HPSEBL Employees Step Up OPS Demand, Warn of Stronger Protests Over Staff Shortages
A strong show of unity was witnessed at Ambedkar Chowk in Shimla on Wednesday as employees, engineers and pensioners associated with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) gathered under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to press for the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and raise several long-pending issues affecting the Board.
The rally, organised at the call of the HP State Electricity Board Employees Union, saw participation from employees, engineers and pensioners who came together to draw attention to concerns they say have remained unresolved for years.
Addressing the gathering, JAC Co-Convenor Hira Lal Verma said the foremost demand was the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for Board employees. He pointed out that the CCS Pension Rules, 1972, had been adopted by the then Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board in 1974. Despite OPS being implemented for other sections of state government employees, HPSEBL employees are yet to receive the same benefit, he noted.
Employee leaders urged the state government to take an early decision on the matter during 2026, recalling assurances made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu regarding the issue.
Concern Over Thousands of Vacant Posts
Apart from the pension demand, the Joint Action Committee also expressed serious concern over what it described as a growing manpower crisis within the electricity board.
According to employee representatives, nearly 11,600 posts remain vacant across various categories in HPSEBL. They argued that the shortage has placed a heavy burden on the existing workforce and could impact the efficient functioning and maintenance of the state’s power system.
The JAC demanded that the government take immediate steps to fill vacant positions, saying adequate staffing is essential to ensure reliable power services and reduce pressure on employees.
Warning of Intensified Agitation
Speakers at the rally cautioned that if meaningful action is not taken on their demands, the employees may be compelled to intensify their agitation in the coming months.
The gathering was addressed by several leaders, including Nitish Bhardwaj, President of the HPSEB Employees Union, along with Er. A.S. Gupta, Kuldeep Singh Kharwara, Kameshwar Dutt Sharma, Mukesh Rathi, Er. Sunil Grover and Prashant Sharma, who reiterated the need for timely government intervention on both the pension and staffing issues.
The rally underscored the growing concern among HPSEBL employees over financial security after retirement and the challenges posed by staff shortages, with unions hoping the government will respond positively to their demands.
