The staff of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam went on a 48-hour long chain hunger strike from 5 May 2006 demanding that the government immediately fill up the vacant posts in order to lessen the burden on the staff. According to the All Haryana Power Corporation Workers’ Union (HPCWU), at least 500 employees of the power department in Haryana retire each month, and the current vacant posts have gone up to 35,000.

In a press release issued, Subhash Lamba, the General Secretary of the HPCWU blamed the government for backtracking on its promise of giving up the privatisation of the department and accepting the other demands of the workers, including that of regular recruitment when posts fall vacant.

According to the workers on strike, the contractual system adopted by the government has failed drastically, creating problems for both consumers and employees. The protestors emphasised the need for employing educated youngsters instead of appointing retired hands.

The workers on strike also pointed out that at least 1,500 applications were lying pending in the department for settlement under the ex-gratia scheme.