PSPCL’s Junior Engineers sounds revolt bugle; released protest schedule to press for their genuine demands
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ August 30,2024
Council of Junior Engineers PSEB, a representative body of Power Junior Engineers and Engineering Officers promoted from ranks in Punjab Power Sector has announced a series of agitation programs over non-settlement of various pending demands of the cadre of Power Junior Engineers. This was informed to the press by Er. Davinder Singh, State General Secretary of JEs Council.
Er. Paramjit Singh Khattra State President and Er. Davinder Singh- State General Secretary of JEs Council jointly stated that the agitation will begin by holding protest rallies in front of all PSPCL circle H.Qs. on dated 04th September, 2024. Thereafter, Zonal protests will commence from 09th September 2024 at West Zone, at Bathinda, 13th September 2024 Central Zone, at Ludhiana, 17th September 2024 Border Zone, at Amritsar, 20th September 2024 North Zone, at Jalandhar, 24th September 2024 South Zone, at Patiala followed by a day long peaceful protest Dharna will be held in front of PSPCL H.Q., The Mall, Patiala on 08th October 2024 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. by all the Central Working Committee members of JEs Council.
The Council leadership further informed that the Power Management is continuously ignoring the important demands of junior engineers, including pay revision and pending arrears payment, continuation of 9/16 years time-bound promotion scale of junior engineers, reinstatement of Special Allowance of JEs/AAEs, Review of Staffing Norms of Distribution Wing and Grid Sub-stations, Grant of second Time-bound Scale of Senior Executive Engineer and 50% Promotion Quota for JEs Civil Cadre for AE & AEE and also suitable enhancement in this promotion quota for both (Electrical & Civil Wing).
The Council leadership further stated that there is a massive shortage of technical staff in Powercom and due to management’s poor placement policies; a severe shortage of technical workers has arisen in the field. Due to a meager recruitment of Lineman and Assistant Linesman in the field and wrong placement against the posts of SSA and ASSA on the grid Sub-station has aggravated the situation further. The standard of maintenance of power lines and other construction works is continuously declining due to the contractor system. Power Junior Engineers being harassed by the police to registered FIR holding them responsible for the accidents with the Power lines/equipment. Deployment of CHB workers through contract system has proven to be a failed experiment. JEs Council has strongly demanded that regular recruitment of technical staff in the field to narrow down the huge gap of shortage of manpower.
Junior Engineers are also much aggrieved over the ERP Software, which is being implemented in the field without providing any infrastructure support such as laptops, internet connection, which is otherwise a still on trial mode due to which JEs/AAEs are facing serious problems. While on the one hand there is unnecessary delay in making estimates due to non-availability of computers/printers in the sub-division offices, on the other hand, the field staff is facing the resentment of the consumers due to the delay in the works. Through, Hon’ble Director/’DS’ PSPCL today assured to provide laptops to the JEs and AAEs deployed in the field offices and also to postpone the implementation of ERP system till 30th November, 2024 & proper training at Circle level, But still much more is required to be done on this issue.
PSPCL’s Junior Engineers sounds revolt bugle; released protest schedule to press for their genuine demands. According to the Council leadership, in case Power Management failed to settle the pending demands on top priority, ongoing agitation will be intensified further and responsibility for that will be rest with the Management and respective State Govt. authorities.
