Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 11: It is learnt that possessing a badge has been made compulsory for auto rickshaw drivers to be eligible for the corona package announced by the state government. There is apprehension of a large number of auto drivers from the twin-districts getting deprived of the benefit under this scheme because of this rule.
It is said that out of about 13,000 auto rickshaw drivers in Udupi district, only 6,000 possess badges. In Dakshina Kannada, out of about 26,000 auto rickshaw drivers, only 12,500 have badges. The others have not procured their badges because of various reasons.
The government, which has announced Rs 5,000 corona assistance, has prescribed possession of driving licence and badge pre-requisites for claiming benefit. As per the scheme, the people have to upload their driving licences through Seva Sindhu web portal. The driving licences should have been valid as on March 1 this year. In addition, details of Aadhar card, bank account details, IFSC and ICR codes and registration number of vehicle should be mentioned. A declaration about having lost income due to lockdown should also be furnished.
Chandrashekhar Kadody of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) at Guthigar has submitted a petition to the district in-charge minster seeking to relax the rule about possession of badges as the Supreme Court has held in its order dated July 3, 2017, that badge is not mandatory. The minister has assured to examine the demand at the government level and take a suitable decision.
Auto rickshaw drivers unions have requested the government to ensure that there are no middlemen involved in claiming the subsidy and that the entire amount is directly credited to bank accounts of the drivers.
Bhaskar Rao, district president of BMS Auto Drovers Association of Dakshina Kannada district, and Suresh Ameen, working president of Auto drivers Udupi District Union, have urged the government to extend the benefit of the scheme even auto drivers not having badges as they outnumber the drivers having badges.