In an effort to address the vacancies within the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation’s (TNSTC) Tirunelveli Division, an advertisement has caused significant controversy among employees and political circles. The Corporation has invited bids from human resources firms to supply drivers and conductors on a contract basis for operating government buses. This initiative extends to the TNSTC and State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses in the Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Nagercoil regions and the bid stated must be submitted by 10 a.m. on 18 July 2024, with tenders opening at 11 AM on the same day.
The advertisement specifies that e-tenders can be obtained from and submitted to www.tntenders.gov.in. This unexpected move has dismayed transport corporation employees and trade unions, who argue that privatizing bus operations undermines job aspirations within government entities and jeopardizes existing employment reservations.
Trade union representatives highlight long-standing issues such as delayed wage settlements and a freeze on recruitment for drivers, conductors, and technical staff over the past eight years. They criticize the decision to fill 169 driver and 260 conductor positions through outsourcing rather than permanent recruitment. Similar attempts in the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation were met with legal challenges, and they express hope for a similar outcome.
The shortage of manpower has resulted in over 300 buses in the Tirunelveli Division being non-operational, forcing existing staff to work extended hours. The move to hire contract workers is seen as a measure to address this shortfall. CITU general secretary Jothi accuses Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of undermining the state’s commitment to social justice and the Dravidian governance model by potentially impacting the 69% reservation policy through this outsourcing decision. He criticizes the government for not prioritizing the employment needs of over 8,000 dependents of current drivers and conductors awaiting opportunities within the transport corporations.
In response, TNSTC Tirunelveli Division Managing Director Ilangovan defends the decision as necessary to enhance service delivery amid the existing 600 vacancies. He clarifies that permanent recruitment decisions lie solely with the government and that the current move aims to manage the immediate operational needs.
In this context, opposition parties including PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss and former Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam have criticized the DMK’s decision to hire drivers and conductors through private contractors on a contractual basis.
Anbumani Ramadoss has asked, “Appointment of drivers and conductors on contractual basis: Is DMK’s policy to distort social justice and promote exploitation? @CMOTamilnadu”
குத்தகை முறையில் ஓட்டுனர், நடத்துனர் நியமனம்: சமூகநீதியை சிதைத்து, சுரண்டலை ஊக்குவிப்பது தான் திமுக கொள்கையா?@CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/7nCYVFtl43
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) June 19, 2024
O Paneerselvam in his official X handle stated, “Strong condemnation to the DMK government that has requested to fill driver and conductor posts through private companies on contract basis in the Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporations Vacancies”
தமிழ்நாடு அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகங்களில், காலியாக உள்ள
ஓட்டுனர் மற்றும் நடத்துனர் பணியிடங்களை தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள் வாயிலாக நிரப்பிட ஏதுவாக, ஒப்பந்தப் புள்ளியினை கோரியுள்ள தி.மு.க. அரசுக்கு கடும் கண்டனம்.
தமிழ்நாடு அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகங்களில் காலியாக உள்ள
ஓட்டுனர் மற்றும் நடத்துனர் பணியிடங்களை தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள் வாயிலாக நிரப்பிட ஏதுவாக ஒப்பந்தப் புள்ளியினை கோரியுள்ள தி.மு.க. அரசுக்கு கடும் கண்டனம். pic.twitter.com/J68niwoodj— O Panneerselvam (@OfficeOfOPS) June 19, 2024
Overall, the advertisement for outsourcing drivers and conductors has stirred controversy due to its potential implications for employment stability and public service standards within the TNSTC and SETC operations.
(with inputs from The Hindu)
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