The association of auto and e-rickshaw drivers on Tuesday threatened to go on an indefinite strike if the Government does not listen to their demands of granting commercial vehicle permits to the drivers and relaxing tax policies. Around 50 such members of ‘Jharkhand Pradesh Sanyukt Chalak Mahasangh’ (JPSCM) staged a protest outside Raj Bhavan on Tuesday to draw the attention of the Government towards their problems.
The JPSCM has been on strike since July 21. At least 500 autos have been seized in the past four months and the drivers are facing tough times to get their vehicles back, said Rinku Garg, a member of the association. He added that the strike may affect daily passengers during the monsoon as many commuters rely on autos and e-rickshaws during rains.
The Union also asked the State Government to grant permits to 6,000 auto drivers in the city to run three wheelers on road without paying penalty at the police station, and Vehicle fitness taxes to be collected yearly. Dinesh Soni, president of the Jharkhand Region Joint Driver Federation said that “I am really upset that the State Government, despite being sent a memorandum, notices and repeated reminders for the list of the demands in past two days, did not call union leaders for negotiations. They are not bothered about the welfare of the auto rickshaw and e- rickshaw drivers and will be solely responsible for any inconvenience caused to public and if our demands aren’t fulfilled we would call for indefinite protest.”
Meanwhile, the union leaders also requested Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to construct auto stands for the passengers, set up public washrooms for male and female and ban illegal bribe from the E- rickshaw drivers.
State Transport Commissioner, Faiz Ahmed said, “The demands proposed by the union have to wait for the verdict of High Court as the HC has put stay on their demands since past three years. With a view to make a pollution free city the drivers are banned to run autos illegally .And very soon the city folks will get the first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transportation facilities.”
Om Prakash Yadav, Secretary of the Jharkhand Region Joint Driver Federation, said, “The State Government is not working in favour of the innocent lower middle class drivers who had cast their valuable votes for BJP.
In the centre honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is working day night to make a new India whereas the State Government is hardly concerned about the urgent requests of the city drivers.”