The Maharashtra Transport Department on Wednesday renamed the welfare board for autorickshaw and taxi drivers as the “Dharmveer Anand Dighe Saheb Maharashtra Passenger Transport Drivers Welfare Board”. Previously, it was called the Dharmveer Anand Dighe Saheb Maharashtra Auto-Rickshaw and Mitred Taxi Drivers Welfare Board.
Expanded Scope of the Welfare Board
With the name change, drivers of all passenger transport vehicles are now eligible to be part of the board, not just auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. This significantly broadens the board’s operational ambit. A Government Resolution (GR) stated, “By amending the eligibility for membership of the welfare board, the government is approving the membership of the board to include license holders with badges driving all types of passenger vehicles.”
Funding and Administration
In 2024, the state government sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the then Dharamveer Anand Dighe Saheb Maharashtra Auto-Rickshaw and Taxi Driver Welfare Board. This amount is to be deposited in the board’s account, with the Transport Commissioner designated as the drawing and disbursing officer.
Schemes and Benefits
The welfare board will provide various schemes for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, officials said. So far, the board has registered just over 9,000 members across 17 RTO offices. “Kalyan and Thane RTOs have the maximum members, with over 1,000 each. Membership requires a one-time registration fee of Rs 500 and an annual subscription of Rs 300. Drivers need only their Aadhaar card and mobile number to sign up on the board’s dedicated portal,” officials explained.
Benefits on offer include a Rs 10,000 retirement honorarium for drivers aged 65 and above, scholarship schemes for children, financial aid for on-duty injuries, and proposed life and disability insurance coverage.
Background
There are an estimated 15 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra. The expansion of the board’s membership aims to provide welfare benefits to a larger segment of drivers in the state.
