Allow RTC employees to resume their duties

Bagh Lingampally: MLC Narsi Reddy demanded that the state government allow RTC employees resume their duties unconditionally as RTC JAC has decided to withdraw from the strike. He was speaking at a round table meeting held to discuss RTC issue, organised jointly by Telangana Swaraj Vedika and Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika here at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, the MLC said that the elected governments should not take unilateral decisions, referring to the state government's decision not to allow striking employees join their duties. He demanded that the state government withdraw its proposal to privatise RTC as it would affect lives of thousands of RTC employees. He condemned the arrests and lathi charge on RTC employees who came to bus depots to resume duties and termed the act as undemocratic.

The recently formulated MV Act by the Central government has been destroying lives of workers, he lamented. 90 per cent of state people were not in favour of privatisation and this was revealed in public ballot conducted recently, he said. Noted social activist Rama Melkote, speaking on the occasion, praised the RTC employees, especially women employees, for their fighting spirit and bravery in continuing the strike up to 52 days despite the repressive actions against them by the government.

The employees were deprived of their rights due to the suppression of RTC strike, she said. She alleged that the state government has not intent of improving basic facilities in education, transport and healthcare, hence it is planning to privatise RTC and close 12,000 government schools.

Noted educationist Chukka Ramaiah said that RTC strike was never a failure as it has brought to the public notice the problems faced by the RTC employees. He opined that RTC should not be run with profit motive but with a noble intention of providing better transport facilities to people.

Senior journalist K Srinivas Reddy expressed dissatisfaction over the High Court's ruling that the case does not come under its purview after holding discussions for 48 days. The situation could have been better if it had been decided earlier, he said.

TJS president Prof Kodandaram, human rights activist S Kumar, representatives of Vidyavanthula Vedika Saidulu, Prof. I Purushotham, Prof. Vinayaka Reddy, Congress leader Shobha and others spoke at the meeting.