MSRTC wakes up to stressed staff’s needs

Almost six months after Santosh Mane’s reckless driving incident in the city, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to appoint 63 counsellors for their staffers in 248 depots across the state of which the Pune division will get three.

The MSRTC is the first state transport body in the country to appoint counsellors for its staff.

These counsellors will conduct weekly stress management workshops with the MSRTC drivers and conductors.

The issue of MSRTC drivers and conductors suffering from high level of stress came to light after Mane drove away in an ST bus from Swargate Depot killing nine people on January 25.

After the incident, Deepak Kapoor, managing director of MSRTC, had appointed the high-powered committee to study the problems faced by the MSRTC staff and they were instructed to give suggestions for improvement of working conditions. On the basis of the suggestions, the MSRTC administration decided to appoint counsellors in the state.

Ashok Jadhav, Pune divisional controller of MSRTC, said, “Three of the 63 counsellors will be appointed for Pune. Interviews of the candidates for posts will be held on July 26. These counsellors
will be holding sessions with drivers and conductors every week and will teach techniques to reduce stress.”

The counsellors will be appointed for a period of one year and they will be provided free passes to travel on MSRTC buses.

The MSRTC management has already decided to carry out a medical check-up of all the staff after every three months.