Cutting of posts in KSEB will not be happening soon; will hold talks with new chairman of KSEB, says minister

KOCHI: As the move to cut 5,615 posts in KSEB became controversial, department minister K Krishnankutty said it was only an internal proposal. The minister told Kerala Kaumudi that he will soon hold talks with the new chairman of KSEB, Biju Prabhakar.

Decision will be taken only after discussing it with the board's top officials and organizations. It is proposed to reduce 1,098 supervisors, 468 linemen, 1,893 electricity workers and halve the number of cashiers. Years ago, the Regulatory Commission had recommended reducing the number of employees on the board from 35,936 to 30,321. This is the list prepared by the chief engineer of the HR management department accordingly. Officials say that at present there are only more than 27,000 employees and this will only decrease proportionately.

The allegations of the organizations are that the number of unnecessary posts is increasing and essential posts are being cut. KSEB Workers Association (CITU) and KEWF (AITUC) had warned that they will go on strike if it is implemented unilaterally.

Post, present, future, decreasing to

Overseer Electrical.....................5,593........4,495..........1,098

Overseer Civil.................................80...............2......... ......78

Electricity Worker.......................5,311........3,418..........1,893

Lineman......................................9,635.........9,167 ............ 468

Senior Assistant........................2,880.........1,826..........1,054

Junior Assistant/Cashier...........1,410............835.............575

Asst Eng. (Electrical)............... 2,340..........2,233............107

Sub.Eng. (Electrical)................3,492..........3,730...........238

Reasons to reduce posts

1. It is not the field supervisors who are being reduced, but those who are working on a shift basis in sub-stations. Most of these are contract workers.
2. Linemen can be reduced in places where work area became less because underground cables are laid
3. Cashiers can be reduced as more than 70 percent are online payments.
4. Readers can be avoided as smart meters are coming.

It will be checked how the internal directive of the department was leaked.

K Krishnankutty

Power Minister