Autorickshaw workers’ conference
The autorickshaw workers’ conference demanded approval of the Government for all stands. Coimbatore District Autorickshaw Workers’ Sangham has demanded fuel for their vehicles through the public distribution system.A recent conference of the sangham (affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions) passed a resolution to demand fuel through the outlets under this system in view of the frequent price rise.The meet said that even as this could be done, all the drivers should be provided Rs.5,000 as subsidy to go in for autorickshaws that had provisions to use liquefied petroleum gas as fuel.In another resolution, the meeting called upon the State Government to introduce an insurance scheme for the vehicles. The premium could be collected when the vehicles undergo a fitness check at the Regional Transport Office.The union also called for a scheme from the Government to provide houses for autorickshaw drivers. These should be provided to those who did not have a house or a house site.The conference demanded approval of the Government for all autorickshaw stands. So far, the stands were seen as unauthorised. But, these prevented unwanted competition and rivalry among the drivers in getting passengers.The stands helped in ensuring a system that allowed all the drivers to earn a living. Therefore, instead of officials ordering the removal of the stands, these should be turned into authorised ones.According to a release from the union, the meeting pointed out that the drivers of autorickshaws used as goods carriers were put to hardship at markets because of the exorbitant fee collected by lessees of parking lots.A permanent and exclusive stand for these vehicles should be allocated at the markets and the Coimbatore Corporation should streamline the fee structure.
