SRTC grounds all 700 vehicles, schools and offices suffer in J

Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) The indefinite strike by the drivers and other employees of the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has affected educational institutions, government offices and supply to essentials in the valley as 700 vehicles were grounded in Kashmir, Delhi, Jammu, Leh and Kargil.

''We will not end our strike as the government has failed to honour the commitments made with us,'' a spokesman of the SRTC employees said here today.

He said the employees were without salaries for the past four months and there is no account of General Provident Fund (GPF) which was being deducted from salaries every month.

Blaming the management, he said the government was responsible for grounding the vehicles of the corporation, which was already in losses due to poor management.

He said the SRTC drivers risked their lives and operated on Srinagar-Jammu national highway during the recent turmoil.

''The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, promised that our all demands would be met if we ply on the highway,'' he said adding only SRTC vehicles were operating to import essentials to Kashmir.

Meanwhile, attendance in most of the schools in the city, including Presentation Convent, was affected because of the strike by SRTC buses.

Parents found it difficult to take their children to school in the morning and later pick them in the afternoon as three-wheelers and other private transport were charging more than double.

The supply of ration to government-run ration depots through SRTC trucks was also affected while the authorities had to make alternative arrangements for employees availing SRTC bus service from their residence to civil secretariat and other offices.

UNI BAS YSS PK CS1612