Twenty outsourced meter readers climbed a water tank near Mata Kaushalya Hospital in Patiala on Wednesday, intensifying their ongoing protest against the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The demonstrators, members of the PSPCL Meter Readers' Union, demanded immediate release of pending salaries and regularisation of their services, while also opposing the installation of smart meters.
Protest disrupts entry to powercom headquarters
The protest, which began on June 16, escalated on Wednesday morning when demonstrators briefly surrounded the main entry gate of the power utility's headquarters on Mall Road. The blockade lasted 15-20 minutes, preventing officials and employees from entering the office. The DSP (City-1) Sanjeev Singla arrived at the scene and persuaded the protesters to move away from the gate, allowing entry to resume.
Union leaders, however, denied blocking the gate and accused the power utility's security staff of creating the obstruction. The meter readers' union, which has been protesting since June 23, escalated its agitation by climbing the water tank, while other members continued their demonstration on Mall Road.
Demands include regularisation and pending salaries
State president of the meter readers' union, Lakhwinder Singh, reiterated the union's key demands: immediate release of pending salaries and regularisation of services. He also voiced strong opposition to the installation of smart meters, accusing the PSPCL management of ignoring their concerns.
Harvinder Sharma, president of the Outsource Employees Union, alleged that despite assurances from the Punjab Government regarding outsourced employees, the powercom management had failed to initiate the regularisation process. The outsourced employees have been agitating since June 16, demanding regularisation, clearance of pending salaries, and other dues.
Police intervention and ongoing agitation
Police officials, including DSP Sanjeev Singla, mediated the situation, convincing protesters to vacate the gate area. However, union leaders maintained that the protest would continue until their demands were met. The meter readers' union has vowed to escalate further if the PSPCL management does not respond positively.
The protest highlights the ongoing discontent among outsourced employees in Punjab's power sector, who claim they are denied basic rights and job security despite performing critical roles such as meter reading. The union's opposition to smart meters stems from fears of job losses, as the technology could render manual meter reading redundant.
