KSRTC rolls out incentives to prop up staff

Kochi: Despite struggling to pay off monthly salary to nearly 40,000 staff members, the cash-strapped KSRTC has rolled out incentives, including cash and good service entry,  to its employees in a bid to motivate them and enhance their productivity and commitment.

From this month onwards, a model conductor and driver will be selected from each unit  every month and they will be provided  a cash incentive of Rs 1,000. Upon a staff member getting selected for the best employee award for 12 months at a stretch, he/she will be given a ‘Good service entry’ besides an additional annual increment.

“Further,  their photos will be displayed in buses and a medal provided to them (that can be pinned with the uniform) so as to motivate other employees too to achieve the feat. The criteria for the best employee award for a conductor will be the contribution to earnings, behaviour towards passengers, discipline and punctuality among others. That for drivers will be safe driving, higher fuel efficiency, punctuality and discipline,” a senior officer said.

A memorandum in this regard (TR 223/2016) was issued by the chief office to all the depots.

Meanwhile, Rs 1 lakh will be provided to the ‘best depot’ every month for enhancing infrastructure and related activities. If a particular depot is  selected as the best  for six months continuously, a fund of Rs 1 crore will be allotted for its development activities, the direction said.

“For the revival plans being implemented to be successful, the participation of employees is a must. The initiative is to boost their morale and improve the services, which will ultimately benefit the commuters,” the officer said.

During the last few months, the corporation had  struggled to make the staff salary payments which are delayed by up to two weeks.