Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has approved the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill 2023 in the Telangana State Legislative Assembly. However, she has made certain recommendations to the State Government. These recommendations include:
1. The ownership of the lands, assets, and properties of the TSRTC should remain with the Corporation itself, even after the absorption of RTC employees as government employees. The government should explicitly guarantee this.
2. The assets should be divided between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh according to the AP Reorganization Act.
3. The liability of clearing the arrears from the former APSRTC should be clarified and assumed.
4. The emoluments of the RTC employees once absorbed as government employees should be on par with other state government employees in terms of pay scales, service rules, and regulations.
5. RTC employees already absorbed should have the opportunity to request ‘compassionate appointment’ for family members on medical grounds if they become unfit for service due to the stress and physical strain of work.
6. Disciplinary proceedings within the RTC should be more humane and aligned with the same rules and regulations as other government employees.
7. If RTC absorbed employees are sent on deputation to other departments, their grade, pay, salary, and promotions should be protected.
8. Contract and outsourced employees should receive similar benefits and salaries as regular employees according to state service rules. Their service should also be recognized and protected for further employment.
9. Regular and contract employees should receive the same health benefits, including treatment at RTC hospitals, government-sponsored treatment, and insurance benefits. The families of regular employees should also be included in the health benefits scheme.
10. The maintenance of buses should be taken over by the government through outsourcing or other means, with the government bearing the financial burden for the safety of the people.
The Governor wishes all TSRTC employees and their families the best and hopes that this absorption into government service will benefit them all.
