NAGPUR: Normal schedule of parents and guardians of schoolchildren was thrown out of gear on Tuesday due to the one-day strike of van drivers. Parents were forced to take time off from their work schedules to drop and pick their wards from schools braving through the traffic snarls.
The strike called by the Vidarbha Autorickshaw Chalak Mahasangh had a limited impact and autorickshaws continued to ply across the city throughout the day. The impact across the city was also limited only to a few hours in the morning. Another union of autos have called for a statewide strike on Thursday.
Drivers of school van and autorickshaw launched a strike on Tuesday to protest against the state government not listening to their long pending demands which includes formation of welfare board, curbing illegal passengers' vehicles, banning e-rickshaws and app-based taxis.
Office-bearers from the Maharashtra School Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sanghthana, Maharashtra Autorickshaw Chalak-Malak Association, Shalya Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sangh and Vahan Chalak-Malak Kamgar Union extended their support to the Vidarbha Autoricksahw Chalak Mahasangh for the cause.
Around 500 protesters participated in the rally, which started from Yeshwant Stadium and concluded near Shree Mohini Complex where they shouted slogans against the state government, especially Regional Transport Officials and traffic police for ignoring various issues.
The delegation of the agitators led by president of VACM Hairshchandra Pawar met state transport minister Diwakar Raote. Of the 15 demands, the minister accepted three including reduction in online permit fee, reduction of professional tax of vans commuting school students and curbing illegal passengers vehicles into city limits.
According to Pawar, 95% of auto drivers did not ply their vehicles on Tuesday.
Despite the claims of the union, autos were available in most part of the city. Auto drivers waiting at the railway station said they are not participating in the strike as they cannot afford to. "We are not on strike. We have to earn money and can't afford not to work," said Vikas Tiwari, a driver.
Autorickshaw commuters too said they did not find much problem in finding an auto rickshaw. "I easily got an auto for Nandanwan from Nagpur station. It was just like any other day. Though when I reached the station, I heard an auto driver trying to prevent my auto driver to ply," said Prashant Phale who came from Mumbai in the Howrah Mail.
School vans remained off the roads completely causing huge problems for school students. Amit Nigam, one of the parents, said that he had to take off today due to the strike. He added that the school administration and transport officials should have made alternate arrangements to make sure that the schedule of parents did not take a hit.
The strike called by the Vidarbha Autorickshaw Chalak Mahasangh had a limited impact and autorickshaws continued to ply across the city throughout the day. The impact across the city was also limited only to a few hours in the morning. Another union of autos have called for a statewide strike on Thursday.
Drivers of school van and autorickshaw launched a strike on Tuesday to protest against the state government not listening to their long pending demands which includes formation of welfare board, curbing illegal passengers' vehicles, banning e-rickshaws and app-based taxis.
Office-bearers from the Maharashtra School Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sanghthana, Maharashtra Autorickshaw Chalak-Malak Association, Shalya Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sangh and Vahan Chalak-Malak Kamgar Union extended their support to the Vidarbha Autoricksahw Chalak Mahasangh for the cause.
Around 500 protesters participated in the rally, which started from Yeshwant Stadium and concluded near Shree Mohini Complex where they shouted slogans against the state government, especially Regional Transport Officials and traffic police for ignoring various issues.
The delegation of the agitators led by president of VACM Hairshchandra Pawar met state transport minister Diwakar Raote. Of the 15 demands, the minister accepted three including reduction in online permit fee, reduction of professional tax of vans commuting school students and curbing illegal passengers vehicles into city limits.
According to Pawar, 95% of auto drivers did not ply their vehicles on Tuesday.
Despite the claims of the union, autos were available in most part of the city. Auto drivers waiting at the railway station said they are not participating in the strike as they cannot afford to. "We are not on strike. We have to earn money and can't afford not to work," said Vikas Tiwari, a driver.
Autorickshaw commuters too said they did not find much problem in finding an auto rickshaw. "I easily got an auto for Nandanwan from Nagpur station. It was just like any other day. Though when I reached the station, I heard an auto driver trying to prevent my auto driver to ply," said Prashant Phale who came from Mumbai in the Howrah Mail.
School vans remained off the roads completely causing huge problems for school students. Amit Nigam, one of the parents, said that he had to take off today due to the strike. He added that the school administration and transport officials should have made alternate arrangements to make sure that the schedule of parents did not take a hit.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
