The standoff between protesting lineman apprentices and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in Patiala has escalated dramatically. Despite a police baton charge three days ago, the 2,600-member Lineman Apprenticeship Union Punjab has refused to back down, now rejecting the PSPCL's recruitment drive and planning to intensify their agitation.
Background of the Dispute
The union's grievances stem from repeated written assurances allegedly breached by power department officials. According to the union, apprentices held protests from April 9 to 27 and resumed duties on April 28 after management promised to schedule a mandatory Punjabi language qualification exam within a week. However, bureaucratic delays and disputed attendance records led to another strike on May 7.
Union members claim officials gave a written commitment to resolve the issue and hold the exam by June 30, but two weeks passed without any formal notification. The union began an indefinite protest in Patiala on June 1 near the PSPCL office.
Turning Point
"The turning point occurred on June 3 during a formal review meeting, where the PSPCL management abruptly reneged on conducting the Punjabi exam altogether. Instead, officials directed the candidates to finish their ongoing apprenticeship, promising a 35% reservation quota in future recruitments," said Manpreet, a union member.
On June 5, hundreds of apprentices blocked the secondary gate of the PSPCL headquarters. Local police responded with a lathi-charge, leaving several protesters hospitalized with grievous injuries. Despite the violence, the protesters continued their sit-in, demanding a permanent solution.
PSPCL's Recruitment Drive
The PSPCL announced a direct recruitment campaign on Monday to fill 6,289 assistant lineman (ALM) vacancies. Official circulars indicate 3,289 posts for candidates holding matriculation with a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in the lineman trade, and around 3,000 posts directly for ITI holders in electrician or wireman trades.
The protesting union members condemned these advertisements, claiming there are currently no unengaged apprenticeship certificate holders in Punjab and that the criteria would effectively give state jobs to candidates from outside the state.
"We have already cleared our main computer-based test (CBT). By failing to accommodate us directly for ALM posts and ignoring our seniority, the government is deliberately sidelining local youth," said Satnam Singh, another union member.
Union's Ultimatum
The union issued an ultimatum to the Punjab government to promote the 2,600 active apprentices to the rank of assistant lineman. Protesters warned that if the administration fails to act, they will block the residences of ruling party MLAs, target the state power minister, and confront the government during the upcoming election cycle.
Official Response
H K Trehan, director (commercial), PSPCL, could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. However, a senior PSPCL official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "The protesters want to be recruited without taking any exam, which is not possible. This has never happened in the past. The posts advertised on Monday made eligible the ITI qualified protesters and even those who are not ITI qualified but have one year of NAC certificate."
