Srinagar: A group of retired JKSRTC employees on Monday raised their concerns regarding the after-retirement benefits.
The agitated ex-employees were demanding the release of arrears that have been ‘withheld for last seven years’.
According to an employee, they are yet to avail benefits under the 6th pay Commission, COLA Arrears, DA Arrears, Leave Salary difference and Gratuity difference.
“Among the 1,748 employees, several have expired and their families are starving due to their poor financial conditions,” said an employee. “They have no other means of earning.”
Another employee was concerned about the inclusion of the names of the employees of the Kashmir Division in the list prepared by the Managing Director, JKSRTC.
“As per our information,” he said, “the government of India has assured that all the pending liabilities of the transport department will be taken care of. In this regard, a list of employees was prepared by our MD, which lies in the Secretariat. However, we don’t know if we are on that list.”
As per the data available with Free Press Kashmir, the Unit wise Statutory and Current Liabilities of JKSRTC Kashmir Division amounts to Rs 2,23,74,67,586.00. Out of which liabilities of ‘Retires’ amounts to Rs 1,45,67,89,862.00.
Raising concerns about the pending post-retirement wages, one of the employees said that many employees are already dead and these wages are the last hope of their families.
“Some of us are very poor and our families are dependent on these wages,” another employee said. “In the past, many orders were issued regarding the release of wages, however, no order was implemented.”
Queries sent to MD JKSRTC regarding the issue were yet to be unanswered by the time the story was published. As and when he responds, the story will be updated.
