Tangedco to fill up 50 per cent vacant posts with retired staff

“Chairman and Managing Director of the Tangedco has accorded administrative approval for filling up the 50 per cent of vacant posts of junior engineer/Electrical II Grade in in non-Grid 110 KV SS and assistant engineer/junior engineer/Electrical I Grade in Grid 110 KV SS by engaging retired officials or staff in the level of the same grade for shift duty through outsourcing for maintaining uninterrupted power supply in all 110 KV substations,” said a recent order.

The retired officials attending the shift duties would be paid Rs 750 per shift, subject to a maximum of 30 days per month, the order said, adding that no substations should be operated with only retired officials. Sources said that Tangedco has also decided to identify the substations which can be outsourced like the three substations, including one in the headquarters.

The utility has decided to engage retired officials by paying a consolidated payment while more than 37 per cent of sanctioned posts in various cadres are lying vacant for years.

According to Tangedco sources, about 51,193 posts against the total sanctioned posts of 1,35,470 are vacant. Of the total vacant posts, 94 per cent of the vacancies are among the class three and four posts.

The decision to employ retired staff would deny employment opportunities for thousands of engineering graduates in the state, said Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees general secretary Rajendran.

“The move would also deny promotion for the serving engineers as well,” he said, adding that the management has decided to engage retired officials and outsource the substations to cut down salary expense without taking into account the safety of the equipment in the substations.