Minister Uday Samant Unveils Plan: Auto, Taxi Driver Owners Welfare Board in Maharashtra
Pimpri, 2nd November 2023: In a significant move aimed at resolving the issue of free rickshaw licensing, the Maharashtra government is set to establish an Auto, Taxi Driver Owners Welfare Board. Industry Minister Uday Samant, under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, announced this initiative to provide social security, health insurance, and other facilities for the welfare of three crore unorganized labourers in the state.
Minister Samant inaugurated a two-day national convention organized by the Auto, Taxi, Bus, Transport Federation, Auto Driver-Owner Association Joint Action Committee and Hardworking Janata Aghadi at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue area in Pimpri. Speaking at the event, he highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of auto, taxi, and bus drivers, ensuring their social security and well-being.
During the convention, Minister Samant outlined the objectives of the Auto, Taxi Driver Owners Welfare Board, which includes providing pensions, health facilities, and insurance for rickshaw drivers. He emphasized the need to offer affordable rickshaws to women drivers and scholarships for their children’s education.
Baba Kamble, the National President of the organization, stressed the hard work of the three crore unorganized labourers in Maharashtra and the importance of addressing the challenges faced by auto, taxi, bus, truck, and tempo drivers. The convention discussed various demands, including the establishment of a national commission and welfare board for drivers, social security, and old age pension for drivers, and the creation of a welfare corporation for two lakh auto and taxi driver-owners in Maharashtra.
Specific demands also included making permits compulsory for all electric rickshaws across the country, enacting laws for construction workers, and ensuring the retention of cleaning workers in the Municipal Corporation.
Minister Samant reassured that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is committed to resolving these issues and emphasized the significance of recognizing and respecting the contributions of workers. The convention concluded with a determination to address the challenges faced by the hardworking individuals in the transportation sector and the unorganized labour force in Maharashtra.
