Almost half of KSRTC employees devoid of voting opportunity!

Mangaluru, 28 Apr 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: KSRTC is the numero uno transport company in the nation providing good service to the public daily and yet, almost half of the employees in KSRTC were unable to cast their vote this Lok Sabha election.

Voting was held at 14 constituencies including Uttara Kannada district on Tuesday. However, almost half of the drivers, conductors and mechanics working at Mangaluru, Puttur and Udupi divisions of KSRTC were unable cast their franchise since they were on duty.

There are 2,500 staffs at Mangaluru KSRTC division including conductors and 1,800 drivers and 2,423 staffs are on duty at Puttur division including 1,824 drivers. More workers worked with the aim to provide problem free service to the passengers. According to the KSRTC officials, around 50% of the worl force working at the Puttur division of the corporation are from Uttara Kannada district. The remaining 50% of the workers had left to their hometowns to cast their votes.

Close to 350 buses commence their journey from Mangaluru KSRTC division (Mangaluru-3, Kundapur, Udupi) to various locations daily. Similarly, around 560 buses function from Puttur division (Puttur, B C Road, Dharmasthala, Madikeri, Sullia) daily. In the backdrop of the 2nd phase of elections in the state including in Uttar Kannada, more than 50 KSRTC buses from Mangaluru and Puttur depot had left on election duty.

Voting opportunity to 30% of the employees

Speaking to ‘Udayavani’ on the situation, KSRTC Staff and Employees Association’s Chief Secretary Praveen Kumar said, “We had previously written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner to provide an opportunity for KSRTC drivers, conductors and other staffs to cast their votes. The officials replied back stating the higher officials had been informed. Because of this only 30% of the employees were provided the opportunity to cast their votes,” he informed.

No opportunity for postal ballot

The opportunity for postal ballot was only provided to the bus drivers and conductors appointed on election duty. But, those carrying out their regular duty were not provided the opportunity to cast their votes. Even then, some employees took holiday and went to their hometowns to cast their votes. Because of this there was a disruption of services along certain routes.

Staffs leave for voting

“Most of the staffs working at Puttur KSRTC division returned back to their hometowns to cast their votes. The workers from Uttara Kannada failed to change their EPIC cards to their present location of employment. Thus, some had to leave back to their villages to cast their votes,” informs Deepak Kumar, Puttur KSRTC Divisional Officer

We had requested

“All the staffs at KSRTC must be provided with the opportunity to cast their votes. If not, they should be provided with the opportunity of postal ballot. We have already sent a request in this regard to the chief Election Commissioner and the transport corporation. But it was not considered. If our request is not considered during the next election, we will not report for duty,” warned Praveen Kumar, Chief Secretary, KSRTC Staff and Employees Association