Members of the Odisha Electricity Employees’ Association continued sitting on a dharna at the Southco office here, demanding regularisation of the jobs of all contractual workers and employees, for the 35th day on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the members led by association president Ali Kishore Patnaik had taken out a rally from Komapalli to the old bus stand where they held a protest meeting. They too demanded recruitment of more workers and employees to short out manpower problems in the sector.
Association vice-president Panchanan Jena, general secretary Kalu Patro, CITU district vice-president Pratap Choudhury, CIETO general secretary Yudhistir Behera graced the meeting.
Earlier, they had set February 22 as an ultimatum for the State Government to fulfil their demands. They threatened to expedite the strike further and the State Government would be held responsible for blackout to be marked in the region.
Among others, Ajit Patro and Jawaharlal Bisoyi were sitting at the dharna.