KSEB meter reader rank list to expire soon, no appointment to 50 percent of vacancies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the KSEB meter reader rank list of 2021 expires on March 18, only 218 people have been appointed from it so far. Now there are more than 249 vacancies but no appointment. Out of the first 250 people on the list, 142 have crossed the age limit. The request of the rank holders is to extend the validity of the list and appoint at least a few remaining ones. A petition was given to the Chief Minister, Power Minister, Board Directors and Chairman.

In 2014, PSC released the notification for the post of Meter Reader / Spot Biller. There were 1721 vacancies then. The rank list of the exam conducted in 2016 was published on March 19, 2021. Meanwhile, 799 vacancies were cut in 2019 due to financial crisis. Later, when the posts were eliminated, the vacancies were reduced to 436.

There are 600 people in the main list. 400 in the supplementary. In 2020, the then Power Minister MM Mani announced that all 436 vacancies would be filled urgently. PSC has sent advice memo in January 2022 to 218 candidates which is 50 percent of the vacancy. The second Pinarayi government postponed the appointment of the remaining 218 vacancies. This was based on the KSEB report that meter readers are not required while installing smart meters. With this, all the 31 vacancies created by promotion have been removed from the list. Contract / daily wage workers are appointed as meter readers.

No appointment has been made to the retirement vacancies for four years considering the regulatory commission's proposal to reduce the number of employees. As a result, more than 3,000 employees have been cut. The CPM Politburo and the government have decided against smart meters. Still, there is no appointment. AN Anwar and M Krishnadas, office-bearers of the Rank Holders Association demanded that the Chief Minister should intervene in this.