Mamata relaxes taxi refusal fine, down from Rs 3,000 to Rs 100

Speaking at a conference on ‘Taxi and Auto Drivers Welfare Meet Together’ — where she introduced a welfare scheme for transport workers in the private sector, including health insurance scheme and retirement benefits — Mamata asked taxi drivers not to misbehave with passengers.

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“We should remember that we don’t have any right to misbehave or assault a passenger. I am not saying everybody of you are involved in this but due to the involvement of a few people the entire sector is being tainted,” the CM said.

Mamata announced health insurance benefits — ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1 lakh — for all transport workers. To avail the benefits, they would have to register themselves by paying only Rs 30. The insurance will be automatically renewed every year. The next of kin of every worker who dies in an accident will get Rs 2 lakh.

The CM also announced that while after attaining the age of 60 a worker will get pension of Rs 1,500 per month, if such a worker dies, his spouse will get pension of Rs 750 every month.

A committee was set up headed by Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee to monitor all problems related to taxis and auto-rickshaws.

The CITU — CPM’s labour wing — while welcoming the CM’s initiatives said the government needs to do more for the welfare of transport workers. “We have been clamouring for what the CM announced today. But our demands include more welfare measures for workers and we hope the government will do the same soon,’’ said Anadi Shahu, CITU leader and former labour minister in the Left Front government.

The Congress, however, criticised the commuting of fine of taxi drivers for refusing passengers. “This way, the government is encouraging refusals among taxi drivers,’’ said Pradip Bhattacharya, Congress MP.