Bangalore Busmen driven around the bend

Employees of the state-run transport corporations complained that they are underpaid, overworked, and harassed in more ways than one.

The drivers, conductors, and mechanics working with the state’s four organisations—The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and North-eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation—had staged a demonstration outside the KSRTC office on Thursday. About five dozen employees had gathered under the banner of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

They levelled several allegations. Most of the drivers and conductors complained that to get a leave sanctioned they have to pay `100 bribe (a few said it was `200) to their respective depot manager.

A conductor from Turuvekere, Tumkur, showed DNA a medical certificate (issued by a government hospital) and the acknowledgement of a telegram through which he had intimated that he would not be able to report to work on medical grounds.

Despite this, his depot manager was demanding `400 if he wanted the paid leaves to be sanctioned. Besides, the BMTC drivers complained that unreasonable fines were being slapped on them.

They said they are being penalised even if their bus tyre  gets burst or the window pane or mirror gets damaged.