Guwahati: City cab drivers began a 48-hour hunger strike from Nov 20, demanding fair pay and regulations for private vehicles used for commercial purpose.
About 200 drivers took part in the strike at the protest site in Chachal. However, cab services remained functional in the city during the protest. City cabs operated with black flags on their vehicles to express dissent.
Assam State Drivers' Union and All Assam Cab Welfare Federation have urged state transport department to intervene and address their grievances. The associations demanded resolution of unfair payment to the cab drivers by the aggregators, which has been causing them extreme financial hardships.
Dhrubaraj Axom, president of the state drivers union said due to unfair payment cab drivers' lives have been financially paralysed, compelling them to discontinue their wards' education and discouraging them to seek medical attention.
"To end this grim situation, we demand strict enforcement against private vehicles conducting commercial activities without paying requisite taxes, while cab drivers pay huge amounts of taxes every year to operate. Also, the transport ministry's 2019 directive must be implemented ensuring that drivers receive Rs 30-35 per km, instead of the current Rs 12-13 per km." Dhrubaraj added.
The cab drivers accused private cab aggregators of financially exploiting them and demanded enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, capping aggregator commissions at 20% per trip, down from the current 30-40%.
"Along with resolutions to the challenges with aggregators, we demand for priority in govt welfare schemes to ensure the drivers' social security," Dhrubaraj said.
The associations raised concern about passengers' safety, seeking legislation for mandatory installation of CCTVs inside the cabs.
Guwahati: City cab drivers began a 48-hour hunger strike from Nov 20, demanding fair pay and regulations for private vehicles used for commercial purpose.
About 200 drivers took part in the strike at the protest site in Chachal. However, cab services remained functional in the city during the protest. City cabs operated with black flags on their vehicles to express dissent.
Assam State Drivers' Union and All Assam Cab Welfare Federation have urged state transport department to intervene and address their grievances. The associations demanded resolution of unfair payment to the cab drivers by the aggregators, which has been causing them extreme financial hardships.
Dhrubaraj Axom, president of the state drivers union said due to unfair payment cab drivers' lives have been financially paralysed, compelling them to discontinue their wards' education and discouraging them to seek medical attention.
"To end this grim situation, we demand strict enforcement against private vehicles conducting commercial activities without paying requisite taxes, while cab drivers pay huge amounts of taxes every year to operate. Also, the transport ministry's 2019 directive must be implemented ensuring that drivers receive Rs 30-35 per km, instead of the current Rs 12-13 per km." Dhrubaraj added.
The cab drivers accused private cab aggregators of financially exploiting them and demanded enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, capping aggregator commissions at 20% per trip, down from the current 30-40%.
"Along with resolutions to the challenges with aggregators, we demand for priority in govt welfare schemes to ensure the drivers' social security," Dhrubaraj said.
The associations raised concern about passengers' safety, seeking legislation for mandatory installation of CCTVs inside the cabs.