Strike off, buses back on roads as govt. agrees to merge DA with basic pay

September 15, 2012

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Bangalore, September 15: Public transport buses will be back on the City roads and across the State on Saturday.

 

The two-day old strike by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) employees was called off late Friday night, after a marathon meeting. Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister R Ashoka announced this to waiting mediapersons after a prolonged meeting with the joint committee of the striking employees.

 

The employees decided to withdraw the strike after the State offered to merge 86 per cent of their Dearness Allowance with the basic pay. This will be applicable to employees of all the four state transport corporations. Ashoka said this measure would place an additional burden of Rs 250 crore on the government.

 

The State also agreed to increase the pay of trainee employees by Rs 1,000, taking their total monthly salary to Rs 8,000. A key demand of the employees was to address the unnecessary extension of the training period by three to four years, and in some cases, to even up to 11 years. The government has now decided to regularise the services of trainees immediately on completion of their training period of two years. During the strike period, many transport depot officials had been transferred.

 

Acceding to another demand, the State agreed to cancel all the transfers made after March 13, 2012.

 

To address the employees' remaining demands, Ashoka said a committee including the employees' representatives will be formed under the KSRTC Director (Personnel). Within a month, these issues too will be sorted out, said the minister.

 

Following the resolution of the strike, the government will release all those arrested, and withdraw notices issued to employees for boycotting work.

 

Before the meeting, Ashoka had reiterated that wage revision would not be effected as it would “burden the people of the State”. A key demand of the employees was that the already implemented wage hike of 10 per cent should be treated as interim relief and the talks had to continue for a wage revision.

 

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) leader, Anantha Subba Rao, thanked the government for the outcome of the negotiatons. He requested all the employees to return to work on Saturday morning, and forget the unfortunate episodes of the last two days. He urged them to cooperate with the officials to ensure better service to the commuters.

 

Earlier on Friday, the State had toughened its stand slapping criminal cases on 3,000 KSRTC employees who indulged in violent activities. Ashoka had informed that 200 buses were damaged and three drivers were injured by the protesters. The minister also announced Rs 25,000 compensation for the victims.

 

Rampant corruption

 

In response to the allegations of rampant corruption within transport corporations, Ashoka said so far five divisional commissioners have been transferred following complaints. Employees have alleged that monitoring squads and senior officials demand bribes from drivers and conductors for sanctioning leaves and change of routes. “ADG rank officers have been deployed to monitor this. ”

 

He alleged that the unions were also not allowing him to streamline the corporations. “I want to evolve a  policy when it comes to allocating routes to drivers by introducing a lottery or rotation based system. But senior drivers, part of these unions, are not allowing me to do so,” he added.


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News Network
September 20,2024

Udupi: A vigilant Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, Aparna K T, demonstrated remarkable presence of mind when she rescued a student who slipped while trying to board a moving train at Udupi Railway Station on Friday morning.

The incident occurred as passenger train number 06602 arrived at the station around 7:30 AM. The student, traveling from Mangaluru to Gokarna, had briefly alighted to purchase snacks. However, as the train began moving, she hurried back towards the carriage with the snacks in hand. In her rush, she lost her footing, slipping dangerously between the platform and the moving train.

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Woman constable Aparna K T was given a cash reward of Rs 5000.

 

Constable Aparna, who had been closely monitoring the passengers, immediately sprang into action. “I saw her running towards the train and alerted everyone by blowing my whistle. She slipped, and her legs were caught between the platform and the train. Without hesitation, I pulled her out with the help of others nearby,” she recalled.

Thanks to Aparna’s quick thinking and the swift response of the railway staff, the train was stopped in time. Railway personnel, including the guard and loco pilot, were immediately informed, and they acted promptly to halt the train using both flag signals and a walkie-talkie.

RPF Inspector Madhusoodhanan PV arrived at the scene shortly after to check on the passenger's condition. The shaken but uninjured student was given water and helped back onto the train to safely continue her journey.

In an added measure of care, the RPF post at Bhatkal was notified to follow up on the passenger’s well-being during her journey. The student, fortunately, reached her destination without further incident.

The heroic rescue was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, earning widespread praise. In recognition of her bravery, Regional Railway Manager (RRM) Karwar awarded Constable Aparna a cash reward of ₹5,000, commending her quick action that averted a potentially tragic accident.

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News Network
September 14,2024

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the situation in violence-hit Nagamangala town in Mandya district is peaceful now, and steps have been taken to ensure that no untoward incidents take place.

Clashes had broken out between two groups during the Ganesh idol procession in the town, following which mobs went on a rampage with stone pelting and targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension on Wednesday night.

"Situation in Nagamangala is now peaceful and there is no problem there. I have also instructed officials to hold a peace meeting there. We have instructed officers to ensure that no untoward incidents take place, enough police force is also stationed there," Parameshwara told reporters here.

About 55 people have been arrested in connection with the incident and they have been sent to judicial custody, according to police sources.

Responding to a question on opposition parties including JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy raising doubts about the FIR, he said, "The police will do what has to be done in accordance with law..."

Asked about BJP sending a fact finding team to Nagamangala, the Home Minister said, "Let them find the facts and inform us, and if there is any fact from their fact finding, we will look into it. It will make our work a bit easier." The BJP panel consisting of MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, former Minister K C Narayana Gowda, state secretary Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda, and former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, will visit the spot and submit a comprehensive report to the party in a week.

According to police, an argument had broken out between two groups, when the Ganesh idol procession by devotees from Badri Koppalu village reached a place of worship on Wednesday, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

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News Network
September 8,2024

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In a heartbreaking incident, a beautiful journey of love and new beginnings was abruptly shattered by a tragic accident on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway at Talapady in Bantwal taluk on Saturday, September 7.

Manasa, a newlywed bride, lost her life in a devastating car accident, leaving her husband, Aneesh Krishna, critically injured.

The couple, who had just begun their marital journey on September 5, was returning from a temple visit to settle dues when fate took a cruel turn. Their Alto car, in which they were traveling from B C Road towards Mangaluru, skidded off course after the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to jump the divider and collide head-on with a KSRTC bus.

In the blink of an eye, their world crumbled. The impact was so severe that their car was left mangled, with Manasa tragically losing her life at the scene. Aneesh, fighting for his life, has been rushed to a private hospital in Mangaluru.

Manasa and Aneesh, both professionals working in a private company in Mangaluru, had dreams of a life together, filled with shared moments and cherished memories. The couple's love story, celebrated just days ago with their wedding at the Denthadka Temple, now echoes in the hearts of their grieving families, forever marred by this tragic accident.

The Melkar police arrived swiftly at the scene and have begun their investigation, hoping to bring clarity to this devastating event.

In the aftermath of this tragic accident, the community mourns the loss of a young bride and prays for the recovery of a husband left fighting for his life.

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