1 week ago
Ponnam Prabhakar Urges Telangana Auto Drivers to Withdraw Strike
Auto-rickshaw drivers in Telangana planned to stop working across the state at midnight.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar asked them to cancel the strike and talk with the government instead.
He said the government would create a welfare board to help auto workers.
He also said fares have not changed since 2015.
A committee will study whether fares should be increased.
Auto drivers and transport officials will be part of that committee.
The government plans to help drivers replace old autos with electric ones.
It also plans support for converting petrol and diesel autos into electric vehicles.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged drivers to withdraw a proposed statewide strike scheduled to begin at midnight.
The government will establish a welfare board for auto-rickshaw workers, with guidelines to be framed shortly.
Auto fares have not been revised since 2015 despite rising fuel, vehicle and maintenance costs.
A committee including auto drivers, transport officials and other stakeholders will examine fare revision.
The government plans support for scrapping old autos, buying electric vehicles and retrofitting petrol and diesel autos, including assistance of up to Rs.1.50 lakh.
- Who
- Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, auto-rickshaw drivers, transport officials and other stakeholders.
- What
- A proposed statewide auto-rickshaw strike prompted the minister to appeal for dialogue and announce welfare, fare-review and vehicle-support measures.
- Where
- Telangana; Prabhakar spoke at Shanigaram in Koheda Mandal, Siddipet district, and specifically appealed to drivers including those from Husnabad.
- When
- The appeal was made on Sunday; the strike was scheduled to begin at midnight.
- Why
- Drivers’ concerns include fares unchanged since 2015 and rising fuel, vehicle and maintenance costs; the government said it would address these issues through talks and new measures.
Government’s dialogue approach
Drivers’ proposed strike
Whether to strike
Government’s dialogue approach
Ponnam Prabhakar urged drivers to withdraw the strike and resolve their concerns through discussions with the government.
Drivers’ proposed strike
Auto-rickshaw drivers had called for a statewide strike beginning at midnight; the articles do not provide a detailed statement of their position beyond the strike call.
Fare revision
Government’s dialogue approach
The government said a committee including drivers and officials would examine a fair fare revision while considering rising costs.
Drivers’ proposed strike
The strike call came amid concerns that auto fares had remained unchanged since 2015 despite higher fuel, vehicle and maintenance costs.
Vehicle transition
Government’s dialogue approach
The government plans assistance for scrapping old autos, buying electric autos and retrofitting petrol and diesel vehicles, including aid of up to Rs.1.50 lakh for retrofitting.
Drivers’ proposed strike
The articles do not state the drivers’ response to or position on the proposed vehicle-support measures.
Key facts
- Strike scope
- Statewide across Telangana
- Planned start
- Midnight
- Minister
- Ponnam Prabhakar, Telangana Transport Minister
- Fare history
- Auto fares have not been revised since 2015
- Welfare board
- The Cabinet approved a welfare board for auto-rickshaw workers; guidelines are to be framed shortly
- Fare committee
- The committee will include auto drivers, Transport Department officials and other stakeholders
- Electric-vehicle assistance
- Financial assistance of up to Rs.1.50 lakh is planned for retrofitting petrol and diesel autos; support is also planned for scrapping old vehicles and buying electric autos
Quotes
Ponnam Prabhakar
Telangana minister who addressed the auto-rickshaw strike and workers’ demands
“The government will provide support for scrapping old autos and purchasing electric autos; our goal is to promote electric autos in a phased manner. We will address the issues faced by auto workers in villages and introduce a new scheme for retrofitting diesel and petrol autos.”
thehansindia.com
“We are establishing a welfare board for auto-rickshaw workers. Auto fares have not been hiked since 2015. We will constitute a special committee to look into a fare revision, taking rising costs into account.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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