Hyderabad: RTC management ordered employees to report for duty on August 28, Rakhi Pournami, triggering concerns among women workers. Officials directed all depots to implement special duty arrangements on the festival day.
The orders also required employees to perform double duty for 36 hours. The arrangement covered both the day before Rakhi and the festival day.
Moreover, officials warned employees of action if they failed to report for duty. The directive has caused concern among women employees who wanted to observe the festival with their families.
Rakhi Pournami falls during the Shravan month and holds significance for brothers and sisters. Traditionally, sisters tie Rakhis to their brothers as part of the festival celebrations.
Rakhi duty orders draw union criticism
RTC union leaders criticised the management’s decision to schedule double duty during the festival. They alleged that authorities were putting women employees under pressure in the name of double duty.
Meanwhile, women workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the duty arrangements. They sought relief from festival-day duties so they could take part in Rakhi celebrations.
Union leaders demanded that RTC management grant women employees a holiday on Rakhi Pournami. They also urged the authorities to reconsider the double-duty arrangement issued for the festival period.
The dispute centres on the duty orders covering August 28. Employees are now seeking changes to the arrangement and relief from working on the festival day.