Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 4: With the purpose of asserting the need to meet long pending demands of auto rickshaw drivers including the right for rural permit auto rickshaws to enter the city limits, a mammoth protest meeting was organized at Thokkottu Junction on Monday December 4 under the leadership of local assembly constituency unit of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike (TRV). President of the unit, Siraj Adkare, led the protesters.

Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu, who addressed the protesters after inaugurating the meeting, pledged support of TRV to the cause of safety and security of rural auto rickshaw drivers, "We have no enmity against the auto rickshaw drivers possessing city permits. But at the same time, we are unable to become mute spectators to the injustice being suffered by poor auto rickshaw drivers plying with rural permits. These drivers are fined between Rs 2,000 and 4,000 for transgressing rural limits and entering city limits. This is eating away a large chunk of monthly income of these drivers and therefore not short of daylight robbery. Imposing heavy fine on these drivers even when they visit cities for essential work, refuelling gas or to bring patients to rural areas is an act that can not be condoned. If our demands are not met within a week, TRV sill lead an agitation by way of laying siege to the regional transport office," he warned.

President of TRV city assembly constituency unit, M Siraj Adkare, said that auto rickshaw drivers have been serving the general public and passengers day and night, even at the cost of neglecting their families and it is the duty of the government, people's representatives and officials to make sure that they do not face problems. "But the concerned have been owning discriminatory attitude towards auto rickshaws from rural areas instead of addressing the step-motherly treatment they are subjected to. We will not remain quiet at this gross injustice, and we will fight till these people get justice," he announced.

He pointed out that areas like the one lining Netravati Bridge in the city, Thokkottu, Ullal, Deralakatte, Someshwar, Kotekar, Kuthar, Konaje and such other areas are located within a radius of ten km from the city limits and these places have a population that is almost equal to the city population. Over 2,000 auto rickshaws have been moving about in the city assembly constituency limits alone. People of all these areas are dependent on the city for purchase of important items, medical services, schools colleges etc. In the past, at a meeting held in the presence of regional transport officials, the auto drivers were informed that passengers entering the city for emergency services can be dropped to their destinations in the city by them. This permission was given with a rider that these rickshaws cannot be parked in auto rickshaw stands and seek customers. On this condition, the city and rural divide was given affect to, and areas within which they can go on hire were fixed.

But there have been many recent instances in which patients being taken to hospitals from Thokkottu are stopped by the police and cases were registered. If we explain to them the situation as stated above, they demand the instructions in writing. When these issues were discussed with the regional transport officer by the auto rickshaw drivers, the officials had opined that this can be added in the minutes of the regional transport office meeting by way of notification.

Therefore, unless the above arrangement is put in writing and given to auto rickshaw drivers having rural permits, auto drivers always are forced to function under the constant threat of facing stringent action from the police and other officials, as a result of which whatever they have earned through hard work gets drained away. In addition, they also undergo mental torture. The rural auto rickshaws have no other option but to visit the city for purposes like getting work done in regional transport office, filling LPG, visiting of garages, purchase of spare parts etc. If the officials stick to the stand that the auto rickshaws cannot enter the city even in emergency situations, the drivers are at a loss to explain this rule to needy passengers, he stated.

Vice president of TRV's local assembly constituency unit, Rahim Kuthar, central treasurer, Abdul Rasheed Jeppu, central organizing secretary, Anand Ameen Adyar, TRV city assembly unit women's wing president, Vidya U Jogi, youth unit district president, Harish Shetty, district women's wing convener, Reshma Ullal, Shivu Shetty, Nagesh Shetty, Abdul Rahiman Ullal, Abusali Ullal, Jamal Kuthar, Gangadhar Attavar, and leading personalities of auto rickshaw drivers and owners association were present.