The workers of Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam limited braving threat to life to ensure uninterrupted power supply to entire city is likely to get more protective gears to work safely and without risking their lives. The board has asked general managers, Ranchi to purchase safety equipments for the workers while disposing other demands of the Jharkhand Electricity Supply Technical Workers Association (JESTWA).
“Our CMD has issued instructions to all the officials concerned to provide safety equipments. A verbal order has been issued in this regard. GM-HR has been asked to provide gloves, boots and other safety equipments,” said JUVNl Spokesperson, Pandey Ramanikant Sinha. The board of the JUVNl on Monday also gave assent to the group insurance scheme for man-days workers of different board areas and allayed concerns of workers in the event of loss to life.
As per the agreement between the board and JESTWA, a group insurance scheme of Rs5 lakh will be provided as life cover to workers. The JUVNl is likely to come up with notification in this regard. The JESTWA accused that safety concerns of employees have been sidelined and funds under the control of general managers of area boards are rarely used to meet safety requirements.
The association raised the point in Monday’s meeting and has been assured in return that fund will be monitored to verify the claim. “There is no protection for workers and we raised this issue with the board. There is a fund for GM but that is rarely used. The board under our pressure has assured that they will monitor that fund from today onwards,” said JESTWA president Ajay Rai.
The union used its clout of sheer number and its significance for the transmission system to convey their point. Interestingly, breakdown at CM feeder at Kanke Road that resulted in power cuts for about 6 hours was raised by the association to apprise the board of the importance of lower rung technical employees.