BEST offers job to kin of staffers died due to COVID-19

According to reports, so far 76 BEST officers and employees have died due to coronavirus infection while on duty.

On Tuesday, the transport body announced that families of these 76 staffers have been given a compensation of INR 50 lakhs, while the next of kin of 55 of the total deceased have been absorbed in BEST. All of them have been given a job by the state-run transport service.

Moreover, the process of hiring other employees was said to be slow due to errors in the documents submitted for the job.

Even during the lockdown phase, BEST continued to provide its services to essential staffers. Apart from Mumbai, bus services were provided to the essential service personnel from Kalyan, Dombivali, Badlapur, Vasai and Virar.

As per sources, around 2, 958 officers and employees have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections so far. Out of which 2, 834 employees have recovered from the disease and have resumed the duty. Currently, 21 employees are undergoing the treatment, of which one patient is in critical condition.

The recovery rate of BEST employees is more than 96 per cent. Besides, 21 people are undergoing treatment and one of them is in critical condition, said BEST.

Earlier, several unions of BEST workers have said the administration has not paid adequate attention to the health and safety needs of employees, who are among key frontline workers.