The Government on Wednesday received wide support in the lok Sabha on the Bill to regularise e-rickshaws and provide licence to drivers plying these battery-operated vehicles. Reacting to the Congress demand for sending the Bill to Standing Committee, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said as the matter involved livelihood of lakhs of poor people, the Bill has to pass immediately. The Bill is expected to pass on Thursday.
Moving the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2014, for consideration, Gadkari said drivers and passengers of e-rickshaws are poor people and a court order has affected over 2 lakh people who depend on them for their livelihood. An early passage of the Bill will be a boon for them, he said.Besides members from ruling NDA parties, those from AIADMK, TMC and TRS among others also supported it while offering various suggestions. Rajeev Shankarrao Satav (Cong) said if the Government was really concerned about the plight of families depending on e-rickshaws for livelihood, then it should have brought the Bill in the previous session."The Minister (Gadkari) seems to be indulging in poll campaign for Delhi election through this Bill," he said. Claiming that the bill was silent on safety aspects, Satav said it should be sent to a standing committee for wider consultation.