KSRTC empanelled staff may campaign against LDF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sacked empanelled conductors of the KSRTC held a protest march to the residence of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday demanding their reinstatement. They threatened to launch a campaign against the government during the upcoming elections.
The agitators alleged that the government had not been not responding to their grievances.

"The government has received legal opinion regarding our case. It needs to file a petition at the industrial tribunal to reinstate the conductors, who were dismissed from service following the high court order. We can also approach the tribunal, but a petition filed by the government council will receive a favourable response soon. Many among us are well above the age limit to apply for a new job and it was the assurance that we will be made permanent that led us to work as empanelled staff for more than ten years," said Sajan Varghese, who worked as a conductor at the Thampanoor depot.

A similar protest march planned on February 21, was called-off by the dismissed staff after LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan held a meeting with them. He had assured them that the government would explore the possibility to absorb the dismissed conductors in regular service.

The empanelled conductors had dropped all plans to hold the march following the meeting. But with the government failing to respond, they have decided to launch a campaign.

"We have decided to wait for another 10 days. If the government does not make a favourable decision, we would launch a campaign against the government. The government should understand that in addition to the nearly 4,000 dismissed staff, we have families and friends who understand our plight. We have no other option to get the attention of authorities," added Sajan.