Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday criticised Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress Government’s decision for disbanding truck unions in the State.
AAP MlA and the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has urged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to reconsider his decision to disband truck unions, as “it has endangered the lives and future of nearly one lakh truck operator families of Punjab and many more directly and indirectly with this trade”.
“Displaying his feudal mind-set, Capt Amarinder has arbitrarily disbanded truck unions in Punjab. By doing so, he has not only snatched the livelihood of approximately one lakh truck operators but has put to risk the future of their families as well,” Khaira said.
Khaira said that the ages old system of truck unions was adopted primarily to safeguard the interest of small and marginal truck operators, who otherwise cannot compete with corporate logistic companies.
“Through the system of truck unions these small operators were guaranteed some sort of minimum annual income…Most of the truck unions in Punjab undertake localized transportation work such as of Food Corporation of India (FCI), local industry including rice shellers etc,” Khaira said.
He added that these truck unions were also responsible for shifting food grains from the purchase centers to godowns as well as rail heads. Most of the small and marginal truck operators do not own more than one truck which barely earns them their livelihood, he said.
Khaira maintained, “It also appears that a powerful lobby of corporate business houses and big logistic companies has influenced Capt Amarinder to do away with the truck union system in Punjab which ensured good rates to the local truck operators, which was not to the liking of the said business houses.”
Notably, the small and marginal truck operators can neither afford to work on lesser competitive rates like the big companies, nor do they have brand new efficient trucks like them.
“The decision to disband truck unions is also in complete contradiction to the Congress party’s election manifesto which promised lakhs of new jobs in the state. Instead of offering new jobs, Capt Amarinder has virtually rendered approximately one lakh families of truck operators jobless, by his erroneous and feudal decision,” he said.
Khaira said that the arbitrary decision of Capt. Amarinder Singh has not only upset the future of one lakh truck operators in state but has also severely affected the financial position of a vast network of other organizations, labour etc connected with the business of truck unions.