The Hindu : Front Page : TNSTC drivers in southern districts upset over delay in disbursal of incentives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
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TNSTC drivers in southern districts upset over delay in disbursal of incentives

S. Vijay Kumar

At least 1,000 employees eligible for the benefits

MADURAI: The delay in disbursal of incentives and increments for accident-free service is a cause for concern among Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) drivers in the southern districts.

According to trade union members, the accident-free incentive scheme was withdrawn as part of austerity measures in 2001. Though it was restored in many divisions, they claimed that no incentive or increment was disbursed since 2001 in Madurai division much to the disappointment of at least 1,000 drivers eligible for the benefits.

TNSTC sources said that the accident-free award scheme was introduced in the 1980 wage settlement. If drivers performed without involving in road accidents for a period of one year, they would be entitled to a one-time payment of Rs.200. Every consecutive year without accident record would fetch them Rs.25 more, up to five years. On the sixth year, the accident-free incentive would be Rs.600.

In the 1995 wage settlement, it was agreed that drivers with a track record of 10 years of consecutive service without involving in road accidents would be given one increment and those with 20 years would get two increments. "The non-payment of incentives/increments since 2001 is worrying many of them. At a juncture when road accidents are steadily on the rise, the good work of drivers should be recognised," said S. Sampath of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Staff Federation.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions general secretary (Madurai unit), V. Pitchai, claimed that many representations were made to the management seeking to restore the scheme. Steps should be taken to fill up the vacancies of training instructors to improve the skills of poorly performing drivers.

The TNSTC Managing Director (Madurai Division), M. Jayarajan, said efforts were on to restore the scheme at the earliest. All those entitled for the benefits would be considered, he added.

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