MSRTC employees assured of salaries with Rs 500 cr grant but want permanent solution

Jubilant MSRTC staff at the Mumbai Central depot on Thursday

A week after a bus driver killed himself in Dhule because of delayed wages, the beleaguered Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was given a grant of Rs 500 crore by the Maharashtra government on Thursday in order to help clear salary dues and meet critical expenses.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the finance department, said in a statement that the money has been distributed. In this year's budget, MSRTC was allotted Rs 1,450 crore of which Rs 838 crore has already been disbursed. With the release of another Rs 500-crore on Thursday, the public transport company has only Rs 112-crore left in its budgetary head.

The DyCM said the pandemic had affected MSRTC's income very badly, and a special committee led by him has been working out remedies to help the corporation recover financially. "We discussed the measures recently and will act accordingly," he said.

A group of MSRTC employees stage a protest over delayed salaries, in Panvel on August 30

Last Friday, bus driver Kamlesh Bedse from Sakri in Dhule killed himself. His suicide note mentioned that he was fed up with his low and irregular salary, and was unable to pay off his Rs 5 lakh debt. He was the third MSRTC employee to take his life in the past nine months. The employees have been staging state-wide protests and dharnas outside depots to demand their salary and dues.

In November 2020, Manoj Anil Choudhary, 30, a bus conductor, had killed himself and in a suicide note, blamed the state government for the financial crisis. Pandurang Gadade took his life in Ratnagiri that same month, however, the reason for his death was not known.

Also Read: Maharashtra govt releases Rs 500 crore to MSRTC for staff salaries

Employees said the corporation should work on making the business sustainable and find a permanent solution, and they cannot afford to face such issues every six months. They said the grant will bring great relief to distressed families.

"The salary for two months for all the MSRTC employees will come before September 7, which is our internal salary day. We are thankful to the Maharashtra government for intervening to process the amount and give it to the corporation. Many distressed families of MSRTC workers were in deep trouble owing to the financial crisis," Srirang Barge, general secretary of Maharashtra ST Karmachari Congress, said.