Rickshaw drivers submit memo

President of the Surat Autorickshaw Mandal Mahesh Master, Jayanti Prajapati, president of Varachha Autorickshaw Sangh, Jashu Barot, president of Shakti Autorickshaw Sangh, Natwarlal Patel, president of Surat School Autorickshaw Sangh, Ekta School Autorickshaw Sangh president Imamuddin Bapu and president of the Sahyog Autorickshaw Union Soma Patel, who also met police officials, pointed out in the memorandum that the memo attracted a fine of more than Rs 2000, which was practically impossible to pay.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Office RTO has maintained that as it was short staffed to carry out routine checks, it did not object to the traffic police doing the job.

The union leaders, meanwhile, have alleged that the traffic police threatened rickshaw drivers of the memo and thereby managed to pocket anything between Rs 50 to Rs 100. 8220;The traffic policemen first demand Rs 400 for a settlement, and though reduce the amount, let go the drivers only after getting something. Besides, drivers are given a traffic court memo, which although attracts fines less than that of the RTO, costing upto Rs 150.8221;

The leaders alleging that the traffic police and the RTO worked hand in glove, claimed that though they had raised the problem a number of times, authorities had ignored their plight.

An RTO official, in response to the allegation, said the several rickshaw drivers had not paid road and other tax for years, so it was natural that the traffic police issued them RTO memos.

8220;The same procedure is followed everywhere else,8221; he pointed out.

When contacted, Police Commissioner Maniram, said he would look into the matter and address drivers problems soon.