Electricity board employees protest outside minister’s residence in Sirsa

Sirsa, July 16

Under the banner of Haryana State Electricity Board Workers Union, electricity employees today held a protest in Sirsa.

The protest, led by the worker union’s state president Sunil Khatana, witnessed the participation of thousands of employees, who marched through the city’s streets, ending their demonstration at the residence of Power Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala.

During the protest, the protesting employees voiced their opposition to the state government, submitting a demand letter to the Power Minister.

The demands included the reinstatement of Old Pension Scheme, cancellation of the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), implementation of equal pay for equal work, and the provision of cashless medical facilities for all employees.

The employees’ union also called for a risk allowance of Rs 10,000, medical allowance of Rs 5,000, conveyance allowance of Rs 3,000 and a shift duty allowance of Rs 2,000.

The protesters pressed for the transfer policy be abolished.

Additionally, they demanded uniform, education and vehicle allowances of Rs 5,000 each, a free electricity allowance of Rs 2,000 and local outdoor duty allowances for various categories of employees.

The protesters called for the scrapping of the Electricity Amendment Bill-2023, policies for regularising temporary employees, providing casual and medical leaves and removing the salary cap for ESI benefits.

The union demanded that the temporary employees be moved directly under the electricity board, families of employees who died on duty be given government jobs and the 2019 ex-gratia policy conditions be amended.

They sought the cancellation of the online transfer policy, particularly for LDC and UDC employees who face punitive actions.

The union also demanded that technical and clerical employees be assigned duties within their home circles, and cashless medical facilities be promptly implemented. Further demands included the approval of leaves during strikes, Diwali bonuses equivalent to a month’s salary, promotions for lower-status employees and filling vacant positions through permanent hiring.

The union also called for an end to punitive show-cause notices and charge sheets, full ACP benefits for court-joined employees, a halt to Right to Service Act actions until staffing shortages are resolved and the reallocation of transfer powers to lower-level officials.

Union state chief organiser Ashok Sharma said if the government did not address their demands, the workers would escalate their protest to a state-wide movement.

Their demands

• Their demands include the reinstatement of Old Pension Scheme, cancellation of the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, implementation of equal pay for equal work and the provision of cashless medical facilities for all employees
• The employees’ union also called for a risk allowance of Rs 10,000, medical allowance of Rs 5,000, conveyance allowance of Rs 3,000 and a shift duty allowance of Rs 2,000
• They also demanded that the transfer policy be abolished