Public Relations Directorate

Public Relations Directorate
Public Relations, is a specialized profession, practiced by thousands of people around the World. Some companies have their own Public Relations department where as other hire Public Relations firms. The main job of PR department in every organization is to build the positive image of organization.
Public Relations mean the eyes and ears of the Organization. Public Relations Department of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board) was set in 1966 and made fully operational in 1975. Since then it has very successfully performed its jobs of building positive image of organization. Presently the department is under administrative control of Chief/IR&W Sh. R.P. Pandove. The department has personnel strength as below:

Er. Anil Verma, Sr. Xen
Sh. Mohinder Mohan Singh, Information and Public Relations Officer
Sh. Harpreet Singh Aulakh, Information and Public Relations Officer
Sh. Manmohan Singh, Information Officer
Sh. Gopal Sharma, Information Officer
Sh. Sucha Lal, Information Officer
Sh. Manjit Singh Chahal, Information Officer
Sh. Rajinder Singh, Information Officer (Right to Information)
Sh. Surjit Singh Bhatti, Information Officer
Sh. Baljit Singh, Information Officer
Sh. Jagroop Singh, Information Officer.

The main objective of the Public Relations department is to build the Positive Image of the PSPCL. The Department is regularly issuing Press Notes and ensuring their publication /telecast in Print and Electronic Media. The Directorate also issues advertisements to Print and Electronic Media. On various occasions Press Conferences/ Interviews are being organized by this Directorate. The PR Office is sending Daily Press clippings related to Power sector to CMD and Directors early in the morning. The Public Relations office also undertakes the Publicity arrangements relating to the celebrations of Republic Day, Independence Day, Formation Day, Foundation/Inauguration ceremonies of various Sub Stations and Sports tournaments etc.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Punjab State Power Corporation/Punjab State Transmission are vital organizations of the Punjab State. Industrial Relation Branch is playing an important role to maintain cordial relations between management and employees, and also supervising the implementation of Labour Laws under the able guidance of Sh. R.P. Pandove Chief/Admn. & IR. Powercom, Patiala through the following field officers:-

Sr. No	Name Sh/Sarv Sh
1.	B.S. Gurm CWO, GHTP, Lehra Mohabbat
2.	CWO GNDTP Bathinda Vacant
3.	CWO, GGSSTP, Ropar Vacant
4.	C.B. Garg, LWO (H.Q.) O.C.B. o/o Chief/Admn. & IR. Powercom Patiala.
5.	Kanwar Sawraj LWO, UBDC PH Malikpur Pathankot
6.	H.S. Brar LWO GGSSTP, Ropar
7.	LWO, Lehra Mohabbat Vacant
8.	LWO, GNDTP, Bathinda Vacant
9.	LWO, Hydel Projects, PTA Vacant
10.	LWO, MHP Talwara Vacant
11.	Baldev Parkash, LWO, ASHP Anandpur Sahib
12.	J.S. Chandi (O.C.B.) ALWO. O/o SE/Op. Maqbool Road, Amritsar
13.	TJS Lamba (UDC) ALWO O/o SE/Op. Circle, Kapurthala HQ at SDO/Civil Lines JLD
14.	Sudershan Sharma (Circle Asstt.) ALWO O/o SE/Op. Circle, Bathinda
15.	Sukhvir Singh Sidhu (LDC) ALWO O/o Sr.XEN City Division Barnala.
16.	Shivdeep Singh (Circle Asstt.) ALWO O/o DS Circle, Ferozepur HQ at Mukatsar
17	J.S. Brar ALWO (OCB)O/o CE/O& M GNDTP Bathinda
18	Satwant Singh Hans, ALWO (OCB) O/O Chief/Admn. Patiala for CE/Op. (South) Patiala.

Industrial Relation Branch deals with implementation of various Labour Laws some of them are as under:-

Labour Court cases/Industrial Tribunal/Astt. Labour Commissioner cases:
At present this office is dealing with the Labour court cases of 6 No. labour Courts in Punjab and Industrial Tribunal/Asstt. Labour Commissioner Cases of Powercom/Transco under the kind control of above said officers throughout the Punjab.

Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act,1952.
This act is only applicable to the work charged, contingent, daily wagers and part time workers. Under the provisions of this act, Board contributes towards EPF employer’s contribution Fund equivalent to 12% of basic pay of the workers. The amount is deposited with the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The provisions of this act are applicable to the workers from the day one of their service drawing wages up to 6500/-PM. The instructions are issued from time to time to the field offices regarding implementation of the act ibid. The act provides many benefits to workers i.e Employees Deposit Linked Insurance, Employees Pension Scheme. The periodical inspections are carried out by the officers of this office to ensure that provisions of this act are complied with by all the covered unites.

Industrial Disputes Act,1947
This act was enacted for speedy redressed of industrial disputes to ensure industrial Pease. Efforts were made to settle the industrial disputes amicably through conciliation machinery of the state provided under the Act. Many cases were settled mutually with the workers.

Employees State Insurance,1948
This act is only applicable to the work charged, contingent, daily wagers working in units registered under the Factory Act-1948 which falls within the covered area declared by the State Govt. and drawing wages up to 10000/-PM. The Chief Welfare Officer, Labour Welfare Officers, Assistant Labour Welfare Officers of the Board are making sincere efforts for implementation of the Act, by ensuring provision of Medical facilities, Maternity Leave, compensation and are conducting periodical inspections in their respective area.

Factory Act-1948
This act is applicable to all such Sub Stations/Power Houses/Thermal Plants where more than 10 workers are employed and ME Laboratories/Workshops where more than 20 workers are employed. To get this act implemented one Chief Welfare Officer & Labour Welfare Officer has been appointed in two Thermal Plants (GNDTP Bathinda & GHTP Lehra Mohabbat) In GGSSTP Ropar one Chief Welfare Officer & two Labour Welfare Officers have been appointed as the total No. of workers is more than 4500. Over time is being paid to the factory workers as per provisions of this Act. Maternity benefits and leave facilities are also being provided to the female workers. Safety officer has been appointed where 1000 or more workmen are employed. Similarly, Canteens have been provided for 250 or more workers and a Medical Officer has been employed for every 500 workers.

Payment of Gratuity Act-1972
The provisions of the Act were applicable to the PSEB regular employees as well as the work-charged employees and remained in force from the date of commencement i.e. 25.8.1973. We succeeded in getting exemption retrospectively i.e. from the date of its enforcement vide Govt. Notification dated 8.1.2004.
Efforts were made to resolve Union disputes and demands at local level through our field staff (ALWOs) by involving them in meetings being held by field officers from time to time.
Instructions were issued to the field officers that all the cases where disciplinary action is required to be taken against the erring employees should be referred to the ALWO of the area or if some retrenchment is to be effected, the case should be discussed with the ALWO of the area and his written advice should be sought. This is likely to reduce the pendency of labour court cases and wherever employees have resorted to litigation, proper defence from the Board's side can be ensured. As the field officers generally do not follow the instructions issued in this regard from this office, this step will bind the concerned officers to take any disciplinary action only after clearance from the Industrial Relations Section.