Timid power department employees eyeing soft target
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 11, 2021 -

AGITATING power department employees threatening to cease all maintenance and repair works with exception to that of the health sector is indeed worrisome as it's unimaginable to live without electricity in this age.

It needs no reminding that electricity is one of the most important blessings that science has given to mankind and uninterrupted power supply nowadays defines progression of any society.

With increasing use of electrical equipment and gadgets, electricity has become a part of modern life and one cannot think of a world without it.

From its age-old use to light rooms, work fans and domestic appliances to the modern day's air conditioner, television, computer and many other recently developed gadgets and tools that provide comfort to people and lighten manual labour, non-stop power supply is of greatest importance in this era of Covid-19 pandemic for it is essential to operate lifesaving devices and produce medical oxygen without which saving patients in critical condition wouldn't be possible.

Though it's a blessing in disguise that Manipur is bereft of big factories and modern means of transportation that consume significant amount of power, the fact remains that there are many small-scale industries all of which depend on electricity.

Moreover, had there been insufficient power supply like in the past when load-shedding used to the norm, then the Covid-19 situation in the state might have been very grave.

The primary reason why the government's prohibition on venturing out of home to curb spread of the viral disease was followed by the masses is due to electricity ensuring round the clock entertainment and recreationalactivities within the homely comfort.

Thus, even if the demand in pursuance for implementing recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission for electricity department employees seems justified, the JAC ceasing operation of prepaid vending counters and declaring that department employees would abstain from tending to technical snags is outright violation of the people's rights.

Any intention to cause inconvenience to the power consumers, if any, in pursuit of material comfort of the employees will not only be loathsome but is certain to trigger public outrage.

Similar to the agitating employees insisting that they are working in the essential service sector, it is essential that public too have uninterrupted power supply; especially so after introduction of the pre-paid meter system.

Therefore, it is obvious that the masses would perceive abstention from general service by the agitating employees as victimising the soft target public rather than prodding the conscience of the minister concerned or the department officials if at all the employees feel that they deserve salary compatible to their post and service.

Instead of trying to push the masses back to the dark-age, literally, it is advisable that the employees shut down power supply to residences of the policy makers or derail functioning of administrative departments, which have outstanding power dues, for such a mode of agitation would definitely be most effective.

It must be noted here that the Department of Electricity was bifurcated into two corporates and pre-paid power meters was introduced by the then Congress government for efficient service and generate healthy revenues.

However, the employees decrying discriminatory salary and trying to turn their ire on the public smacks of the corporates unable to justify reason for the bifurcation.