Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to recruit 4,416 drivers and conductors.

People from drought-affected areas and the kin of farmers who committed suicide will be given priority in the recruitment drive, transport minister Diwakar Raote informed Friday.

The minister said in both Houses of the Legislature that the recruitment would be carried out for 12  districts facing drought including Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, Pune and Solapur.

The written exam for the recruitment had already been held, informed Mr Raote.

Mr Raote added, “While preparing the list of successful candidates, applicants from drought-prone areas and the kin of the farmers who committed suicide will be given priority in the list.”  

He added that out of the 4,416 posts, 504 will be reserved for the socially and educationally backward category (SEBC).

“If this reservation cannot be implemented, candidates will be hired on contract basis with fixed income of Rs 15,000,” he said.

As a social responsibility, the MSRTC has also adopted drought-prone villages in the state and is providing water tankers to the villages, the minister said