KSRTC in crisis as 461 workers retire

Kochi: As many as 461 employees of the KSRTC retired on Tuesday, pushing the corporation into a staff crunch crisis. “It’s the biggest in terms of employees retiring on a single day. The number would be  more if we take the officials who had opted for pending leaves over the last few months,” said Joy George, who retired as Assistant Transport Officer (ATO) from Ernakulam unit.

The  corporation  has invited applications for direct recruitment to posts such as reserve drivers and conductors. “A number of  staff had retired from critical decision- making posts. Now the management graduates will be recruited to be posted in key roles such as ATOs to bring in professionalism and increase efficiency. Also promotion will be allowed to existing staff by reducing the minimum period of service required,” a senior officer said.

“During our time, we’ve to wait for as many as 27 years to get promotion. Now promotion to key posts is being provided once they attain ten or more years of service,” George said. Meanwhile, the trade unions have demanded that the corporation should recruit sufficient number of staff so that the operations won’t get affected.

“The corporation should start taking in personnel so as to ensure smooth operation,” said K.K. Diwakaran, state working president of the Kerala State Road Transport Employees' Association (KSRTEA).