Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 21: The Bus Employees Association has decided to suspend operations of all the buses plying in Shirva region on February 24. This is in protest against the failure of the bus owners to positively respond to their various demands. This announcement was made by Ivan D’Souza, president of Undivided Dakshina Kannada District Bus Employees Association on Saturday February 19.

A meeting of the bus employees of Shirva region was held on Saturday at Shirva to discuss the issue. D’Souza said that the decision to call for a bandh was taken, after taking into consideration the lukewarm response to repeated demands of the bus employees to extend certain facilities to them. “Over 68 buses operate in this region, and about 450 employees work for these buses. Even those employees, who have been working for two or more decades in buses, have not been drawing the minimum wages and other facilities for which they are eligible. Bus employees, who work for 14 hours per day on an average, do not get any allowances, insurance, employment guarantee etc, the employees complained at the meeting.

General secretary of the association, Krishna D Anchan, vice-president, Ravi Kuckian, association’s Shirva unit president, Sadanand Nayak, and various other leaders were present.