HYDERABAD, TRINET, SEPTEMBER 7: The Telangana government is working with sincere commitment to resolve the issues faced by auto drivers and workers in the state, stated Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Labour Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Labour Minister Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy held a crucial meeting with auto union representatives at the Secretariat. The auto drivers and union leaders brought their problems to the notice of the ministers, following which the ministers and senior officials held detailed discussions. They also reviewed the actions taken on issues discussed during the previous meeting held on August 23.
Key decisions and highlights from the meeting:
Rumours on EV Autos False
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar clarified that reports claiming TGSRTC would introduce EV autos as part of a last-mile connectivity policy are entirely false. He stated that there is currently no discussion regarding such a policy.
Auto Workers' Welfare Board
The minister stated that priority action will be taken in coordination with the labour department to establish an auto workers' welfare board. He assured that this issue will be discussed in the cabinet and introduced as a bill in the legislative assembly.
Positive Decision on Auto Fare Hike
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar noted that auto fares have not been increased since 2012. He stated that the government is ready to raise auto fares in line with current conditions. A committee comprising transport department officials and auto union representatives will be formed to prepare comprehensive proposals and submit a report to the government. The committee will decide the extent of the fare hike and make recommendations, based on which the fare revision will soon be implemented.
Government App Like Ola, Uber, Rapido
The minister stated that a letter has already been written to the IT minister regarding the creation of a special government-run app modelled after Ola, Uber, and Rapido for the benefit of auto drivers. The government will take steps to develop and launch this dedicated app.
Resolution for Pending and Rejected Permits
Measures will be taken to release the auto-rickshaw permit quota for cases rejected under GO MS No. 263 and for expired permits, the minister said.
Committee to Study Aggregator Policy
The minister stated that the government is examining the issues raised by auto unions regarding the use of white-plate vehicles by aggregators. He noted that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's announced aggregator policy offers opportunities to use two-wheelers, which could help reduce unemployment to some extent. He added that an order has been given to set up a committee with transport officials to study the aggregator policy thoroughly and submit a report.
Enforcement of Rules on Other District Autos
Auto unions requested strict enforcement of rules to prevent autos from other districts operating in Hyderabad city. The transport department assured that necessary actions will be taken. The minister urged city auto worker unions to cooperate with the government in enforcing these regulations.
Resolving Auto License Issue on Sarathi Portal
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar noted that there is a lack of clarity regarding the auto-rickshaw driving license category on the Sarathi portal. He stated that existing regulations regarding individuals holding LMV (Light Motor Vehicle) licenses to drive autos need to be amended, and a letter is being written to the central government in this regard.
Financial Assistance for Retrofitting 18,766 Autos in Hyderabad
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated that the government intends to promote eco-friendly vehicles in Hyderabad by replacing diesel and petrol autos. As part of this initiative, the government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh each for approximately 18,700 autos in Hyderabad city for retrofitting. The minister said around Rs 200 crore will be spent on this program through the coordination of various departments.
Special Insurance Policy for Auto Drivers
The minister stated that action will be taken regarding accident and natural death insurance for auto drivers after consulting the labour department. The government is formulating an action plan to introduce a special insurance policy that provides security to auto drivers as well as other sections, with plans to introduce an 'Indiramma Policy' to safeguard everyone.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar reiterated that the government is completely committed to the welfare of auto drivers and solving their problems. He stated that through coordination between various departments, auto workers' issues will be resolved one by one, and all necessary steps will be taken to improve their living standards.
The meeting was attended by Transport Commissioner Ilambarti, Labour Secretary Dasari Harichandana, Additional Commissioner Ramesh, Joint Transport Commissioners Chandrasekhar Goud, Sivalingayya, and Venkata Ramana, along with labour department officials, police and traffic officials, and representatives of various auto worker unions.
