Autorickshaw drivers stage protest

07 October 2009

Auto rickshaw drivers’ unions from across the district came together on Tuesday to stage a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here demanding a slew of welfare schemes for them.

In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the agitators demanded that the benefits being extended to other unorganised workers be extended to them as well. B. Vishnumurthy, general secretary of the Dakshina Kannada Autorickshaw Drivers Unions’ Coordination Committee, said that the protest on Tuesday was part of a coordinated State-wide agitation.

“If the Government does not heed our demands by December, we will launch a protest in front of Chief Minister’s residence,” he said.

BPL ration cards

The protestors are demanding that all auto rickshaw drivers be given below poverty line ration cards, Provident Fund, ESI, health benefits, housing loans and retirement pension. The contained a demand that the pre-insurance cover for drivers be raised from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.

The agitators are demanding that their children be given educational scholarships. “These are demands pending since early 2005,” said Mr. Vishnumurthy and added that successive governments had neglected auto rickshaw drivers and their demands. “We provide an essential service and are an integral part of the urban life. But when it comes to our welfare, no government bothers,” he said.

Mangalore is the fast growing city in the world map in several fields. The city is known as city of intellectuals and having world class educational institutions. The city is coming up with several new projects and development activities bring the city on top in growing map.

source mangaloremithr.com

0 comments:

Post a Comment

 
 
 
 
Copyright © Mangalore Live