SRINAGAR: The power sector in Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a significant human resource deficit, reporting 4,677 vacant positions and a substantial reliance on 10,544 casual workers. This situation exists alongside a permanent workforce of 12,312 employees, according to information provided by the government on Monday.
The figures were revealed in response to a starred Assembly question posed by Kuldeep Raj Dubey. The data illustrates a structural imbalance where the number of vacancies and the dependence on casual labour, including Personnel Development Leave (PDL) and Daily Wages (TDL) workers, nearly mirrors half the strength of the permanent employee base. These non-permanent workers are currently responsible for a considerable portion of the sector’s operational tasks.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that across the primary utilities—Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), and Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL)—the workforce composition highlights systemic challenges. Critical functions such as infrastructure maintenance, fault repair, and field operations are frequently managed by staff who are not permanent employees.
The administration has acknowledged that these manpower shortages, coupled with existing infrastructure limitations, are adversely impacting the reliability of power supply, the efficiency of maintenance operations, and the effectiveness of grievance redressal mechanisms for consumers.
In an effort to mitigate the shortage, the government has initiated recruitment drives. It was stated that 60 posts for Junior Engineer (Electrical) have been referred to the designated recruiting agency, and the selection list is currently awaited. Furthermore, fresh recruitment processes have commenced within JPDCL for 260 positions. This includes 252 Junior Assistant roles, 6 Technician-III positions, and 2 Junior Stenographer posts. Financial concurrence for these recruitments is presently under review.
Official sources have indicated that these measures are intended to bolster service delivery capabilities and to decrease the sector’s dependency on temporary staffing arrangements. However, the presented data underscores a persistent structural challenge: a significant segment of the workforce responsible for maintaining the power infrastructure remains outside the framework of permanent employment. This situation raises ongoing concerns regarding the long-term stability of the workforce and the consistent reliability of power services for the region’s residents.
The Chenab Times News Desk
