Hearse drivers allege irregularities in pay

Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Hearse Drivers’ Association on Monday petitioned collector TN Hariharan alleging irregularities in their pay. They are being paid Rs 225 as daily wages instead of the promised Rs 515, the drivers said.

The general secretary of the association, S Anuraja, said, “There are 25 drivers in Coimbatore. Our salary is a meagre Rs 8,000 per month. We do the job of both the driver as well the cleaner. Earlier, there were cleaners, who were paid Rs 5,500 per month. When the cleaners demanded a pay hike, officials removed them. The drivers’ pay was hiked from Rs 6,500 to Rs 8.000. Besides this, we are given a daily wage, which is Rs 515, but the officials pay us only Rs 225.”

The association also alleged that the district is operating ambulances at one-fifth of its capacity. “Of the 10 ambulances, only two are functional. The remaining eight are under repair. This has limited the opportunities of drivers. Daily wages are paid only if a driver goes on duty,” said Anuraja.

The association also demanded that the ambulances be upgraded with freezer box rakes.


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