Hyderabad: The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) here has called on the state government to take action against private financiers and banks that force the managers of the manager out of work to pay despite the financial difficulties they face in the course of second COVID-19 wave.
The union’s claim comes days after an Uber driver attempted suicide in the city. Kuppala Venkata, who has been an Uber driver for four years and has completed three thousand rides, is now struggling for his life. Unable to pay his debts, he attempted suicide on May 29 last month.
‘Due to the exclusion, there were no cases for him to pay the EMIs or monthly installments. “In a desperate attempt to make sure that the banks do not take away his vehicle, the only source of income for his family, he was forced to take out a loan from private financiers,” said Shaik Salauddin, state president of the TGPWU, said.
In Telangana, the COVID-19 lock-in was introduced from May 2, and citizens were only allowed to move from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It has hurt the lives of app-based drivers working for companies like Uber and Ola, Salauddin added.
Due to a lack of work during the lockout, many managers are unable to pay their EMIs and have had to take out loans from private financiers. These private financiers are notorious for their high interest rates and usually harass people if they do not pay. Kuppala Venkat was such a victim.
‘Shortly afterwards, loan recovery agents from private financiers began harassing Kuppala Venkata. They allegedly threatened and bullied the victim, and mentally tortured him which forced him to make the decision to end his life.
“He attempted suicide on May 29 and is currently struggling between life and death, as his family is desperately trying to save him,” Salauddin said. Siasat.com.
The president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union has asked Uber to help Kuppala Venkata and his family. He also called on the Telangana government to take action against the private financiers and the bank.
“Taxes, fuel prices, fines and tolls continued to increase operating costs, but business remained subdued due to weak demand. About 50% of the vehicles of app-based drivers and delivery workers are not yet off the road and once the current moratorium period is over, the NPA will be a flurry. As a result, app-based drivers and delivery staff earn nothing significant and are unable to pay their EMIs or load installments. Salauddin tells Siasat.com.
Source: The Siasat Daily