Successfully managing the strike called by supply workers' union ahead of curial un-bundling of it, the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) agreed to meet all their 'reasonable' demands.
The management in a deliberation over the issues with agitating employees, most of them on contracts, on Thursday expressed willingness to give 72 per cent DA besides considering regularisation of their service.
"The striking workers discussed the matter with the management and it remained very positive. They have decided to call off their strike. The Board has assured them for considering their demands sympathetically. All their demands would be met as per the rules," said PK Srivastava, spokesperson of JSEB.
The employees have been on warring path with JSEB demanding DA and number of working days in the lines of State Government employees .
There have also been opposition against the decision of the Board to go ahead with unbundling and handing over power distribution job at Ranchi and Jamshedpur to private players.
"The Board Chairman S N Verma has assured that our services would be regularised on priority basis as there is sufficient vacancy in the JSEB. They have also assured us about 72 per cent DA, though, we have not got anything in writing yet. When we get assurances in writing we would call off the strike," said Baikunth Nandan Singh of the association.
On the issue of Board's trifurcation, the agitating employees agreed with the JSEB's view that it has been a policy decision of the Government and also the Supreme Court has passed an order paving way for it.
"They have assured us that it would have no affect on our services. Also the court's verdict in this regard was very clear. We are convinced with the point of view of the Chairman and have decided to drop our opposition," said Singh.
The Board, as per the central guideline, is already about seven years behind the schedule set for trifurcation by dividing generation, transmission and distribution works from each other to improve functioning and performance.
After the apex court's verdict the Board officials have drafted a plan to carve out four independent companies by June this year with one company as holding company. The companies would be responsible to maintain their expenditure and suppose not to run in loss.