VIJAYAWADA: Chairman of APSRTC, Varla Ramaiah, has said that decisions pertaining to the issues raised by the workers’ union of the State-owned transport company will be discussed at the board meeting scheduled to be held on June 19.
Decisions related to payment of fitment/interim relief (IR), increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years and others, would be taken in favour of the workers, he said.
Speaking to the reporters on Friday, Ramaiah said, “Ours is a government favourable to the working class. We had a meeting on Thursday with Transport Minister K Atchannaidu and finalised the issues to be discussed at the board meeting.”
However, sources said the State government had decided against raising the retirement age as it would burden the already cash-strapped RTC by `600 crore per annum.
It was also being said that the State government would announce an interim relief of 16 per cent instead of fitment, as demanded by the workers. To this, Ramaiah said, “We have not taken any decision yet, but I am confident that we would take an appropriate decision during the meeting.”
Varla Ramaiah, who is also the State TDP general secretary, came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Indian Constitution was at stake under Modi’s rule.
“Minority communities across the country are feeling insecure after Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister. I demand that the Union government conduct an emergency Cabinet to discuss the issues being raised by the Minorities. Is it not the Modi government’s responsibility to address their concerns?” he said.