Not paid salaries, HRTC employees hold protest in Shimla

Irked over the non-payment of salaries, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees (drivers and conductors) today staged a protest against the state government at the Old Bus Stand in Shimla in support of their demand for the release of their salaries as well as other dues and arrears within the next 15 days. The threatened that they would stop providing services from December 24 if their demands were not considered positively.

The protesters raised slogans against the state government and also threatened to intensify their agitation in the coming days. Maan Singh Thakur, president of the HRTC Drivers’ Union, said, “Every month, we have to plead with the government to release our salaries. This month, too, it is the ninth day and we still haven’t received our salaries, which is a matter of grave concern. It has become a practice that whenever we ask for our salaries, dues and arrears, they say that the HRTC is suffering losses. Why should we drive buses when we are not paid salaries and also for working overtime.”

He said, “If the government intends to shut down the HRTC or wants to hand it over to a private player(s), it should go ahead and we will fully support it, as all we want is our salaries to be paid to us on time.” He added, “We want the government to ensure that salaries are paid to the HRTC employees and the retired employees get pension on time i.e. on the first day of the month or else they should shut the HRTC down for good.”

Maan Singh said, “The HRTC is considered the lifeline of the state and we don’t want people to suffer due to us. Therefore, we also appeal to people to support us and blame the government for disruption in bus services.” He added that any further decision regarding their future strategy would be discussed at a meeting of the union scheduled for December 24. He warned the government that they would stop providing services from December 24 if their demands were not considered positively.