The police arrested 234 employees and retired workers of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation when they staged a dharna in front of depots at seven places in the district on Saturday.
As TNSTC struggles to disburse pension on the first day of every month, settle retirement benefits and revised salary as per the wage settlement negotiations, workers and retired employees are staging various protests.
When they staged a dharna in front of depots on Saturday to prevent buses being taken out to various destinations, the police arrested them. The agitation began at 3.30 a.m. at Vannarpet.
The protests were organised at Vannarpet (80), Bypass Road depot (34), KTC Nagar depot (46), Shencottai (13), Cheranmahadevi (14), Puliyangudi (17) and Papanasam (30).
In Thoothukudi district, the police arrested 112 persons as workers and retired employees staged a dharna in front of depots at Old Bus-Stand, Kovilpatti – Ilaiyarasanenthal Road and Srivaikundam. They were released later.
Nagercoil
Over 1,000 retired employees continued their agitation in front of the General Manager, Nagercoil Region, Asaripallam. M. Sundararaj, district secretary, Transport Employees Union, said that the government failed to keep its promise on allocation of sufficient funds in the budget for settlement of terminal benefits to retired employees. The retired employees are in deep stress due to irregular disbursal of pension for the last few months.
