The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government seems to have decided to subject the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation to euthanasia, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran has said.
The government had lost all humaneness, for it didn’t even seem to be acknowledging the hardships KSRTC workers and their families were being put through because of the non-payment of salaries to them, Mr. Sudhakaran said here on Tuesday.
Despite the High Court’s order that the salaries of KSRTC employees be paid before the 10th of every month, the government paid only a part of last month’s salaries till now. Tens of thousands of families, dependent on KSRTC for their livelihood, were suffering because apart from non-payment of salaries KSRTC pensioners’ payments were pending for the past two months. Many had no other means to buy even medicines and pay grocery bills. Yet the Chief Minister and his Cabinet members were preparing to splurge crores of taxpayers’ money and conduct ‘Jana sadass’, Mr. Sudhakaran said.
KSRTC’s financial liabilities had worsened and its schedules halved after this government took over. Because of the shortage of new buses, KSRTC was unable to make many long-distance services, he said. Mr. Sudhakarn alleged that while neglecting KSRTC, the government was giving undue importance to Swift services. He said that KSRTC’s Plan funds were being utilised to purchase buses for Swift company, which seemed to be leaning on KSRTC for everything including fuel and maintenance. He alleged that while allowing KSRTC to wither away, the government was engaged in securing backdoor appointments to CPI(M) men in Swift.
He said that KSRTC had a monthly income of about ₹220 crore, apart from the government’s financial assistance, and yet employees were not being paid salaries on time. He alleged that attempts were on to slash the staff strength in KSRTC, citing financial distress. Mr. Sudhakaran urged the government to take immediate steps to pay salaries and pension to KSRTC employees and pensioners without delay.
