Transport sector workers and vehicle owners staged protests in different parts of the country against the central government’s decision to hike fees for driving licence, testing, issue/renewal of registration certificate among others.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued a notification on December 29, 2016 enhancing exorbitantly the fees for driving licence, testing, issue/renewal of registration certificate, fitness certificate, change of address, and recording alteration in registration certificate. This has added to the woes of the core road transport sector and workers. All motor vehicle owners, particularly those with auto-rikshaws and trucks, were shocked with this move. Fees for various services have been enhanced 100-800 per cent on the existing charges. This enhancement will be applicable to all motor vehicles including two-wheelers and personal cars. In addition to this increase, the notification permitted the state government to collect more amount keeping in view the automation and technology expenses. The penalty for the delay in fitness of the vehicle is Rs 50 per day.

This announcement has led to a nationwide spontaneous protest. The All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF), while holding a national workshop, took the initiative and gave a call for protest. In Kerala, a huge protest march to the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram was organised jointly by all trade unions on January 18. The meeting was addressed by AIRTWF general secretary K K Divakaran and other trade union leaders.
In Andhra Pradesh, a Joint Action Committee for Protection of Transport Industry was formed with 52 unions including the Truck Operators Association. At the call of the JAC, protest demonstrations throughout the state were organised on January 24. Thousands of workers and owners participated. It was decided to intensify the struggle in the state.

In Telangana, protest demonstrations were held in a big way on January 19. In Bihar, protests were held from morning to evening on January 30. In Patna, an auto-rickshaw strike was observed successfully on February 3. In Karnataka, demonstrations were held in Bellary and other places, wherein thousands of workers participated.
In Tamil Nadu, transport workers held huge protest rallies. In Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura, similar demonstrations were organised. In Assam, a big demonstration was staged in Guwahati on February 6. In Jammu and Kashmir, a two-day strike was planned for January 23-24, but it has been deferred following the intervention of the Chief Minister. In Madhya Pradesh, our auto union took the initiative and organised a demonstration. We invited other unions also. INTUC and AAP unions joined in the meeting. An auto-rickshaw strike was observed in Gwalior on February 8.
R Laxmanaia and Ramasray Yadav, secretariat members of AIRTWF, met a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on January 30 and submitted a memorandum and discussed the issues. There it was assured that the penalty for the default of fitness certificate will not be collected prior to December 29, 2016, when the enhancement notification was issued. To that extent, a clarification was issued on February 3.

Now, the central government has decided to implement a Taxi Policy Guideline and has circulated it among all states. The main intention of the Modi government is to pave the way for big corporates entering the transport sector, rendering jobless lakhs of existing workers engaged in taxi, auto and other light motor vehicles. In the new policy, it has been decided to allow taxis as stage carriages both within and outside a city. This will aggravate the financial crisis in state road transport undertakings and thousands of private buses/mini buses and the workers will lose their job.

As per the guideline, two-wheelers will be allowed as passenger vehicles and cab aggregators will be permitted to operate, in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act. Amendment to the M V Act is under the consideration of a Parliamentary Standing Committee and the subject is under scrutiny. AIRTWF has decided to organise continuous struggles and protests seeking roll back of fee hike and withdrawal of the new taxi policy.