Thousands of members of the Odisha Drivers’ Association (ODA) staged an overnight protest at the Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar on Monday, demanding protection and insurance cover for deaths due to accidents.
The protesters alleged that though their union had organized a massive rally in the state capital a few months back and submitted a memorandum of their demands to the government, no heed was paid.
The members of the association have threatened to intensify the agitation if the demand is not met.
“Drivers from 314 blocks of 30 districts joined the protest today. We will continue our protest till our 11-point demands are met, said Prashant Muduli, president of Odisha Drivers’ Association.
A driver involved in the protest said, ‘The government is cheating us by making false promises. We have been providing uninterrupted service across the state, but nobody cares about us. We will not go out of the city till our demands are met.”
“Our demands are minimal like safety and insurance,” said another driver.
Meanwhile, the state government announced that a committee would be constituted to examine the demands and take a decision on them in three months.
“The state government is aware of the demands of the drivers. Soon a special committee will be formed. The committee will visit some states and study the welfare measures taken for the drivers there. Based on its recommendations, we will take a call,” state transport minister Padmanav Behera said.
“Three months ago, we discussed our demands with the state government and we were promised action. Now the state has again sought time. This cannot go on,” Muduli said.
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