DTC employees call off their strike

Much to the relief of lakhs of commuters in the national capital, DTC employees today called off their strike to protest the killing of a driver in a road rage incident after the Delhi government accepted the demands of the victim's family.
The decision by the agitating employees also came in the wake of the Delhi government imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) which prohibits them to carry out any strike for a period of six months.
Lakhs of people in the national capital faced hardships in commuting this morning due to the strike, but the bus service was restored in the afternoon after the government threatened to take strict action against the protesters.

Family members of 42-year-old DTC driver Ashok Kumar, who was beaten to death by a youth after his bus grazed the latter's bike in West Delhi's Mundaka on May 10, met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat today.
While interacting with Kumar's son and other family members, Kejriwal said, "The incident is very sad and shocking ...We are with you. We will extend all help we can provide."
A senior official said that the government will give Rs 10 lakh as immediate help to Kumar's kin besides paying his monthly salary to his wife till the date of retirement.

"The government will also give a job to one of Kumar's family members. Medical treatment expenses of his wife will also be taken care of," said a senior official.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai had said that the Delhi government has clamped Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the city and action would be taken against those who do not return to work.
"As per the orders of Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, ESMA has been imposed in the national capital which prohibits corporation employees to go on strike for a period of six months," a senior DTC official said.

According to the state-transport agency, more DTC staff today reported for duty due to which, 3459 buses were sent out from depots in the morning shift and put on different routes.
"DTC has 44 Depots, of which most operated their buses. The outshedding of buses in the evening shift was normal," the official said.
DTC unions had gone on strike yesterday to protest Kumar's killing and demand security for bus drivers.