Mass suicide threat by staff of transport company

As many as 150 workers in Hanuman Transport Company have threatened to commit mass suicide owing to the "unstable livelihood" following the decision of the Transport company to hand over buses to other private organisations.

Speaking to reporters here, Hanuman Transport Private Company Employees Association president Rajasad Nandihalli said that it is disastrous as the company has decided to shut down the functioning and hand over the business to other private parties. The process has already begun. Of the 33 buses, 10 buses are already sold out. There were a total of 300 employees and only 150 to 160 employees are remaining. He added that their ongoing protest is on and they have started the protest since April 9 in front of the DC's office. He added that the employees had approached the company authorities urging them to hand over the buses for them to run it. They would purchase the buses with the help of their provident fund, he said.

He added that the salary is unstable and the bonus for the present year has not been offered. "The licenses of the buses are leased out or sold, which is not fair. This has resulted in most employees being left in dire straits.

He alleged that the documents available are also distorted making it convenient for the company authorities to look into their selfish gains. He said they are least bothered about the employees and their difficulties. The notice was not given prior to the removal of the labourers from their jobs. For the past eight months, the PF and ESI amounts have not been paid, he said. He said the employees tried saving the company.

He said the government can confiscate all the permits and offer government jobs to the employees. He added that the company officials said that they are unable to carry the business forward.