The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) said in a press release that they have issued a warning to initiate a token strike on September 9, unless their pressing concerns are addressed urgently. The decision was announced after a daylong meeting on Friday.
The JKEEGA convened a crucial meeting of its apex body, the Guidance Council, to urgently address the mounting concerns stemming from prolonged delays in addressing critical issues within the engineering sector. The meeting, co-chaired by Sachin Tickoo, its President, and Peerzada Hidayatullah, the General Secretary, saw attendance from Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, and Executive Engineers, all of whom are integral members of the association.
Central to the discussion was the inordinate delay in filling vacant positions, a situation that has gravely eroded the morale of the engineering community across the region. JKEEGA’s Guidance Council, persistently advocating for resolution, expressed frustration with the continued stagnation, which has stifled the enthusiasm and dedication of engineers.
Hidayatullah, in his address, shed light on the current scenario within the Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL), underlining the void left by the vacancies in the top three leadership positions, including the Managing Director, Chief Engineer KPTCL, and Superintending Engineer KPTCL. He emphasised the association’s unwavering commitment to addressing pressing human resources (HR) concerns, yet lamented the absence of tangible outcomes despite repeated assurances. Notably, Hidayatullah divulged that a collective appeal, endorsed by over 300 engineers in various capacities, had been sent to the Lieutenant Governor, a move intended to bring to light the persistent issues faced by engineers.
Prominent among these issues are the long-standing matters of regularisation, timely promotions to address vacant posts, and recruitment at the Junior Engineer level, all of which have remained unresolved for an extended period.
“The engineers currently serving across different Power Corporations continue to wait for any regular promotions,” the statement issued by JKEEGA said. “Chief Engineers find themselves discharging duties at the level of Assistant Engineers, while Superintending Engineers and their subordinates operate as Junior Engineers. The suspension of in-charge placements further exacerbates the problem, leading to an accumulation of vacancies across all tiers.”
In response to the pressing circumstances, the Emergency Meeting of JKEEGA’s Guidance Council from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions has issued a resolute warning. The association has articulated that unless their concerns are addressed urgently, they will initiate a token strike on September 9. During this symbolic strike, all graduate engineers of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department will abstain from work. They will gather at the PDD complex in Jammu and Bemina, Srinagar, signifying their collective demand for immediate attention to their grievances.