JAGTIAL: Protesting over the State Electricity Board not increasing salaries for artisans, a duty operator, died by suicide at a tree near the electricity sub-station of Polasa village in Jagtial district.
Ankkam Chinnabuchham Raju was depressed after contract labour union leader Nagaraju was suspended by the board for continuing to organise dharnas since past 15 days. The dharnas are being held to demand that the government enhance salaries of artisans in addition to regularising their services.
E. Sridhar, state general secretary of the contract labour union, after attending the final rites of Raju, maintained that service rule for all employees working in electricity department should be the same. Instead, artisans are being paid poorly compared to other staff.
A note was found with Raju stating that he was taking his life as he was upset with the stubborn behaviour of the state government in not conceding their genuine demands.
The union leader demanded the state government pay ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to the family members of Raju and a job for one of his family members. At least now, APSEB should implement rules uniformly for all employees, he stated.
