SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineers’ Association (JKEEGA) held a one-day protest in Jammu and Srinagar, demanding immediate action on the regularisation of engineers in the Power Development Department (PDD).
“The protest came after the government failed to implement the 2019 decision of the State Administrative Council (SAC), which called for the regularisation of all PDD engineers without referring the matter to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC),” reads a statement issued by JKEEGA.
It adds, “Despite sending a notice to the government on December 4, 2024, urging action, no progress was made, leading hundreds of engineers, from Junior Engineers (JE) to Chief Engineers, to take to the streets. The protests were held at Bemina in Srinagar and Gladini in Jammu, with participants raising slogans against the government’s indifference.”
The protesting engineers raised slogans against the government’s indifference and criticised the persistent delay in implementing the SAC order.
They expressed concern over the systematic neglect of JKPDD by successive governments, despite notable achievements in the department. These include improved collection efficiency, reduced losses, and service delivery on par with major metropolitan cities
The association also highlighted the failure to implement the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme for engineers, which was approved in 2018 but has not been extended to the engineering cadre. Additionally, the department faces severe staff shortages, with hundreds of vacancies across various ranks, further impacting its performance.
JKEEGA has announced plans for a two-day protest on February 6–7, 2025, if their demands are not addressed. They have warned that the issue may be raised at a national level with the All India Power Engineers Federation. The association has called on the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene and resolve these issues. The protest reflects the dissatisfaction of power engineers who have contributed significantly to the department but feel neglected in terms of career growth and recognition.
