In July 2002, Reliance took over the Delhi Vidyut Board. The following year, on 19 December 2003, they introduced the luring Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme (SVRS) in BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), which distribute power in central, east, south and west Delhi. The scheme was open to all regular employees who had completed 10 years of service from the date of joining Delhi Vidyut Board or had reached 40 years of age. The time frame given to opt for the scheme was from December 22 to December 31. In a press release jointly issued by BRPL and BYPL management, it was stated that an employee whose application was accepted for the voluntary retirement scheme would be entitled to 60 days salary (basic pay plus dearness allowance) as on December 31of the said year, for each completed year of service or the monthly salary (basic pay plus dearness allowance) multiplied by the balance months of service left before the normal date of retirement.  The two companies had over 11,500 employees.

By 31 December 2003, more than 6,200 workers of BSES and NDPL companies had opted for VRS. “Many of us couldn’t bear the ill-treatment of the companies, after the VRS was introduced. They started playing with us shifting from one place to another”, says Suman, who was working as a Hindi steno with BSES. She had put in 30 years of service and was forced to opt for VRS. “We thought it would be better because all the benefits will come to us immediately and the money could be used for family needs”, says Suman. Instead, to the dismay of the 6,200 workers who opted for VRS, they were not given anything other than the ex-gratia payment. “For me opting for VRS was a very crucial decision. I had to marry-off my three daughters and the amount I get would have catered to it”, says Jamuna Arora. Many of the workers decided to take voluntary retirement thinking that the lump sum amount could be used to marry off their children, their higher studies, setting up a business for themselves etc. Alas all their dreams turned sour when the management refused to make the settlement.

The workers, under the leadership of Abani Roy, Member of Parliament and Secretary of United Trades Union Congress (UTUC) met many government officials including Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, requesting her to hear their plea. Though each one gave reassurances, nothing constructive happened till 20 September 2004.

On 28 August 2004, a delegation under the leadership of Abani Roy met Sheela Dikshit at her residence and apprised her in detail about the grievances of the employees who have so far not been paid the terminal benefits after opting for the Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme. She immediately placed a call to the Chief Secretary requesting him to take action, but to no avail. “We were asked to vacate our houses within 15 days of VRS. They said if we are not doing it, our ex-gratia benefits will be withheld”, says Manbir Singh of NDPL. The workers vacated the houses immediately after opting for VRS. “People who had a support system could survive. But families with single earning members were at total loss” says Ashok Khanna of NDPL. With no pensions, there was tension in families. Unable to take the pressure, more than 65 people died in the last nine months.

The employees had requested the Chief Secretary to settle all their dues by 20 September 2004. On 13 September a decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Abani Roy, that in case the decision of making the payment by 20 September 2004 was not taken, the Joint Front having no other alternative would go for direct action. They informed Chief Secretary’s office that the employees facing acute financial crisis could even take the most drastic step of self-immolation, the entire responsibility of which would lie with the Delhi Government.

As decided, more than one thousand workers gathered near Shakti Sadan, New Delhi on 20 September 2004, demanding immediate action from the government.  Workers shouted slogans and demanded their rights. They threatened to protest by blocking the road, demonstrating, sit-in and even self immolation. It was only then that the Chief Secretary called five representatives of workers along with Abani Roy for a meeting. After holding a meeting with the employers the government officials informed that the workers dues would be cleared within fifteen days.  Pension would be paid with immediate affect and the arrears settled in three months time. GPF and other benefits would also be settled within the said period.

“We claim it as a successful strike”, said K L Sharma, a member of the Joint Front,but for Abani Roy, the success of the strike would be judged only after fifteen days. “I think it is a good step taken by the government, but let the workers start getting pension and other dues, then we can evaluate the action”, he says