Hry roadways employees to go on strike today

STRIKE IN PROTEST AGAINST THE STATE GOVT’S DECISION TO ROPE IN 700 PRIVATE BUSES; TRANSPORT MINISTER SAYS PROTEST UNCALLED FOR

CHANDIGARH: Bus services are set to be badly hit across the state, with the employees of the Haryana Roadways threatening to observe a strike on Tuesday to protest over the state government’s decision to rope in 700 private buses, as well its other initiatives which they allege would lead to privatisation of the department.

State transport minister Krishan Lal Panwar said the government is in the process of hiring 500 private buses. “I again appeal to roadways employees not to go on strike as it would not only greatly inconvenience people but also cause loss to the department,” he said.

Panwar said the strike was uncalled for as the employees’ unions had themselves given an undertaking last year after most of their demands had been met with, that they would not interfere in any government policy and also would not go on strike. “We have moved court in this context and the hearing of this case is also on Tuesday.” he added.

However, the Haryana Roadways Karamchari Joint Action Committee leader Sarbat Punia said around 4,000 roadways buses would keep off roads on Tuesday.

The employees are also agitated over the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill, 2017, which, he held, would promote the privatisation of the department which would decimate government jobs scope. The same would also usher in arbitrary functioning of the private bus operators as well as other maintenance agencies.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of decision to rope in private buses, Punia also demanded regularisation of the services of drivers and conductors working on temporary basis in the department, purchase of 14,000 new buses and filling of all vacancies in the department.

About 12 lakh people travel daily in around 4,000 Haryana Roadways buses, which run over an average of 11 lakh km every day.