Jammu, Sept 15: Power employees and engineers across Jammu and Kashmir held protests in their respective workplaces wearing black badges and arm bands against what they called ‘the callous attitude of the UT administration towards the burning issues of the power employees.’
While holding placards and amidst sloganeering, the PDD offices reverberated with the demand for implementation of the State Administrative Council Decision Dated 22.10.2019 which had directed for completing the regularization process within two months. The protesting employees decried the failure of the administration to fulfill the commitments made by the highest decision making body of the Union Territory i.e State Administrative Council, a statement issued by the Power Employees and Engineers Association.
The agitating employees also demanded that the suspension orders of the engineers and field staff be rescinded as the enquiry committee has already submitted the report since last 15 days and yet the reinstatement orders have not been issued till date demoralizing the entire cadres.
Addressing the protest gathering at various places, Sachin Tickoo Convenor PEECC Jammu and General Secretary JKEEGA strongly highlighted the plight that the current sitting Managing Directors/ Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers are all Assistant Engineers and most of the sitting Executive Engineers are Junior Engineers in substantive capacity and are only officiating the higher assignments in –charge capacity with no emoluments of the higher positions.
“There is no assured career progression for Gazetted Engineers serving in different departments in J&K even though same cabinet had approved the ACP in favour of Gazetted Engineers as also for the Gazetted Police and JKAS services in 2018. The formal order in this regard is still awaited in favour of Engineers even though the JKAS/JKPS are enjoying the said provision on the same Cabinet decision”, the statement said.
Jaipal Sharma decried that the Fixed Travel Allowance in favour of Junior Engineers is Rs 30 per month which was fixed some 40 years back. Each Junior Engineer/Feeder Manager is currently looking after more than 5 feeders and that too 24×7, 365 days without break and there are no 8 hour shifts as there is no replacement available due to shortage. Besides there are 7 positions of Chief engineers, 16 of SEs, 30 Xens ,40 AEEs, 100AEs also vacant which must be filled on priority to address the issue of stagnation of the employees despite availability of vacancies.
“Moreover, the daily wagers of 1998 are still awaiting regularization, even though they have fulfilled all the criteria of DPCs as per the SRO-381 of 1981 applicable to Power Development department. Since majority of the lineman in the department are daily wagers who risk their lives and get 6750 per month for services that they render 24×7, 365 days without fail. Despite the availability of the vacancies at all levels their regularization orders are not being issued despite two DPCs since 2019 have taken place under SRO-381 OF 1981”, he added.
“The Tech-III staff appointed in 1998 has got not even a single promotion even after 22 years of service and are awaiting the holding of DPC which has been put on back burner despite the Committee of secretaries meeting held in June 2021 stipulating that DPC at all levels be completed in time bound manner”, he further said.
“The Power Employees and engineers committee once again appeals Lt. Governor Jammu and Kashmir to kindly address the burning issues projected by the coordination committee. In case the Government doesn’t take tangible steps to resolve the issues projected; PEECC will be forced to hold the protest march from Panama chowk to Mahatma Gandhi Chowk on Gandhi Jyanti”, the statement added.
