There is no one who does not feel anxious and sad about the progress of the two largest public sector undertakings in the state. KSEB and KSRTC, which are challenging the management and the government in the name of freedom of association, are on strike for various reasons. The new approach of the government is to move away from the old way of giving in to the whims of the organizational leaders and to focus on the survival of the institution and the smooth running of the activities without interfering with the services that the people need. Proof of this is the firm stand taken by the government against the strikes by those, including high-ranking engineers in the Electricity Board.

The perception that everything will go according to their will if the ruling party union is leading the struggle, is being corrected. While acknowledging the unions' right to intervene and find solutions to the real problems of the workers, the people will continue to face struggles that will hinder the smooth running of the organization for petty and personal interests. This is not the first time the Electricity Board has taken action on misconduct. The strike, which began with the suspension of an assistant executive engineer who had gone on leave without handing over his charge, is still ongoing. As the strike intensified, the whole rage wass against the IAS officer, who is the chairman and managing director. The leader of the organization was suspended after the strike entered the chairman's room. Confidence that everything can conclude as they decide if they have the backing of an influential leader was shattered by the government's firm stance. The suspensions were lifted and the leader was transferred to a far-off place.

The attitudes of the unions should be in line with the prestige and growth of the Electricity Board. The government has given full power to the power minister and the board management to take appropriate action in the strike, probably because the union has taken steps to the contrary. The fact that a strategic PSU like the Electricity Board is always facing strikes will send the wrong message as it moves through new avenues of growth and development. There have been agitations and satyagrahas in front of the board headquarters for weeks. This strike is not for any new benefits in the board with attractive salaries and terms of service.

The unions are not ready to accept the chairman's claim that KSEB is now operating at a profit. Things have grown to the point where the anger towards the chairman has not abated and the minister has been ridiculed. There are indications that a ministerial discussion on the issues underlying the strike will take place early next week. Criticism is mounting in the state from the responsible centres against the arbitrary attitude of the trade unions. Their organization had pointed out that the industrial and commercial sectors had lost Rs 4,400 crore as a result of the state being paralyzed for two consecutive days due to the national strike. All this will not promote the growth of the state. This is not a good example for a state that is looking for new investments from outside.