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Barnala, May 17 (IANS) Frustration continues to simmer among Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) workers as they once again staged a protest on Saturday against the Punjab government over long-pending demands that remain unfulfilled.

The protest took the form of a ‘gate rally’ near the Barnala bus stand, where workers raised slogans and warned of intensified agitation if their demands were not addressed soon.

The rally was led by members of the PRTC Workers Union Azad, who expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state government’s inaction. The protesters declared that if their voices continue to be ignored, a larger, statewide agitation will be launched.

Azad Jasmer Singh, Provincial President of the Contractor PRTC Workers Union Azad, highlighted that despite securing victories in both the High Court and the Supreme Court, workers have yet to be reinstated to their duties.

“We have legal victories in hand, but not a single employee has been called back to work. The government keeps promising that reinstatement will happen, yet nothing has materialised,” he said.

He further criticised the delayed payment of salaries.

“Earlier, unskilled workers used to receive wages by the 7th of each month. Now, salaries are disbursed in two instalments, often only by the 25th. The government must clear its dues to PRTC so the corporation can function properly,” he added.

Singh also alleged that buses with unauthorised permits, particularly in Patiala, had resumed operation despite earlier crackdowns.

“Our union ensured these illegal buses were stopped. But they’re back on the roads. If the government is serious about reform, it must act decisively,” he said.

Chandigarh Depot President of Punbus and PRTC Workers Union 2511, Gurpreet Singh, reiterated the call for the regularisation of temporary staff, an end to the contract system, and discontinuation of the “kilometre scheme” buses.

“We support this protest wholeheartedly. A three-day meeting is scheduled on May 20, 21, and 22. If no resolution comes from it, we will escalate the agitation into a joint statewide struggle,” he warned.

He also demanded that contract workers with over 18 years of service be made permanent under PRTC service rules and that new buses be introduced under government control, not private partnerships.

“Workers on low wages must receive their salaries on time, by the 7th day of the month at the latest,” he said.

Harbans Singh Bhola, State Executive President of the PRTC Workers Union Azad, expressed dismay at what he called “empty promises” from the government.

“Despite repeated assurances from both the Chief Minister and Transport Minister, nothing has changed. We once campaigned for the AAP, wearing their caps with pride. Now we’re left unpaid and unheard,” he said.

He criticised the disparity between regular and contractual workers.

“We perform the same duties, with the same hours, but when it comes to benefits like pensions and job security in case of accidents, contract workers are ignored. This is unfair and unsustainable,” he added.

Rupinder Singh, State General Secretary of the PRTC Workers Union Azad, added, “We’re holding gate rallies not just for our salaries, but to expose the government’s failure to follow through on promises. Everything remains on paper — nothing is visible on the ground. This protest is our message, and we won’t back down until our demands are met.”

–IANS

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Bengaluru, March 3 (IANS) A Karnataka BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday, opposing the decision to shut down nine universities in the state established during the tenure of the previous BJP government.

The delegation included MLCs N. Ravikumar, Shashil Namoshi, Hanumant Nirani, and D.S. Arun, along with C.B. Shashidhar, the State Convenor of the BJP Education Cell, and State Co-Convenors M.G. Bhat, Harish K., Raghavendra, and Ashwini Shankar.

They emphasised that the decision to close these nine universities is not only unscientific and unconstitutional but also unjust. The delegation highlighted the severe negative consequences this move would have.

The memorandum urged the state government to immediately withdraw its decision and take appropriate measures to protect the future of lakhs of rural and economically disadvantaged students.

Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday criticised the state government, saying that the government should shut bars and not the universities.

“Shutting down universities forces students to migrate to neighbouring states for higher education. The state government should shut down the bars and not the universities in the state. The Congress government has been systematically shutting down universities, similar to how they discontinued various schemes such as Kisan Samman and Vidyanidhi,” said the LoP while addressing a joint press conference at Vidhana Soudha.

He added that the government is presenting a Rs 4 lakh crore budget but also claimed they cannot allocate even Rs 342 crore for universities.

“If they cannot afford this amount, why even present a budget? They won’t close 3,000 bars, but they are shutting down universities,” he said.

Former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan said that the closure of eight universities would be a setback to progress.

