Relief for KSRTC employees; full salary in one go before Onam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The management has fulfilled its promise of giving full salary to KSRTC employees in one go before Onam. This is after a year and a half. The salaries were paid by adding Rs 50 crore taken as overdraft and the amount reserved without paying to the fuel companies. Rs 74.8 crore was required.

The salaries were paid in two instalments from February 2023, citing financial crisis. There have often been lapses in it. The attempt to pay salary in one go began after KB Ganesh Kumar took charge as the minister. When the efforts made to do so failed, the money owed to the fuel companies had to be used to keep the promise. The trade unions had prepared to go on strike if salaries were stopped. At the same time, it is not certain whether the salary will be paid in one go next month.

First three options that were tried

• The move to borrow another Rs 450 crore from the SBI-led bank consortium to set up a permanent mechanism for full disbursal of salaries did not materialise.
• Kerala Bank agreed to give a loan of Rs 100 crore, but it did not materialise due to the conditions.
• The government was requested for additional financial assistance but only the pension amount was received. When all this failed, the system was replaced. New system was set up when all this failed.

Government should help to pay bonus

The way to pay bonus and festival allowance before Onam is yet to be cleared. Rs 28.25 crore is required. A letter has been given to the finance department for this. The management hopes that the government will not refuse.