Auto-rickshaw drivers ask Rs 15,000 aid from Congress citing losses due to women travelling for free in buses

HYDERABAD: Telangana Automotors Drivers Trade Union (affiliated to BRTU) State president Vemula Maraiah has urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to provide a livelihood allowance of Rs 15,000 per month as free travel for women in the TSRTC buses will affect lakhs of auto-rickshaw drivers in the State.

In a press statement issued here on Saturday, Maraiah said that Revanth Reddy was making statements of implementing the poll promises. However, there was no mention by the Congress Government in resolving the problems of people dependent on the automobile sector. With lack of a positive approach from the Government in addressing the problems several auto rickshaw drivers were left in distress, he said.

Maraiah said that the auto rickshaw drivers had expected a solution to their long-pending problems in the newly formed Government. Instead, it had provided free travel for women in TSRTC buses. The decisions being taken by the Congress Government were against the auto-rickshaw drivers affecting their livelihood, he said.

Disclosing the resolutions taken during a round table conference held at Kala Bhavan, Maraiah said that the State Government should constitute a welfare board for auto rickshaw drivers. The other resolutions included implementation of poll promises for auto-rickshaw drivers, Rs 12,000 per annum financial assistance, double bed room houses for eligible auto-rickshaw drivers belong to union, enhancement of auto meter fare, permits for new auto-rickshaws and Ola and Uber should be undertaken by the Government.