A striking Deepavali this!

By S. Vydhianathan and K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI, NOV. 12. The common man in Tamil Nadu could have not imagined a worse Deepavali season. The staff of the transport and civil supplies departments are on strike. More sections in the Government are threatening to jump on the bandwagon of protesters, amid spiraling prices of essential goods.

A cash-strapped Government does not have enough funds to pay 20 per cent bonus demanded by the employees. But, so far, it has put up a brave face notwithstanding the paralysing strikes.

In the past three days, the authorities pressed in more and more services including private buses, backed by armies of `temporary workers', to keep a semblance of order on the roads.

On Chennai roads were packed buses whose operators collected flat fares on most routes. Even in buses which plied on `mofussil' and inter-city routes, passengers were packed like sardines. Within the city, autorickshaws, mini-vans and private providers made quite a tidy sum. For some reason, passengers hesitate to use buses manned by temporary workers.

With just a day to go for Deepavali, those rushing to their hometowns were forced to pay exorbitant charges to omnibus operators. Even then, touts in Chennai managed to ``block'' chunks of seats, selling them at a premium. As against the normal fare of Rs.300 for Nagercoil, Rs.250 for Madurai and Rs.200 for Tiruchi, they charged at least Rs.50 more. The STC buses charge only half this fare.

Today, the Southern Railway ran four special services packed to capacity.

As for the TNEB strike, customers were hardpressed to pay bi- monthly bills, as the counters in many places were closed on Monday.

The board, in a release, said the last date for payment of consumption charges had been extended to November 19. The calling-off of the strike by a major union came as big relief to the consumers.

PIL protest

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking to declare the ongoing transport corporation employees' strike illegal and unconstitutional. Mr. C.R. Rajeseharan of Mayiladuthurai prayed for a direction to the Transport Secretary that he take action against the members of labour unions participating in the `illegal strike'.

Contending that transport was an essential service, he said any dispute between the management and the workers should be sorted out only within the framework of the Industrial Disputes Act. He alleged that unruly elements in the unions were threatening co- workers against attending work.

In another demonstration of public ire, Mr. R. Desikan, Trustee, Consumer Association of India, said the strike was illegal and against the fundamental rights of the public. He demanded a wage cut for the strikers. The protest amounted to blackmailing the system and the public. It was unfortunate that the union leaders were causing inconvenience to the public during this festive season, without resorting to legal methods of conciliation.

One offshoot of the strike has been the spiraling prices of essential commodities. Although edible oil prices have remained almost stable, vegetables rates have skyrocketed in the past one week, with vendors complaining of diminishing supplies. The absence of bus services has crippled mobility.

The strike by the civil supplies employees has indeed completed the picture of hardship. Many wonder whether they will be able to draw their supplies from ration shops for the month if the strike prolongs.

Also this time round, the normal one kg of extra sugar offered to the PDS cardholders, was not supplied.

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Section  : Southern States
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