Electricity field workers complain lack of equipment, spares and protective gears
Dimapur, Dec. 8 (EMN): The central office of All Nagaland Electricity Field Workers Association (ANEFWA) has warned of agitation if the state government fails to upgrade “transformers and lines, and issue us with adequate equipment, materials tools”.
The worker’s union issued a statement on Friday informing about what was stated as their ‘daily struggle but a thankless task – unrecognised and unappreciated by the government at all levels.’ according to the statement: “We are literally risking our lives and limbs on a daily basis. Over the years, many of our field workers have died on fatal accidents while on duty, and many more badly injured, some handicapped for life, by electrocution.
“Such is our risk factor, that the number of deaths and injuries borne by our electricity field workers while in the line of duty could be even higher than the police forces or any other service departments. We are practically on 24 hours duty, and we are frequently called for duties at odd hours, even while we are having our meals at home- morning or night. But we always respond and try our best in the interest of public service.”
But despite of the workers ‘sacrifices’, it stated, all they get in return were ‘undue harassment, insults, and neglect’.
“Our pleas to provide fuse wires to attend fuse call duties are barely met, we are asked to maintain transformers without transformer oil and necessary protective systems, we are asked to climb poles without safety gear, we are compelled to work in the rains in open without raincoats, we undertake line checking and restoration duties on hired vehicles as departmental vehicles are not sufficient, and the list goes on.
“In spite of years of requests and explanations, government also still refuses to recognize us as operation and maintenance staff, but simply categorise us as under ‘work- charge’ which is technically totally wrong. We are not ‘charged against works’, but we are day in and day out working for operations and maintenance of power supply across the state,” it asserted.
The association accused ‘seasoned politicians and highly educated bureaucrats’ of treating them poorly. “When we justifiably requested that 266 work- charged staffs be regularized, it has been turned down. The government forces us to hire lawyers and advocates even to demand for the smallest of what is due and legitimate for us,” it stated.
While admitting that cent per cent efficiency among the staff was impossible it stated that “maybe 1% or 2% are failing in their proper duties” as was the case any other organization. “But because of this miniscule minority, government heaps insults upon our members alleging that we are not performing properly, and refuses to listen to us sympathetically.
“We therefore feel that punishing 99% of us just for the shortcomings of a very small minority is total injustice, and we may be forced to fight for our rights...hence unless the government takes timely remedial measures in upgrading the transformers and lines, and issue us with adequate equipment, materials tools, and if agitation is the only language that the government shall understand, then we shall be compelled to agitate,” it announced.
