MSEDCL extends Rs 11 crore aid to Covid-19 victim families in Ngp circle
| Date :22-Jun-2022 |
Staff Reporter
Covid-19 wrecked havoc across countries and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), too, was not left untouched from its dark shadow. In Nagpur Circle alone, 22 officer and employees plus some contractual workers succumbed to the deadly virus. To help the grieving families tide over the crisis, the company provided assistance to tune of Rs 11 crore.
Most of the casualties in MSEDCL occurred during the deadly second wave. Within a fortnight, the Covid-19 positive cases jumped significantly and the officers and workers on ground were worst affected. As the lockdown was into effect, the MSEDCL manpower was on duty day and night to ensure that critical electricity infrastructure remains fine tuned. The aim was to ensure uninterrupted power supply to homes as citizens were gripped by fear psychosis.
MSEDCL nurtured their social commitment by giving them maximum financial support along with patience and generosity. The company did not forget the services rendered by contractual staff and their families too were provided all possible assistance.
Similarly, MSEDCL Board had already committed to absorb one member from each of the 22 families into regular employment of the company. Going beyond that, the company has also decided to provide monthly subsistence allowance of Rs 4,000 per family till one dependent is not absorbed in the employment.
During the two waves of Covid-19 period, when all the transactions in the world came to a standstill, there was no interruption in the services of hospitals, law and order, work from home of the employees, for which uninterrupted power supply was most critical. So these employees working day and night, mostly in groups, got afflicted with Covid-19. The most critical factor that time was shortage of oxygenated beds as positive patients number reached almost 10,000 within a fortnight.
A total of 1,157 employees in Nagpur Circle were affected by Covid-19 during the first and second wave. This included Janmitra along with the Superintendent of Engineers. Of these, unfortunately 33 employees lost their lives. This included 1 outsourced employees. Out of these deceased employees, 22 families were eligible for assistance and their families have been provided assistance of Rs 30 lakh each by MSEDCL and Rs 20 lakh each by insurance companies with which the company had tied-up.
Energy Minister Dr Nitin Raut, Vijay Singhal, Managing Director, MSEDCL, meanwhile took steps for ensuring 100 per cent immunisation of MSEDCL employees. Instructions were also relayed to provide immediate medical care and necessary financial assistance to the employees without any obstruction and immediate help to their families Were.
Suhas Rangari, Regional Director, Nagpur Circle, MSEDCL, reviewed the situation from time to time. Under the guidance of Nagpur Circle Chief Engineer Dilip Dodke, Assistant General Manager Pradip Satpute and Human Resources Department, Deputy Chief Industrial Relations Officer Sachin Lahane, Senior Manager (Finance and Accounts) Ashok Paunikar and Finance Department took efforts to process the claims and ensure speedy disbursal of aid.