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BEST employees call off record 9-day-long strike

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Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Following a sharp rap by the Bombay High Court, the BrihanMumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) employees on Wednesday evening called off their record 9-day-long strike after its demands were partially conceded.

Announcing the withdrawal of the agitation that had created chaos for around three million-plus daily bus commuters and students, the BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) chief Shashank Rao announced at a union meeting that the buses would start rolling on the roads with immediate effect.

The first bus zoomed out of the Wadala Bus Depot with scores of waiting commuters cheering and making a beeline for it around 4 pm, with millions elsewhere in the city, suburbs, adjoining Raigad and Thane districts following suit.

The decision to end the strike came after the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the BEST – which runs the city’s public bus services – agreed to appoint a retired high court chief justice to negotiate with the employees’ unions.

Earlier on Tuesday, the BEST had bowed before the BSKKS and conceded to nominally increase the basic pay packet of around 15,000 employees with effect from January 2019.

Rao said the last wage settlement with the employees ended in 2016, but the BEST did not take any further measures necessitating the strike.

Over three million commuters were badly hit by the strike of over 30,000 employees operating the 2,480 strong fleet, amidst moves to “privatise” the severely bleeding BEST.

The indefinite strike since January 8 is for the main demands of the employees, including merger of the annual budgets of the cash-rich BMC with the loss-making BEST, revised wage agreements with effect from April 2016, including provisions for implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

The other demands included making salary slabs of over 14,000 junior staffers who have been underpaid since 2011 at par with regular employees in the same pay-scale, resumption of compassionate appointments, and bonuses at par with the BMC staffers.

Founded in 1873 as a tram service, the BEST is reportedly sitting on a massive loss of around Rs 2,500 crore in the past few years after it was hit by developments like the Mumbai Metro, Monorail, augmentation of cabs, rising fuel and operating costs and other factors.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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