HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Feb 12: Electricity employees in Kokrajhar extended their support to the nationwide general strike observed on Thursday following a call by central trade unions and various central federations. The strike, which was held across the country, saw participation from employees of different sectors demanding redressal of long-pending issues and policy reforms.
Responding to the nationwide call, the electricity employees of Kokrajhar staged a day-long protest programme, expressing solidarity with their counterparts across India. The strike was carried out peacefully, with employees assembling to voice their grievances and press for immediate action from the concerned authorities.
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The Electricity Employees’ Union of Kokrajhar highlighted a series of demands during the protest. One of the primary demands was the promotion of Grade III and Grade IV employees, which they said has been pending for a long time. The union members stated that timely promotion is essential to ensure career progression and maintain morale among the workforce.
Another significant demand was the reduction of the probation period for APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Limited) employees to one year, in line with the probation policy followed by APGCL (Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited) and AEGCL (Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited). The employees argued that maintaining uniformity in service conditions across power corporations would promote fairness and equality.
The union also demanded the immediate release of pending dues, which they claimed have caused financial strain to many employees. Additionally, they strongly opposed the newly introduced earned leave rules and called for their cancellation, stating that the changes have adversely affected employees’ benefits and rights.
Among other key demands were the implementation of proper service rules, regularisation of temporary employees who have been serving for years without permanent status and the scrapping of the NPC policy. The union members emphasised that these issues directly impact job security, service conditions and the overall welfare of electricity workers.
Throughout the day, the employees reiterated that their movement was aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of the workforce while ensuring better service conditions within the power sector. They urged the government and concerned authorities to address their demands at the earliest to avoid further agitation in the future. The strike in Kokrajhar concluded peacefully with participants expressing hope for a positive response from the authorities.
