Bengal: CITU March in Kolkata to Highlight Plight of Transport Workers

Kolkata: Highlighting the poor condition of public and private transport as well as the plight of transport workers, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a march in Kolkata on Friday from Subodh Mallik Square to Lalbazar and the Transport Department.

Even as the police stopped the rally midway, the march continued and ended with two delegations submitting memos in both places.

"On behalf of public and private transport workers of Kolkata, we have come to you regarding various problems of the industry. Presently the transport industry is in a crisis. Every day permanent workers are reducing in the public transport sector. There is no minimum wage for temporary workers," said the memorandum.

It further highlighted how the private transport sector is affected by increased fuel prices.

"No government assistance is there for replacing vehicles over 15 years old. Motor parts prices are increasing every day. The exploitation of several app cab companies is increasing. Along with police harassment on the street, the government is not saying anything about the fare hike. The same is the case with goods transport vehicles. All in all, the condition of transport workers is very pathetic. We want to discuss everything with you and solve it. Hope to get your full cooperation," the memo added.

The nine-point demands mentioned in the memo asked the government to announce the list of passenger fares every year, keeping in line with fuel prices, as it is impossible to run taxis, app cabs, buses, and minibuses at the fixed fare of 2018. It also sought an Aggregator Act to regulator app-based cabs.

Additionally, CITU mentioned that permanent staff should be appointed in all vacancies in government transport, and present temporary workers' minimum salary should be Rs 26,000. All government workers should receive pensions, and permanent employment should be given to one person from the family of government transport workers who died while in service, it demanded.

The other demands seek an increase in the frequency of public transport, such as buses and trams, end to police harassment. It also wanted the government to put a halt on pressure on private financiers and brokers. Also, there should be mechanisms for making the permit process transparent.

CITU leader Anadi Sahu said: "The law in the name of road safety should be repealed immediately. As a result, car and bus drivers, and workers are being harassed by the police. Government insurance premiums mean fuel prices are rising. In this situation, passenger fares should be increased. All transport workers should be given social security."

Attacking the state government, CITU West Bengal Committee president Subhash Mukherjee said: "The government is looting this important sector. The land under the Government Transport Corporation is being sold to benefit industrialists and capitalists."