Jeevan Raut, president, Rashtravadi Vidyut Kamgar Sanghatana said both employees and the management would contribute to raise funds to run the scheme. While unions have accepted the proposal for deduction of Rs 15 per employee per month, the MSEB management has agreed to contribute Rs 20 per employee per month, he said. A trust consisting of representatives of unions and management would be set up to manage the scheme.

This is the first such scheme to be introduced in the country, the Sanghatana leader said. The scheme has been worked out as the MSEB is not in a position to provide jobs to dependents of employees, who died on duty. Dependents of about 1,800 employees are awaiting decision on their applications for jobs.

It is expected to provide monetary assistance to the families of 300employees losing life on duty every year. Families of about 1,800 employees, who died on duty since 1975 would also be benefitted as the scheme will be introduced with retrospective effect.

The Sanghatana, he said, is opposed to the three-day State-wide strike call given by other unions demanding bonus and ex-gratia payment. When the management is willing to contribute for the employees benevolent fund, there is no point in going on strike for ex-gratia payment of Rs 2,500, he said. Sanghatana office bearers Deepak Bhanarkar, Bhushan Tidke and Subhash Dangre were present at press conference.