Drivers' strike leaves commuters in the lurch, govt offers dialogue in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of commuters across Odisha went through a harrowing time on Wednesday as drivers of commercial vehicles launched a 'quit-steering' strike in support of a 10-point charter of demands, including social security pension, insurance, parking and toilet facilities and death benefits.
Bus services remained disrupted in the state causing severe inconvenience to commuters as drivers of private buses joined the strike though the private bus owners' associations stayed out of the strike call given by Driver Ekata Mahamancha.

People were seen stranded at different bus stops in the absence of public transport in all major cities and towns across the state.
The agitating drivers staged road blockades at block levels and stopped commercial vehicles on national highways in all districts of the state.
The protesters asked drivers to get down from the vehicles by offering garlands at some places.
"I arrived at Bhubaneswar railway station from Assam on Wednesday morning and planned to take a bus to my village in Ganjam district. But due to the drivers' strike, I did not get any bus. I was stranded at the bus stop with my wife and child," said Sisir Kumar Sahu, a 40-year-old passenger.
Commerce and transport minister Tukuni Sahu said, "The state government is ready for discussions with the striking drivers. A high-level committee is considering their demands. So the drivers should not go on strikes causing inconvenience to the public."
The drivers, however, said they did not get any invitation from the state government to discuss their issues.
"The minister and secretary are talking about discussion only on TV channels, but they have not invited us for talks so far. Until our demands are fulfilled, the strike will continue," said Prasant Menduli, president of the Mahamancha.
The striking drivers excluded vehicles carrying school students, patients and ambulances, fire and police vehicles. Though no board exam was scheduled on Wednesday, teachers who oversee the exams faced problems going to their respective exam centres.
The government must take steps to dissolve the strike," said Jagabandhu Sahu, a commuter waiting for a bus at Balasore bus stop.