STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association [JKEEGA] led by Sachin Tickoo President JKEEGA, Rajeshwar Jamwal, Sr. Vice President, Jahangir Ahmed, Vice President, Vishal Chib, Ankush Sharma (Provincial secretaries), Parshottam Lal Sharma, Vipul Sharma (Treasurers), Vijay Kumar (Organizing Secretary) on Wednesday called upon Atal Dullo, while according warm welcome on his assumption of charge, discussed threadbare on the issues pertaining to the Engineers and Employees of the Power Development Department.
It was brought to the notice of worthy Chief Secretary that State Administrative Council in its meeting held on October 22, 2019 decided to unbundle the Power Development department into various corporations and SAC had directed the proposal for regular promotions of Power development department be processed on fast track at departmental level without referring to Public Service commission as one-time exemption and whole process was supposed to be completed within 02 months by November 30, 2019 (GO No. 191-PDD of 2019 dated October 23, 2019) to address the 20 years pending issue of regularization in Power Development Department.
In this context, A proposal of 250 serving and retired engineers duly vetted from an empowered committee vide Government Order No.308-JK(GAD) of 2020, Dated March 2, 2020 has been examined by General Administrative Department, further is awaiting nod from the office of the Chief Secretary for placing the same before the establishment committee.
Further the delegation apprised Chief Secretary about the Assured Career Progression Scheme for Gazetted Engineers approved vide Cabinet Decision no-109/6/2018 Dated-May 11, 2018 has not been notified as SRO for the same is pending till date.
Even though same cabinet decision the ACP notification in favour of Gazetted Police and JKAS services had been issued in 2018.
“The formal order in this regard is still awaited in favour of Gazetted engineering cadre of Power Development Department.” The release added.
It also apprised that the State Administrative Council post the unbundling had authorized the Board of Directors of the unbundled corporations to recommend the recruitment of the requisite staff as per the vacancies and the recommendations of re-organization committee constituted vide Govt. order no. 164 of PDD of 2019 of September 20, 2019. But there has been no recruitment of JEs since 2018 in PDD/corporations, leading to vacuum and since Junior Engineers are responsible for managing the upkeep/maintenance and supervision of the Power supply infrastructure at ground level, their non-availability has led to lack of proper supervision and enforcement. The recruitment of Junior Engineers against the vacant 300 posts is a going to give good return on investment if done on priority basis. Duly vetted proposals for recruitment of Junior Engineers have been sent by Board of respective PDD unbundled corporations.
It was also urged that vacant positions across the Engineering Hierarchy right from MD-2, ED-3, CE-56, SE-5, XEN-56, AE-250, JE-300 be filled on emergent basis through promotions so that the stagnation at all levels is addressed.
The association also sought the disbursal of the salary of all the employees on deputation to these unbundled corporations through Pay Sys system and on regular mode instead of Grant in Aid mechanism which has caused considerable delay in salaries to the employees.
Chief Secretary J&K assured the delegation that all the issues brought to the discussion table shall be addressed and appropriate instructions shall be conveyed at all concerned quarters for their speedy disposal.