The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses have been ferrying employees engaged in essential services ever since the lockdown has been imposed in Mumbai. While the BEST workers have been doing a commendable job amid the COVID-19 pandemic, being on the front line puts them at the risk of contracting the infection.
As a result, the BEST Sanyukt Kamgaar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS), an umbrella body of BEST workers’ unions had declared that workers would observe a “lockdown” from Monday. Following which, the BEST management had assured on Sunday that the transport wing would ensure that all arrangements to transport essential workers would continue unhindered.
However, on Monday, BEST General Manager Surendrakumar Bagde wrote the employees appealing them to call off the protest. He assured them that the corporation will provide job to next of the kin of the deceased as well as an Rs. 10 lakh insurance for its employees. He also asked if protesting in such a time was viable for them. After his letter, the employees called off the protests.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, 120 BEST employees have tested positive, with eight deaths recorded so far. Among them, 50 have been discharged after being treated. The unions claimed that the employees are at risk as adequate safety measures were not being provided by the corporation.
According to reports, at least 1,200 buses of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) had been kept on stand by to ferry employees engaged in essential services.
Amid the COVID-19 situation in Mumbai, even the local train services had been shut down but the BEST buses have been relentlessly ferrying people and have acted as a reliable means of transport throughout the lockdown.
The demands raised by the unions consisted of a separate hospital for BEST workers who test positive, a separate quarantine facility, and ₹1 crore as compensation and job for the next of kin of deceased employees. The corporation has already announced jobs to the family members of the four of the six deceased employees.
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