PSIEC staff resent funding Khalsa celebrations

As a mark of protest, the PSIEC Staff Association has submitted a memorandum and also put up a demand notice regarding their demands which include other issues concerning their service conditions also. A gate meeting was held last week as a mark of protest and the association has also proposed to organise a protest week beginning April 5 to April 9 by wearing black badges and holding rallies which will be followed up with protest rallies at Ludhiana and Mandi Gobindgarh.

The Managing Director of the Corporation, Capt Narinder Singh when contacted stated that so far no money has been spent by the corporation towards the tercentenary function. He agreed that Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned, but this had been done by the Board of Directors some time ago. There are discussions, but so far no money has been spent, he added.

The general secretary of the staff association, Gurdip Singh alleged that preparations for the handicraft exhibition were being made by the corporation and that they had written to all members of the board demanding that their voice be heard by them when they meet to deliberate on the issue. This would be a non-revenue expenditure and the corporation is planning to spend on a non-productive project, he alleged.

The minutes of the board meeting of January 30 reveal that initially the proposal was to consider a donation of Rs 1 crore for development works at Anandpur Sahib. However, later, the resolution which was passed said that Rs 1 crore should be advanced as a loan for development works on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations. The second clause stated that the terms and conditions of the said loan would be settled later on which, according to the employees, keeps the question of the modalities of the loan very open.