SRTC employees back on streets in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 4 (UNI) Hundreds of employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) again took to streets here, demanding implementation of the agreement reached between them and previous government about five months ago.

The employees, who had struck work for the past three weeks, alleged that an agreement was reached between them and then coalition government headed by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

However, nothing was done so far, they alleged.

A spokesman of the employees said they had not received salaries for the past five months despite assurance by the government in March this year that regular wages would be paid.

Our other demands included release of COLA, hide in the wages of consolidated and contractual workers in the corporation.

After holding massive demonstration at SRTC headquarter, the employees marched through different streets. A number of leaders addressed them here, threatening to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met immediately.

The chakka-jam by the SRTC employees has affected the transportation of rice, flour sugar to different depots of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD). The CA &PD has now decided to engage private vehicles for the job.

It has also badly affected the working of some leading educational institutions, including Presentation Convent, which are using the SRTC transport.

Parents said that they have to drop and later pick up their children from the schools because of strike by SRTC.

Transport buses and other vehicles remained off Jammu and Kashmir routes. Besides, inter-state service has also been suspended.

UNI BAS SV HT1447