Power engineers left in career limbo due to official apathy: JKEEGA

Srinagar, Dec 24: The story of power engineers in the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) is one of enduring hope met with persistent disappointment. According to aggrieved engineers, despite years of service, the promise of regularisation and career progression has remained elusive, casting a long shadow over the morale of these crucial public servants.

The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has been at the forefront, advocating tirelessly for the regularisation of power engineers.

"Our efforts led to a significant decision by the State Administrative Council (SAC) in October 2019, which aimed to address the stagnation and lack of career advancement among these engineers. This decision was to regularise the positions within two months, bypassing the usual route through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and instead using a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC)," said Peerzada Hidyatullah, president JKEEGA.

"However, despite this directive, five years on, the promise has not materialized into action. Engineers within JKPDD continue to face the indignity of retiring in the same junior grades they were appointed to, despite handling responsibilities far beyond their official designations. This situation not only affects their pension benefits but also brings to light the harsh working conditions and health challenges they endure in such a challenging demographic area as Jammu and Kashmir."

"The bureaucratic inertia has been palpable. Even after a follow-up action report was sought by the Lieutenant Governor in August 2023, the response from the administrative wing of JKPDD has been lackluster. Proposals remain 'in the pipeline', a phrase that has become a shield for inaction. The last Establishment-cum-Selection Committee meeting in February 2024 further highlighted the issue when the matter was sent back to JKPDD with queries, which remain unanswered even after ten months."

Hidyatullah said that in a recent Raabta meet at the Chief Minister's residence in Sonwar, engineers from JKEEGA once again raised this pressing issue. The Chief Minister has promised to address these grievances, particularly concerning the regularization of engineers. However, the community remains sceptical, given the history of unfulfilled promises.

"The contrast with other departments like Roads & Buildings, Public Health Engineering, and Irrigation & Flood Control, where regularization has been successfully implemented, starkly underscores the disparity."

The engineers of JKPDD, described by some as the 'sons of lesser gods', are left in limbo, yearning for recognition and the career progression they rightfully deserve. As one engineer poignantly noted, "A state cannot shine long on those who live in darkness."

"This ongoing saga of bureaucratic delay and administrative indifference not only hampers individual careers but also impacts the efficiency and morale of an essential service sector in one of India's most challenging regions," he said.