The Maharashtra unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has demanded that the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) withdraw the notices issued to 300 workers under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and the eviction notices sent to 2,000 workers’ families living in the BEST quarters.
“PUCL Maharashtra expresses shock at reports that the BMC and the BEST have chosen to invoke the draconian provisions of the MESMA against striking BEST employees, instead of taking steps to redress their grievances,” a statement issued by the organisation said.
It urged the BEST management to initiate talks with the striking workers and appealed to the State government to strengthen public transport in Mumbai.
“It is a shame that the demands of the protesting BEST workers have been met with this kind of penalisation and repression from the administration on the one hand and indifference from the State on the other,” the statement said.
The civil rights organisation said the government, while investing heavily on roads and flyovers, is not focussing on public transport, which has led to a drop in the BEST’s service and ridership.
The ridership has declined from around 42 lakh a decade ago to 27 lakh at present. The BEST administration in a bid to curtail losses has also scrapped 18 routes.
It further said the present condition of the BEST is the result of the management’s failure to address the workers’ grievances and the government’s failure to push policies to strengthen the public transport.
