Ferrying the govt

‘‘During elections, all government vehicles are requistioned for election duty and placed at the disposal of the Collector. And in case of a shortage, various transport associations are contacted,’’ explains K.T. Golani, chief Regional Transport Officer, Central Zone.

And so that nobody’s left out, the engaging of taxis is divided neatly between two taxi unions — the Mumbai Taximen’s Union (MTU) and the Bombay Taxi Association.

The vehicles are responsible for transporting men and material to polling stations. ‘‘And in case of shortages of any material, we have to quickly drive to the main polling centre and get reinforcements,’’ says Ribijansingh Khatri (54), a cabbie who did election duty during the Lok Sabha poll of 1999.

And missing their regular business, there’s a bigger sacrifice they’re required to make — many drivers on election duty will have to forgo their voting rights.

‘‘Most try to vote. But if the driver’s residence and the deputed centre are at two extreme ends of the city, he just has to make do without voting,’’ says A.L. Quadros, general secretary of the MTU.

Besides, Quadros explains, just about 30 per cent of the city’s taxi-drivers have permanent residences in Mumbai. Most others are registered in their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. ‘‘That’s the reason politicians are not bothered about our problems — we’re not really a votebank,’’ he says.

Dinnanath Pandey (74) couldn’t vote in 1999 though he’s registered in the city. ‘‘But it’s government duty after all. Hopefully, this time, I will be able to vote,’’ he says.

There’s a compensation package from the government too, albeit usually a few months late in coming. But for most of our taxiwallahs, it’s a sense of duty that drives them, besides the thrill of adventure.

‘‘I could get inside a polling booth and see the going-on behind the curtains. Nobody can do that,’’ Vaz smiles.