Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), comprising of 4 different corporations, which are Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and KSRTC, has been a recipient of numerous awards over the years for the prompt service and people friendly initiatives. KSRTC has been winning the award for the best transport corporation in the country for the past many years. BMTC is the lifeline of Bengaluru city. Students and office goers have been dependent on it for their daily commute.

KSRTC has been a great prospect to the outside world. However, the truth for the 1.4 lakh workers is entirely different. Structure of KSRTC is such that the number of administrative posts is very high, due to which lower level employees' grievances are not addressed at all. Every time the employees unions try to question unfair treatment of the workers, govt suppresses and mutes the voices by threatening the employees of transfer, dismissal and termination.

KSRTC is a corporation where the workers are not considered to be govt employees in spite of working for the govt. They are in a different hierarchy of administration. Hence they are not paid at par with what the other govt employees are paid.

Due to discrepancies in pay, a state wide strike was undertaken in December 2020, following which the transport minister Mr. Laxman Sawadi had agreed in writing to fulfill 9 out of 10 demands and had taken 3 months time to implement these changes. However, govt did not act based on its written promises. None of the promises were fulfilled even after the 3 month deadline. The biggest demand among these 10 demands was to implement 6th pay commission, which would've brought their pay at par with the other govt servants. Post the 3 month deadline, govt has strictly rejected this demand saying it is not at all possible.

To talk about figures, a normal govt employee with 6th pay commission has a basic pay of Rs 22,400 per month, whereas employees of KSRTC at a similar level and qualification have a basic pay of Rs 12,400. This discrepancy in pay has been the genuine issue of the workers. Moreover, pay revision of these workers is done every 4 years, to a max level of 8% (majority of revisions have amounted to 4-5%).

I too am a child of such worker. Me and my 2 siblings have been academically brilliant as we were the toppers of our respective schools. However, we had to leave behind our dreams and look for a career where we can support our family financially, as the economic condition in home was very bad. I and my siblings had to study in govt colleges as we couldn't afford the fees of private colleges. We have been sacrificing this way our entire life now.

The CM of Karnataka has been openly threatening the workers of punishing them with stricter terms. He has even said that he will never call the workers even talk or discuss.

The media houses across Karnataka have been biased towards this struggle as media coverage has been very negligible towards it.

These workers work day and night to serve the common citizens. They have to work at all times irrespective of festivals etc. One positive step from the govt's side can improve the lives of such lakhs of families forever.

Please help me in making my voice heard to the CM as well as the PM, that such autocratic stance and authoritative politics is not acceptable.

Attachment: A salary slip of a KSRTC worker, working since 23 years as a Conductor