‘Mo Bus’ staff go on strike in Odisha capital; services hit

Bhubaneswar: The bus passengers suffered in the state capital today as the ‘Mo Bus’ conductors launched strike over nonpayment of salary.

Over a hundred conductors observed cease work alleging they are underpaid and the salary is pending for last two-three months.

However, the drivers were exempted from the agitation.

Currently, a total of 190 conductors are engaged in 95 buses run by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), a company constituted by Odisha Government for providing public transport in Bhubaneswar connecting neighbourhoods.

Out of which, 180 conductors joined the strike over various demands.

“We are not getting exact salary promised to us during our joining. Even the average salary has not been paid to us for last two or three months. We are residing in Bhubaneswar along with families and it is too tough to manage households without regular salary,” said an agitator.

According to reports, the CRUT authorities had fixed particular salary for the conductors of ‘Mo Bus’ service. However, the protestors hit the streets alleging that they are underpaid and unaware of the deducted amount from their salary.

“We are paid an average amount of Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,000 each as the salary after deduction from the total salary of Rs 12,000. When asked about the deduction, the authorities said that the amount is deducted for EPF (11%) and ESI (3%) from the salary,” an agitating protestor said adding, “If calculate the percentage, the amount between Rs 1440 and Rs 1500 should be deducted from the salary. But the deduction is more than the percentage fixed by the government for EPF and ESI.”

“When asked about rest of deducted amount, the authorities failed to provide us details,” he further said.