Bhubaneswar: Thousands of drivers from Odisha have decided to join the nation-wide ‘Quit Steering Wheel’ protest organized by truck drivers against the proposed ‘hit-and-run’ law by the Centre.
Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha today said they will join the protest after handing over their vehicles to owners.
President Prashant Menduli said that they initially intended to join the strike today but decided to delay it by a day the vehicles will be handed over to the owners. The Mahasangha is set to join the protest tomorrow.
The new law stipulates a 10-year imprisonment and a Rs 7 lakh fine for hit-and-run offenders, a provision deemed ‘unjustified’ by the drivers’ association.
“The Centre has made a new rule of 10 years imprisonment and Rs 7 lakh fine for hit and run offences which is too much for any driver to pay. Even the Odisha government has been cheating us over our demand for driver-insurance. We had made 10 demands during the strike last year. The State Government assured us to fulfil one demand. That too has not been implemented till now,” Shri Menduli said.
The state government has not taken any steps regarding the promise it made to provide insurance and compensation to drivers in case of death or injuries following an accident which is another reason for the driver to go on strike, he said.
The association argues that drivers, earning meagre incomes while spending their lives on the road, would struggle to pay such a hefty fine. Moreover, concerns were raised about the impact on the well-being of their families if drivers were incarcerated.