After the announcement by the Haryana Roadways Workers' Union to go on strike on September 2, the State Government on Monday appealed to the Haryana Roadways employees not to go on strike in public interest.
A day before, members of the Haryana Roadways Workers' Union (INTUC) had announced to join the nationwide strike of the trade unions on September 2. The buses would remain off the road in the State on that day.
The union had also criticised the new road safety Bill and urged the Government to increase the fleet of the roadways buses to 10,000, to carry out regular recruitment, regularise the services of temporary employees and put forth other demands.
Haryana Housing Board chairman, Jawahar Yadav while talking to the mediapersons on Monday said that Transport Minister, Krishan lal Panwar, had, in a telephonic conversation with representatives of the Roadways employees' union, appealed to them not to go on strike as it would cause inconvenience to the people. Most of their demands have already been accepted by the State Government, and the remaining are being considered sympathetically, said he
Yadav alleged that due to the failures of the previous governments, some Haryana Roadways drivers and conductors, recruited after 2003, had not been regularised, due to which they were unable to avail themselves of the benefits of ACP and NPS.
The State Government is exploring possible provisions to regularise them at the earliest so that they could also get the benefits. After regularisation, drivers and conductors recruited between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 would be able to enjoy these benefits, Yadav said.
He added that the recruitment to the 930 posts of conductors and 908 posts of helpers and storemen on a regular basis and 1,500 posts of drivers on contract basis in the Transport Department would soon be conducted through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. An advertisement in this regard would be released within one week, said he while responding to the demands of the roadways employees union.
Also, 300 new buses would be inducted into the fleet of Haryana Roadways and the process to induct Volvo and air-conditioned buses is also underway. Night halt allowance beyond 25 kilometres from headquarters or depot, would be provided to all drivers and conductors. Uniform allowance has also been issued to the workers of Haryana Roadways, added Yadav.