Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

State Reports (Vol.-III)
Study on `Impact of Restructuring of SEBs’
LESSONS LEARNT AND IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT AND STAFF IN
RESTRUCTURING
For the smooth and successful implementation of restructuring of SEB, unflinching
support of the State Government and the Staff in SEB is a must. Such unstinted
support from the Government is possible only if there is a strong political commitment
to the restructuring agenda. There should be a general agreement among all political
parties in respect of aims and objectives of the reform programme as well as about
process of realising the same.
The Government needs to realise that the process of dismantling a structure, which is
more than 50 years in existence, is hard and difficult. It will take some time for the
restructured entities to stand on their own. In the transition period, the Government
must provide administrative and financial support to the restructured corporate
entities. Targets set for new entities should be such that these demand hard efforts on
the part of utilities but are definitely achievable. Government must allay genuine fears
of the existing staff about retrenchment and inferior service conditions in the
restructured entities.
Once the genuine fears of the staff, about their continuation of services and fair
service conditions in the new entities, are assuaged by the Government, the staff
should move out of their small ambit and be ready to concentrate on larger interest of
the society in making restructured entities efficient and consumer friendly.
SUCCESS OF JGY SCHEME
JGY scheme has shown a deep concern about needs of villages in improving the most
important infrastructure in the form of availability of three phase power supply for 24
hours a day. Contrary to the general impression, it has also proved that investments in
the rural sector could also be cost effective. The scheme has thrown open new
opportunities for the DISCOMs to improve their performance parameters. Most
importantly, it has built a bridge of mutual understanding and respect between the
utilities and the rural population. With backing of this fund of goodwill, the utilities
have taken a firm step forward in their journey towards self-sustenance. Gujarat has
definitely shown a way to others by successful implementation of JGY scheme.
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