Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 17: The personnel manning Hejamadi and Sasthan tollgates on national highway 66 in the district resorted to flash strike on Friday August 16 evening, in protest against non-disbursal of salary for the month of July this year. Later, on the basis of assurance made by Hejamadi tollgate manager, Shivaprasad Rai, the staff of both the tollgates withdrew the strike at 7.45 pm and discharged their duties thereafter.
About 180 personnel deployed to manage these two tollgates began their protest strike from 4 pm onward on Friday, as they were angry that their July salary was not yet credited to their accounts. As a result, vehicles moving on the highway could move ahead without bothering to pay toll charges.
It is said that Marcoline Company, which was managing these tollgates in the past on contract basis, had recovered all its expenses till July this year before handing over charge to Navayuga Company. Therefore, that company is responsible to pay the employees’ salary for July. But till August 16, the Marcoline Company repeatedly gave assurances without disbursing the salary, as a result of which this strike happened.
Shivaprasad Rai spoke to Navayuga officials and told the employees that the company has agreed to attach the security deposit of Marcoline by 7 pm on Friday and credit the amount to accounts of employees. He told the employees that Navayuga Company had already deposited Rs 26.5 lac into the bank account but that the salary was not credited into their accounts because of server problem. On the basis of his assurance, the strike was withdrawn at around 7.45 pm. The employees said that they will resort to strike again if the payment if not made by 12 pm on Saturday.
Social worker from Hejamadi, Panduranga Karkera, Padubidri police assistant sub-inspectors, Gangadhar and Sudesh Shetty, managed the security situation at Hejamadi. Tollgate manager, Shivaprasad Rai, said that Navayuga Company incurred loss of about three lac rupees as vehicles passed through the tollgates for four hours freely.
Kota station hose officer, Nityananda Gowda, visited Sasthan tollgate and asked the employees to see that the general public do not face any problems.