Contractual employees of power distribution company BSES called off their week-long strike on Monday. However, several expressed anger after the death of three people in a span of three days — two died of electrocution while fixing cables and another committed suicide.
The decision came soon after former Law Minister and patron of the Delhi Vidyut Board Employees’ Union Somnath Bharti met the disgruntled workers on Monday morning.
“We first met Mr. Bharti and later the BSES management. We have decided to call off the strike for now as a committee has been set up. It will file a report on our issues and submit it to the company within a month,” said union general secretary D.C. Kapil. The committee has members of the union, BSES, and a few officials of the Delhi government. The union workers pressed the company that 28-year-old Sheesh Ram, who hanged himself at his residence, took the extreme step owing to “immense pressure” at workplace. However, the discoms, while calling it “an unfortunate incident”, said, “Sheesh, a linesman working for an electrical contractor [M/s P. K. Electricals], committed suicide as he was reportedly under depression due to some domestic issues. He had been on 15-day leave since June 10,” said a BRPL spokesperson.
In another case, several linesmen agitated and demanded that the company put in place adequate safety mechanisms with proper equipment to secure workers of electrocution. This happened as a 40-year-old lineman with the BSES and a young boy in Kondli were electrocuted. The colleagues of deceased lineman Kailash accused their seniors of not providing them with necessary safety equipment despite repeated requests. A case of causing death by negligence and negligent conduct with respect to machinery has been registered at the local police stations, and investigations are under way.
Kailash and his helper Aziz were sent to a house in Pul Prahladpur. Aziz told the police in his statement that he and Kailash were handed over certain safety equipment, but not the safety belts. He alleged that he had verbally complained about the lack of certain safety gears to the higher authorities, but to no avail. In any case, Kailash and Aziz left for work without the safety belts.
BSES officials said, “Our internal accident enquiry committee is investigating this case. We will be able to give a detailed response once the investigation is complete.”
The week-long strike ended soon after Delhi Vidyut Board Employees Union patron Somnath Bharti met the workers
