Privatisation move: Ensure service benefits to power staff are safeguarded: Kataria

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has directed the authorities concerned to ensure that all present service benefits given to employees are safeguarded after their transfer to the new company under the process for privatisation of power distribution in UT.

The Administrator has specifically directed the authorities to address the grievances of the UT Powermen Union properly.

In order to proceed further in the privatisation process, the Chandigarh Administration today issued the Letter of Intent (LoI) to Kolkata-based Eminent Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL), a subsidiary of the RP Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group, the highest bidder.

After the approval of the Union Cabinet, the Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) was formed and to safeguard the interests of the employees, who are proposed to be transferred to the new CPDL, the Chandigarh Electricity Employees Master Trust has been incorporated under Indian Trust Act, 1882.

According to the Draft Transfer Scheme, which contains the provisions to safeguard the interests of the transferred employees, the terms and conditions of the services applicable to the personnel transferred shall not in any way be less favourable than or inferior to those applicable to them immediately before the transfer date; all such personnel shall have continuity of services in all respects.

All benefits of service accrued ,including their entitled government benefits during their service under the Administration before transfer date, to the company, shall be fully recognised and protected and taken into account for all purposes. The transferred personnel shall not be posted outside Chandigarh by the company without their prior concurrence.

All the procedures in which terminal benefits are to be sanctioned and disbursed from the trust shall be determined by the Administration on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees. The trust will manage and function till the terminal liabilities of the transferred employees are fully paid.

The Chandigarh Electricity Reforms Transfer Scheme has been formulated and the transfer of the functions from Chandigarh Administration to the CPDL shall be done through an Electricity Reforms Transfer Scheme, wherein, specific provisions have been incorporated to safeguard the interests of the employees.

The Chandigarh Administration shall constitute a committee from transfer date to receive options/representations/suggestions on the transfer of personnel to the company and make a recommendation to the Administration with regard to their grievances in matters of transfer of personnel to the company.

The Administration shall, after considering the recommendations of the committee, pass such orders as it may consider appropriate regarding personnel transferred to the company.

PR Kumar, president, Power Distribution at RPSG group, said, ‘’I am excited to take on this responsibility and serve the people of Chandigarh. We deeply appreciate the trust placed in us by the Central Government and the Chandigarh UT Administration. We also want to reassure the employees of the Chandigarh Electricity Department that their welfare and service conditions, including retirement benefits, will be fully upheld as per the agreement. The RPSG Group, with a workforce of over 50,000 employees, is committed to serving the people of Chandigarh with utmost dedication and care.’’