After being treated shabbily for almost a decade by the state road transport corporations, the trainees will finally get medical treatment facility, costing an additional Rs 4 crore to the corporations, as applicable to regular employees and also an enhanced training allowance.

Speaking at the presentation of the Chief Minister’s Gold Medals to drivers with accident-free records, Transport Minister R Ashoka said the training allowance for trainees in their first year would be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400 and for those in the second year of training, the allowance would go up by Rs 300 to Rs 900.

Ashoka said the four road transport corporations – Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West KRTC and North East KRTC –– will have to spend about Rs 50 crore for the purpose.

Presenting the medals to 509 drivers for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, Chief Minister B S  Yeddyurappa said unlike the doctors and engineers of the world who want their children to pursue similar careers, drivers and their wives should encourage their children to be well-educated.

“The idea is not to disrespect your profession, but to equip your children with better skills so that there are more avenues for employment,” Yeddyurappa said. In all, 42 drivers from KSRTC, 247 from BMTC, 130 from NWKRTC and 90 from NEKRTC got the gold medals for three years. The medals were presented to drivers who have rendered accident-free service for seven years in cities and 15 years in rural areas. The award carried a gold medal (8 gram gold and 20 gram silver), cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a monthly incentive of Rs 100.