He accused the Congress of causing regression in all sectors and harming the educational aspirations of the youth.

He pointed out that during the BJP government’s tenure, universities were established without creating new posts but by reallocating existing ones.

He cited 2021 enrollment statistics, stating that the average college enrollment rate in Karnataka was 33 per cent, while it was only 10 per cent in Chamarajanagar, 15 per cent in Mandya, and 16 per cent in Bagalkot.

He warned that this move would deprive youth of education. He stressed that universities should not be seen as revenue-generating shops but as institutions that provide education, which is the government’s responsibility.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, stated that B.R. Ambedkar prioritised education and the Congress government should do the same instead of merely providing free rice.

He criticised the state government for presenting a Rs 4 lakh crore budget while refusing to allocate even Rs 350 crore for education.

The decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet subcommittee meeting headed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on February 13.

–IANS

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Chennai, April 16 (IANS) In a significant ruling to protect the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, the Madras High Court has imposed a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, transport, supply, sale, and distribution of 28 plastic products across the region – from the Nilgiris to the Agasthiyar Biosphere Reserve in Kanniyakumari district.

The court clarified that the ban would also extend to all hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves.

A special division bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy ordered the implementation of strict enforcement measures, including imposing fines on tourists who clandestinely carry banned plastic items into hill stations.

The court also directed authorities to impound vehicles found transporting such materials and cancel the permits issued to them.

The banned products include a wide range of single-use and plastic-coated items, such as single-use plastic bottles for water and juice, plastic sheets and cling film used for food wrapping, plastic sheets for dining tables, plastic plates, plastic-coated paper plates and cups, plastic teacups, tumblers, and thermocol cups, plastic-coated and non-woven carry bags, waterpouches/packets and plastic straws, plastic flags, earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic carry bags of all sizes and thicknesses, candies and ice-creams with plastic sticks and polystyrene decorative items.

The court also banned plastic cutlery – forks, spoons, knives – as well as wrapping or packaging films used around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets. Plastic or PVC banners under 100 microns, stirrers, and trays were also included in the list of prohibited products.

The judges noted that although the Tamil Nadu government had announced a statewide ban on single-use plastics in 2018, and later extended it to the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal in 2019, plastic materials continued to find their way into the Western Ghats. Smugglers often conceal the banned items in buses and other vehicles to bypass checks, they observed.

In response, the court directed the state government to invoke its authority under the Motor Vehicles Act and introduce strict clauses in transport permits. Under the new directive, any vehicle found carrying banned plastic items would face permit cancellation and be impounded.

With regard to branded snacks and biscuits sold in non-biodegradable packaging, the judges ordered that vendors in hill stations must remove the contents and hand them over to customers in paper or other biodegradable covers.

To support this transition, local bodies have been instructed to supply these paper bags to vendors free of cost, funded through the Green Fund.

The court also mandated District Collectors, local bodies, and private firms to jointly devise a proper mechanism for the safe disposal of multi-layered non-biodegradable packaging materials collected by vendors.

“Not a single plastic wrapper, sachet, or packaging material can be strewn in the Nilgiris, Kodaikanal hills, and the entire Western Ghats,” the bench stated firmly, emphasising the environmental damage caused by plastic litter across the hills and the challenges associated with its collection and disposal.

The directions came in the wake of recommendations submitted by amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji, and M. Santhanaraman, who assisted the court in evaluating the environmental issues and proposing remedial measures. To reduce dependence on disposable items, the court ordered that drinking water dispensing machines be installed at strategic locations across hill stations. Tourists must be provided with reusable food containers, cups, tumblers, and steel bottles through a refundable deposit system to be implemented via self-help groups.

Additionally, tourist kits comprising biodegradable materials should be distributed, and a dedicated mobile app must be developed to help tourists locate nearby water dispensing units or kiosks offering reusable containers and kits.

Vendors in hill stations have been asked to encourage responsible behaviour among their customers to prevent littering.

The Bench also called for stringent enforcement of Solid Waste Management Rules in both letter and spirit. The court will review the implementation status of these directives on June 6, and pass further orders based on the compliance reports submitted by the authorities.

–IANS

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