From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 9: After chief minister B S Yediyurappa, home minister Basavaraj Bommai and deputy chief minister cum transport minister Laxman Savadi, health and family welfare minister Dr K Sudhakar joined the chorus of appealing to the employees of the State Road Transport Corporations and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation to call off their indefinite strike from Wednesday.
Making a fervent appeal to the bus transport employees on Friday, Dr Sudhakar pointed out that the state government has already announced the acceptance of eight out of the nine demands and the demand for parity with state government employees on the 6th Pay Commission pay scales was also being examined.
The bus drivers and conductors must immediately withdraw their strike and resume duty in the interest of their own organisations and the general public. They must appreciate the willingness of the government in accepting almost all the demands, he said.
Even though the state government was facing a financial crunch due to loss of revenue on account of lockdown and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic since last year, the state government has paid Rs 1,953.45 crore as salaries and other benefits, which was unprecedented.
The health minister said the bus transport employees had resorted to a four-day strike in December 2020 and the state government had accepted 9 out of the 10 demands. Even afterwards, the government has accepted 8 out of 9 demands. The demand regarding payment of 6th Pay Commission recommended salaries is also under consideration. A high-level committee has been constituted to study the demand and the committee has already held six meetings, he said urging the employees to end their strike and resume work.