Jora appeals to agitated electric workers to call off strike

Jammu, Mar 13 (UNI) A delegation from Jammu and Kashmir Electric Department Linemen and Workers Union, led by its president Ghulam Nabi Bhat met Power Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and put forth various demands of the union.

The minister assured them that the demands relating to grant of two and a half days salary in lieu of Sundays, holidays and odd hour working, risk allowance and creation of welfare fund have the support of the Power Development Department and the matter has been referred to the Finance Department for their concurrence.

They were also told them that the application of SRO-311 with provision for allowing 50 per cent daily wage service would be applied in PDD in the same manner as it is applied in its sister departments. The PDD also supports re-designation of different categories regularised over a period of time but working as linemen.

While the department would be generally working closely with the Unions in respect of re-organisation and the draft recruitment rules to obtain their inputs with a view to resolve the existing problems faced by the employees, the department also agreed to simultaneously move a proposal to the finance department recommending one step upgradation of linemen and SBA categories.

The department has also agreed to refer the interpretation of SRO-149 to the Finance Department.

Later, Mr Bhat thanked the minister and the PDD officers and promised his full cooperation in delivery of services to the general public.

The meeting was also attended by PDD principal secretary Madhav Lal, Development Commissioner (power) Showkat Rashid Wani, Chief Engineer (MRE) Jammu D S Pawar and PDD Special Secretary Khurshid Ahmad, among others.

UNI