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| Opposition corners govt over PDD daily wagers' regularisation | | BJP, JKNPP, JSM stage walkout in protest | | ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 23: It was on second consecutive day today the entire vociferous Opposition comprising Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Panthers Party (PP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) jointly cornered the ruling coalition on a single issue in State Legislative Assembly here.
This time the Opposition showed unanimity over regularisation of workers engaged on causal and need-basis in the Power Development Department (PDD), besides "deteriorating" condition of power supply in the State. The issue also witnessed a walkout of Opposition minus PDP at the fag end of the Question Hour.
Yesterday, protesting against much-hyped Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the Youth (SKEWPY), the united opposition staged a walkout enmasse, on a single issue describing the employment policy as "cruel fraud played on lakhs of unemployed youth of the state."
Different issues pertaining to PDD including regularization of daily wagers and causal workers dominated the proceedings of the House during Question Hour.
Raising a supplementary to his question, JKNPP MLA from Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia criticized the Government for not fulfilling its commitment made with the daily wagers on January 27, 2010.
"The PDD daily wagers, who had resorted to strike on November 23, 2009 and sat on dharna outside the office of Power Development Commissioner Jammu, had called off their strike on the assurance of Mubarak Gul, Political Advisor to Chief Minister on January 27. The Government had assured to fulfill their demands within two weeks. It has failed to keep its promise as it has been more than one-and-a-half-month now but government has not taken any decision in this regard," he charged.
Referring to the unfortunate incidents of electrocutions, Mankotia asked the government if there is in place an insurance policy for the casual or need-based workers of the PDD to provide financial assistance as well as benefit of the SRO-43 to their families after they meet an accident and lose their life or limb while on duty.
Seeking a statement from the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was present in the House, Mankotia stressed said that the CM who holds the charge of PDD should make a suitable reply over the regularisation of the daily wagers.
Minister for Tourism, Nawag Rigzin Jora, who was responding to a series of questions by Abdul Rehman Veeri, Sofi Abdul Gaffar, Viqar Rasool and Balwant Singh Mankotia, said the demand of insurance policy for daily wagers could be examined but no commitment can be made in this regard. "The meeting of Promotion Committee shall be held on March 31 where the genuine cases of daily wagers are to be regularized," he maintained.
He informed the House that the workers, who engaged on need-basis for various works and had to be released after completion of respective projects, are still continuing with the PDD.
While Jugal Kishore Sharma of BJP said that the daily wagers and causal workers of the department have not been paid for years together, Harsh Dev Singh, Leader of Panthers Legislature Party said that though the number of transfers and receiving stations have multiplied manifold, yet the strength of PDD staff has not been increased.
"Though the daily wagers and causal workers are done commendable job and nature of job is same as permanent employees of the department, the government must consider their demand of regularization," the JKNPP MLA said.
Ashwani Kumar Sharma, JSM MLA demanded filling up of vacancies being created in the department after the retirement of field staff.
Expressing concern over power shortage in Kashmir Valley, Veeri said, "The Kashmir Valley is facing worst ever crisis this year. Despite the commissioning of Baghliar power project and announcement of 500 MW additional power supply by the Prime Minister, the State is reeling under acute shortage of power."
Responding to the queries of the members, the Minister informed that since April 1, 2009 till date, 4525 million units of power have been pumped into the Valley, which is 9 per cent more than the 4164 million units supplied during the previous year. He said this was despite some projects in the Valley not giving optimum production due to low discharge in Jehlum due to winter.
He said that the State has a total demand of 2300 MW of power against which the availability varies between 1200 to 1500 MWs. He said the average demand of Kashmir Valley during winter is around 800 MWs against which on an average 700 to 750 MWs are supplied.
Jora sought the support of the Members for regularization of illegal connections and discouraging the practice of power theft. He said the demand of constructing a Receiving Station at Banihal would be examined.
The Minister said, 358 posts of linemen and helper linemen are available in the Department, which are being filled up by the District/Divisional Level Departmental Promotion Committees. He said in view of the massive expansion of the Department in recent years, the Government sought blue print report from The Energy Research Institute, New Delhi (TERI) for the restructuring of the Department, which the Government has received and would take a holistic view on the subject.
Dissatisfied with the Minister's reply with regard to regularization, the members Opposition members pressed for a 'suitable' statement from the Chief Minister.
Though the Speaker asked the Minister for making a reply over regularization of daily wagers, Jora said he has already made a statement in this regard and cabinet sub-committee would look into the matter. Though Balwant Singh Mankotia had staged the walkout at around 10:14 a.m, all the BJP, JKNPP and JSM legislators staged a walkout in protest against 'unsatisfactory' reply. |
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