Srinagar, Nov 09 : Power Employees Coordination Committee (PECC) has written a lenthy memorandum to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to readdress of issues faced by employees of Power Development Department.
“J&K Power Development Department has been entrusted to provide power supply to people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh since 1908 when first time electricity was provided in valley. Since then, it had moved forward and its employees put their every effort to service the people despite all Geographical, atmospheric, pollical and financial issues, the department has progressed thick and fast, and increased its assets and consumer base times, Govt achieved its targets and people got better services but the issues pertaining to Employees of JKPDD and prospects of their career progression always remained undone, rather unattended,” reads the memorandum.
“The Department was initially streamlined and shaped with the putting in place the Subordinate Service Rules in 1981 by the then J&K State Government. After turmoil in the valley the infrastructure deteriorated, the power sector became crippling and the working conditions deteriorated to the worst. Again in1996 an elected government took charge of the state and improvement of the Power Sector became its top priority. Services of Hundreds of Daily wagers were regularised along with first ever Direct requirement made in year 1998 Funds from Rural Electrification Corporation were arranged to rebuild the crippled power sector followed by flagship schemes APDRP, R-APDRP, RGGVY, SUABGAYA, PMDP etc.”
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“Today JKPDD is in a controlled position to provide power supply to consumers in a more reliable way comparatively. Though people are now getting better services, infrastructure stands upgraded with modern engineering practices pumped in to the system by the Government and Bureaucracy at ease the problems of employees have never been taken care of,” reads the memorandum, adding, “after THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR REORGANISATION ACT, 2019 Advisory Committee was set up to look in to issues relating to Continuance of arrangements in regard to generation and supply of electric power and was asked to submit its report within 90 days. Unfortunately, the members of the committee instead of submitting the particular report, suggested the Government unbundle the JKPDD into five Corporations. The report was purely framed to pave ways for the fast promotional prospects of the members of committee and their colleagues. The proposal of organisational setup submitted by the committee is self-explanatory in this regard.”
“Also, the document was shaped to either Strapp all service benefits to employees of JKPDD or to curtail them. Interestingly the corporations were proposed to run on existing employees of JKPDD and a most unpopular notification in this regard was issued by the Government on 20 March 2020 vide S.0: -109. Since the issuance of SO-109 the Power administration and bureaucracy of J&K has made the lives of nearly 18000 employees miserable. Our service benefits, allowances, pay and wages, GPF and promotional aspects are being denied or delayed in the pretext of unbundling of the power sector. To resolve the issue JK power Employees Coordination committee has decided to bring imminent issues in your kind notice for the early redressal of the same,” the memorandum reads.
Among the issues, as per memorandum include; Services of PDL/TDL workers working in JKPDD are not being regularised despite clear cut provisions
laid in SO-109 for regularisation of same against vacancies at entry level in respect of Executive/Ministerial Cadre; SRO-43 cases pending with Govt at civil secretariat after clearance of all formalities from JKPDD need to be disposed on fast track so that the families of employees who have been electrocuted get relief as same are suffering a lot; Despite the employees being on deputation in various corporation are being denied of deputation allowance; As per SO-109 Corporations are bound to refer the vacancies at all levels to the parent department so that the timely promotions of the employees are being carried out. The routine is not being followed and since unbundling no D P C are being held as such the promotion quota posts remain vacant in non-Engineering grades which is not the case with Engineering cadre.
The other issues highlighted by the Power Employees Coordination Committee, include; Government was bound to constitute a five-member Grievance Handling Committee to look in to day-to-day issues of employees which has not been kept in place since 2019; The liabilities on account of monthly salary, allowance etc were to be provided by the Government with the necessary provisions in Budget instead monthly Salary and allowances are being paid from grant in aid; JKPDD employees are being unable to download their payslips online and are deprived of the instant J&K Bank loan facilities which is otherwise available to all employees of J&K Government; and HRD wing having two sections one for Engineering Cadre and other for non-engineering staff has discrepancies in their working. The files pertaining to the Engineering cadre get processed while that of non-Engineering are stuck for years which needs to be investigated.
“Huge amounts are being exhausted on training of Officers are their tours while field staff often fall prey to poor safety equipment are lack of training; Welfare fund (a contributory money) amounting in lacs meant for welfare of employees in case of accidents or relief to their families is pending unaccounted and unaudited and the affected employees have to make rounds n offices for the same. A welfare board composed of officers and Employee representatives be formulated at Circle level to disburse such money; Officers serving in JKPDD in top levels (Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers) hours after their retirement join the Multinational Companies for which they have been Tendering / work order placing authorities. All such instances need to be verified since Nov-2019. The trend has caused a mafia between MNC and KPDCL which has drained our financial sources.
“Fake and fabricated data is being produced to Government were in a particular section of employees is being targeted, which was evident in very first meeting of JKPDD administration with yourself; and Contract awards of all multinational companies engaged as consultancies/inspection agencies need to be investigated as employees have strong apprehensions that extra and unnecessary agencies have been engaged on the pretext of work quality and supervision and undue favouritism is being witnessed which is evident from the instances were relatives of officers are being engaged as employees in these MNC or works are being allotted to them.”
Expressing optimism, the PECC has further wrote in its memorandum, “Honourable Chief Minister Sahab, we have strong belief that your ample leadership will be able to look into the above demands and solve the same as thousands of families are being suffered by an ill-administrative approach of arrogant power administration. Last but not least we ensure that every employee of JKPDD will work with the highest zeal, dedication and enthusiasm to serve the people, particularly consumers of JKPDD.”
