In some relief to family members of the TSRTC employees who died in the backdrop of the 56-day strike over a set of demands, the Telangana government has handed out ex-gratia payment and given appointments to 33 people in RTC.

As many as 22 families were given cheques of Rs 2 lakh each as ex-gratia, while the remaining 16 families will get the money on Saturday.

According to Sunil Sharma, RTC managing director, as many as 33 eligible family members were given appointments on Friday. 

According to estimates, around 38 employees have died, either as a result of killing themselves or due to stroke resulting from distress.

This comes less than a week after CM K Chandrashekar Rao’s assurance in the meeting with RTC employees that the government would ensure to take welfare measures for them.

The recruited candidates will be working as junior assistants, conductors and as RTC constables as per the RTC norms. In Karimnagar, BC Welfare and Civil Supplies Minister, Gangula Kamalakar, handed over the appointment orders to the children of the deceased families. 

Out of 38 deceased, around 13 staff who died are from the Greater Hyderabad limits, while the remaining are from different depots in the state. Earlier, the CM had also stated that the retirement age for RTC employees will be increased to 60 years from 58.

The CM had also stated that within 20 days, exclusive toilets, change rooms for dressing, and lunchrooms for women staff will be created, besides sanctioning of three months maternity leave on par with other government employees.