Coimbatore: Various associations of rental vehicle drivers have petitioned the Coimbatore District Collector to provide relief assistance to the drivers, who have not renewed their membership with the Welfare Board and a six-month moratorium on repayment of loans.
Coimbatore: Various associations of rental vehicle drivers have petitioned the Coimbatore District Collector to provide relief assistance to the drivers, who have not renewed their membership with the Welfare Board and a six-month moratorium on repayment of loans.
Ever since the COVID-19 lockdown was instituted on March 24, motor vehicles have stayed off the roads. This has placed the lives of more than one lakh vehicle drivers in peril. Under these dire circumstances, the government promised to provide an interim financial relief package to the drivers who are registered with the Welfare Board.
A whopping 85% of rental vehicle drivers have not been able to renew their Welfare Board memberships. While the registered members have at least received a part of the promised relief package, the drivers who are yet to renew their memberships have received naught. To this end, the Coimbatore District Tourist Taxi, Call Taxi, Tourist Van, and Mini Goods Joint Trade Union members have submitted a petition to the Collector of the District of Coimbatore.
Speaking on this issue they opined that, “since the implementation of the lockdown on March 24, our lives have come to a standstill and the financial aid package promised by the government has been paid, only in part, to the renewed members while the unrenewed members have not been provided anything.
This undue pressure has placed us in a quandary in regard to the repayment of loans availed from various government and private financial institutions on top of other essential recurring expenditures such as road tax, eligibility certificate, insurance and driving license renewals.
Therefore, we seek exemption from such payments for a period of six months. Also, we face inordinate delays on our trips to Kerala, which can be mitigated if petrol bunks take measures to provide us face masks, gloves, and disinfectants.”