OPTCL tops list of PSUs facing highest employee deaths in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) tops among public enterprises in the state for the highest number of employee deaths during their service period.
Around 3,000 individuals have passed away in service at 36 government undertakings since their inceptions due to different reasons. Of them, 1,495 employees —around 50% of the total—were from OPTCL, which is responsible for transmitting power to Odisha from various sources within and outside of the state, a reply by public enterprises minister Ashok Panda in the state assembly on Friday revealed.
Though the cause of deaths include electrocution, accidents and diseases, PSUs involved in power sector seem to be witnessing more deaths as Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) witnessed the second highest 482 deaths. The two companies together account for more than 65% of the total number of deaths.
While OHPC was formed in 1996, OPTCL was formed in 2004 as part of power sector reforms. However, deaths in these companies also include those in Odisha State Electricity Board (OSEB), which was established way back in 1961, but was split into OHPC and Gridco in 1996 and its functions, assets and liabilities transferred to new entities. OPTCL was carved out of Gridco to take care of transmission business while the latter remains the bulk power supplier.
“The death figures are not surprising given that these are deaths over a period of six decades,” said P K Pradhan, a former director (commercial) with Gridco, who also worked with the erstwhile OSEB.
With 210 deaths, Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), faced the third highest deaths followed by now closed Idcol Kalinga Iron Works (145) and Odisha Mining Corporation (89).
The public enterprises minister said the various PSUs have different ways of offering compensation to kin of deceased. OPTCL and OPHC have given ex-gratia as applicable to kin of deceased employees. A draft policy of OSRTC to offer jobs to kin of dead employees is pending with the transport department.
Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), which recorded 42 employee deaths, discontinued compensatory appointments since June 2015.