Mumbai, 20 June (HS): On Saturday, Brihanmumbai Electricity

Supply and Transport (BEST) employees went on strike for the second day in a

row, demanding the regularization of long-term contract workers as well as the

end of the contract-based bus system. Protesting employee Praveen Shantaram

Holmukhe stated that the unrest is over contract-operated buses, not wage

hikes.

“Our demonstration is against buses with wet lease

contracts. This is not about wage increases or anything else. Make us permanent

in BEST and discontinue all contract vehicles. Holmukhe stated that all

troubles and accidents are the result of contract vehicles. This is not due to

wet-lease employees. Why aren't we being made permanent? We labor for 16 hours

but are only paid Rs 20,000. How will that help us survive? As soon as our

requests are satisfied, we will restart bus service. We have not had any

communication with the government thus yet,” he said.

Despite appeals from the Maharashtra Transport Minister and

the use of the Essential Services Maintenance Act, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply

and Transport personnel continued on strike for the second day on Saturday,

with people suffering the brunt of the burden. Passengers were forced to rely on overloaded local trains

and Metro services, taxis, autorickshaws, and app-based cabs to reach their

destinations around the metropolis. In the absence of a specific conclusion, we have chosen to

continue our protest, according to Uday Ambonkar, convenor of BEST Sanyukt

Kamgar Kruti Samiti (unions' joint action committee).

The strike has seriously disrupted lakhs of people's daily

commutes in the financial capital, with many office workers, students, older

residents, and patients reporting problems getting to their destinations owing

to the near-total stoppage of bus service. On June 19, BEST employees held a

big protest at the Dharavi depot, seeking a wage rise and the settlement of

long-standing concerns. To keep the situation under control, a large number of

police were deployed.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi