RSRTC employees ‘beg’ to attract govt’s attention

JAIPUR: In the absence of any effort from the state government to hold talks with the agitators even after 14 days of strike, the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) workers organised a ‘mass begging’ event across the state on Sunday. At Jaipur, the employees were seen begging and said that they will send all the collected money to the chief minister’s relief fund or the consolidated fund of the state government.
A large number of employees holding placards gathered at the Sindhi Camp bus stand and were seen begging. Everyone including shopkeepers, traders and others gave some money in the katora (bowl) to the protesting employees. “Whatever money is being collected across the state would be sent to the chief minister’s relief fund or to the consolidated fund of the state government through demand draft. We don’t want to affect the passengers, but for our families, the state government should consider implementing the Seventh Pay Commission,” said ML Yadav, a union leader at Sindhi Camp, on Sunday.

However, people who were using private bus services for their outstation journey or their travel within the city, held both the government and the RSRTC employees for the deadlock. “Why are we deprived of public transport for the past 14 days? Neither the employees nor the state government have any concern for us and our plight. I am a school teacher and shuttle between Jaipur and Dausa. I am facing a lot of problems while using private bus service,” said Pushpa Rani, a 45-year-old teacher at a government school.

In another development, various unions of central government employees at Delhi, passed a resolution to draw attention of the state government in Rajasthan for immediate intervention to clear the deadlock.

State transport minister, Yunus Khan though had stated he is ready to hold talks, but the Seventh Pay Commission cannot be implemented.

The main demands of the RSRTC workers include – implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, purchasing of new buses and release of the post-retirement benefits of retired employees.