The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : CPDCL set to gain with IT slump

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

CPDCL set to gain with IT slump

Swathi.V

“High attrition rate forces company to conduct recruitment camps frequently”

In 2006, about 188 candidates were recruited but only about a hundred still working
More than 50 did not even join, while about 30 candidates resigned later

HYDERABAD: In a perfect instance of unintended consequence, the Central Power Distribution Company Ltd. stands to benefit from the software slump that is of late wreaking havoc with organisations as well as individuals. The company that is facing high employee attrition among its new cadres of Assistant Engineers may now hope for a turnaround thanks to the present recession in software employment. Recruitment of Assistant Engineers—the middle level cadre in CPDCL, APTransco and APGenco—is done mainly through a written test. The tests and the accompanying group discussions are usually outsourced to any chosen university, which releases the results in sealed cover to the company. An interview, though nominal, is conducted after which appointments on contract basis are given to the candidates. However, few more candidates are always kept in buffer zone, so that they may be called for an interview in case of desertions by the selected candidates, which is considerably high.

Remedy

“Candidates either do not join at all, or leave the organisation before completion of two years. As a result, the company is forced to conduct recruitment campaigns for more than three times a year,” says a senior official. As a remedy perhaps, the company made it imperative for the candidates to vest their original certificates in the HR Department, redeemable only on payment of Rs.10,000 before the contract ends. However, the certificates are taken back soon, albeit after due payment.

For instance, in 2006, for about 188 candidates that were recruited in six drives, only about a hundred are still working with the company. More than 50 did not even join while about 30 candidates resigned later.

“They are mostly leaving for lucrative jobs in software or for higher studies abroad. This is the reason why the company has recently issued a circular allowing a lien of five years for those who want to go abroad. But this opportunity is not for those on contract employment,” a Divisional Engineer says.

Few more employees quit for better opportunities in the sister power companies such as APTransco and APGenco, where the employment is not on contractual basis. Some others are leaving on mutual transfers to other Discoms. Though the transfers seem innocuous, officials say that meritorious candidates are being replaced with mediocre staff.

Committed

“Assistant Engineers form the backbone of any company. When we joined, we had a sense of commitment towards the organisation as we felt that it was here that we should learn and grow. Such dedication is missing in the present generation. Employed on contract basis, they are always on the lookout for greener pastures. We even had instances of Assistant Engineers committing thefts before they left,” reveals another official.

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