MSRTC announces Rs 10,000 Diwali bonus for employees, Rs 22,000 advance for those in need

Nagpur: Diwali festivities have begun. Markets are crowded with shoppers, and thousands of migrant workers are returning to their villages and cities in buses of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Against this backdrop, MSRTC has announced a Diwali bonus of Rs 10,000 for its employees, ending the uncertainty of staff who had been waiting for a festival benefit.

Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik made the announcement at a press conference. He said discussions had been held with the state government on the festival bonus and the employees' other long-pending demands.

The government has approved the bonus for this festive season. However, a decision on the remaining demands has been deferred until after Diwali. The minister assured that an effort would be made later to resolve the outstanding issues.

Besides the bonus, another financial relief has been given. ST employees in need will be given an advance of Rs 22,000, which will later be recovered from their salaries.

The advance facility is estimated to cost the corporation about Rs 5 crore every month. This will take its total liability to about Rs 105 crore.

Even during the festival rush, ST employees have stayed at their posts, running buses for people travelling home for Diwali. The announcement is being seen as a major relief for them. It is hoped that it will ease the financial strain on their families and make their Diwali a little sweeter.

Employees who had been working through the peak season and waiting for festival payments are expected to feel relieved by the announcement just before Diwali. The bonus is expected to reduce the financial pressure on them ahead of the festival.