Minister reiterates govt stand on KSRTC salary

Thiruvananthapuram: Transport minister Antony Raju has said that the government has no obligation in providing the salaries for the employees of KSRTC. It is the management that has to take up the responsibility for it.
“The present crisis has been created by the unions. The unions went ahead with the strike without listening to the assurances given by the government. Then, how can they claim that the government is responsible for giving the salaries?” said the transport minister.
In the public sector units, the government has no role in providing the salaries. It is the management which has the responsibility for it. The unions are not ready to take the government into confidence and then blame the government for the delay in the payment of the salaries.
The state cabinet on the other day also did not take any decision on the payment of the April salary to the employees.
The management is also not ready to give any assurance on this. Though the government had sanctioned Rs 30 crore, the management requires Rs 82 crore for paying the salaries.
The chief minister also had discussions with the transport minister after he came back from the US. But no decision was taken even in the meeting also.
The unions, including the CITU, have come out against the transport minister. The CITU has sought time to meet the chief minister and they have not received any confirmation from the CM’s office yet.
As the chief minister is busy campaigning in Thrikkakara for the bypoll, the meeting with the CITU leaders is likely to be delayed.