Lockdown in Tamil Nadu: Drivers demand Rs 5,000 aid

B Sivakumar | TNN | Apr 13, 2020, 17:26 IST

(Representative image)

CHENNAI: Call taxi, share auto and small truck drivers and their families have demanded that the Tamil Nadu government give a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 and free PDS commodities to each family as they are without any job in the wake of the lockdown.
Tamil Nadu Road Transport Employees Association chief K Arumuga Nainar said that drivers had not received any financial support from the government though all details about the them are with the government.
“The government has announced that financial relief will be available only to those who are members of the welfare board. Out of nearly 20 lakh drivers across the state, only 85,000 have registered as members of the board,” said Nainar.
The association wrote to chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday seeking relief to families of drivers who are also not members.
“The government says it does not have details of drivers who are not members. But when a vehicle is registered, all details about drivers are being taken and the regional transport offices have details about drivers of all vehicles,” he said.
The welfare board also has huge money with it and it can be used to provide relief to families of drivers.
“While registering vehicles, a cess is collected which goes into the welfare board account. We came to know that the total amount in that account is around Rs 300 crore. This money can be used during the lockdown when we remain without work,” he said.
“I used to earn not less than Rs 2,000. A major part of the money I earned daily went towards EMI for a loan taken from a finance company. I need to spend for petrol and vehicle maintenance, and the remaining was for my family. Now I am stuck without any income,” Ola driver Selva told TOI.