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| SRTC strike causing hardships to commuters, pilgrims | | Fleet grounded, state exchequer losing several lakhs per day | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 28- As state wide strike called by the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees entered into third day on Friday Mata Vaishno Devi bound pilgrims and interstate commuters faced many hardships in the absence of regular bus services on different routes. The worst sufferers were passengers traveling on routes where SRTC runs exclusive services and no other private operator has deployed its fleet on the route. On the other hand large number of employees staged protest demonstration at Bikram chowk office of the Corporation and shouted slogans in support of their demands. The employees are demanding release of pending salaries, release of arrears/COLA and final word on the fate of contractual and daily wage workers.
On the occasion, the leaders of the SRTC Workers Employees Union also made it clear to the state government that if their long pending demands were not fulfilled they would be forced to hit the streets and take out long marches exposing the tall claims of the state government. The employees leaders said that on Saturday the employees of the SRTC would take out a protest march from their Bikram chowk office to Dogra chowk and if need be they would ask their family members to join the protest demonstrations in support of their demands.
It may be mentioned that employees of the SRTC have not been paid their regular salaries for last four months and are facing many hardships.
For last three days pilgrims en-route Mata Vaishno Devi shrine were finding it difficult to find regular bus service from Jammu railway station and had to board the bus from Jammu bus stand in the absence of adequate number of private buses available at Jammu railway station.
In the absence of SRTC fleet which remained grounded private operators pressed their services in full and transported pilgrims from Jammu railway station and bus stand to Katra base camp.
Meanwhile, interstate passengers also faced many hardships as private tour operators have enhanced rate of tickets and are minting money in the absence of any checking by motor vehicles department.
The employees are sticking to their demands as they claim that no genuine effort has been made by the state government to diffuse the crisis. “If state government wants to break our unity by offering one month's salary and win over the confidence of SRTC employees they are living in a different world, the employees leaders leading the protest warned’ while sitting on a dharna
Employees will go out for self immolation and observe September 1st as “Black Day” the foundation day of the Corporation as it was established on this day in 1976 SRTC, said Provincial President Jammu Ashok Mehra on 3rd day of indefinite strike launched by SRTC Employees Union across the state.
Sources informed that government has offered Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to employees, besides have suggested the remaining one to earn revenue to meet their expenses and salaries. Government has once again opted for lingering on policy but employees desperately wanted to settle the issue once for all. They demand either close down the Corporation, shift all employees to other departments or to extend golden hand shake to its employees. Corporation has become not less than brain tumour for government, administration and the employees and needs to get treated once for all in the interest of state exchequer.
“Modalities are not settled yet, though Chief Minister have issued some orders and we are hopeful that within a day or two some thing concrete will be formulated to address the issues of employees” Managing Director Manoj Kanaw said and added that all the issues of employees are being taken into consideration and will get addressed but it will take some time as the Assembly session is on
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