Baripada: Employees of the NESCO Power Employees Union expressed their resentment during a Labour Day program, demanding a complete abolition of the contract system—which is seen as an exploitative practice—prevalent in the electricity department. They emphasized that ending this system would safeguard electricity workers from exploitation and unfair directives.
The event was organized under the leadership of the union’s district president Subramaniam Mohanty and general secretary Jyotikrishna Behera. Chief guest MP Nava Charan Majhi, keynote speaker and former Deputy Speaker as well as union advisor Sananda Marandi, guest of honor Maharani Rajyalaxmi Bhanj Deo, distinguished guest Sarasakana MLA Bhada Hansda, and honored guests like Ananta Narayan Bishoi (General Secretary of the Degree Union), Anath Bandhu Charan Das (General Secretary of the Diploma Union), Udala Executive Engineer Sanjay Kumar Das, Rairangpur Executive Engineer Ashutosh Panda, and senior member Jagadish Chandra Behera attended the program.
On the occasion, electricity workers reiterated their demand to abolish the contract system and outsourcing agencies.
The NESCO Power Employees Union, under the slogan “From Me to Unison,” raised several demands:
Stop hiring employees through agencies and regularize them according to Yardstick guidelines based on eligibility.
End the capping system in health insurance provided to regular employees working under Tata Power and increase the insurance coverage from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs.
Provide insurance benefits to retired employees.
Ensure salary, PF (Provident Fund), and ESI (Employee State Insurance) are paid to outsourced or agency workers by the 7th of each month.
Provide a fixed monthly pay slip and fuel allowance.
End mobile operating duties in all 33/11 KV PSS (Power Sub-Stations).
Appoint security personnel in all 33/11 KV PSS and other sections to prevent theft.
Begin internal recruitment/promotion processes for highly qualified employees.
During the event, Jyotilal Bishwal introduced the guests while Chandan Kumar Mohanty delivered the vote of thanks. Among other attendees were Debashish Behera, Gyanaranjan Parida, Deepak Kumar Mohanty, Deeptikanta Bhuyan, Ashish Puhan, Tapan Kumar Behera, Sapan Kumar Das, Pradeep Kumar Behera, Jyoti Prakash Mahapatra, Virasang Marandi, Suman Sanjit Mohanty, Prabir Mahapatra, Prashant Jena, and Sanjit Sethy.