Legal heir of deceased employees of Energy dept denied benefits they deserve under compassionate grounds
Jose K Joseph
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: One of the children of deceased employees of various government departments are entitled to the benefit of government employment on compassionate grounds. But the legal heirs of such employees of energy department are denied the facility and are offered an aid of Rs 2.5 lakh in lieu of employment to the detriment of over 500 families.
According to the GRIDCO Rehabilitation Assistance Regulation Act, 1997, no employment can be provided to the legal heirs of deceased employees of OSEB, GRIDCO and Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL).The details of the Act is also available on GRIDCO website.
Although, the Supreme Court judgment and the Orissa state service rules suggest that cases on rehabilitation assistance have to be considered sympathetically, the energy department rules have put a barrier on the scope of employment under rehabilitation scheme.Legal experts have opinioned that GRIDCO can frame its own rules but cannot go against the spirit of the apex court judgments and state government orders.
The number of electrocution-related deaths in energy department is higher than in any department. Human rights activists have suggested that denial of the right of legal heirs is a grave violation of rights.
When contacted, Orissa Power Transmission Corporation (OPTCL) HRD director SK Rath said the situation of the department is different.
“We are not inhumane or unconstitutional. We are aware of the claims under rehabilitation assistance. However, departments like OTPCL need people with some technical skills. Already the department is over-staffed and is facing a financial crisis. So, if we start providing employment under the rehab scheme it will worsen the financial situation,” added Rath.
Orissa POST has a copy of the letter signed by SK Rath and addressed to S Pradhan, deputy secretary to government of Orissa, department of energy which makes it clear no employment can be provided under rehabilitation scheme.
However, Ramesh Chandra Mohanty, president of Rehabilitation Committee for energy department distressed families of deceased employee’s, disagreed with the opinion of the HRD director.
“According to our information, there are many vacant posts and jobs like meter-readers, helpers and peons do not require technical qualification. The department also makes some appointments under rehabilitation scheme,” said Mohanty.
Mohanty also informed this paper that officials have been insisting on an undertaking from the victim’s family that they would not make any firther claims while giving financial assistance.
Currently, the provision for monetary aid provided to the legal heir of a deceased employee of energy department is not prevalent in other departments.
Experts Orissa POST consulted opinioned that government may still consider appointing an eligible heir in departments other than Energy sector to provide social justice.
