Give Concessionary Hike to Transport Corporation Pensioners immediately: Ramadoss

Chennai: Ramadoss, the founder of BAMA, has insisted that the pensioners of the Transport Corporation should be given an immediate increase on the basis of subsidized rates.

In a statement issued by him in this regard, “more than 88,000 workers who retired after working in Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations have not been given the increase in the reduced price which was stopped in 2015 till today. While it was expected that the Tamil Nadu government would take a good decision, the appeal against the decision of the High Court in this regard is disappointing for the pensioners.

The Proletarian People’s Party has repeatedly insisted that the transport workers should be reinstated in the suspended allowance hike. Transport Corporation pensioners have also staged protests. The High Court and the Supreme Court, which heard the cases filed on behalf of the pensioners, have ruled that the increase should be given on a discounted basis. The High Court, hearing the contempt of court case filed against the non-implementation of the court orders, has ordered to increase the gratuity to the pensioners of the Transport Corporation from November last year.

However, the Tamil Nadu government, which did not implement the order, has filed an appeal against the verdict. As a result, there has been a further extension of the gratuity increase due to the pensioners of the Transport Corporation. Transport Corporation pensioners cannot afford to continue indefinitely the sufferings and crises caused by non-increase in fares. The Tamilnadu government should carefully examine this request.

It has been 88 months, i.e. more than 7 years, since the suspension of the increase in gratuity for the Transport Corporation pensioners. During these 88 months their cost of living has risen significantly. How can pensioners cope with the extra cost without raising premiums? They are not super rich. They get meager pension. Govt should not deny them increase in subsidized rate.

If the Government of Tamil Nadu thinks so, it can immediately increase the subsidized rate of the pensioners of the Transport Corporation. Therefore, considering the condition of Transport Corporation pensioners, Tamil Nadu Government should increase their allowance immediately and provide it along with the arrears. The appeal filed in the High Court in this regard should be withdrawn. Tamil Nadu government should publish a notification in this regard in the financial statement.