The Dakshina Kannada District Autorickshaw Drivers' Convention is scheduled to take place at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall in Mangaluru on Tuesday. The event is being organized under the auspices of the Karnataka Rajya Pragatipara Autorickshaw Chalakara Sangha, which is affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU).
Key Highlights of the Convention
K.E. Mohan, the secretary of the AICCTU's Dakshina Kannada district unit, announced that the district committee of the state-level organization will be constituted during the conference. Officials from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and the Labour Department are also expected to attend, providing an opportunity for the association to submit its list of demands.
Demands for Welfare and Infrastructure
In a statement, the organization called for the establishment of a separate welfare board for autorickshaw drivers. It pointed out that despite contributing nearly Rs 3,500 crore annually in taxes, drivers are not receiving adequate welfare benefits from the state government.
The association urged the government to allocate land for autorickshaw drivers to construct houses and to provide a 50% subsidy on fuel. Highlighting infrastructure concerns, the body noted that the district requires approximately 350 autorickshaw stands, but only around 150 are currently available. It called upon local bodies and the administration to take greater initiative in establishing well-equipped auto stands.
Regulation of Online Taxi Aggregators
The organization also demanded stricter regulation of online taxi aggregator platforms, following the model implemented in Kerala. It alleged that white-board taxis are being illegally rented out and sought a ban on this practice. Additionally, the association urged the government to control the rising prices of fuel and to reduce penalties imposed by the RTO.
Social Security Measures
During the convention, registration cards under the Karnataka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board will be distributed to workers, and applications for new cards will be accepted.
