Rickshaw drivers welcomed the relaxations but said that many of their demands have not been entertained.
Rickshaw drivers were partially relieved when the state government reduced fine for violation of permit from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,500 on Saturday. The government also said that special drives will be conducted to ensure that all the rickshaw drivers have driving licenses.
Rickshaw drivers welcomed the relaxations but said that many of their demands have not been entertained. Their associations will now meet to decide the future course of action.
A press statement by the state government said that the fine for violation of permit has been decreased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,500. These permits are district-specific and drivers cannot ferry passengers from one district to another district. The fine for its violation was increased to Rs 10,000.
With the growth of cities, often the geographical boundaries are blurred and transporting passengers from one district to another district is very common. Gujarat Auto Rickshaw Drivers Action Committee, the apex body of 14 rickshaw associations, had argued that hefty fines would be unviable for the drivers. The Action Committee has welcomed the move.
Of close to 2.2 lakh rickshaw drivers in Ahmedabad city, an estimated 1.6 lakh do not have driving licenses. The government said that special camps to conduct driving tests and will be giving licenses. This initiative to be held in partnership with rickshaw associations.
Rajveer Upadhyay, General Secretary of the Action Committee said that other demands have not been accepted and so a meeting of rickshaw associations will be held on October 12 to discuss the future course of action.
These mainly include reducing the cost of insurance, which has risen drastically, as well as the frequent rise in prices of CNG. They have also demanded that rickshaws should be allowed along the Sabarmati Riverfront because other taxis are allowed and it would be unfair not to allow rickshaw to ply here.
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