An indefinite protest launched outside the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) headquarters here by the Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI-Kerala chapter) seeking urgent measures to fill vacancies in the KSEB entered the 10th day on Thursday.
Left-backed power sector unions launched the agitation on December 17, demanding that the KSEB management report vacancies to the Kerala Public Service Commission, make sufficient appointments to ensure smooth services to electricity consumers, approve pay revision agreements and disburse dearness allowance (DA) arrears.
The KSEB currently faces a shortage of 9,835 employees as per the sanctioned strength and 3,634 employees as per the strength approved by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Over the next five months, 1,579 employees would retire, according to EEFI.
Promises not kept
According to the EEFI, the KSEB management, at an October 22 meeting with the CITU-backed KSEB Workers’ Association, had agreed to make 912 appointments. But the promises were not kept, according to the EEFI.
The shortage of staff was adversely impacting efficiency, safety and consumer satisfaction in the KSEB, according to it.
The EEFI Kerala chapter has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking his urgent intervention in the matter. The unions have, among other things, also sought urgent measures for comprehensive insurance coverage for employees and pensioners.
Published – December 26, 2024 08:33 pm IST