HRTC staff withdraws protest call, Himachal CM accepts demands

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees has withdrawn the protest call proposed from October 16. “Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has accepted almost all our demands, so we have decided to withdraw our call for gate meeting and protests,” said JCC president Man Singh Thakur.

Happy to get salary before Diwali

Rs 9 crore has been announced for medical reimbursement. Besides, the CM has announced 4 per cent DA and the disbursal of salary and pension on October 28 ahead of Diwali. — Man Singh Thakur, JCC president of HRTC

Demands met

Major demands included reimbursement of overnight dues pending for 55 months and reimbursement of medical bills and other arrears

The major demands of the JCC were reimbursement of overnight dues pending for 55 months and reimbursement of medical bills and other arrears. “The CM had announced Rs 50 crore and he has assured us that the remaining Rs 47 crore will be given in the next three months. Rs 9 crore has been announced for medical reimbursement. He has announced four per cent DA and the disbursal of salary and pension on October 28 ahead of Diwali,” said Thakur. While thanking the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri for agreeing to release the pending dues of the employees, the JCC also thanked HRTC MD Rohan Chand Thakur for raising the problems of the HRTC employees with the government.

JCC general secretary Khemendra Gupta said the MD had assured them that a proposal would be sent to the government and the dues would be disbursed as soon as the nod comes from the government. Gupta said that they had urged the HRTC MD not to change the 2014 transport policy.