In a major relief to the employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the state government on Thursday, September 2, disbursed INR 500 crores towards salaries and other necessities.
This move came days after the MSRTC employees have threatened to take extreme steps if they will not get their salaries. In addition, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis had also sought Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s intervention.
As per an official release, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar made a budgetary allocation of INR 1,450 crores for the MSRTC for the current financial year. However, INR 838 crores of the total allocation have already been disbursed.
Pawar directed that of the remaining INR 612 crore, INR 500 crore be released immediately, the official said.
The amount will be used for salaries of employees and other essential financial needs of the corporation, Pawar added.
While talking to the media, Transport Minister Anil Parab said that the MSRTC is reeling under financial stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the government has disbursed INR 500 crores to the MSRTC for the payment of salaries. Employees will get delayed salaries immediately.
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely hit the transport body's revenue and a committee headed by Pawar is working on measures to revive it.
Moreover, it has been observed that since the beginning of the pandemic last year, many transport body employees and drivers have committed suicide due to financial crises.
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