This morning, upon reaching the bus stand, I was surprised to find it full of stationary buses, some of the drivers seated inside, others missing in action . As I approached my Airavat bus, the driver informed me that the service was cancelled due to the ongoing KSRTC staff strike.
Nearby, a woman traveling with her daughter to Madikeri was engaged in a heated exchange with another driver, demanding to know who would refund the fare for her pre-booked online ticket. The driver responded curtly, “Please contact KSRTC. We are not responsible for refunds.” He added, rather bluntly, “We’ve been waiting for our salary arrears for years, amounting to lakhs.”
The entire bus stand was filled with dejected passengers, many wandering aimlessly, unsure of what to do next. I, too had no option but to return home. Thanks to Uber’s surge pricing, I ended up spending more on the round trip to the bus stand than the cost of the actual bus ticket (Rs 657).
Despite the High Court’s directive to call off the strike and the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by the Karnataka government, transport employees have proceeded with the strike undeterred.
This points to a disturbing trend, a growing disregard for legal orders and state authority by employee unions.
At the same time, the government’s visible helplessness in clearing long pending salary arrears, stretching over 38 months, raises serious questions about their fiscal status. The freebies that the Govt has doled out in the name of welfare schemes is bankrupting the state government.
What I witnessed today at the bus stand is not just a transport disruption, it is a symptom of deeper systemic issues. If unchecked, such scenes may soon become commonplace, not just in Karnataka – but across India.
Pathetic state of affairs. While the government who got elected in the garb of freebies enjoy the power & privileges, it’s the common man who got them to power suffers!!!……..freebies or fraudbies do take a call !!!