Tough time for school students as Balrath employees go on an indefinite stir

PANJIM/MARGAO: Attending classes became an uphill task for school students on Monday due to the indefinite strike call given by the Balrath employees, who are protesting to meet their long pending demands including rise in salaries and job security. Parents across the State faced difficulties in getting their children to schools in the absence of school buses. 

Parents had to personally reach to the respective educational institution of their wards with the result that there was massive rush of private vehicles in front of these schools, as reported at Cujira educational complex, Bambolim, during the afternoon hours. It led to virtual choking of traffic in front of these schools.

While several parents said that they took a half-day leave from work to pick their wards from schools, some students had to wait for long to catch the regular bus transport for them to reach their homes. 

Speaking to O Heraldo, one of the parents, Mohan Usgaonkar said that he had to take half day from work to pick up his 11-year old son from the school. “I work in Verna industrial area and my wife is a nurse at a private hospital at Old Goa. I had to take half day leave today to pick my son as I could not make arrangement for an alternate vehicle. My wife has taken leave for two-days to drop and pick son from tomorrow we will make alternate arrangement,” he said. 

Another parent, Sheetal Naik said “My son commutes in a school bus every day. But the buses were not there today and we have no idea when they will resume back. My son is in class V, so now I have to come to drop and pick him”.

Rohit De Cunha, student of Class XII, who was waiting for the regular bus transport, said “I have to walk all the way from my school complex to GMC area to catch the private bus. I will have to get down at the bus stand and take another bus to go to Taleigao”. 

Many students remained absent in Salcete schools as they had no other alternative mode of transport to reach school. 

Esmeralda Fernandes, Headmistress of Holy Spirit Institute, informed that they have recorded less attendance on Monday due to strike by Balrath employees. 

“There was poor attendance as the students stayed away from school,” she stated. 

Peter Dias, parent, said that the strike has resulted in inconvenience to several parents. 

However, at the same time he also agreed that the demands of Balrath employees too are genuine as they are providing service to the student community for the last many years. 

Pernem students were also hit hard in the absence of Balrath buses as 30% of the students refrained from going to school

Parents lamented that as it is public transport in the rural interiors here is miserable and in the absence of Balrath buses, the situation went from bad to worse.

“Education is pivotal and so, the government needs to handle the demands of Balrath employees positively. If parents have to drop their kids to school everyday then it will be a headache for them,” said Bhalchandra Hiroji, principal of Shree Kamleshwar High School, Pethechawada-Korgao.

“Balrath is a good scheme but proper planning is required. The Directorate of Education needs to provide enough funds to the school for the maintenance of the buses and should include the employees in the service. The strike may send a wrong message to the parents,” said Mandrem sarpanch Amit Sawant.

“Considering the inflation, the government needs to think about the salaries of the drivers and the cleaners. If the employees are content then they will pay better attention to the students and parents will be more assured of the safety of their children,” said a parent Vinita Mandrekar.

Meanwhile, All Goa United Balrath Employees Union President Swati Kerkar said that the salaries of the drivers and attendants were last increased in 2016. “What the government has offered is mere raise of Rs 1000 and 500. It is like a joke,” she said. 

As per the revised assistance, drivers would be paid Rs 12,000 per month as against Rs 11,000 per month and conductors will get Rs 6,000 per month from the current Rs 5,500 per month with effect from June with annual 5 per cent increase. The government has also announced to pay them for 11 months instead of ten.