With both arms lost at work, monthly pension proving elusive for Satnam

Indian Express

5 days ago

A tragic incident that occurred on August 28, 2024, in Phase 8, Mohali, continues to haunt not only Satnam Singh but anyone who hears about it.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Satnam, 29, shared that he was working as a lineman under a contractor for the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The accident happened while he was repairing a power line on a pole. After completing the repair, as he was climbing down, he was suddenly electrocuted and fell. When he regained consciousness, he was in a hospital with one of his arms already amputated. A few days later, his condition worsened and he was admitted to the PGIMER, where doctors informed him that the second arm would also need to be amputated.
'Since that day, my life has come to a complete standstill. I've lost the ability to work. The only thing I constantly see is my elderly mother, who once depended on me. I used to support her and run the household, but now I'm forced to rely on her, even for survival. I feel like a burden,' Satnam said with tears in his eyes.
Struggling for pension
The 29-year-old was hopeful of receiving a monthly pension of Rs 14,000 through the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) — a benefit for differently-abled workers. But for more than nine months, he has been stuck in a bureaucratic maze of forms, medical board approvals, and paperwork. Each visit to a government office brings a new excuse or delay.
'It feels like my life is now trapped in files… and I've become a burden on my aged mother,' he added. Satnam said that he has been informed that his final medical examination has been approved and that within a week, his documents will be ready, and his pension will begin.
What the ESIC pension rules say
A minimum of six months of ESIC contribution is mandatory; in cases of permanent disability, 100 per cent of the last drawn salary is provided as pension. A medical board must verify and certify the disability, and salary for the period of medical leave is also covered under ESIC.
When contacted regarding this case, ESIC Director Pankaj Vohra confirmed that he had personally sent a team to assist Satnam and ensure his documents were completed. He also said the team informed him that a partial payment had already been made to Satnam, and the pension would begin within the next couple of days.
PSPCL union president Lakkha Singh said the union had to struggle extensively to get the authorities to respond to Satnam's case. He also pointed out that the power department does not recruit linemen directly anymore, which leads to untrained workers being sent up electric poles by contractors, often at the risk of their lives. Lakkha added that a lineman recently lost his life due to electrocution in Zirakpur.
He emphasised that the only real solution is for the electricity board to resume direct recruitment to ensure proper training and safety for all workers.