Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vivek Venkatswamy told union representatives that the government was working sincerely to address drivers’ issues.
HYDERABAD: The meeting of autorickshaw drivers joint action committee (JAC) with transport and labour ministers apparently left them disheartened on Monday. The meeting, awaited since August 23 after the transport department urged the JAC to withdraw its strike call and proposed a fare hike. The JAC members questioned the proposal for the fare revision sent to the special chief secretary without their consent.
Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vivek Venkatswamy told union representatives that the government was working sincerely to address drivers’ issues. The meeting included autorickshaw and cab unions, with grievances presented to ministers and senior officials.
Prabhakar reiterated that there was no truth in rumours of a “last‑mile connectivity policy” involving e-autorickshaws through the TGSRTC. He said fares had not yet been revised, but the government was prepared to increase them in line with current conditions. A committee of transport officials and union representatives wiuld draft proposals and submit a report, based on which the hike will be implemented.
JAC leader Satthireddy expressed dissatisfaction, saying: “We are not even aware by how much fare has been increased and on what basis. No driver was included.” He added that the revision had already been decided and would be implemented soon.
Prabhakar also told the JAC delegation that discussions would be held with the labour department on insurance coverage for drivers against accidents and natural deaths. He said the government was formulating a plan to introduce a special insurance policy to provide protection for drivers.
JAC leader Ravishankar said there was no discussion on guidelines or the promised annual payment of `12,000 to drivers. “The government has been postponing our demands for the past two years,” he said. Another leader, G. Mukesh Goud, warned that autorickshaw drivers would go on strike soon if the government continued to delay resolving issues.
Cab JAC leaders Satish and Sridhar Reddy also protested against the attitude of the ministers and Transport Department officials over the past two‑and‑a‑half years. They warned they would convene a Cab JAC meeting and call for a state‑wide strike.
