Some drivers came with toy autorickshaws on their head and some others drew the actual ones by ropes to demonstrations on Monday and Tuesday to demand that the Central Government withdraw immediately the increase in the price of petrol and diesel.
“Constant rise in the price of fuel is pushing us into deeper crisis. We have no other way than strikes to demonstrate our resentment,” general secretary of Coimbatore District Autorickshaw Tozhilalar Sangham P.K. Sukumaran said after the demonstration by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions on Tuesday.
“We had planned a State-wide strike for July 3. That has been called off. Instead, we are joining the hartal called by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Left parties,” he said.
“Autorickshaws of unions affiliated to these parties and their allies will be off roads on that day.”
Meter fare
Asked whether the unions would ask the Government to fix a meter fare according to the latest rise in fuel price, Mr. Sukamaran said it was pointless as their demand for Rs.30 as minimum fare in Coimbatore was yet to be met.
The Government had fixed Rs.12 as the minimum meter fare. The unions rejected it and wanted a separate fare for Coimbatore, considering the local factors.
There was no response yet from the Government to this demand, he said.
“Besides, we are not asking for anything more than Rs.30. Already, people shun autorickshaws because of the fare. Any demand for a fare above this rate will leave the autorickshaws in Coimbatore totally alienated,” he said.
At present, autorickshaws were used very little as a mode of public transport.
Only the school trips fetched a modest income for the drivers.
But, these were only about 3,000 to 4,000 autorickshaws, out of the nearly 8,000.
When this was the situation, the fuel price increase inflicted further agony, Mr. Sukumaran said.