Nagpur: Contractual workers under the aegis of Nagpur NMC Aapli Bus Kantrati Kamgar Sangh, affiliated to Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. They submitted a memorandum seeking hike in salaries.
The Sangh members had earlier submitted a similar memorandum addressed to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about difficulties they face due to meagre pay. They had held talks with Sandeep Joshi, Secretary, Deputy Chief Minister’s local office, and pointed out that they are working under DIMTS, it managed city bus operations on behalf of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for last six years. The NMC is all set to appoint a new operator to oversee the Aapli Bus operations in the Nagpur.
The new operator is likely to take charge from October 1. DIMTS had recruited local youths for the jobs of drivers, conductors and ticket inspectors for operation of AapliBus fleet. The Sangh office-bearers including Nagesh Sahare, President, and Kamlesh Wankhede, General Secretary, and others apprised Gadkari with their plight. They demanded fair revision of their salaries when new operator takes over the city bus operations.
Wankhede said, most of the contract workers of Aapli Bus have put in more than 10 years of service but their salaries are not commensurate with current inflations. The drivers and conductors are paid Rs 9,200 and Rs 11,020 respectively, per month. It is difficult for them to meet both ends due to rising inflation, he added.
“We have been appealing to the State Government that a simple revision can ensure that our take home pay is just decent if not enough so that they ensure that their families expectations are met with,” said Wankhede. Gadkari listened to them and assured to fulfil their demands at the earliest.
