Srinagar

In support of the general strike on January 8, and 9, J&K Central Non-Gazetted Electrical Employees Union (JKCNGEEU) staged a protest in Press Enclave Srinagar, against privatization of PDD, the release of long pending wages of daily wagers and regularization of their service.

A large number of employees and workers assembled at Press enclave amid slogans in favour of their demands sought authority’s intervention to fulfil their demands.

The protesting employees and workers said that Power Development department has been reorganized in the year 1981 that too up to 60% requirements. Since then a huge augmentation has been made to the infrastructure by way of construction of a large number of Grid Stations, Receiving Station and laying of HV Transmission lines.

Moreover, the manpower required for smooth maintenance of this huge infrastructure has not been provided and no attempt to create the adequate posts for the required manpower has been made by the competent authorities even after repeated requests, which has resulted in an acute dearth of staff in the department to look after this huge infrastructure.

The dearth of the staff is so acute that a lineman has to look after 10-15 Sub Stations along with the HT/LT transmission lines, which has affected the smooth electric supply and the common man has become the ultimate sufferer.

Pertinently, the country-wide general strike by the employees started from yesterday.  The demands include urgent measures for containing price-rise, containing unemployment through concrete measures, strict enforcement of all basic labour laws and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws,  universal social security cover for all workers, minimum wages of not less than Rs 18,000/- per month with provisions of indexation, stoppage of disinvestment in Central/State PSUs and strategic sale, stoppage of contracting in permanent perennial work and payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work.

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