Life of Auto driver and Cab driver miserable due to Corona, what is State Government doing?

BANGALORE: The central government has issued a lockdown order for the coronavirus virus. Thus, all the people are bound in the house.  Auto and taxis have not been on the road for over a month. 

Drivers lives has been miserable due to no work from one month.  But State Government, which is supposed to provide assistance to drivers has not yet taken any measures to relieve the loss for the Auto and Cab drivers.

There are over 6 lakh autos in the state and over 10 lakh taxis and cabs.  There are more than 2 lakh autos in Bangalore city.  Millions of drivers across the state have come to believe in private taxis, including Ola and Uber. 

In the wake of the recent Corona crisis, drivers have been left homeless.  There is no guarantee that there will be a lockdown order until May 3, and then auto and taxis will be on the road.  Drivers are also suspected of getting a job unless the corona is completely under control.

However, the Central Government had exempted EMI payments on loans made by them for three months.  But banks are saying that interest on the loan should be paid.  But it is a big question for the drivers that how to pay Interest fee? Without any work from one month. Most auto drivers have borrowed money and finance, but repaying it has become a big headache.  On the other hand, family maintenance has been difficult for the poor auto driver who has to work daily for running their family.  In the meantime, it is very difficult to pay insurance, renewal of a vehicle license, and fund a vehicle dealer.

Other states, including Delhi, has helped drivers, 5,000 rupees to 10,000 rupees have been distributed to the driver’s account.  But only Karnataka Government has not given importance to the issue of drivers.  In the last budget, the Government had allocated Rs 40 crore for the education of drivers’ children.  In the event of a health emergency, the funds allocated to the taxpayer in distressed auto and taxpayers should be released.