The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Auto drivers for hike in fare

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Auto drivers for hike in fare

Staff Reporter

Demand minimum fare to be raised to Rs. 12
for 1.5 km
They are unable to meet education expenses
of their children

BANGALORE: The Autorickshaw Driver’s Union affiliated to Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue here on Monday demanding an increase in auto fares. Nearly 100 autorickshaws were parked from Gandhi statue towards Mahatma Gandhi Road.

President of the union Meenakshisundaram said that autorickshaw owners were paying tax on the consumption of petrol and gas and nearly Rs. 50,000 a day would go to the Government by way of tax from over a lakh of autorickshaws that were plying in the city. He said the income of the auto drivers a day was not constant and their daily expenses had also been substantially increasing. With less earnings of the auto, drivers they were unable to meet the expenses of the education of their children and medical expenses of the family.

Union vice-president Rudramurthy said the government should seek the opinion of the union before increasing the fares. He insisted that the authorities concerned should inspect and penalise such auto drivers who ply autorickshaws without valid permit and who cheat the public with tampered meters.

The autorickshaw drivers demanded a raise in fare up to Rs. 12 for a minimum 1.5 km and Rs. 8 for every subsequent km.

The other demands included Employees State Insurance hospital facilities, extending provident fund facilities, setting up of welfare board with necessary social welfare and security schemes for autorickshaw drivers and their families.Later, the union submitted a memorandum urging to fulfil their demands to the Governor’s office.

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