Maharashtra: Over 12 lakh students bear brunt of MSRTC strike

Shrikant Chemate from Shevgaon in Ahmednagar has clicked a touching picture of students clinging to an autorickshaw and also atop it on their way to school during exams

As the MSRTC bus strike is nearing six months, around 12 lakh school students, especially in rural parts of the state, continue to suffer due to lack of public transport. Some are even risking their safety, clinging onto autos and sitting atop them, to reach their schools that are kilometres away. The MSRTC has offered the students concessions, but since bus services are still not operating regularly, the students are paying from their pockets for other modes of transportation. "As there are no buses, six of us have pooled in money to get an auto rickshaw to take us to school together," said a student living near the Mumbai-Nashik Expressway.

Risking safety

A local activist from Shevgaon in Ahmednagar has clicked a touching picture of students clinging to an auto and also atop it on their way to school during exams. "I saw the plight that the students are facing near Pathardi in Ahmednagar, and have appealed to MSRTC staffers to return to work. As a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Bhagwan Seva Sangh, we have supported the call of raising their salaries, but not their demand for merger with the government. But it is incorrect and unfair to play with the safety and lives of students like this," said Shrikant Chemate.

Suraj Wajge, a resident of Narayngaon in Junnar, has offered his personal vehicle to students who need to travel to schools

Some offer help too

Meanwhile, a good samaritan from Narayngaon in Junnar has offered his personal vehicle to local students who need to travel to school. "The MSRTC strike has been very painful for the students, and it was especially difficult for students living in the rural belt during the board exams. That is when I decided to put my personal vehicle to good use and posted my contact number in public domain, offering my vehicle for free to any student who needs to travel to school," activist Suraj Wajge said.

MSRTC officials said that students and senior citizens comprise 35 per cent of its passengers, who were now deprived of services due to the strike. MSRTC employees went on an indefinite strike from October-end over their demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government and intensified after the Diwali festival concluded. Despite giving a salary raise and assurances, there has been a stalemate.