Family members of SRTC employees protest in J-K

New Delhi, Mar 5 : Hundreds of family members of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees today staged a protest in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding immediate disbursal of their salaries.

The protestors came out on the streets demanding immediate disbursal of the salaries of their wards in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar. They said that they were facing starvation because the government has failed to keep its promise.

"We do not have anything to eat or drink we are dying, do justice to us," said Mahaq, a woman protestor.

The protest took ugly shape when police tried to stall the march, which resulted in clashes between the police and the protesters. The police had to use force and baton charge the protesters to disperse them.

"What kind of government is this that it cannot fulfil our demands, they cannot pay our salaries then why are they in power. For how long will we be hungry," said Shafiqa, another woman protestor.

The state owned Transport Corporation is considered a white elephant due to its poor performance over the years, making huge losses.

But the employees blame the government for the poor state of affairs in the state owned corporation. According to them, the state government has not provided funds for maintenance of old vehicles since 1989.

They said that the number of SRTC vehicles has dwindled from 1650 vehicles in 1989 to 100 till date. And 700 vehicles, the employees said, are not fit for plying on roads.

The employees have requested the state government to provide special package of two billion rupees to revive the Corporation.

ANI