Too many interns peeking over their shoulders at work is causing ‘operational difficulties’ for Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) staff, prompting the power utility to launch a ‘mob control’ exercise of sorts.
With BTech/MTech and BBA/MBA students from colleges in Kerala and outside jostling for elbow space at KSEB facilities to get their project work done, the KSEB earlier this week created a comprehensive framework for engineering college/business school projects.
Under this, the number of students per batch will be limited to five and they will also have to pay a per-head ‘entry fee’ of Rs 1000.
Also, the project must be relevant to the KSEB or must be on KSEB-related topics. The two biggest power generating stations of the KSEB, Moolamattam in Idukki and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta, and the Load Despatch Centre at Kalamassery, will be off-limits to interns.
“The number has been increasing enormously recently, which is causing operational difficulties in the generating stations, sub-stations and TMR divisions, the KSEB noted in an October 5 order. Further, “most of the controlling officers of generating stations/sub-stations/TMR divisions have complained that even though the students are allocated systematically, a minimum of ten to 15 students are present at the station for almost all the days in a month.
Some of the students are present at the station for almost all the days in a month,” the order noted.
But KSEB chairman M Sivasankar said that the framework was not intended to frighten off trainees.
“The intention is neither to restrict the numbers nor put up a financial barrier. But we need to ensure there is meaningful interaction. We also prefer having THE students here as they need exposure,” the KSEB chairman said.
Earlier too, the KSEB was a preferred destination for students hoping to get their projects done.