Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 31:
Even if most of the employees of Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) have enjoyed the retrenchment benefit after the State Government abolished the ailing Corporation, some of the employees are protesting against the Government�s move and have refused to take the benefit.
According to a reliable source State Transport Department had sanctioned Rs 13 crores for providing retrenchment benefit to the employees of the Corporation.
The 18 percent of the amount was financed by the Centre and the remaining 20 percent by the State Government.
The sanctioned amount includes payment of 18 months� salary to 243 employees of the Corporation.
The amount of the 18 months� salary to be given to the employees as part of the retrenchment benefit was worked out based on the ROP, 1996.However, when the retrenchment benefit was actually given to the employees, the amount given was worked out on the basis of ROP 1990, thereby causing resentment among the employees, most of whom ultimately accepted the amount, but filed a case in the Gauhati High Court demanding payment of the benefit based on the ROP 1996.As the retrenchment benefit amount was sanctioned based on the ROP 1996 but actually given to the employees based on ROP 1990, the Transport Department has withheld around Rs 5 crores, source said.
With the State Cabinet taking decision on abolishing non-profit making PSUs, the State Government had issued an order in July, 2001 giving three months� notice to all the 243 employees of the Corporation for taking the retrenchment benefit.
The order also made it clear that all the employees would be considered no more employees of the Corporation with effect from October, 2001.However, with State Transport Commissioner issuing an official order on November 1, 2003 to the effect of announcing abolition of the Corporation, 44 employees of the Manipur State Transport (MST) who were in the State service were transferred to the Transport Department asked the Department for paying of their monthly salary.
Although the Transport Department was asked to pay the salary to the MST employees, the Department was not given any control over these employees.
As a result these employees are drawing their salary freely, the source said.