No uniforms if no public servant status: auto union

“I had written to Pune police commissioner Satyapal Singh recently demanding that uniforms should not be made compulsory for rickshaw drivers unless they get the status of a public servant from the state government,” he said

Adhav said that though a rickshaw driver is engaged in public service,but he does not have any ‘safety net’ like the state transport drivers.

He said,“I have demanded that the government only considers the cost of petrol when deciding the meter rate,but does not consider the increasing cost of living. We are demanding that the government should increase the meter rate by one rupee,which was rolled back recently. The government is just insisting on deciding rates as per the Tinaikar committee recommendations. We have also opposed increased police action on the small tempos,which ferry goods in the city as trucks are banned on city roads.”

Adhav also said he had appraised state transport minister Radhakrishana Vikhe Patil and MoS for home Ramesh Bagwe about the issue.

“Rickshaw drivers have to pay Rs 1,700 every year as accident insurance,which is compulsory,to a private company. Such schemes are of no use to us,we would be happy to pay the money to the directorate of insurance and get services from them. The government should also establish a welfare board for drivers so that they can avail facilities like provident fund and pension,” he said.

Baba Kamble,president of Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat,which operates in Pimpri-Chinchwad area,said,”We have also supported the strike. The state government decides that how many people can sit in our rickshaw and what rate should we charge them,the why cant we get status of public servant.”

According to RTO Chandrakant Kharatmal,”The rickshaw unions have gone on strike without informing us. The badge and the uniform rule were to be implemented in December 2008,but then the rickshaw unions were given extension for a year. Now they are again opposing the move.”

When contacted,Manoj Patil,DCP,traffic branch,said,“We have appealed to the rickshaw unions to cal off the strike and come for discussion. A solution to the problem can only be found through talks. All rickshaw unions except one,agreed to wear uniforms in the past two meetings.” Patil said the schools are reopening on Monday and rickshaw strike would affect normal life.