Maharashtra ST staff to get Rs 10,000 Diwali ex gratia, Rs 12,500 festival allowance

Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (ST) chairman Pratap Sarnaik has announced a major decision so that the Diwali of the corporation's 83,000 officers and employees is better this year. Under the decision, every eligible employee will receive an ex gratia payment of Rs 10,000.

In addition, a festival allowance of Rs 12,500 will be paid. It has also been decided to raise the dearness allowance from the current 58 per cent to 60 per cent.

The decision was conveyed at a meeting with representatives of the various employee unions in the ST. Sarnaik took a firm stand that, even though the corporation is facing a shortage of funds, employees cannot be denied the joy of Diwali.

The decision will place a financial burden of about Rs 160 crore on the corporation. Speaking on this, Sarnaik said, "ST officers and employees work day and night to provide safe travel to lakhs of passengers. Considering their hard work, giving them a grant at Diwali is not mere generosity, it is their right. Even though this decision will put a burden of about Rs 160 crore on the corporation, it is our duty that the employees celebrate Diwali happily."

Sarnaik expressed confidence that the future of the ST corporation is bright because of the strong backing of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar.

Minister Sarnaik also appealed to ST employees not to hold any protest or sit-in. On the issue, he said, "ST is the lifeline of ordinary passengers. Passengers must not suffer because of any protest. Employees and passengers are the two important pillars of the ST. We are always ready to find a way through discussion on employees' issues."

In short, under the announcement, eligible employees will get a Rs 10,000 ex gratia payment, a Rs 12,500 festival allowance and dearness allowance raised to 60 per cent. Sarnaik said the entire financial burden will fall on the ST corporation and will be about Rs 160 crore.