Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: The Forum of Junior Engineers with Engineers/Feeder Managers of different wings of Electrical, Civil, Mechanical today called upon Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Power Development Department under the leadership of Sachin Tickoo, Convenor of the Forum and took up their burning issues with regard to biometric attendance and Field Travel Allowance.
The engineers had threadbare discussions on the issues of the Junior Engineer cadre.The delegation apprised the Commissioner/Secretary that Junior Engineer cadre though being the backbone of the engineering services has been given step- motherly treatment at the hands of the Finance department. The successive Pay Commissions have degraded the grade of Junior Engineers and even created further anomalies which have been pending for mere clarifications since last 9 years with the Finance department.
The Junior Engineers are paid a meagre Rs 30 per month as Field Travel Allowance for carrying out all inspections, maintenance and upkeep and attending to breakdowns. Since the nature of duties of Junior Engineer is such that he has to be present in the field 24×7, 365/366 days without any holiday. Inspite of clear nature of duties, the department has not yet mooted the proposal for increase of the Field Travel Allowance from current Rs 30 level to at least Rs 3000 per month.
The deputation members also called for issuance of circular of standard operating procedures on electrical accidents from the Home department emphasizing on the Police executives to honour the provisions of the Sec 124 of State Electricity Act 2010 which has given superintendence and independence to the Chief Electrical Inspector of the State.
Ajaz Kazmi ,general Secretary PPEU sought urgent orders for exemption of the field staff up to the level of Assistant Executive Engineer from the Biometric system as the field staff can’t absolve itself of the responsibilities within a specific time frame of 6 hours. A feeder manager or lower staff is looking after the assets 24×7 and can’t be expected to punch in the biometric machine travelling all the way to the Sub Division headquarters when the area under his/her supervision various from 15 to 60 km. They also sought early filling of the vacancies at all levels.
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