Government Should ensure 24 hours of electricity; Employees and workers must cooperate the administration: JKCNGEEU

Srinagar. March, 27(PR): In a joint statement issued by the State President Md. Afzal Bhat Fatehpuri, General Secretary Parshotam Kumar Sharma, Provincial President Kashmir S. Umar Bhat, Provincial President Jammu Gurnam Singh Salathia of JKCNGEEU have expressed gratitude and Commended the role of Power employees & workers. When the whole world is up against fight for Corona Virus, Power employees and workers stationed in different Power Houses, Grid Stations, Receiving Stations, Sub Stations along with field staff are working 24×7 to ensure regular power supply to general public. However, it is pertinent to mention that Power employees and workers have unfortunately met accidents while ensuring smooth supply of electricity to thousands of households, due to which some of them lost their lives and some are lifelong disabled. Hence adding to the miseries of families that were dependent on them.

In a recent order issued (Administrative Council Decision No. 45/6/2020 Dated: 18-03-2020) (Govt. Order no. Home-92 of 2020 Dated: 20-03-2020), some govt. departments which include Fire & Emergency Services, Home Guard, Civil Guard, UTDRF are entitled for a sum of Rs. 20 lac as ex-gratia relief against any loss of life in the line of duty. JKCNGEEU welcomes the decision in the favour of the said departments but at the same time expresses disappointment over not including the Power employees and workers in the same category of employees for compensation entitlement.

Power department is also tagged as an essential service and Power employees and workers are most vulnerable section among all the employees of various departments in J&K. In the prevailing circumstances, particularly the looming threat of Corona Virus Power employees and workers are ensuring smooth and uninterrupted power supply to almost all consumers throughout J&K.

It is the negligence and irresponsible attitude of the higher authorities in the power department that makes Power employees and field workers suffer the most, sometimes at cost of their lives. Unavailability of safety gear and proper equipments has been the most pressing issue faced by the victims of electrocution in the department.

L.G G.C Murmu is requested kindly to take the requisitions and pleas of power employees & workers into serious consideration and direct the concerned authorities to include Power Department in the same category of the above mentioned employees (with order citation).

In the view of current situation, we also request the Honourable L.G to assign a Sum of (Rs 10000) as a compensation aid for the daily wagers in particular and other incentives offered to employees and workers in various other states in India for other employees and workers in general.

We would also request the honourable L.G to 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 of 2019.

PDD/PDC employees and workers stationed in different Power Houses, Grid Stations, Receiving Stations along with field staff are encouraged to follow the steps taken by the government in relation to the Corona Virus pandemic. Moreover, keeping in view the current lockdown, the Power administration are humbly requested to take immediate action at end to provide the necessary facilities to these employees and workers like Sanitizers and Masks, Food and drinking water supplies and security passes etc. for movement during the lockdown. Also, the Power Houses, Grid Stations, Receiving Stations should be sanitized to overcome the spread of virus infections.