(Image source from: livemint.com and theprint.in)
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation employees will report back to work on Friday, announcement made by Telanagana CM, K Chandrashekhar Rao.
The strike that had begun on October 5th and was put to an end on November 25th. However, the RTC management hasn’t allowed them to join back as the labor commission issue isn’t resolved yet.
The state cabinet, Rao in a meeting conducted on Thursday night stated that his government wants the corporation to survive and wishes good for the employees.
KCR said, "We discussed in the cabinet today. All our ministers said (that) our government saved many organizations and provided food to many. What is that we do by throwing them (RTC workmen) on to the roads. We should give them a chance. They said let us have a humanitarian approach”
"So, I am conveying to workmen on behalf of state government and RTC..we will give orders to RTC after this press conference. I am conveying the cabinet decision to you first. All of you join duty tomorrow morning happily," he said.
The RTC managing director will be ordered to increase the bus ticket fare by 20 paise per km from next Monday. He estimates that this will help the corporation earn 750 crores per annum. Besides, the government will provide Rs 100 crore to the corporation. He believes that this will reduce RTC’s loss to an extent.
Rao will conduct a meeting with 5 RTC employees from each depot and suggestions about how the corporation could do better and move in a positive direction. However, the employee unions will not be permitted.
He spoke against BJP and a few other leaders for giving false hopes to employees.
He said "There is a Union Minister here who belongs to BJP. There are three other MPs These four had voted for (concerned) transport act which enables privatization in the budget session (of parliament). They should tell people tomorrow. Your vote in parliament and talk big here. You are doing this to cheat whom?"
Due to this strike in total, there were about 5 RTC drivers who gave up their life.
The RTC employees put an end to the strike with a few demands and the Government agreed for the merger of the corporation and put an end to this.
By Neha Makhija
