Anil Vij visits protest site, accepts memorandum from power employees

Ambala: Haryana energy minister Anil Vij on Wednesday visited a protest site in Ambala Cantonment to personally receive a memorandum from members of the All Haryana Power Corporation Worker Union gathered from across the state.The union delegation was scheduled to submit the memorandum at Vij's residence, but the minister reached the protest venue himself and accepted it from union representatives on stage.Addressing the employees, Vij said several demands would be considered sympathetically. Referring to ex gratia compensation, he said the govt would try to reduce the existing five-year service condition to two years.On regularisation of contractual employees, Vij said the process had already begun and names of eligible workers were being uploaded on the govt portal.Supporting the demand for risk allowance, the minister said he would press the govt to extend the benefit to electricity employees. He also assured workers that adequate safety equipment would be provided.Vij said a joint meeting of union representatives and department officials would soon be convened to discuss pending demands.