Himachal Pradesh is staring at a major public transport crisis. Drivers and conductors of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) have announced that they will go on strike from tonight, a move that could leave lakhs of commuters across the state stranded. With the situation escalating, the Sukhu government has taken a tough line and imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act, or ESMA, on the employees.
The government did not stop there. To blunt the impact of the strike, it has decided to begin recruiting more than 600 temporary bus drivers starting today. Deputy CM and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has issued a clear warning to the striking staff, asking them to withdraw their protest call.
What triggered the strike
The confrontation did not erupt overnight. Medical bills, night allowance and several other allowances of HRTC drivers and conductors have been pending for a long time. Employees are demanding the clearance of these dues, a sum said to total more than 150 crore rupees. Maan Singh, president of the employees' union, says the matter has now slipped out of their hands and that staff will walk off the job from tonight.
The list of demands is long. It includes night allowance, overtime, the pending instalment of dearness allowance and payment of medical bills. Added to this is the demand to cancel the transfer of union president Maan Singh.
Talks collapse as union walks out
An attempt to resolve the dispute was made on Tuesday, before the strike. A meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary (Transport). During the discussion, union representatives raised the issue of a driver's transfer and dug in on having it cancelled immediately. When no agreement could be reached, the union representatives walked out of the meeting midway.
Government's tough move, ESMA for six months
To control the situation, the Himachal Pradesh government has declared HRTC an essential service and imposed ESMA. Under this law, going on strike or taking part in one is prohibited, and breaking the rules can invite strict legal action. The government has imposed the law for six months and has also cancelled the employees' leave.
HRTC operates a fleet of around 2,800 buses in Himachal and the corporation employs roughly 12,000 people. That makes the potential reach of the strike enormous.
The plan to hire 656 temporary drivers
To keep buses running through the strike, HRTC management has drawn up a policy for the temporary appointment of drivers. According to a press note issued by the management, walk-in interviews will be held at all the state's Regional Manager (RM) offices at 12 noon on June 24. To take part, a candidate must have at least 3 years of experience and a minimum educational qualification of matriculation. Through this process, around 656 drivers will be appointed on a temporary basis across 31 depots/units.
Beyond that, the necessary staff is also being arranged for running buses through the Himachal Home Guards. The police and administration have been given the necessary instructions to maintain law and order. Additional Chief Secretary Transport RD Nazeem stated bluntly that HRTC employees cannot go on strike because the government has imposed ESMA, and legal action will be taken against employees who fail to follow the rules.
Private buses to fill the gap
To minimise inconvenience to passengers during the strike, the Private Bus Operators' Association has announced that it will run additional bus services. Private bus operators can apply for special permits to run buses on HRTC's key routes.
The transport minister's firm stand
On the question of the road blockade, Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said clearly that HRTC services would not be allowed to be disrupted. He said ESMA is in force in the state and no one is permitted to take the law into their own hands. According to him, a road blockade will not resolve the demands. Agnihotri alleged that some employee leaders had forgotten the limits of decency in their language and made unnecessary statements, forcing the government to take strict steps. He assured that the public would not be allowed to suffer.
The minister also said that HRTC is the lifeline of the state. The government will protect the interests of the employees, he said, but the general public cannot be put in difficulty.
Agnihotri under fire on social media
Amid this entire row, Mukesh Agnihotri has become a target on social media. Users are asking how those who once promised permanent jobs of 58 years are now recruiting temporary drivers and conductors for 1,500 rupees. Several of Mukesh Agnihotri's old videos are also going viral once again.
