Autorickshaw drivers in the city went on a flash strike lasting just a few hours on Wednesday against the action being taken by the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and the traffic police to net permit violators.
Tension prevailed in Kaloor and Kathrikkadavu when autorickshaw operators resisted the drive against them by the MVD squads. They called for a flash strike and autorickshaws carrying passengers were stopped at points like Kaloor while autorickshaws parked at stands refused to take passengers. Many passengers were stranded after they were asked to get out midway. The strike was later called off following an understanding that the issue will be discussed at a meeting to be convened by the district collector shortly.
The union leaders took umbrage at the MVD officials’ action against autorickshaw operators who were operating from the city stands without city permits. “They wanted us to stop checking permits. We rejected the demand as the permit was an important document,” said Jerson T.M., a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) with the Ernakulam Regional Transport Office, who was part of the drive.
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MVD officials pointed out that an association of autorickshaw drivers themselves with city permits had approached the court seeking action against their counterparts from elsewhere operating within the city limits. Ernakulam RTO B.J. Antony said the enforcing agencies had to act against permit violators as the association had filed a contempt petition stating that the MVD and police were not tough on violators.
As per the existing government order, only 4,000 permits are allowed within the city limits. A special drive in the city showed that of the 4,000 permits issued here, only 1,800-odd were operating.
K.S. Baby Vinod, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic West, said the demand of autorickshaw operators to suspend action against them till a solution is found to the permit issue cannot be met. K.R. Saju, district secretary of AITUC-affiliated autorickshaw drivers’ federation, said the limit of 4,000 permits is far from adequate for Kochi. “The number should be doubled,” he said.
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