Concern over Indefinte strike by truck owners
Sir, trucks are the lifeline of our country as they play a key and important role in transportation of not only essential goods but also transport drinking water, milk, vegetables, fruits, medicines, petroleum products which are very essential for daily needs.
Wheels came to a grinding halt since various truck owners associations have joined the nationwide stir and stopped plying their trucks in the country since Government is not addressing their genuine demands. This has hit massively as lakhs and lakhs of trucks gone off the road. In AP alone, more than 3 lakh trucks are participating in the strike.
The meeting, the Members of the All India Truck Owners Association had with the hon. Union Minister did end up in stalemate. Since, they could not get any assurance or promise from the Minister. The indefinite strike entered seventh day today.
Their major demands are:
ØReverting back to 50% insurance hike proposed by IRDA. It is proposed to implement from 1st April, 2017.
ØNot to scrap vehicles over 15 years old. They want that the period should be increased to 20 years.
ØVAT on diesel and petrol and hike in various RTO fee should be cancelled.
ØThey are also demanding to refrain from installing speed governors on old vehicles.
ØAgainst charging toll for indefinite period.
These are some of their major demands to be resolved. My apprehension is if strike is allowed to continue further, there will be havoc in the country and prices of essential commodities will skyrocket and poor people would be at the receiving end.
So, I request the Government of India to immediately start negotiating lorry owners and address their grievances without any further delay.