Deprived of Salary and Compensation, PDD pressurizing daily rated worker with amputated upper limbs to compromise: JKCNGEEU

Srinagar (PR):A daily rated worker engaged with the JKPDD in STD-I, Sub-div.-II AKhnoor Receiving Station Tanda division got electrocuted while performing his duties resulting in amputation of his both upper limbs.
Joginder Pal, a resident of Jammu, received an electric shock on 13th January, 2017 while repairing a transmission line at Tanda. He was seriously injured resulting in amputation of his upper limbs that left him being unable to continue his work.
He was entitled and receiving his monthly wages but was not compensated for the disability that was caused to him due to the negligence of power system until he filed a law suit against the Power department refusing him the compensation or relief.
However, the Power department stopped paying him his monthly wages after he asked for the compensation and are pressurizing him to withdraw the case and settle for a negotiation.
The JKCNGEEU took serious cognizance of the issue and approached the concerned Executive Engineer inquiring about the same where they did not agree upon the genuine demands of the victim and upheld their decision of not paying him any compensation.
The authorities have failed time and over again to compensate the victims of electrocution and not only that their ignorant attitude is letting hundreds of similar accidents happen where many employees either lose their lives or get disabled for life while being in the line of duty.
Most common reasons for the accidents are lack of proper safety tools and equipment, use of substandard material for repairing and construction, Ladders and Poles are being made of iron instead of concrete or wood hence making them more vulnerable to conduct electricity. Some receiving stations and sub stations having been without Power breakers (for Turning on/off power supply), hence elevating the risks.
The JKCNGEEU reiterates the demands that have been submitted to the authorities several times and have not been fulfilled so far. We would like to raise the following demands again:
1. Risk Allowance in favour of the staff working on Risk Prone Jobs. Formation of Compensation, Relief and Rehabilitation Centers for Employees/Workers of the department undergoing Power accidental cases resulting in unfortunate Death and Permanent/Partial Disability.
2. Formation of Training Centers in both Jammu and Kashmir for non-technical employees and workers. Providing of Modern Safety Tools and banning of purchase of Substandard Equipment and Machinery.
3. Enhancement of Ex. Gratia/Compensation for Employees and Workers of PDD/SPDC as per the norms of Police Department.
4. Inclusion of PDL/TDL/Daily wagers into SRO-43 and Power Employees Welfare fund committee by Amendment of its Rules and Regulations. Matriculates/Orderlies/Chowkidars/PDL/TDL Employees should be granted Junior Assistant Grade under the provisions of SRO 381.
5. PDD authorities should obtain the Government’s share of welfare fund as per welfare fund rules, which is pending since decades so that all the pending cases are cleared. Moreover, the audit report for income and expenditure should be made available annually.
6. Immediate Regularization of the (PDL/TDL) Daily Wagers as per the Departmental Promotion committee PDD (Kashmir Division) decision of 14-01-2019. Clearing all pending (PDL/TDL) cases in various division/circle offices and release of their pending wages.
7. Release pending wages and issue orders for the regularization of PDD/PDC daily wagers (on the basis of Cabinet Decision no. 151/23/2012 Dated: 30/08/2012 strictly in terms of SRO 381) that has already been decided by the Departmental Promotion Committees (Srinagar/Jammu) of 2019.