Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Central Non-Gazetted Electrical Employees Union (JKCNGEEU) on Saturday held a protest rally at PDD complex in Bemina area of Srinagar as part of its ongoing protest against privatization of PDD, release of long pending salaries of daily wagers, regularization of their services and long pending promotional issues of non-gazetted employees of PDD and SPDC.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that a large number of employees and workers took out the protest rally at PDD complex Bemina.
The statement said that the protesters were demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services.
“The protesters show their annoyance against the callous attitude of the Present Government towards the workers.”
Protesters said that sufferings of the workers who are unable to look after the future of their family members sans salaries from the concerned department.
“Every time the workers and employees agitate in favor of their rights, the authorities only give assurances,” said general secretary JKCNGEEU, Purshotam Sharma.
He said that the employees are against the wrong policies of the Government to unbundle and privatise the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) into companies.
“Through privatization of the power sector, the water resources of the State would be exploited further.”
The statement reads that already water resources have been exploited since many years. “But now with this step the power generated from the Union Territory will be supplied to other States while Jammu and Kashmir will be left to the mercy of God.”
“Employees and workers with their allegiance have built infrastructure of the department and electrified the whole U.T of J&K to nearly 100 percent.”
It reads that despite giving incentives to employees, the Govt. has decided to destroy the career of the employees and economy of J&K by adopting such policies, as the move will render scores of youth unemployed.
“The PDD employs a lot of valley youth and now there will be no surety that any private firm will keep intact their services. It will render lot of youth unemployed and people from outside will be preferred for various posts, We will involve common masses to put pressure on the government against such move,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, protesting employees warned that in case government won’t respect their genuine demand, they would come out on roads to stage protests and enforce boycott in departments that will throw whole U.T of J&K into darkness.
“The privatization would increase the power tariff by a huge margin leaving the electricity bills beyond the paying capacity of locals. Government should take into notice the income of majority of the population before going ahead with the privatisation.”
It reads that the People at present pay the current tariff with difficulty, and it will be a huge burden on people to pay additional fee.
“About Rs 4000 crore has to be spend by the state from different coffers to meet the power expenditure demand in addition to the power tariff it collect from people. Disempowering people of the Kashmir, and not for their benefit.”
President JKCNGEEU, Mohammad Afzal Bhat said they are common men and a local citizen who has to live here.
“Our income is not enough to pay the exorbitant bills. What state goes through to maintain balance between power purchase expenditure and revenue generation gap is their issue. What about ours who do not have the power to pay? We won’t allow privatization at any cost,” he said.
He said that they want to make it very clear that dont give them a chance where they are going to snap the power supply in the U.T of J&K.
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