Dimapur, October15, (MExN): The Department of Power stated that it is constrained and pained to issue the press release in response to the Press Note issued by the All Nagaland Electricity Field Workers Association (ANEFWA) dated 13th October 2011. L. Kire, IFS, Commissioner & Secretary to Govt. of Nagaland. Department of Power in a press release stated that they are supportive of the field workers demands but fulfillment of mandatory procedures take time. . The Department stated that the ANEFWA demand for creation of 381 posts within 3 months is totally unjustified and devoid of any logic since there is an existing Govt ban on creation of posts and also due to the restrictions of post creation required under the 13th Finance Commission Award since the State is already over burdened with annual non plan expenditure of about 65% on salaries as against the requirement of restricting to 35%.
The Power Department stated that on receipt of the ultimatum dated 18th August 2011, from the Chief Engineer ( Power), Government had initiated the proposals for :-Creation of 381 posts as per the demand of ANEFWA to P&AR Department, Chief Engineer ( Power), was directed to start the process for filling up vacancies, Enhancement of risk allowance to work charged staff from Rs 50/- to Rs 300/- per month at par with regular field staff, Enhancement of uniform allowance from Rs 500/- to Rs 700/-.
The Department in the note justified its stand by stating that the approval of the P&AR Department for creation of 381 posts was obtained on 11th October 2011 which was endorsed for Finance Department concurrence on 12th October 2011. The procedure for post creation requires further approval of Post creation committee, and Cabinet. The Department pointed out that it was impossible to fix a definite time frame for getting all the mandatory approvals before notification of the posts creation
The Finance Department had already approved for Enhancement of risk allowance for work charged staff from Rs 50/- to Rs 300/- per month at par with regular field staff dated 13th October 2011.
The Finance Department had also approved for Enhancement of uniform allowance from Rs 500/- to Rs 1000/- dated 13th October 2011, an increase of Rs 300/- from their demand. In addition to that, the department also stated that it had already proposed to Finance Department for creation of a welfare corpus fund for field staff with contribution from both Government and employees for grant of ex – gratia in cases of unfortunate accidents or death while performing duty.
The Power Department thus asserted that it refuted all the allegations made therein and issued the press release to place all actual facts to the public and the esteemed consumers who stands to suffer in the event of a tool down strike and that it is for the public to judge whether the charges made against the department of Power is justified or reasonable. The public should not be made to suffer on account of indefinite tools down strike proposed by ANEFWA wef 24th October 2011.
The Power Department stated that on receipt of the ultimatum dated 18th August 2011, from the Chief Engineer ( Power), Government had initiated the proposals for :-Creation of 381 posts as per the demand of ANEFWA to P&AR Department, Chief Engineer ( Power), was directed to start the process for filling up vacancies, Enhancement of risk allowance to work charged staff from Rs 50/- to Rs 300/- per month at par with regular field staff, Enhancement of uniform allowance from Rs 500/- to Rs 700/-.
The Department in the note justified its stand by stating that the approval of the P&AR Department for creation of 381 posts was obtained on 11th October 2011 which was endorsed for Finance Department concurrence on 12th October 2011. The procedure for post creation requires further approval of Post creation committee, and Cabinet. The Department pointed out that it was impossible to fix a definite time frame for getting all the mandatory approvals before notification of the posts creation
The Finance Department had already approved for Enhancement of risk allowance for work charged staff from Rs 50/- to Rs 300/- per month at par with regular field staff dated 13th October 2011.
The Finance Department had also approved for Enhancement of uniform allowance from Rs 500/- to Rs 1000/- dated 13th October 2011, an increase of Rs 300/- from their demand. In addition to that, the department also stated that it had already proposed to Finance Department for creation of a welfare corpus fund for field staff with contribution from both Government and employees for grant of ex – gratia in cases of unfortunate accidents or death while performing duty.
The Power Department thus asserted that it refuted all the allegations made therein and issued the press release to place all actual facts to the public and the esteemed consumers who stands to suffer in the event of a tool down strike and that it is for the public to judge whether the charges made against the department of Power is justified or reasonable. The public should not be made to suffer on account of indefinite tools down strike proposed by ANEFWA wef 24th October 2011.
