from Rons Bantwal
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (RD)

Mumbai, Mar 5: The news peasants ending their lives in Vidarbha and other remote villages across Maharastra, who are burdened with agricultural loans, in the recent past, would soon become stale. The days are not far when the Mumbaikars would be forced to commit suicide owing to the burden of unbearable electricity bills.  This would be the contribution of Reliance Energy to Mumbaikars.  Reliance Group had truly lived up to their slogan ‘Karlo Duniya Muttime’ when it was launched in the country.  But present status of affairs shows that it was an attempt to buy the entire nation.

Reliance Group had acquired all the stakes in Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply (BSES), who were supplying electricity to thousands of homes across the suburbs of metro city for the last several years, and named the new entity as ‘Reliance Energy.’  However, owing to a shocking four times increase in the electricity bills; Reliance Energy is almost driving Mumbaikars to their native villages.  ‘Quit India Movement’ of pre-Independent era will only remain in the school curriculum while Reliance Energy would go one step ahead  in making the fellow Indian a slave of Reliance Energy. 

The electricity bills of Reliance Energy are drilling the wallets of low and middle income groups of Mumbaikars' families.  Reliance Group had set up its retail outlets of fresh vegetables, groceries and other daily necessities under one roof at ‘Reliance Fresh’ across the metro city.  It has plans to float insurance services at the earliest.  Its strategy is to sell the agricultural produces at rock bottom prices to the individual customers initially and increase the prices once the customers are accustomed to buy from them.  This is already working against the common man in the metro.  

The middle and low income groups are real losers as they cannot afford to pay these high electricity bills.  But they have no other option than paying, since electricity has become one of the most basic needs of the mankind.  One has to wait and see now as will there be more such burdens on common man's shoulder's if private enterprises make their foray into public services and utilities.