Hyderabad, April 14 (NationPress) Telangana's Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has made a heartfelt plea for the employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) to reconsider their planned strike. He emphasized that the government is fully committed to resolving employee issues through constructive dialogue.

In his statement, the minister highlighted that matters concerning the merger of TGSRTC with the government and trade union issues fall under the government's governance. However, he expressed readiness to address other employee-related concerns, apart from those two specific subjects.

The minister reassured employees that the government is always available to hear their grievances.

This appeal came shortly after the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of TGSRTC announced an indefinite strike commencing from April 22 to advocate for their demands.

He pointed out that a 2.1 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) was recently implemented for RTC staff and confirmed that there are currently no outstanding DA arrears. Furthermore, he mentioned that the government is actively considering the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) for RTC employees, reaffirming the government's commitment to employee welfare.

The minister recalled that the previous administration had formed a committee regarding the merger of RTC employees on September 9, 2023, just ten days before the election schedule was announced.

He elaborated that the election schedule was released on October 10, 2023; elections took place on November 30, and results were declared on December 3. He explained that even though the 'people’s government' was formed on December 7, 2023, the election code was in place for a prolonged period until June 6, due to the Lok Sabha election schedule announced on March 16, 2024.

Within 48 hours of taking office, the government initiated free bus travel for women under the 'Mahalakshmi' scheme to strengthen RTC services. The minister highlighted that the RTC, once facing existential doubts, now operates over 90 profitable depots.

He affirmed that the government prioritizes three critical aspects: the sustainability of the RTC organization, the welfare of its employees, and passenger convenience. A thorough study by a committee is deemed necessary to evaluate various organizational and employee-related factors, along with the government's financial status regarding the proposed merger of RTC employees with the government.

The minister cautioned that proceeding with a strike at this critical juncture—when the RTC is on the path to recovery—would be unwise, creating challenges for both the organization and the public.

Highlighting the various reforms introduced within the RTC through the 'Mahalakshmi' scheme, he noted that outstanding PF arrears have been significantly reduced from Rs 1,205 crore to Rs 600 crore, and CCS arrears have decreased from Rs 690 crore to Rs 300 crore.

Additionally, he mentioned that 2,978 new buses have been introduced, and 1,134 jobs have been created through compassionate appointments. He also confirmed that recruitment examinations have been completed, with new hires set to join soon.