Protests held against PSPCL over denial of jobs to kin of deceased employees

By Kulwinder Mahal

Around 12 members of the Mritak Ashrit Sangharsh Committee climbed onto the rooftop of the seventh floor of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) headquarters in Patiala and began a protest over the alleged denial of promised jobs to dependants of deceased electricity department employees.

Committee leaders said they launched the protest after a recent meeting with management, during which they were allegedly told the jobs would not be provided. They also claimed that the management had asked them to return financial assistance received following the deaths of their family members, along with interest.

According to the protesters, the management had earlier promised to issue a notification for their employment. However, they alleged that officials subsequently refused to honour the commitment.

The committee members said they opposed both the alleged withdrawal of employment assurance and the demand to repay the financial assistance with interest.

6,000 employees across Punjab, committee claims

Committee leaders claimed that around 6,000 people across Punjab were affected.

They said the committee represents families whose members had been employed in the electricity department and died in accidents. According to the protesters, eligible family members were supposed to receive jobs following the deaths of their relatives.

However, the committee alleged that the affected families had not received the promised employment despite the earlier assurance.

The protesters further claimed that the management had asked families to return the financial assistance provided at the time of their relatives’ deaths, with 12 per cent interest.

They described the demand as unjustified and said it added to the difficulties families face while awaiting employment.

Committee representatives made the allegations regarding the employment commitment and repayment demand. No response from the PSPCL management was available in the information provided.

Protest continues as leaders await management meeting

The protest was continuing at the time of the report. Committee leaders said they would decide their next course of action after a meeting with the management.

The immediate outcome of the protest, and whether management would hold talks with the demonstrators, remained unclear.

The committee’s demands centre on the employment of dependants of deceased electricity department employees and the issue of recovering financial assistance with interest.

The protesters are seeking action on the employment assurance they said they were previously given. Further developments are expected after discussions between committee representatives and the PSPCL management.