On Monday, Congress Party's leader Rahul Gandhi, posted a video of himself speaking with bus drivers and conductors from Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). With "no stable income or permanent job," the workers' deep anxieties about the impending threat of privatisation were brought to light in the video.
Gandhi posted on social media, saying, "Contractual labour has reduced a job of great responsibility to a mere compulsion. There’s no social security, no stable income, and no permanent job."
"DTC workers, like government employees across the nation, live in constant fear of privatisation," he continued, expressing his worries. These people enable millions of people to move throughout India on a regular basis. But all they get in return for their devotion is injustice."
In the opening scene of the video, Gandhibegins the conversation citing an example of the Uber driver he knew before. Gandhi met with DTC drivers, conductors, and marshals earlier in the week at the Sarojini Nagar Bus Depot, where he had met DTC drivers, conductors, and marshals earlier in the week.
Gandhi questioned the drivers about their working conditions throughout the conversation. The drivers revealed that, although their shifts are set for eight hours, they frequently put in two extra hours. The drivers disclosed to Gandhi that they are all temporary workers when he asked about their work status.
Gandhi then enquired about their salaries. "It's just us and DTC—there's no contractor involved," said one driver. After deducting PF, our daily income comes to Rs 813. However, we have no days off, not even on Holi or Diwali. Further our salaries are even cut even if we take a day's off!
The drivers indicated their wish for regular pay and permanent employment when Gandhi asked how he could help. "We haven't been paid for five months," said one driver. The state and central governments are playing the blame game, saying funds haven’t been released. They’ve also said we won’t be paid for another two months.
Our children's futures are in jeopardy and we are unable to pay their school fees, which is having an impact on our family."
A conductor mentioned that contracts are renewed yearly and that a reduction in duty hours may result in the contract not being renewed. "We want full-time positions. Equal pay for equal work is what we desire. We became permanent workers under Sheila Dikshit's administration," he remarked.
"Why are our jobs temporary but our citizenship permanent?" enquired a different conductor. Why is privatisation happening so much? "With all this privatisation, who is benefiting?" Gandhi questioned thereafter. To which someone said, "Only the job holders."
An employee at the DTC workshop bemoaned, "Modi ji has made things worse. It is no longer clear where the literate and illiterate meet. An educated person makes ₹25,000, whereas a worker makes between Rs. 18,000 and Rs. 20,000. Even after receiving an education, our children, who are regular people, only make between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000."
The answer to Gandhi's question about whether they had been able to save money was a firm negative. When he asked if they had bus passes, they replied that they didn't and that they were responsible for covering their own expenses.
Concludint their discussion, Gandhi is shown riding a bus and talking to the conductor about his work and family. The conductor disclosed that DTC renews his contract on an annual basis. "We want to secure our future and need permanent jobs," he stated.
