Kin of RTC workers who died of Covid await compensation

VISAKHAPATNAM: Families of 90 AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) workers who succumbed to Covid-19 are hopeful that the Centre’s insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh upon death of a frontline Covid-19 warrior will be extended to them.

National Mazdoor Unity Association general secretary Y Srinivasa Rao said the department resumed operations on a priority basis in May. All the deceased were breadwinners of the family, which are now struggling from financial issues following their loss, he said.

Since then, RTC staff have reported for Covid-19 duties, such as operation of buses as ambulances, ferrying migrant labour from various railway stations to their destinations, including fisherfolk from Gujarat. This apart, RTC staff have assisted the police and health workers.

Upon requests and in the government’s interest, the corporation sent a letter to the Centre through the state government, requesting to also include RTC workers who died of Covid-19 as coronavirus warriors, similar to doctors, police and healthcare workers. AP transport department principal secretary MT Krishna Babu, who is vice-chairman and managing director of APSRTC, said while addressing a gathering at an annual blood donation camp by RTC employees in Visakhapatnam on Monday, that the state government has already sent the request of considering RTC workers as Covid-19 warriors.

“The Centre may positively respond to our pleas of applying the insurance of Rs 50 lakh to the family of each RTC worker who was infected with Covid-19 while on duty and succumbed to it. We will hopefully get good news in January,” Krishna Babu said.

The RTC has nearly 55,000 employees, including drivers and conductors. As many as 5,575 staff were infected with Covid-19 till December 22 of which 122 cases are active. Nellore has reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths among RTC employees.

APSRTC sent a letter to the Centre, requesting that RTC workers who succumbed to Covid-19 be recognised as coronavirus warriors, similar to doctors and police.

Source: The Times of India