The Haryana Government, driven on back foot on the first day of roadways strike, softening its stand towards the demands of striking employees, has asked them to come on table to discuss their issues and urged them to call off the protest on Wednesday.
Haryana Roadways Employees had planned to go on two-day strike, opposing the ‘Stage Carriage Scheme, 2013’, starting on November 13. However, the first day of the strike brought the State to a standstill, creating inconvenience for general public which in turn has forced the government to soften its stands against 18, 000 employees who participated in it.
Aftab Ahmed, Haryana Transport Minister said, “Government might review the stage carriage scheme if the strike is called off.” He deemed the scheme necessary and a perfect one but added that, “Certain amendments could be brought in after discussing it with the agitated employees. But cancelling the scheme will go against the welfare of the general public and hence it’s not possible.”
Transport Minister sounded in a damage control mode when he emphasized on the fact that the Roadways employees should not be afraid of the scheme, which is being pursued by the government since 1993, as it is not going to write the dooms day for state run roadways buses and in no way it will result into the sacking of current roadways employees.
“We are planning to recruit more drivers and conductors, by adding more buses to our existing fleet of 4, 000 buses. The current fleet of Haryana Roadways is catering to the need of 2.5 crore population, but the buses are not able to ply on small routes connecting rural areas adding to the inconvenience of the passengers, and keeping this in mind, government introduced the new permits scheme,” said Aftab.
According to the government around 16, 000 more buses are needed to cater to the rural population and it is not feasible for them to purchase all the buses. Hence, it planned to bring in the private players, but this decision had enraged the roadways employees who are of the view that it will impact their livelihood.
Principal Secretary, Haryana Transport Department RR Jowel on the other hand said that the providing of permits to the private buses is a policy matter and therefore going on strike on this issue is an adamant step. Haryana Chief Secretary, PK Chaudhery has also appealed to the agitating employees to call off their strike as the State Government has always been considerate to genuine demands of the employees.
“The doors of the Government are always open for discussions with employees to sort out any pending grievances”, said Chaudhery. Meanwhile, Sarbat Singh Punia, president Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union said, “We are ready to discuss the matter on table with the government, given the fact that the scheme is called off.”
This has now resulted in a deadlock between the government and the striking employees which in turn shows that the strike may continue for the second day on November 14. The striking employees have also hinted that they may go on an indefinite strike, to press for their demands. There was a proposed meeting of the employee union leaders on November 23 at Rohtak, for deciding the further course of action.
However, seeing the impact of the first day of the strike which has mounted the pressure on the state government, the union leaders might pre-pone their meeting.