of UT Employees and Workers, Chandigarh, Bhagmal Rana, while placing the agenda of the convention pointed out that due to shortage of staff and non-availability of material, the problems of the department is increasing day-by-day. He said no new posts were being created while the workload due to the laying of new lines and setting up of new sub-stations has increased manifold.

Rana said in 1998, total connections in the city were 1,60 lakh which were being looked after by 2,142 employees. Now, there are over 2.25 lakh connections but the sanctioned strength of staff has remained only 1,780, out of which, only 1,250 employees are working while 500 posts are lying vacant. He said in 2000, Central government had sent a committee to work out the staff recruitment in the department. “The committee, after thorough study recommended that 1,765 posts are urgently required for smooth functioning of the department, the administration did not filled up the posts till date,” he added.