The 12-day strike by pensioners of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was called off on Friday following the intervention of Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The Minister stepped into the pandal in front of the Secretariat where the pensioners were staging the hunger strike. The stir was called off after Mr. Radhakrishnan assured them that pension arrears for April and pension for May would be disbursed in the next 10 days.
Sudheeran’s directive
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran had on Thursday said the Transport Minister had been asked to take steps to end the strike by the KSRTC pensioners.
E.P. John, leader of the agitating pensioners, welcomed the initiative of the Minister and announced that they were calling off the strike.
The Minister said a permanent solution to the issue would be found in three months after talks with political parties, KSRTC unions, and organisations of the pensioners.
Along with the ongoing talks with the LIC to work out a package for the pensioners, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the KSRTC would also hold talks with public sector organisations and nationalised banks.
Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan addressing the striking KSRTC pensioners at their agitation venue in front of the Secretariat on Friday.
