Chennai: In a bid to attract more retired engineers, foremen and line inspectors to fill critical staffing gaps in the discom, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) has hiked the wages for them up to ₹30,000 per month. Experts point out that this situation could have been avoided if the utility had created a talent pool of youngsters through proper training and engagement.Retired personnel engaged in 110kV substations were so far paid ₹750 per day, while those deployed in 33/11kV substations were paid just ₹500 per day. Such a low payment structure has led to lack of interest in the jobs, and many crucial posts continue to lie vacant. This becomes a problem when equipment failures lead to power cuts, as there aren’t enough personnel to perform repair.TNPDCL board, in its latest proceedings, approved the hike in wages on the condition that only 50% of retired personnel should be engaged in substations, under the supervision of the regular staffers. Through another order, the discom has also hiked the basic wages for contract labourers from ₹766 per day to ₹965, which will cost ₹1,324 per worker per day payable to contractor (including provident fund, protective gear and GST).However, experts point out that TNPDCL has failed to create a young talent pool over the years, forcing them to rely on retired personnel to manage critical distribution networks. “TNPDCL continues to engage retired personnel based on board proceedings dated 2020. In the last six years, the discom could have trained youngsters fresh out of institutes across the state. Apart from creating employment opportunities for them, it would have helped the utility in filling key vacancies on the field. Foremen and line inspectors are supposed to climb the poles, holding the equipment. It is sad that retired personnel are expected to do the job,” he said. TNPDCL has 11 in-house training centres for its field workers.M Nagalingam, founder of TN Electricians Welfare Association, said there are at least 2 lakh certified wiremen, helpers and supervisors in the state who are recognised by the Tamil Nadu Electrical Licensing Board. “They can be trained by TNPDCL to be directly engaged in field work instead of depending on contractors who supply substandard manpower,” he said.
