MSRTC staff demand salaries

Fadnavis seeks CM’s intervention

On Monday, several employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) staged a protest against the non-disbursal of salaries. The employees were seen holding placards inside and outside the bus depots across Maharashtra. This comes at a time when the transport corporation’s cumulative losses have apparently surpassed Rs 9,000 crore or more.

“The protest went well across the 250 ST depots in 31 divisions of the MSRTC. The state government claimed it has provided Rs 500 crore, but it is of no use. The monthly load on salaries is around Rs 270-275 crore or so. This amount wouldn’t suffice for even two months. The government should come out with a permanent solution,” said Shashank Sharad Rao, leader for Sangharsh ST Kamgar Union, which organised this protest.

The corporation cited its losses for the non-disbursement of salaries. However, unions claimed that there were no talks on expenditure when it came to transporting people across state borders during the lockdown.

The state government had earlier provided a grant of Rs 1,000 crore to the MSRTC in December to disburse salaries. However, for the last two months, MSRTC’s kitty has gone dry. Unions approached the labour court in July and then on August 14. It had ordered the administration to pay the salaries. The employees want the government to include them in the below poverty line category.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis sought Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s intervention to disburse the salaries of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees, who have not been getting their salaries on time since the lockdown was first imposed. Some have even threatened to commit suicide if they do not get paid.

Fadnavis said MSRTC employees are in serious financial and emotional distress. In a letter to Thackeray, he said that there have been instances where employees have committed suicide because of it. ''I appeal to you to intervene in the matter,'' said Fadnavis.

Last week, an MSRTC driver allegedly committed suicide in Dhule. The driver, Kamlesh Bhikan Bedse, 44, left behind a note in which he said that he was fed up with the low salary and delay in its payment. He was unable to pay off his debts, the police had said.

Shiv Sena Minister Anil Parab handles the transport portfolio in the MVA government.