Should we eat mud? Starving Onam for transport employees; We need salary, not coupons

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “All of my friends have bought new dresses for Onam. I don’t have any. It’s been two months since my father got salary”, said an eight-year-old girl, who came to strike along with her family at the Kollam depot. The paper on her hands read, “I am hungry, I have to live too”. The child’s words clearly point towards the misery in her life due to the non-payment of her father’s salary.

This is not the story of a single family. It is the sad reality faced by all the families of KSRTC employees. They are begging for their salaries and are protesting along with their family members. They are not backed by any political party. The protests and hunger strikes were staged in Kottayam and Chengannur too. While the whole state is gearing up for Onam celebrations, the employees are angry as there is no guarantee that they will receive complete salaries.

Although the management is attempting to offer food coupons to the employees as per the court order, they are refusing it. Can one pay bank loans and current bills using coupons? Last day, some employees had burnt the coupons in protest at the chief office.

Meanwhile, the employee organization leaders alleged mystery in not being able to find Rs 160 crores for salaries, despite receiving Rs 360 crores for ticket collection in the last two months. The chief minister’s meeting with the union leaders, to be held on Sunday, is the last ray of hope for the employees.