CHENNAI: For 13 days straight, during March 16-28 this year, hundreds of former transport workers protested on Pallavan Salai in the city. The road is where the headquarters of both the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) are located.
One among the disgruntled protesters was A Thangaraj (60), father of three daughters. After serving for more than three decades as a foreman-electrician, he retired from MTC in 2013. Upon retirement, Thangaraj was given Rs 12 lakh in two instalments.
“Using the amount, I got my eldest daughter married,” he said. But Rs 12 lakh he got was not all. Another Rs 6 lakh was due, but he had been kept waiting. With two daughters still studying, and yet to get married, Thangaraj was a worried man. It was this worry that prompted him to approach the court in January this year. He was delighted when the court passed a favourable judgment, directing the corporation to pay the remaining money.
“But the corporation has not complied with the court’s order,” he rued. Thangaraj’s example is a template, other retired employees claim. T Balu, a former staff was unequivocal when he stated, “I personally know at least 20 former staff who are yet to get their dues, despite favourable court order.”
Balu, who claims to have just Rs 20,000 in his bank account, said, “We are asking for our retirement money. Nothing more, nothing less.” With 30 years of service behind him, Balu rued, “Why should we suffer because of the financial mismanagement of the corporations.”
It was this stance, that turned eventually into a demand that brought people like Balu and Thangaraj to join hands with their serving peers during the ongoing indefinite strike.
Speaking to Express, K Karsan, general secretary, Retired Employees Welfare Association said, “Ever since last December, monthly pensions are being delayed. For the month of April, we were paid the pension in May. How can we run our family on this erratic payment schedule?”
Collective frustration led the association members to meet all MLAs of the State, including the CM, and submit a memorandum to them last month.
Pile of arrears
A Tamil Nadu Government Order (Transport Department), issued on May 12 this year acknowledges that nearly Rs 1,650 crore is owed to retired transport employees
The breakup
Provident Fund (PF): Rs 319.96 cr
Gratuity: Rs 863.73 cr
Leave salary: Rs 286.80 cr
Pension commutation: Rs 177.34 cr
Total: Rs 1647.83 cr