Srinagar, Sep 23 : People associated with the transport industry Wednesday appealed to the government to waive off yearly insurance and documentation renewal amount of their vehicles, so as to provide some respite to the drivers who they said sits ‘idle’ since August 5, 2019.
They also sought monthly stipends for drivers and conductors till the normal life which has been on ‘standstill’ mode in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic comes back on track.
The affected drivers said their survival has become difficult due to the back to back jolts including one on August 5, 2019 and then outbreak of novel Corona-Virus.
“We are the worst sufferers of whatever the situation prevailed in Kashmir Valley since August 5, 2019 the day, special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated. Now, the outbreak of the novel Corona-Virus has completely pushed us towards starvation,” Shakeel Ahmad, a driver said.
He said the government considering the desperate economic conditions of the people associated with the transport industry should provide some respite to affected vehicle owners, their drivers and conductors.
Transporters said the package of rupees five lakh announced by the Lieutenant Governor recently makes no big difference as they are not in a position to repay the amount taken as a loan from banks.
“Passenger vehicles cost rupees 30 lakh while the government has announced rupees five lakh package for transporters. Rs five lakh package does not make any big difference as we have to repay Rs 25 lakh to banks and incase we fail, our properties would be confiscated,” Shamsudin, a transporter told KNO.
The transporters appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to waive off yearly insurance and documentation renewal amount of vehicles besides announcing monthly stipends for drivers and conductors.
“We cannot see our families starving; we too want to live, if the government wants to do something for us, wave off yearly insurance and documentation renewal of our vehicles. We also appeal the government to announce monthly stipends for us so that our economic survival is possible till the situation turns normal on ground,” he added.
